Program for July 23, 2013 – Cub Reporter David Sills
President Peter wished a
happy new year to Rotary as we begin our fortieth year as a Club in Victoria. His
opening remarks dwelt on the 2013-2014 Rotary theme “Engage Rotary, Change
Lives”. It’s a tough gig to address this gang of Rotarians. At one point a
hungry member was heard to interject – Let’s get on with the song!
Grace was provided by Lorna Curtis (left), who has just returned
from yet another whirlwind journey around the globe. She reminded us of our good
fortune to live in Canada and of our obligation to be of service to all in
need.
Our visitors were introduced by Ron Beyer:
Rotarian – Steve
Sharlow from Kanata, Ontario
Guests – Mike
Sharlow, brother of Steve Sharlow;
and Richard Acomba, guest of Joan Peggs.
and Richard Acomba, guest of Joan Peggs.
Black Jack (or was it
Jack Black?)
This is the last week for MMF - that’s Music Month Fines.
The S-at-A’s table questions were devoted to the music emanating from New
Orleans over the past fifty years. How maddening to know the answer and still
be fined when a table mate blurts out the wrong answer. Jack always provides
unusual facts – for example - more homes were lost in the recent gulf storm
than all of the houses presently existing in Greater Victoria and that Cuba
contributed more ‘blues’ material than any other country. Naturally he closed
his performance with reference to Louie’s classic…It’s a wonderful world. Let’s hope his next performance features opera music, which
was the theme in the classic 1930’s Groucho Marx movie, A Night at The Opera.
Happy / Sad dollars from Joan Peggs for a birthday
sleep-over at the Empress Hotel; from Lorna Curtis, who reckons that she made
over 93 flights and covered 250,000 kilometers in her last world odyssey; from
Claire Helm who is expecting a little Helm; from Vicki Pitt whose son is
leaving home by railway to work in Toronto; from Neil Rawnsley who attended a
celebration of life for former member Helen Biernes; and from Bill Burns who
first met Mike Sharlow 45 years ago.
Announcements
Thrifty Cards – Heather
Aked advised that this year’s program has been approved for $1,200 to purchase
document projectors for Macaulay School. She will have extra cards available
for members and friends in the near future.
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| Top prize in the raffle is this Nissan Rogue or $19,000 cash |
Club In a Pub – Jim Force reminded us of the monthly meeting this Thursday at The Penny Farthing. You might have a chance to continue discussing the Egyptian crisis with Leyland Cecco, last week’s speaker, who hopes to attend the gathering. This is the fourth year for this popular meeting which attracts an average of nine members each month.
Jim Force introduced our guest speaker, Jason Wilde, Food
& Beverage Manager at the Victoria Golf Club. Jason’s topic – How a
Canadian from Victoria landed a job at the prestigious Augusta National Golf
Course during the Masters Golf Tournament last month.
Jason attended a conference in Richmond, BC of The
Canadian Society of Club Managers where the guest speaker was Jim James, who is Senir Director, Club and Hospitality Operations at Augusta National Golf Club. While the other attendees filed out for lunch, he
waited by the stage to talk to Mr. James and tell him of his interest in
working at the Augusta event. It took some persistence but eventually his
request was forwarded to the Augusta clubhouse manager and finally to the
Director of Operations. He was accepted and appointed manager of Mackenzie’s Scottish Pub, a brand new venue in Berckman's Place itself a relatively new $60,000,000
complex at the Augusta course.
Jason reported that service
was first class in all four venues in Berckman's Place: The Pavilion, MacKenzie's Scottish Bar, Ike’s and Calamity Janes, with one server giving full attention to only two tables. There were
four attendants in each washroom. It shows what can be done with an unlimited
budget. It brought to mind that old adage – why use one person when four will
do! He recalled one day when a senior Augusta director showed up for lunch with
three friends. They were assigned a table with two attendants. The bar even
ordered in and served a specific orange juice for this director. This reporter
recalls a Canadian politician visiting London who had a predilection for $16 a
glass orange juice. The resulting notoriety quickly reduced her status in
parliament.
Despite his busy schedule Jason did manage to get an
occasional peek at the grounds. Since the complex is situated near the fifth
hole, he had easy access to the course. To his surprise the terrain was quite
hilly. Apparently 150,000 people attended the event on the last
day which should go a fair way (pun intended) in paying the expenses.
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| Jason, as featured in the TC. Photo by Bruce Stotesbury. Click here if you would like to read the TC's story. |
Tav Macpherson thanked Jason for his presentation. He appreciated the insights into the workings at
Augusta which gave him, so he said, the inspiration to continue with his modest
golfing efforts.
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| Name the colourful shirt wearer! Summer Days - let's hope they continue. At least till next Tuesday when we're meeting at the CPR Terminal |
For a little architectural significance and history on the CPR building, which was constructed in 1924, click here.
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