Meeting March 4, 2014 - Robert Bateman

Reporter: Lorna Curtis  Photos: David Sills & Jack Petrie

Ron Cooley welcomed visiting Rotarians and guests - he was almost the speaker as there were so many introductions. 

Visiting Rotarians: 

• Alan Jones - Saanich
• Kelly Sterk - Saanich 
• Leanne Stokes - Saanich 
• Gordon Quigley - Saanich 
• David Newberry - Victoria 

Guests: 

• Carla Ode - Lynne Murray
• Ryan Gisler - Janna Malo
• Bobby Sheafer - Joan Peggs, Kelly Sterk 
• Laura Randall Madson - Neil Madson
• Sharon Stoose-Johannknecht - Peter Johannknecht 
• Amy Campbell - Lori McLeod
• Iris Bannerman - Eugen Bannerman
• Paul Gilbert - guest of the club and today's speaker
• Christina J Hunter - Lynne Murray 
• Robert Bateman - guest of the club and today's speaker
• Jill Croft - Lynne Murray
• Ronnie Lee - Joan Firkins 
• Jeane Quigley - Gordon Quigley 

Gordon Quigley (above right with his wife Jeane and Membership Chair, Barry Mutter) was inducted as the newest Oak Bay Rotary Club member. Gordon has transferred from the Saanich Club. His wife Jeane was also welcomed into the Oak Bay Rotary family.

Jack Petrie circulated sign-up sheets for the Mardi Gras Party at his house on March 22nd. Jack showed a great video promoting the event. So let the good times roll!  

Sabrina announced the Memory Cafe tomorrow at Oak Bay Lodge. Interact and Rotaract students will be there; one Rotarian is needed to help. Please contact Sabrina if you would like to volunteer. 

Celebrations Master Jessica Van der Veen fined those not wearing Rotary pins. 

Will Carter and Jackie celebrate their 24th anniversary 

Happy birthday to Anne Sims - although this was already done last week! 

Happy/sad Dollars:

Gordon Quigley thanked everyone for the warm welcome to the club. 

Corey Burger started out for the Robert Bateman Gallery, then realized the meeting was at the hotel. 

Birthday girl Anne Sims won the draw after a second ticket had to be pulled - no one owned up to the first number. Best of all Anne pulled the white marble. 

Lori McLeod introduced speakers, Paul Gilbert and Robert Bateman. 

Photo: Linkedin

Paul Gilbert is the Executive Director of the Robert Bateman Foundation. Paul met Robert in 1965 as a high school art student and has continued an ongoing relationship with Bateman ever since. Prior to joining the Bateman Foundation, Paul was interim director of marketing for The Art Gallery of Ontario and was also the mastermind behind making Aeroplan Canada's premier loyalty program. Paul has an extensive background in environmental education and sustainability. 

Robert Bateman is one of the world's most celebrated wildlife artists and naturalists. Robert has greatly contributed to the field of sustainability, raising awareness around environmental topics such as ecology, biodiversity, vanishing habitats and endangered species. 

His work is in private collections and museums around the world. One of his many solo exhibits was at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. The Robert Bateman gallery opened in Victoria in May 2013 with over 100 of his works on display. 

Robert has been awarded 12 honorary doctorates and numerous other honours including the Officer of the Order of Canada. He has been the subject of several films and television programs. One public and two secondary schools have been named after him. 

Robert Bateman quote: I can't conceive of anything being more varied and rich and handsome than the planet Earth. And it's crowning beauty is the natural world. I want to soak it up, to understand it as well as I can, and to absorb it . . . And then I'd like to put it together and express it in my painting. This is the way I want to dedicate my life. 

Robert talked about the Lindblad expeditions. Lindblad introduced ecotourism in the world and was the first to take tours to China and Vietnam. Robert told tales and showed sketches (including the blue footed boobies) that were inspired by his adventures with Lindblad. Robert humorously  interpreted his sketches including doing the mating call for the cormorant. The Robert Bateman Foundation is offering a fundraising expedition in conjunction with Vision 2000 Travel Group to the Galapagos Archipelago, Darwin's living laboratory and home to an abundance of wildlife. Isolated from the mainland for millions of years, it is that rare wilderness where animals have no instinctive fear of humans. More information about this expedition can be found on the website www.vision2000travel.com/batemancruise 

Corey (standing, above) thanked Robert for his entertaining presentation and sharing his sketches which a number of us may not have seen.