Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 12 July 2016 - David Stocks - Rotary's Response to the Panama Papers

Reporter: Wynn 
In her opening remarks, President Lori said that the new Rotary Club of Pierce County will be the 91st in our District. We sang a slow version of  O Canada and Helen gave the Invocation.

Lori brought a triangle as the musical instrument of the day, to keep us in order. 

Lynn Murray introduced the Visiting Rotarians and Guests: 
David Stocks, West Shore, our Guest Speaker, 
Deryk Norton, South Cowichan
Kate Hobin, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario
Bruce Hobin, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario
Kyle Ballew,Waco downtown
Tholoana  (Tooli) Kamohelo - Guest of Naida

John Jordan’s Rotary Moment was an update on the Rwanda projects.Talgen was the first student in the program to graduate from university, Rosalind won a national merit scholarship to study medical technology and is soon to be married,
Emmanuel has completed two years of medical school and is volunteering over  summer with the boys' part of the reproductive health program.
The girls' part of this health program is doing well with their washable hygiene pads and healthy mums group.
The New Grant for next year is for Health Multiplier and Youth Entrepreneurship and includes the stove, garden and toilet programs.
John ended with Jack’s help by showing a model of the lavatory which is hygienic, and also provides fertilizer for the fields.

Birthday!
Lori and Naida led the celebration of Tholoana’s (Tooli) 24th birthday. Naida commissioned the Oak Bay Beach Hotel to bake a chocolate cake. (Probably the most delicious I have ever tasted - editor's note). This  was Tooli's first ever birthday cake and after we sang happy birthday, she blew out the candles. Tooli is a nursing and midwifery graduate from Lesotho and Naida is very proud to have sponsored her to Canada for 3 months.

Health of the Club: David S is still in hospital. He would welcome visits

Announcements:

• Joan Peggs advised that the District Conference and DLTA would be combined on May 4,5,6, 2017 on Bainbridge Island.
• Joan circulated an envelope for donations of $20  to enable Rotaract and Interact members to attend our Tuesday lunch meetings.

50/50: Celebrations Master Perry  Bamji fined everyone for a lukewarm welcome and himself for forgetting to tell us last week who was on the PI committee. 
Jenny and Jack were fined because they didn’t shake hands with the Greeter; 
Janna because she didn’t sign in, and everyone paid $1 for enjoying Tooli’s birthday cake.
We sang happy birthday to Heather and Peter L.
Anniversaries: Heather and Tim (17), Jenny and Lloyd (37), Tav and Diane (43)

Happy and Sad Dollars:
Mary C was happy because Pablo had a great concert in Russia and she has the link
Janette gave a $1 because Kate and Bruce from Niagara on the Lake Club, were at her table and  are moving to Victoria. She hopes they will join our club.
Heather presented a cheque for $73 to honour Alexander’s straight A report, her and Tim’s anniversary, and her $26 donation to the RI Foundation. She is soon off to England on holiday.
Michelle was happy because the Hotel has a new owner and she will continue as Manager.
Joan P advised that Neil Madsen will need rides home from Rotary as he is no longer driving.
Will Carter gave $20 - $2 for his time in rotary and $18 for Heather’s friendship.

Guest Speaker: David Stocks

Mr. Stocks is an electrical engineer in computers and control systems and has been a management consultant for over 40 years. He specializes in developing long term strategies for client organizations. He also delivers training courses and personal coaching in the fields of strategic planning, consultign skills, methodologies, sales skills, sales management, project management, presentation skills and effective writing. He has conducted training assignments in North America, Australia and Europe. He has ben active in community affairs by serving on various boards, commissions and community associations.

The following is a summary of David Stock's presenation:

"Why do poor countries, like Malawi, stay poor?  This question has been on my mind for about 8 years.  The search for the answer led to reading several books, attending some workshops at RI Conventions, and getting to know a couple of the leaders in the worldwide effort to clean up the international financial system.  One of those leaders, Raymond Baker, spoke about financial corruption at the 2012 District Conference here in Victoria.  Also, two of my “DG Letters” discussed aspects of the subject.

In 2015, South Cowichan Rotarian Deryk Norton built a Facebook page called Rotarian Advocacy Group for Business Ethics.  I started a Discussion Forum called Rotarians for Financial Integrity on the RI web site.

A few months ago, I started to promote the idea that Rotarians could work to improve the international financial system.  Early versions of the presentation were focused on convincing people that tax havens existed and were bad.  The Panama Papers threw a wrench into my plans!  Now everybody knows something about the evils of tax havens.

The presentation now is a call to action for Rotarians.  If we can harness the power of 1,200,000 Rotarians, we can make a better economic world for hundreds of millions of people."

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 5 July 2016 - Lori McLeod - New Board Presentations

Reporter: Wynn 
Photo: Bob Schelle

Our new President Lori opened the first meeting of the New Rotary Year together and began by giving the Director pins to Mandy, Lorna and Joan F. as they missed the Installation last Tuesday.

We began formally by singing O Canada in Tom Lidkea’s preferred version which was more upbeat and shorter by two seconds.

Helen gave the Invocation.

Guests:

There was one visiting Rotarian, Bruce Willis from Laguna Beach, but no non-Rotarian guests.

As Lori had a full meeting there was no Sergeant at Arms today.

The draw was at the end of the meeting. Neil Rawnsely had the winning ticket but picked the wrong marble.

In her opening remarks President Lori told us that each month has a Rotary Theme.

The theme for July is, ‘A New Rotary Year’ and in this spirit she has planned that each of the new Directors would speak to us about their goals for the coming Rotary Year.

Lori asked if each of the Directors could email their prepared notes to the Bulletin Editor so that a fuller version of their plans and goals would be available than one overheard by your humble scribe.

Lori wishes to make greater use of ‘Rotary Moments’ as a means of communication information.

As each month has a theme, the Director whose portfolio is most relevant to that theme will be asked to take at least one meeting in the month with that theme.

Among our August Rotary moments will be John Jordan on Rwanda.

Committee Reports

YOUTH SERVICES

Janna was pleased with the trust put in her as a first time Director.

Anne MacIntyre will cover for her when she has to take some maternity leave later this year.

Janna has two goals: to raise $1,500 through mini fundraisers such as a Nearly New Sale in November and to provide a Rotary presence in the community by volunteering more e.g. reading to elementary school children.She hopes to send three students to RYLA, in Comox, in October and one to Adventures in Citizenship in Ottawa.

The Youth Budget is $5,850

She hopes we will continue to invite Interact and Rotartact members to lunch at the Hotel and to that end an envelope began circulation requesting members to donate $20 towards a luncheon guest.  This opportunity will continue for several meetings.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Neil Rawnsley, Chair

The Salish Sea Marine Kiosk project started last year and needs completion.

Two more bicycle racks are scheduled for Uplands Park.

The Thrifty Smile Card program will continue to be Janette's responsibility. 5% of all money loaded onto the Smile Cards, to a maximum of $2,000 can be used for an approved community project and this year, the money will go towards two new picnic tables at the Carnarvon Waterpark.

Carnarvon Park is to be redeveloped by Recreation Oak Bay and stakeholders such as us will be asked for our input. With the demolition of some buildings there will be the possibility of the expansion of the Waterpark.

We will continue to support George Jay School and we hope to use some of the money in the Ted Harrison Legacy Fund at Monterey  Middle School, possibly a woodworking project.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Co-chair Mandy gave the report as Peter Lawrie are in Vancouver to celebrate the birth of their 

grandson, Logan.

$3,500 has been budgeted for John Jordan’s Rwanda project, $1,000 for Naida’s Lesotho project, $2,000 for the Malawai Girls School, and several others including a project in Cambodia for which ManDy is holding a fundraiser in Vancouver in August.

Two proposed fundraisers for next summer, 2017, are ’Strut your Mutt” and an Asian Fusion Barbeque.

PUBLIC IMAGE

This is once again Perry's responsibility. Perry's goal is to publicize all the good work we are doing both to the Club and to the public. Our Website needs rejuvenating and to make this happen we are hiring  a professional web developer at a cost of $3,000 with our Rotary discount.

Perry was pleased with the amount of coverage we have been receiving in the Oak Bay News and Victoria Times-Colonist. Giles encouraged us to continue this avenue of publicity.

The next Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Dinner will be held on Thursday March 2, 2017 and the committee will be asking for nominations.

MEMBERSHIP
Lorna is happy to be back on the Board in this role as nothing happens without members.

Membership, she said is more than coming to a lovely lunch at the hotel for Rotary, it is a Service Club. Current members are asked to look for where there are gaps in the classification of members and keep a lookout for newcomers to Victoria who would make great prospective members.

ROTARY FOUNDATION COMMITTEE (INTERNATIONAL)

Committee Members:

Joan Firkins, Chair

Neil Rawnsley

Ron Cooley

Brian Lamb

Will Carter

Goals for the Rotary Year

• Joan F will be putting a $10 bill in each new member kit, along with a brief blurb about the Foundation, to be used for their first contribution to our Foundation.
• Once a month we will have someone at a Foundation collection table for members to make their annual contribution or any additional contributions to the Foundation i.e. $26.50 to celebrate the Rotary Foundation’s Centennial.
• 3 or 4 minutes at each meeting, twice a month, for either me or someone else to give a testimonial about their involvement in the Foundation and/or to provide the club with information as to how our club is doing towards meeting our goals. 
• Joan F will be putting together a display for the club of all the different types of recognition pieces there are re varying levels of contributions – it makes for a pretty impressive display and is a great talking point.
• Probably twice during the year I will initiate a Special Recognition Matching program that will hopefully incent people to give – I and many others of us have multiple recognition points that can be used for this purpose and it is normally a successful practice.
• We will ensure we have at least one fundraising drive to raise $2,650 for PolioPlus.
• Goals will be entered in Rotary Club Central for our Rotary Foundation.
• This is the Foundation's Centennial Year. The Foundationstarted with a donation by Arch Klumpf 100 years ago of $26.50 USD. This amount would be $536 in today’s dollars.
  To help President Lori earn the Presidential Citation, Joan would like each Club Member this year to donate $26.50 USD to the Foundation (approximately $34 CAD)

OAK BAY ROTARY FOUNDATION (LOCAL)

5 Directors

Tav – President

Joan P – Vice President

Rod – Secretary

Ron C – Treasurer

Steve – Director

Heather – liaison of Club Foundation and Club Board

Scholarships – 2 awarded this year to Oak Bay High students

2nd year of awarding Oak Bay Rotary Scholarship, 1^st year of awarding  Sno'uyutth Legacy Scholarship.

Rotary Scholarship – open to all students - approx. $30,000 in funds. Monies accumulated from donations. Scholarship value $1,000

Sno'uyutth Legacy Scholarship – First Nations, Metis and Inuit students – approximately $15,000 in funds. Monies from Frank Sinatra 100^th Birthday Concert (December 2015), some of the surplus funds from the Sno'uyutth Welcome Pole. Scholarship value $500.

Funds for both scholarships are invested through Scotia Bank

Scholarship Selection Committee  

Joan P

Marilyn McCrimmon – retired SD 61 secondary school teacher. Well versed in student preparation of scholarship application, completing scholarship applications, scholarship selection (bio is on RCOB F web site)

Representative from Clubs' Youth Services Committee – Alyx Gilgunn-Valdal (a recipient of numerous scholarships)

Scholarship Process -

Marilyn, Scott Alexander (OBHS) and Joan P worked on the application forms. Approved by OBRF Directors. Scott distributed them to students at OBHS. He collected them, sent them to me. Selection committee members were sent applications for reading, dissection and comments! Scholarship committee met for discussion and selection

Applications:

2 for Sno'uyutth Legacy Scholarship – Recipient - Ellery Kirkland

5 for Oak Bay Rotary Scholarship – Recipient - Jessica Izard

Donations to both scholarships/and or the Foundation  can be made to Treasurer, on line (oakbayrotaryfoundation.org), in your will, life insurance policy.
Fundraising proposals should be presented to Joan’s committee who will vet them and forward them to the Board for approval.

CLUB ADMINISTRATION

Director:  Bob Schelle. 

Lunch Program: Bob Schelle

Selects speakers (co-ordinate with President)

Schedules speakers (contact, schedule, confirmation, reminder, thank you letter)

Advises Master of Ceremony of list of members assigned duties

Ensures guests are escorted to front of meal line

Blocks out schedule for club assembly meetings as required by President 

Provides meeting & speaker info to website administrator

Upload meeting photos to ClubRunner for storage

Sergeant at Arms: Lynne Murray

Emails members re roster duties

Receives substitute member info for absent members for lunch duties

Introduces new Members and their sponsor when they are being inducted

Submits list of lunch attendance names to Secretary

Reports the attendance to D5020 monthly

Meeting Venue:  Bob Schelle

Coordinates with OBBH regarding lunch meeting venue and special requirements

Coordinates with OBBH regarding meeting rooms for committee meetings

Roster: Bob Schelle

Assigns lunch time duties in 3 month increments

Assigns double duty for LOA and travelling members

Ensures members or substitutes are available for performing duties

Maintains a list of LOA members

Bulletin editor: Janette 

Receives weekly meeting notes from the assigned reporter; edits notes and uploads the bulletin and photos from the photographers, to the website.

Notifies members when the new bulletins have been published online.

Lunch Photographer: Jack Petrie, Steve, Mandy, Eugen

Take photos during lunch

Send photos to bulletin editor

Send photos to Bob Schelle for uploading to ClubRunner site for storage

Social Convener: Wendy Townsend

Selects and coordinates venue and food for lunch for 5th Tuesday’s social meetings

Initiates and coordinates other Club socials in consultation with the President

Website Administrator: Vacant

Maintenance of club website including updating program, roster, event and member information

TREASURER'S REPORT - Vicky Pitt
Vicki gave a brief budget presentation….the good news is that we are in the black.
A more detailed report will be given later.

SOCIAL EVENTS - mark these in your calendar if you are in town:

• Our next social is a Kitchen Party on August 6, at Bob S's house. 4 pm - 8.30 pm. Bring your swimsuit! Liquid refreshments, great food and live music. $30 per person. Sign up sheet circulating. See Lorna for a ticket!
• The District Governor's Salmon BBQ at Sooke is at 3-6 p.m., August 21. Cost $40 each. See Lori McLeod for tickets.

Lori closed the meeting with a video of Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney singing

and playing a piano duet "Ebony and Ivory".

Click here to view this video on Youtube

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 28 June 2016 - Installation of the 2016/2017 Board

Reporter: Sandy Currie

Lori McLeod is the new President and her theme is Rotary Serving Humanity (which fits very nicely with the Rotary International’s global theme).  Other members of the Board are: Heather Aked (Past President); Treasurer (Vicky Pitt ); Secretary (Jenny Hildibrand); Administration (Bob Schelle); (Community Services (Neil Rawnsley; Youth Services (Janna Gisler); Public Information (Perry Bamji); International (Peter Lawrie/Mandy Pui); President-Elect (Wendy Townsend); Membership: Lorna Curtis 

Lori has also designated a Coordinator for Fund-Raising position that reports directly to her (Joan Peggs). In addition Tav McPherson noted that Lori replaces him as the Chair of the Board Nominating Committee.

Brian Lamb will serve as Lori’s Mentor 

Guests:

Bruce Willis from Laguna Beach California was the lone visiting Rotarian.

Guests included: Irene Wiggans (Lori’s Mum); Marie Peach (Lori’s friend); Lesley Ochemuller (Joan Pegg’s friend); Laura & Dan Malo (Janna’s parents); Tim Doherty (Vicky’s husband); Jill Croft (Tom’s wife); Thully Kamobelo  (Naida’s friend); and Alexander Ewanchuk (Heather’s son).

Phil N won the 50/50 draw.

The Highlight of the meeting was Lori conducting the new Board members as a Bell Choir. This is not an easy thing to do. Each of the members is given a bell that is pitched to a musical note. The “new” Bell Choir following Maestro Lori’s impeccable conducting produced a sound that simply mesmerized the assembled Rotarians.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 21 June, 2016

No bulletin notes provided

 Outgoing Pres. Heather Aked and incoming Pres. Lori McLeod

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 7 June 2016 - Interact presentations: RYLA and Rotary Adventure in Citizenship

Reporter: Jenny Hildebrand

Eugen Bannerman welcomed us and opened the meeting with an Aboriginal prayer. 

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Welcomed by Janette 

Ginette Thomas – West Ottawa Club

Bill Ashley – Port Angeles, Washington

Chris Garrett, Friends of Uplands Park

Jacque Sirois, Friends of Uplands Park

Chris Hyde-Lay, Oak Bay Rec

Tim Hintz, Guest of Lori McLeod

Interactors:

Tara Matthews

Nikki Frazer

Health of the club:  No news this week

Announcements:

• Lori was awarded a New Members pin for bringing 2 new members into the club.
• August 21^st is the District salmon barbeque to be held in Sooke.  There are already a few members planning to attend from our club and car-pooling is a possibility.  Tickets are $40.00.
• Please note on June 14th we’ll be holding our lunch at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) at the Oak Bay High School. The occasion is to provide our members a look at the NLC and particularly the Teen Room for which our club funded the fitting out of the room.  The suggested area for parking is at the north end of the OB Rec Centre parking lot. The High School is a short walk from there.

Celebrations Master:  Victoria Pitt

Victoria levied several fines today: Pablo for leaving early, an unnamed person who left their cell phone on … oops!, anyone who had not yet paid their yearly dues, anyone who had not yet confirmed or declined attendance for next week’s lunch as well as anyone in the raucous group near the back who continued talking once the meeting was called to order!

Birthdays: Jana, Barry, Wendy and Vicki (today).

Anniversaries: Heather (19), Wendy (4), Jim Laing (5), Vicki

Happy and Sad Dollars:

Lori is looking for nominations for a Valued Elder Recognition Award.

Joan F. enjoyed the 4 day Rotary International Convention in South Korea with 45,000 other Rotarians which included a fascinating tour of the demilitarized zone.

Jack announced Jazz Fest tickets are selling fast with some of the main shows already sold out.

Naida is delighted that her young friend from Lesotho’s visitor’s visa was approved this morning.

Mandy enjoyed a great visit with her adorable 5 month old niece in Vancouver over the weekend.  Mandy asked for the club’s support of a June 17^th Disaster Aid fundraising event to be held at Centennial Square which will raise funds to assist with the rebuilding of Fort McMurray.

Wendy is pleased her two sons are in Ecuador together.

Helen, as a former resident of Ottawa, was pleased to hear Nikki had a good experience at the Rotary Citizen Program recently held there.

Vicki gave $100 in celebration of her combination birthday and club anniversaries which she pointed out did not add up to 100!

50/50: Don had the winning ticket but did not draw the black marble.

Guest Speaker: Jim Force announced our Interact speakers Tara Matthews and Nikki Frazer.

Presentations: 

Tara Matthews: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Tara attended the RYLA Conference at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, March 10^th-13^th, 2016 which she found a stretching and transformative experience. 

Highlights:

Interesting keynote speakers including a Holocaust survivor, a professor from UW who discussed the politics of scarcity and the future of diversity in America, an interactive lecture on healthy living.

Meeting other likeminded and deep thinking students with whom she could interact around issues of substance.

Action groups of approximately 10 students which were formed to put together a skit based on learnings from the lectures and which was performed on the last evening of the event.

Overall, Tara felt the conference was a unique opportunity to expand her world view and one which made her a deeper person with new aspirations of how she can engage throughout her life to make the world a better place.

Nikki Fraser: Rotary Adventure in Citizenship Program

Nikki recently attended the 66^th Annual Citizenship Program in Ottawa with 203 other students from across Canada.  Nikki found the experience to be personally expanding and one which left her extremely grateful and proud to be a Canadian.  She thanked Rotary for the opportunity and encouraged them to continue sponsoring this valuable event.

Highlights included:

An icebreaker which allowed students to meet, engage and make new friends from across Canada

A mock election campaign

Inspiring speakers on relevant topics including Canadian Human Rights, Women in Politics (Elizabeth May) and Syrian Refugee Resettlement (Phil Gurski)

Tours of Parliament Hill and the House of Commons

Participation in an emotionally moving Canadian Citizenship Ceremony

Chris Hyde-Lay: Oak Bay Parks and Recreation, Community Service Team

Chris thanked the Club for our generous $6,000 donation which will go towards the installation of two bike racks and four educational panels at Uplands Park and Cattle Point. 

Wynn thanked the guest speakers for their inspiring presentations and pointed out the spirit of Socrates was alive and well in that our student presenters have clearly taken the maxim “know thyself” to heart.

The meeting was closed with the playing of the national anthem of Serbia.

(Steve S. was still grappling with the responsibilities of being cashier for the day.)

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 24 May 2016 - Christopher Donison on "Music by the Sea", Bamfield

Reporter: Ron Cooley

Lynn Murray delivered the Invocation

Phil Neroutsos introduced the visitors and guests

Visiting Rotarians: Dr. John Snively, Nelson; Rob Garry, Victoria; Roger Finan Victoria

Interactors: Ruby Tang; Tara Matthews

Guest: Christopher Donison Guest Speaker

Announcements:

• President Heather informed us that the District Governor Joanne Croghan will not visit our club this year and as an alternate, we can meet her at a Salmon BBQ Aug 21, 2016 3-6pm at the Charter River Salmon Interpretive Centre 2895 Sooke River Road. Tickets are $40pp  spouses/partners are welcome. No Host bar. Tickets (200 only) available until Aug 5, 2016 See President Heathe.
• Neil Rawnsley read a thank you from Principal/Directrice Terri Smith Ecole George Jay Elementary: 

"I wanted to say thank you again for the "big deal'" you made for our students last week; they were tickled pink and are still talking about how fancy the lunch was. On another note, I would like to invite your members to join us for Rock the Salish Sea; our upcoming concert including Holly Arntzen and the George Jay Singers. Thursday June 2, 7pm Victoria High School Auditorium doors open 6:30. Tickets $10 at George Jay or at the door.

• Bob Schelle has sent out a notice requesting dates you will be away for the next year as he is putting together the Roster for the year. Please respond ASAP. It is your responsibility to find a replacement if you can not make your assigned duty. He has only had 20 responses.

50/50:

Lorna Curtis our Celebrations Master started off with $1 for anyone who did not sit with her.

$1 for anyone who did not have a flag for the long weekend.

$1 to John Snively for missing him

$1 to Sanjay Uppal for  not doing the bulletin

Birthdays: Anne McIntyre May 26; Renate Gibbs May 28

Club Anniversaries: Jim Force  & Steve Sharlow.

Joan Peggs was happy we had 321 Flags out over the long weekend. Sad we lost 5.

President Heather won the draw --sad no marble to win the big pot.

Guest Speaker: Christopher Donison

Joan Peggs introduced our speaker. 

Composer, conductor, pianist, inventor and interior decorator.

He started in the music world in 1976 at the Belfry Theater.

He is a flag subscriber

His most recent project is to present the largest musical instrument in the world. Music By the Sea is a 10 year old project to create an international level music festival and mentoring school in the historic village of Bamfield on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  In past seasons, the season was launched with a set of fanfares performed by a trumpet in a rowboat from the middle of the inlet, performing a back and forth piece of music with other musicians on the shore and the Coast guard providing cannon fire and sirens.

For the 10th anniversary, he has developed, in conjunction with Limbic Media of Victoria, a system which will enable a performer with a keyboard to "Play" a set of tuned ships horns remotely. The system uses compressed air supplied buy Scuba tanks to sound the horns.

The project is building 25 horns each tuned differently over a 2 octave range. This will be the largest musical instrument in the world.

The system has attracted a humpback whale on both occasions it was used.

For Canada's 150th Birthday celebration, the system will play God Save the Queen, O' Canada and a specially written new piece for the event.

You will be able to access this remotely and listen to it on your smart phone. There is a Ted talk about the Centennial Square presentation.

Music by the Sea; Bamfield, Vancouver Island BC July 2-10 http://www.musicbythesea.ca or call 250-728-3887.

There are packages available with hotel. Best way to travel is fly 1 way and return by water on the "Lady Rose" to Port Alberni.

Don O'Coffey thanked the Speaker.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 31 May, 2016 - Kim Scott – Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association

Reporter: Jenny Hildebrand

Jim Force welcomed us and opened the meeting with “O Canada” followed by a short video clip featuring Ruby Tang’s closing remarks at the Youth Services wind-up event at Windsor pavilion last Friday evening.. 

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

 Kim Scott - Guest Speaker

Tracey Lemke – Friend of Kim Scott

Sarah Lett – Friend of Alyx G

Alyson Hawksnooma

Dr. John Snively – Nelson Rotary

Katie Coard – Downtown Victoria Rotary

Health of the club:  No news this week

Announcements:

• Please note on June 14th we’ll be holding our lunch at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) at the Oak Bay High School. The occasion is to provide our members a look at the NLC and particularly the Teen Room for which our club funded the fitting out of the room.  The suggested area for parking is at the north end of the OB Rec Centre parking lot. The High School is a short walk from there.
• Janette encouraged us to purchase Thrifty’s smile cards which are like gift cards that can be loaded at the check out with your credit card. 5% of the money loaded into the card goes towards our Club and this year will go towards the installation of  new picnic tables at the Carnarvon Rotary Water Park on Henderson Road.
• Jim announced the news that Lori has received a $25K grant for the Memory Café.

Celebrations Master:  Victoria Pitt

Ted Chambers and Renata Gibbs were fined for not responding to emails this week. Victoria tried to fine Anne McIntyre as well but was informed that Anne had in fact responded to her email in a timely manner!  Victoria quickly recanted and with her usual good humour agreed to pay the fine herself. 

Realtors and Investment advisors were fined as clearly they have pockets full of cash due to the recent boom in the housing market. Ron Cooley was fined for missing his absent wife too much!

In response to the following quote by Buddha “There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle”, which was read by Ruby Tang at the Youth Services wind-up, Victoria fined all who haven’t had a lit candle on their table during the past week.

Happy and Sad Dollars:

Naida has been working diligently since January to bring a Lesotho midwifery student here for a visit.  The student’s plane is due to depart tomorrow but sadly she has so far been unable to secure a visa.

Jack Petrie purchased a Thrifty Smile Card under his alias “Irving?” giving Janette cause to laugh.

Tom L. enjoyed a few compliments this morning while parking his sporty BMW 1200 motorcycle!

Pablo has been invited to play in the Krasnoyarsk International Music Festival in Russia, as soloist with the festival orchestra, June 26, 2016!

Jack Petrie and his wife enjoyed a holiday last week in West Vancouver where they had a firsthand look at how dramatically neighbourhoods are being impacted as a result of the heated real estate market.  Jack and his wife encountered streets devoid of children, dog walkers and regular residents.  There was, however, an abundance of luxury cars, gardening service providers and private security firms actively managing the empty properties.

50/50: Penny had the winning ticket but did not draw the black marble.

Guest Speaker:  Kim Scott – Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA)

Our guest speaker was Kim Scott from the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association who gave us a heartwarming and inspiring presentation.  Kim shared how her involvement with the VTRA over the past 10 years has provided her with a wealth of life enriching training and support.  Through the VTRA programs Kim has developed a unique skill set and significant personal abilities which assist her in facing the challenges she encounters, as a person living with cerebral palsy.

As a child Kim did not excel in sports but loved animals and was “horse crazy”!  When she joined the VTRA she was still having trouble walking on her own and so her parents were reasonably quite worried.  Even so, they gave her the support she required and within one year Kim was able to ride independently and find great pleasure in a sport she could finally excel in.  Kim certainly has excelled and is now long listed for Canada’s Para-Equestrian Dressage team.  Kim also teaches gymnastics on horseback, mentors young riders and coaches!

Kim started public speaking when she was 13 years old as part of the United Way campaign trail and which she contributed to for 3 years.  She is a member of a Community Living Victoria youth team who give presentations at middle schools promoting disability awareness.

Kim shared her story of how horses have been her healers through her journey with cerebral palsy and the anxiety and depression she has faced.  She has turned her healing and passion into her career and now works to assist others overcome their own personal challenges.  Kim wants everyone to find the support they need to “reach for their dreams and goals”!

Kim received positive encouragement and feedback from the audience at the conclusion of her talk.

Kim thanked the audience, answered further questions and concluded by stating that she includes in her “support team” all those who give her a kind word, through to those who support her financially through corporate and personal donations.  She is hopeful that in the near future she will meet the required goals that will allow her to qualify for Sports BC Funding.

Naida thanked Kim for her inspiring and informative talk and encouraged her to keep up her great work.

Jim showed a short video clip of Ruby Tang accepting a Paul Harris Fellowship award for her work on many fronts including heading the Amnesty International Club, the Environmental Club and the Interact Club at Oak Bay High.  Ruby was delighted and overwhelmed and paid tribute to her fellow team members.  Ruby plans to continue her studies at the University of Toronto next year in the Peace and Conflict Resolution Department. 

Jim closed the meeting with high praise for the youth service clubs at Oak Bay High and encouraged us to continue to support the young people involved with both our funding and our time.  Jim believes these young people welcome and benefit from our presence in their lives and that they are seeking ethical and moral mentors in business and community life.