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. 

Meeting of February 25, 2014 - Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan

Photos and reporting by Joan Firkins. 

Rum Donations are rolling in to support the New Orleans Dinner. Pictured here with their donations are:
David Philip, David Maxwell, David Westler, and David Sills (No, you don't have to be called David to Donate!)

Standing in for President Pete was Acting President Brian Lamb. Brian opened the meeting with words of wisdom from the Pres. and in deference to Governor Pete and Kristine being in attendance, we heartily sang both O Canada and The Star Spangled Banner.

After Sandy Currie gave a short Grace, guests were shown to the front of the line to start the lunch buffet with everyone else following suit.

Mike Hodges did an exemplary job of introducing the Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

   Governor Pete Taylor and Kristine - Tacoma 8

   Jill Leslie - today's Speaker from CW4WA (Canadian Women 4 Women in Afghanistan)

   Ryan Gisler - guest of Janna Malo

Eugen (Big Stick) Bannerman took to the lectern in his final week as Sergeant at Arms and levied various fines relating to Rotary in general: Everyone coughed up loonies for various reasons: Switzerland Rotary remains predominantly male which prompted Ron Cooley to ask "Who does all the work then?" (The women in our club should have paid you for that Ron!); and as an aside, Jessica brought to our attention that women in Switzerland only became eligible to vote in 1972!  Eugen hosted the 4 David's in our club at his table today; he also called out Jessica and Wyn for being late (that really is a Big Stick - they were there weren't they?)  

Happy and Sad dollars: Janna received a Young Business Entrepreneur award which was noted in the newspaper; Brian Lamb celebrated 39 years in Rotary; many noted they were sad the Olympics were over and Vicky noted the stunning view of Mt. Baker this morning on her way to Rotary. Tom Lidkea told a cute joke which bears repeating (which doesn't happen very often!) - Three sisters were with their father and he was telling them what properties he was going to leave them upon his demise. To the first one he said "You will receive all the houses and buildings in the village on Oak Bay Avenue; to the second daughter he said "You will receive the houses all along Rockland Avenue" and to the third he said "You will get the all houses in the Uplands".  A friend who overheard the conversation came up to the girls afterwards and said he didn't realize their father was so well off and owning so many properties. To which the daughters replied "Oh he doesn't own them, he's giving us his paper routes!"

Announcements:  Joan Peggs read a letter from Steve Sharlow (son of former member Bill Sharlow) indicating he is moving to Victoria and would like to join our club.  Governor Pete got up to say a few words, starting with Hockey Schmockey in reference to the US/Canada hockey game - no further comment. Pete and Kristine are now doing some second visits because he cares what goes on and wants to show their support. He recognized all that is going on in our club right along with our accomplishments. In a lighter vein, Governor Pete referenced our infamous Toronto Mayor Rob Ford by saying being the Mayor of Toronto really wasn't what it is "cracked" up to be!

Governor Pete (on right), along with club Foundation Chair, Neil Rawnsley (left), presented multiple Paul Harris pins to Jack Petrie, Anne Sims, Will Carter and Wolf Schopper - well done to each of you and thank-you!

Our speaker, Jill Leslie, was ably introduced by Jack Petrie. Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan is a non-profit founded in 1996 with 13 volunteer chapters across Canada. The group organizes ongoing education and fundraising activities for women in Afghanistan with the goal of the programs in Afghanistan to advance education for Afghan women and their families and to educate Canadians about human rights in Afghanistan.

  Facts of note:

    - 17% literacy rate for women in Afghanistan

    - 1 in 5 women are literate

    - one of the poorest countries in the world

    - not enough calories consumed daily for a healthy life

    - 48% of the population is under the age of 15

    - less than 25% of adults have been to school

    - 6% of girls are married before the age of 15

    - many edicts for women: example - no white socks and no noisy shoes

   - many edicts for everyone: example - beards must be 10 cm long; music is illegal; TV is banned; curfew nightly

  Major problems are insecurity, corruption and lack of jobs - most of which has occurred since the emergence of the Taliban in 1990.

  There have been improvements since 2001 in health, education and literacy and since 2002, women are now back in the public eye, they are allowed political participation, they are integrated into the business and workforce and with improved health care there is a reduced mortality rate.

    [Bulletin reporters note:  It was interesting that the speaker did not mention the fact that in 2009 Rotary Districts and clubs across Canada, including our own, started raising money to build a school in Afghanistan with the help of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). In short, a 20 classroom school in Jalalabad, accommodating 4000 students, at the cost of in excess of $250,000, was opened on September 26, 2010. Go Canada!]

    Ron Beyer thanked the speaker for her insightful information and we all rose to sing The Queen!

Program for February 18, 2014 - Operation Superhero

Change In Pace                    

President Peter welcomed Mary Canty back from her sojourn in Guatemala and suggested she begin the meeting with a brief chat on how the experience made her proud to be a Rotarian. She had a great experience visiting with John Snively and his crew of Rotarians who are there performing needed dental work for the local inhabitants in the villages along the shore of Lake Atitlan.

It must be a first for this Club - there were no visiting Rotarians or other guests, although the President suggested that a premature introduction of the guest speaker was in order. Grace was provided by Sabrina Coraini.

Eugen (Big Stick) Bannerman

The S-at-A continued his theme of member education on the history of the Oak Bay Rotary Club. Fines were liberally assigned for those who did not know that:

• October is the 40^th anniversary of the Club.
• The cost of lunch in 1974 was $3.00 compared to $21.00 today
•  Women were invited to join RI beginning in 1987
•  The first woman joined the Oak Bay Club in 1992

More money was raised from those who were not aware what Brian and Wynn had in common – both are Rotarians, both are rowers, and both insist on wearing the old style white plastic name badges.

One of the David’s was fined for his advance payment of $2.00 to gain immunity from today’s fines. And, finally, Pablo suggested all those members who ate their taco lunch with a knife and fork pay a penalty. The S-at-A agreed as it was apparent that this group was in the majority.

Two Happy / Sad dollars were paid by Jack Petrie who observed that a Rotary wheel could be fashioned if the two facing half-filled tables were joined together. (Personally I think he got off far too lightly with only a two dollar fine for this wry observation.)

Announcements

Center For The Performing Arts – Jessica is selling raffle tickets for this fundraiser - $20 a ticket or three for $50 and a chance to win  a cruise.

New Orleans Dinner  –  Brian advises that there are only six tickets remaining for this major event on May 11.

Youth Committee Appointments – Tom Croft announced that Michaela Bab was selected to attend the Adventures in Citizenship meeting in Ottawa and that Julia Marshall and Ruby Tang would be attending this year’s RYLA meeting in Tacoma.

Unscripted Moments

Jack Petrie presented a slide show featuring various members in a series of candid poses over the past six months. The inset captions gave an added humorous dimension to the pictures. Jack used his usual flair and reasonably good taste to portray us in much gentler situations than that shown by the hidden camera in the old television program.

Operation Superhero

Anne-Lise coordinates philanthropic funding at UVIC to support the efforts of CanAssist, a program designed to help everybody reach their full potential. Her slide presentation “Operation Superhero” included many examples of people who have benefited from using amazing CanAssist innovations from 1) ‘Move like a Cheetah’ featuring Karen who functions with two tubes; 2) ‘Think like a Computer’ with Jordan utilizing CanPlan Apps to organize his day; 3) ‘And Even Levitate’ with Barber Bob using a mechanical hoist to serve his customers; and 4) ‘Here Comes Marion’ utilizing a Skype program in her battle with dementia.

Another UVIC program is TeamWork designed to connect disabled youth to meaningful work. There are four Avenues of Support – to improve independence and quality of life, to help youth find employment, to encourage skill-building and to boost self-confidence.

Brian Lamb thanked Anne-Lise for her presentation and remarked on his 15 year friendship with the Loomer family. Her father and brother are fellow rowers. He remarked that UVIC, once perceived as a remote island, is doing something practical for the community – Who Would Have Thought !!!!

(Here we see Brian thanking Anne-Lise for meeting with the Club today and thanking Mary Canty for owning the podium at the start of the meeting.)

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Bulletin February 11, 2014 - Amarok Society (Gem Munro)

Reporter Tom Croft. Photos by Bob Schelle

     President Peter Opened the meeting right on time at 12:15 and reminded us that this month in Rotary is “Rotary Awareness Month”.  He shared correspondence from Jacqueline in Guatemala and John in Rwanda and a slide show from John and Linda Edgell in Mexico.

     Jim Force provided a stirring rendition of “O ’Canada” in which the members joined the DuFour-Lapointe sisters singing as they received their Gold and Silver medals in Sochi for placing first and second in the Slopestyle Skiing event.

     Lynne Murray provided the Grace and lunch was a Chinese-style buffet - very delicious as usual.

     Jessica Van der Veen introduced our two visitors, Stuart Adam, a Rotarian from Saskatoon, and Gem Munroe, our guest speaker and a Rotarian as well.

     Jim reminded us of our duties to raise money for our Club over the next few months with the Mardi Gras Madness dinner and fundraiser, Canadian Flag program and Car Raffle with the Victoria Club.  There is about $50,000 to be raised so remember to do your part to generate the funding for our Club’s projects.

     Guest speaker, Gem Munro (left), was introduced by Wolf Schopper. Gem spoke to us today about the relationship between the Amarok Society and Rotary.  Amarok Society was founded with one family at its centre: Dr. Tanyss Munro, Gem Munro and their four children. The Society teaches extremely poor, uneducated mothers in the world’s worst slums to become neighbourhood teachers.  View this video for more information.

     Gem: We teach these women how to read and write in their own language; we teach them English (necessary in South Asia for economic advancement), and teach them math. We also teach them life skills such as health, nutrition, child care and conflict resolution. And we teach them to think, something they’ve never before been encouraged or taught to do. The mothers, many of whom have never before even held a pencil, attend school every day for 2 hours. Teachers recruited from poor neighbourhoods and trained by AS, use accelerated learning methods (using songs, drama, games). Neighbourhood premises are used as schools.  The mothers are then trained to become teachers of their own and their neighbours’ children, developing some of the learning materials themselves for use with the children. The small schools, when not being used for mothers’ classes, are used by the women to discuss issues of importance, as determined by them, and as a place for cottage-industry enterprises to increase family income. Working from the centre of the family out, using our own accelerated learning methods, is a highly effective – and cost-effective – approach. Mothers come to understand and value education. They learn how to create a positive learning environment for children, and they come to make better decisions in many areas for their families. Mothers report that they can now make better sense of their world and have become more highly valued within their own homes and in their community as they disprove old, backward attitudes about the limitations and suitable role of women.

     The improvements in the women’s abilities and circumstance dramatically improve every aspect of slum life overall. As a result of a hastily prepared meeting of Canadian and Bangladeshi Rotarians held in a cafeteria at the Montreal International Rotary Conference in the spring of 2010, a new partnership was been created. With the assistance of Rotary District 7070, Literacy Chair, Joan Hayward, Zone Coordinators Roger Hayward (for Canada) and Safina Rahman (for Bangladesh), and Rotary International Literacy Coordinator Richard Hattwick, an Agreement in Principle was made between the Rotary Club of Belleville, Ontario, Canada and the the Rotary Club of Midtown Dhaka, Bangladesh with Amarok Society for the purpose of supporting specific initiatives in the poorest slums of Dhaka.

Read more here on the Amarok blog: http://amaroksociety.org/wordpress/

Gem was thanked by David Westler (above) and received a Rotary Four Way Test coffee mug as a thank-you for speaking today. 

We closed with the Queen.

Fireside at the PF and Tuesday 4, 2014 meeting - World Children's Summit on Peace and Nature.

Reported by Dallas Chapple

Neil Madsen introduced the guests: Alex McFadden from Calgary West Rotary and Sherry Moir, Jim Force's guest.

Our old Rotary flags were sold off by Bob Schelle. Wolf bought the Rotary flag for $30 and Gordon Quigley, who will be our newest member in a couple of weeks, bought the remaining 3 for $60.

David Philip commented on his own health, as he had been in hospital, but is looking very well now! He also promoted organ donation.

Brian announced that 140 tickets have sold already for our New Orleans dinner fundraiser: only 60 tickets left! Hurry if you don't have yours! May 10th--don't forget!

The Celebrations Master, Eugen Bannerman, extracted a lot of money out of the pockets of our members! He asked when our club was founded (May 13, 1974); where it originally met (Uplands Golf Course); and where did we move to and why?( To the Oak Bay Beach Hotel because Bruce Walker was a Rotarian.)

We wished Claire Helm (captured here at home with new baby and her husband Jon in a lovely photo by David Sills ) well after the birth of her son, Weston, and Joan Peggs got a gift for her from all of us. Congratulations Claire!

Birthdays: Neil Madsen, Feb. 8 and David Philip, both of whom gave generously to the club.

Jack Petrie also celebrated 10 years with our club.

Lynne Murray fell off her bike and broke a rib, Tom reported. We wish you well, Lynne!

David Philip won the draw! (those who give, get!)

Photo composite by David Sills

David Sills introduced our guest speaker: Kathleen Arnason.

Kathleen spoke on the World Children's Summit on Peace and Nature, to be held in Victoria on May 19-22, 2015.

Seven years ago she had a dream: if we want world peace we have to begin with children and personal peace.

She built a fountain and took it from school to school and interviewed 400 kids about peace. 80% of them described nature. Many children said that when they were at peace they felt safe. Kathleen has designed a summit based on 4 areas:

• 1) contemplation
• 2) music
• 3) storytelling and culture
• 4) photography and nature

The values to be taught at this summit are friendship, courage and gratitude. 200 kids from B.C. and 140 from other provinces will be able to attend the summit, which is geared to 10-14 year olds. Kathleen plans to livestream the summit to the world and to invite kids from every school in Canada. The cost will be $300 per child and she is hoping that Rotary will sponsor a child or two. If you wish to donate or sponsor, please go to www.worldchildrensummit.com

Don O'Coffey (below) thanked speaker Kathleen Arnason

January 2014 Fireside (Report by Jim Force)

The first Club Fireside of the New Year took place on Thursday, January 30^th, at The Penny Farthing. 23 folks in all attended: 19 club members, 5 of whom are new club members, and 4 guests. People started arriving at 5 pm and most stayed until 7 pm. Many had a meal along with their drinks. It was a very informal gathering in which folks sat around six tables chatting and sharing Rotary experiences. Thanks to Bob for the photos. More below!

Club Bulletin for 28 January 2014 - 10th Anniversary of the Victoria Leadership Awards

Prepared by President-Elect, Jim Force

President Pete MC’d the meeting after being absent last week.

Tom Croft introduced visiting Rotarians and Guests: 

Stewart Adam from the Prince Albert Club. Stewart and his wife are house sitting here in Victoria while looking for a permanent place to live here. With any luck, once settled he just may join our club.

Other guests include Rotarians David Newberry from the Victoria Club;

Christopher Causton from Harbourside; 

Oak Bay Interact students, Camille van Tassel and Anna Young;

Ryan Gisler guest of Janna; 

Guest Speaker, Jack Shore, of Leadership Victoria.

Eugen reported on the health of the club indicating that David Philip is doing much better and expects to be at next week’s meeting.

Announcements

President Pete announced that Mike had been defrocked – i.e. he had gained the signatures of all club members and could now remove the red “new” tag from his name tag. Pete also awarded Joan P., Lori, Dave M., and Tom C. Igniter Pins for having sponsored new club members.

Jim F reminded folks of the upcoming Fireside on Thursday, January 30^th at the Penny Farthing.

Celebration Master, Black Jack Petrie started by showing off the beautiful bowl made by Janna at Fired Up. The bowl was used to collect fines. Next he lead the group in a rousing applause to the Hotel Staff for the fine New Orleans Luncheon they prepared for us. Not only was the food Louisiana-style, it was delicious. 

Jack offered 5 Music CDs to those who generously bought New Orleans Dinner tickets today – the waving of hands with checks in them was more than I could count. The New Orleans spirit is upon us, that’s for sure.

Tons of Happy and Sad Dollars today, unlike sometimes when there are hardly any at all. Mike, Jessica, Heather, Lorna, Batya, Jim F., and Tom C., who informed us that we have several applicants for RYLA and Adventures in Citizenship. He also indicated that Interactors will be involved in Memory Café with Seniors at Oak Bay Lodge again this year and that they plan to assist with serving the meals at the New Orleans Dinner. But best of all was Janna and Ryan’s $24, which equals the number of weeks until their baby is due. Speaking of babies, Joan F. announced that Claire had a baby boy – I think I deserve a fine for not catching the baby’s name.

Jack finished off with testing our New Orleans knowledge with a few quiz questions: Who wrote the song Jambalaya? Hank Williams. What’s a Subway Sandwich in New Orleans called? Po’ Boy. Mardi Gras means? Fat Tuesday. 

The 50/50 draw was won by Lori, after she dug through her purse and realized to her surprise that she had the winning number. Unfortunately, she drew a black marble.

Vicky introduced our Guest Speaker, Jack Shore. Jack is the Executive Director of Leadership Victoria. He has a passion for community leadership and development.

The focus of Jack’s presentation was the 10^th Anniversary of the Victoria Leadership Awards, which is Leadership Victoria’s main fundraising event. This year it will be held at the Crystal Garden on Wednesday February 26^th starting at 4:30 pm. Tickets are $65 each. Jack showed a short video highlighting past Award events and recipients.

Leadership Victoria was jointly founded in 2004 in partnership with Harbourside Rotary Club and the University of Victoria, with the first Awards event in 2005, which had 55 people in attendance. This year they expect to have close to 400 in attendance. Awards are presented in the following 8 categories: 

• Leadership Victoria Lifetime Achievement
• Victoria Foundation Community Leadership
• University of Victoria Community Leadership
• Rotary Community Leadership (presented to two individuals each year)
• United Way of Greater Victoria Award for Collaboration and Partnership
• Vancity Youth
• Royal Roads University Leadership Excellence through Coaching and Mentoring
• Leadership Victoria Alumni Award. 

Last year’s recipients of the Rotary Award were Colin Smith and Gordon Harper. Rotary Clubs donate a total of $5,000 each year for these awards.

To learn more about Leadership Victoria, please visit their website: http://www.leadershipvictoria.ca  You can email layla@leadershipvictoria.ca to purchase seats for the Awards event.

Throughout the presentation Jack thanked Rotarians for their support of Leadership Victoria.

Joan F. thanked Jack.

Editor's Note: Here is a little more info on Executive Director, Jack Shore, from the Leadership Victoria website:

Jack was born in 1949 in Saskatchewan, and after many years chasing an education, he 

enjoyed a 32 year career in the Senior Management ranks in the Financial Services 

Industry. Having enjoyed living in many parts of Canada with his Wife Gail and 2 

children, Leslie and Paul (now both adults living in Calgary and Vancouver), he and Gail 

settled in Victoria, in 2004.  Having taken early retirement from his first Career, Jack has 

since spent his time working with many charities including: Junior Achievement; 

Canadian Youth Business Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. He recently stepped 

down as National Director and Treasurer for Habitat for Humanity Canada.  His 

interests lie in seeing our community improve and prosper through healthy Community 

organizations, and strong leadership. To this end he joined Leadership Victoria as the 

Executive Director in November 2009. 

As per usual the meeting ended with God Save The Queen, after a bit of a false start of The Saints Go Marching In.