July 24, Bulletin!

Meeting of The Oak Bay Rotary Club of July 24, 2012

Please note that next week’s meeting will be held at Craigdarroch Castle, meet outside at noon. Cost for tour and a picnic lunch is $27.

President Joan called the meeting to order and after O Canada, David Westler said grace.

Perry Bamji introduced our visitors including Rotarians Gopal Golda from Oakville, Ontario and Marie O’Neill (between Joan F. and Lynne M. in photo below) from Adelaide, South Australia. 

Seven other visitors were introduced including September Smith (seen below with reporter George Pritchard) a guest  of Jack Petrie; September will be inducted into the club in the near future. Other guests: Jennifer Hastings, guest of Mary Canty, Sue Wheatley, guest of Jack Petrie, Betty Pitt, guest of Vicky, Robin Lattimer, guest of Corey, and Michelle Lesage guest of Lori.

Announcements: Wynn is looking for volunteers for the Oak Bay Avenue Classic Car Show. Peter Lawrie has a weed pulling project, and Jim Force announced the club in the pub on Thursday the 26^th. 

George reported that David Sills had a fall on Friday night at home and was transported to hospital by ambulance; he returned home that same night.

Jessica (above) was our Fines Master, and after announcing that she would be in la Provence next week she increased our funds by fining Jim Laing for having his hands in his pocket during O Canada, Lori and Lorna for being noisy, as well as others for various infractions. Four birthdays to report but only Joan Peggs was present for our serenade, and it was a very special one - one where the government will start to contribute to her well being; other birthdays included Giles Bixler and Ron Cooley. Eight others contributed happy dollars.

We have a lot of world travellers among us with Lorna back from the Far East, Lynne from Nova Scotia and Leslie heading to Scotland. Lynne is going to Poland in September for Ola Chajeca’s wedding. Ola was a Rotary inbound student in 2007-2008. Some of our members will remember her dancing at our Christmas party.

Mark Bedford introduced our guest speaker, Dean Piller, who is the Superintendent of grounds for the Cordova Bay golf course. Dean was substituting for the director of golf, Jim Goddard. Dean has worked for the club since its opening 22 years ago. The other three managers as well are all 22-year employees. Dean’s  job is to keep the course in great shape, and if you have ever played it you know it is. Dean was named Superintendent of the Year by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. Here's a quote from www.turfandrec.com: “The BCGSA nominating committee has chosen Dean because he is much more than a superintendent,” his nomination read. “Dean is a role model in the community, a leader in environment initiatives, an educator, an author, a dedicated husband and father, a contributor to his associations, and a person who has given a great amount of his time to organizing charity events. He is a person of passion, a person with a vision, and a person whose compassion has helped to make changes for the better.” At the banquet honouring him, it was announced that $140,000 was raised during the year for MS. 

Cordova Bay is certified by the Audobon Society for its environmental practices. The course is home to 55 different bird species, has 14 ponds stocked with crayfish, composts 2,000 cubic meters of compost which is recycled and reused. No insecticides have been used on the course since 1996. 

Ron Beyer (above right) thanked speaker Dean Piller (left).

And don’t forget, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”- Mark Twain

Reporter: George Pritchard