Meeting of November 26, 2013 - Be Proactive – Retain Your Driving License

Reported by Joan Peggs.

A very vocal gathering (familiar faces, non familiar faces – they must be visitors!) welcomed luncheon attendees as they entered the David Foster Foundation Theatre. David Westler  and Jessica Van der Veen were the Greeters; David Sills was distributing the new roster (if you were not at the meeting you need to ask David for one); George took our lunch money; Lynne took the gamble money!

The meeting began punctually with Assistant President (PP) Brian Lamb at the microphone. He passed on words of wisdom from President Peter Lawrie (who is unfortunately ill) with regards to Foundation month, reminding us that the first donation to the Foundation was $26.20. If each member makes this small contribution for the year, Oak Bay Rotary Club would qualify for EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year). And if you think you cannot afford it, remember there are no meetings on December 24^th and 30th; your Lunch Money totals more than the first donation to The Rotary Foundation.

All members use their talents, time and treasures (great alliteration!!) to make a difference.

Fortunately the piano was accessible, enabling Tom Lidkea to play O Canada – what a difference in the singing with a good pianist and piano!  Always appreciate it when you are there Tom!

David Westler said the blessing which ended with a heart full of grace (yes, we all should have a heart full of grace and blessings).

Guests filed to the head of the line with members filing in behind. A great lunch awaited us; salads, lightly steamed seasonal vegetables (yellow beets especially for PDG Joan!) and a sausage pasta.

The delectable desserts (mouth sized morsels) were set off to the side.

Guests were introduced by Jessica Van der Veen

Visiting Rotarians:

Gabriel Lopez – Victoria Club (owner of Himulco Shoes)

Catherine Woodland – Rotary Club of Albuquerque

Steve Wallace - Victoria Club ( guest speaker)

Mary Coward – Victoria Club, Harbourside

Guests:

Ronnnie Lee, guest of Joan Firkins

Derek Delves, guest of Tom Croft (Derek is a former member of the club)

Joan Wallace, wife of, and guest of the guest speaker

Ann Davenport, guest of Leslie Rogers-Warnock

Ruth Neroutsos, guest of her husband and club member, Phil Neroutsos

Announcements:

1. Rod Sim detailed the distributed information sheet on the Salvation Army Kettle schedule. More information will be arriving via ClubRunner. Please sign up for many shifts!!

2.     Leslie Rogers-Warnock reminded all members of the 34^th Annual Merrython, on December 1^st, at the Henderson Recreation Centre (that's this Sunday in case you did not realize it is now the end of November!!) Qualifies for attendance!!

3.     President-Elect Jim Force had three announcements:

a: Paul Harris Fellow Dinner – on Thursday, March 6^th, 2014 – the purpose is to honour deserving citizens; deadline for nominations is Tuesday December 17^th; nomination forms will be circulated by Perry Bamji. Put the date in your calendars!

b: Club in A Pub – Thursday November 28^th at 5 pm. Upstairs in The Penny Farthing Pub; celebrate American Thanksgiving. This gathering is also a credit for attendance!!

c: CAT experience - Saturday November 30^th between 10 am and 1 pm. Uplands Park. Meet at the Northwest Park entrance on the Midland Road cul-de-sac. Another event that qualifies for attendance!

4.     John Jordan reminded us of the possibility of including Rwanda in your Christmas list.

5.     Mary Coward – President of the Victoria Club, Harbourside, is selling Christmas cakes – they're full of fruit, soaked in brandy. A major fundraiser for her club. They make great Christmas gifts. $25

Fines Guru for November – PP Ron Cooley: he listed them fast and furiously (difficult to keep up!)

no pin, no name tag - $1; if you have your Christmas decorations in place - $1; $1 to be paid by Dallas for a newspaper clipping of many years ago; and another $ as she has not aged!

Happy and Sad $$$$  - they all appeared to be happy $s:

Neil R – Happy $5 – John Snively was not able to make a donation to the Foundation as it did not register his Guatemala address. He ventured out to the end of his dock and successfully made the correct connection to enable him to make a donation

Peter J – Happy $10; just returned from Germany where the family celebrated (and celebrated and celebrated!!) his brother's 50^th birthday; returning home via San Francisco enabled him to celebrate his Mother-in-Law's 70^th birthday.

Dallas – a birthday celebration profited Nordstroms; Dallas made a $100 to Shelterbox as a birthday donation

Corey - $10 – has missed a lot of meetings and thus no fines. "Here's to the fines I missed!!"

Derek Delves - great to be back visiting the club

Lucky draw – Peter J (helped with the trip expenses!). Unfortunately Peter drew a black marble.

Neil R. introduced the guest speaker – Steve Wallace

Steve has had a very varied career: a teacher, Mayor of Quesnel, a renowned athlete (many years ago), on many boards, and he's the owner of Wallace Driving School. To date Steve has instructed 20,000 students at the driving school. Here are his tips:

Be Proactive – Retain Your Driving License.

1. Beware – after the age of 80 you might be tested – opt for the ICBC means of testing, not the one named  DriveAble (this one seems to be set up to automatically fail older drivers).

2.   Prepare – if you are called into the doctor's office have all documents at the ready

3.   Don't Despair – some solutions for some tricky tests:

a.   make certain you always proceed into the intersection while waiting to make a left hand turn (look for the sensors) 

b.   stop signs – stop before the natural path of the pedestrian (there might be no stop sign, no stop line) 

c.   shoulder check – do not do this too early or too late – this might be tricky! 

d.   use your headlights – much easier to determine the position of the vehicle 

e.   vigorously observe playground and school zone speeds 

f.   do not tailgate – 4 way flashers can be used to alert a driver if you feel they are tailgating you. Always give yourself a space cushion - a means of escape if necessary 

g.   do not speed up when you are being overtaken 

New Rules of the Road

1.   using hand held electronic devices – automatic $167 fine and 3 demerit points. Honk 3 times if you are beside a driver who is using their device. 

2.   move over if there is an emergency vehicle behind you or you approach one – fine of $173 and 3 demerit points if you do not. 

3.     in roundabouts signal when you are exiting the circle.   

The above information was presented in a very humorous, lighthearted fashion but all members got the message.

Steve was appropriately thanked by Tom Lidkea. Brian presented Steve with the Rotary mug.

The meeting closed in the nick of time with the singing of God Save The Queen.