Dental Shenanigans - March 19, 2013 Meeting

Tav's back!

Reported by Eugen Bannerman ~ Pics by Tricia T and David S.

A lot of easy-going social buzz as we arrived and were greeted by Tom Croft and Jack Petrie. The room was set up by Pablo Diemecke, with Rotary banners on the walls, and club banners from around the world on our tables. On my table were banners brought to our club from Monkspath, England; Cuernavaca, Mexico; Osnabruck-Mitte, Deutschland; and Rotenburg, Wumme, Germany. Collector of the General Revenue (also addressed as Chancellor of the Exchequer) for March was Joan Firkins, and the 50/50 Chance Man was Peter Lawrie.

President Joan Peggs called the meeting to order at 12:15, announced the monthly theme of Literacy, and welcomed back to our club the following members: Peter Sou (from Hawaii and Calif.) Tav Mcpherson, Dr David Philip, and Lorna Curtis. After the national anthem was sung a capella, Jack Petrie read a carefully selected Grace, which ended with an African call to eat, “Born Up A Tree,” a variation of bon appetit. By the time we lined up for food, the Grace had metamorphosed into “More up a tree.”

Visitors

Tom Croft introduced Denis Pare, visiting from the Victoria Club, and Gianfranco Mosca, guest of Sabrina Corraini.

Special Presentations

Dr. Literacy Himself

In keeping with Literacy Month, David Sills informed us about “the vagaries and coincidences in the life of a book collector.”

1)    He had attended a TC book sale a few years ago where he acquired a book by an Anglican clergyman, Ven. Cecil Swanson, “The Days of my Sojourning,” a book about people in the frontier settlements of Canada (read, a century ago).

2)    At an Oak Bay Rotary meeting, David asked Wynn Taylor, our resident Anglican vicar, if he knew the author. He had not, but a voice behind him piped up, “I knew Cecil Swanson. He married us in Calgary.” It was Mary Canty. So David promised to get her a copy, which he found on the Internet.

3)    Today he presented the book “to the piper-upper,” Mary Canty, who was absolutely flushed with excitement.

4)    To David’s surprise, the Internet copy carried an inscription by Harry Moxam, who was a former Rotarian in Calgary, and who became a close friend in Victoria.

5)    “In reading the Preface, one learns that the book was sponsored by the Downtown Rotary Club of Calgary. Indeed, Cecil ends his preface with a Thank You to Rotary and the ideal of “Service Before Self.”

6)    Thank you, David, for sharing the vagaries of coincidence.

Perry, September and Dallas enjoying the amazing food at the Fireside

President Joan spoke about attending the recent “Fireside Chat” hosted by Jack Petrie. Pablo Diemecke had made the salad out of cactus plants! It was “delicious.” Joan presented Jack with a new Rotary decal for his car.

Pablo's famous Mexican cactus salad

Announcements

The Naval Military Dinner this year will be at the Union Club, Friday April 19, to which all Rotarians are invited. [Check your emails from Joan for details.]

Lorna Curtis told us only 30 tickets are left for the Tuscan Dinner on Saturday April 27. Vicki asked for more live auction items, and other donations, for our major annual fund-raiser.

Fines Master

Dallas Chapple continued her salubrious style of clanking loonies into the extended pots from a dozen people, especially from those not knowing the answer to such trivia questions as, “What two Canadian words have recently been added to the dictionary?” (“Bluenoser,” and “Smarties”). Happy/Sad dollars from Tricia, Lorna, David Philip “It’s good to be back” (and good to see you back), Vicki. Peter Lawrie won the 50/50 draw, but drew a black marble.

Introduction of Speaker, Dr Phil Neroutsos, by the Speaker!

Cap'n Dr. Phil

Dr Phil puts on a black cap and says, “I’ve known him for 77 years.” He tells us he’s practiced dentistry in Montreal for 20 years, and then 20 years in Victoria, before retiring. He wrote an outline for his speech, but his wife, Ruth, revised it and gave him a more detailed speech, in case he forgot what to say.

A summary of Ruth’s notes:

1. Career as a dentist: Montreal, 18 years, McGill University, Children’s Hospital, Victoria, 22 years. Demonstrate Oral Hygiene.

2. Rotary. Father-in-law, Tom Kelly, longtime member of Oak Bay Rotary, persuaded me to join. Was member of Downtown Rotary when practicing dentistry. Upon retirement joined Saanich Club, but now am here with Oak Bay Club. Been in Rotary over 35 years. Highlight was Presidency of Saanich Club during 100 year anniversary for Rotary, so filled with exciting events.

3. Family – Three children, one volunteered to teach in Tanzania, in addition, engineered the Pat Vickery Water Project, with original outlay of $1735 from Saanich Club, plus matching funds, raised $10,000.

4. Travels. “Fortunate to say I have pretty well been everywhere I wish to see.” Many of these trips around the world were precipitated by my wife’s representation on the Canadian Seniors' Tennis Team.

5. In Retirement. I keep busy mainly trying to maintain fitness. I hike, swim, & enjoy painting when the mood occurs. I read avidly and am learning to play bridge “in an effort to slow Alzheimer’s setting in.”

6. My interest in joining Oak Bay Rotary Club was due to the International Committee. I felt I could make a small contribution to the Dental Project in Guatemala. I donated $1,000 worth of instruments.”

Dr Phil demonstrated some useful dental hygiene equipment.

Blatant advertising for Arm and Hammer Teeth Whitening! 

Tricia Timmermans (right) thanked Phil Neroutsos (left), and presented him with a Oak Bay Rotary Book Marker, and a donation to Polio Plus. The mystery Arm (without Hammer) is Visitor Denis Pare of the Victoria Rotary Club.

Rotary Paparazzi

After The Queen, we disbursed, and the Rec Centre soon returned to its usual functions.