Reporter: Janette Nation
Greeter and Grace: Anne
McIntyre
Greeter and
Introduce Visitors: Lori McLeod
Host and Introduce Speaker:
Lynne Murray
Thank Speaker: Sandy
Currie
M/C: Bill Burns
Cashier: David Sills
50/50: Sanjay Uppal
Celebration Master: Jim
Laing
Set-up and Take-down:
Pablo Diemecke
We opened with O’Canada
Visiting
Rotarians:
Ronald Quigley, Boundary; Dr. John Snively, Nelson; Dr. Michael
Woolnough, Vancouver
Guests:
Johanna Kaipio Host: Jim Force; Manoy Poi Pui Host: Lori
Mcleod
Announcements:
- Jim Force mentioned that Johanna’s father was a guest a few weeks ago from Finland. We didn't have a banner and Jim gave Johanna a banner to give her Father. Johanna is a researcher at UVIC working in Health Care systems for 6 months. She loves the lifestyle in Victoria and the gardens in Spring.
- Mary had no news except Neil was having his surgery today.
- Peter Laurie, in Neil’s absence, reminded us all to take turns signing up for the car raffle car movements between June 4 to June 14.
- Pablo has a concert on June 6 at 2.30 pm, Saturday June 6, at St. Mary’s Church, on Elgin Road, Oak Bay. The next day there is a Fundraising concert in Sooke with admission by donation and all net proceeds going to Rotary! For more information, email: diemahler@shaw.ca
- The Interact Club is having a grand celebration on May 29th, at the Pavilion in Windsor Park. There will be speeches on how Interact has impacted their lives.
- Flag Sales Program: A most innovative flag sale. Don and Jim L. were selling flags. A woman couldn’t afford the money but wanted a flag. Jim asked if she made piroges. For a dozen piroges, they left a flag. Jim said they were so good he may buy another flag for her.
- Bob Schelle announced that next Tuesday, June 2, the meeting will be at the Oak Bay Rec. Centre. Bob will send out an email on where our lunches will be during June.
Celebrations Master, Jim Laing, spoke of a book autographed
by last week’s guest speaker that was left behind. He claimed that the
inscription inside read: “Bob, come up and see me some time. Love
Pammykins” It was sold for $3 but the scribe can’t recall if anyone
by the name of Bob bid on it.
50/50:
All those who weren’t wearing 2 pins; had no guest
at their table; failed to sign in; and didn't buy a flag had to pay $1. If late,
$2. Joan F. was fined a $1 for not
watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. Tom Croft fined $1 for adjusting his fly
during O’Canada (who was looking?). Perry was overdressed and therefore fined a
$1. Peter Laurie refused to shake hands in the bathroom and was fined $1 for that
omission. Lori didn't give a hug and
kiss so was fined $1. Jack Petrie’s shoes were on the wrong feet so fined a $1.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries:
Renate celebrated her 29th birthday. That
is what she said and she is sticking to that.
Jim Force and wife, Colleen, have been married 25 years. Jim said that
Colleen was, however, in Calgary, because she is looking after her first
husband who has had surgery and also looking after her first husband’s grandchildren. (What a
civilized couple.)
Anniversary: Lorna and Vicki P. celebrated 18 years
as Rotarians.
Happy
Sad:
Heather A. put in a $1 for being allowed
to speak and say that 50% of NHL are Canadians plus she put in $2 because
she and Alexander are going to Paris to watch the tennis.
Lori asked Mr. Maxwell to join her at the microphone
and gave him a pin that he should have been given years ago. Joan P. gave a happy $ because she had returned from
Stratford, ON, and it was -3c. She shared an anecdote on how small the world is:
She took only one of her two dogs to Stratford and walked into “Needles”, an appliance
store. One fellow there said, “You are from Victoria” and she answered “Yes”. He then said, “You have
two white dogs and you are with only one”. Lorna gave a happy dollar for her
18th year with Rotary. She thanked everyone for signing up for shifts and
reported that $20K had already been raised. Vicki P also gave a happy $ because
she had celebrated her 18th year with Rotary and said it was one of the best
things she ever did.
Brian Lamb was called up to do the draw.
Sandy won the 25/75 draw and didn't pull out the
black marble.
Guest
Speaker: Dr. Michael Woolnough on Project Amigo
Michael is a Radiologist and lives at Point Grey in
Vancouver. Michael is involved with a charitable project in Mexico called Project Amigo in Colima, Mexico.
Michael is a friend of Renate who is currently away.
He opened up with a joke about anniversaries, given the several 25th
anniversaries being celebrated in the Club. He said they reminded him of an
Italian couple who were having their golden wedding anniversary. He said that
for their 25th, he took her back to her home town in Sicily. What did
you do for your Golden, the chap was asked. The response was: “I am going back
to pick her up”.
Project Amigo is an independent non-profit corporation, not affiliated with Rotary International but works closely with it. The project started 30 years ago and is based out of San Franciso, CA
where it all started. It is focused on the way Rotarians can be involved
sponsoring children and the volunteer weeks one can spend there. He had been
about 10 times for a week in the winter. It is in Colima, Mexico, at an
altitude of 4000 ft. and approximately 1.5 hours inland from Manzanillo. There is a
volcano nearby that puffs smoke from time to time but is not active.
He showed a 12 minute video and then some slides.
The video showed what the people did without stoves and proper toilets.
Children go up to 6th grade but many drop out before that. Project Amigo was originally
confined to funding gifts and trips to the Museum. It now provides clothing, piñatas
and lunches. With the trips and experiences
outside their village, it gave the children of Colima a thirst for knowledge. They
now have excursions to the beach, turtle reefs, and boat trips. The children didn't
have shoes or books; they suffered from illnesses from non-potable water and mouth
infections, which kept the children out of school. Their living arrangements
were dirt floors and 7-10 people
sleeping in one room. Without help with homework, the children failed at school
and their parents were illiterate. The
project set up homework clubs with
tutors and a scholarship program. With grants from Rotary and charities in the U.S.A
and Canada, cyber cafes have been set up. Sponsors pay for tuition and books
etc. for university degrees at the University of Colima.
With fluoride, dental health has greatly improved
and there is also an optometrist available. Today, Project Amigo is addressing
the needs of migrant workers who come to
the sugar cane fields by providing them with such basics as food and clothing.
Project Amigo operates on donations and volunteers. Volunteers
come from the U.S. and Canada.The scholarship winners are based on need but have to attain an average grade of 9/10 at school in order to qualify
for a scholarship. The student then needs to maintain an 8.5 average to remain on
the scholarship. Scholarship winners are requires to give back with their time
and effort.
A glowing example he gave related to a girl who was one of 6 children, suffering
from physical abuse due to parental alcoholism.
She won a scholarship to do law and now holds a senior position in public
office.
A map of Colima was shown. It is a very poor State with sugar cane its main crop and industry. The sugar companies bring in migrant workers,
who come from poorer areas in Guerrero. They total a staggering 2 million and they
don't speak Spanish. Therefore, the children of these workers can't attend the local schools due to the language barrier. Sadly, they live in
appalling accommodation provided by the sugar companies. When boys are 8 or 9
they are given a machete and sent to work in the sugar cane fields. Project Amigo has
broken this miserable cycle by building a basic two room school and bringing in a teacher
who speaks their language as well as Spanish.
Donors can
support these people with just a $100 a year donation, which will provide the
basics, such as food, clothes and shoes. If you volunteer, you can deliver
books to help set up library and read to the people . Teaching
English with immersion are some of the duties in which you can become involved, and there is a Christmas
Fiesta during the week of December 6.
To read more about the project and sponsor a child for
only $100 a year click on: PROJECT AMIGO
Sandy thanked the speaker for being part of a greater
cause, the scholarship program and tackling
the migrant work problem; an incredibly worthwhile venture. A Rotary Mug
was given to Michael in appreciation of his excellent presentation.
President Jim thanked Bill for being MC for the last
two weeks and his work on the car raffle. Bill was given a Light Up Rotary pin. Bill
thanked those on rostered duties.
We ended with “The Queen”.
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