Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Our Christmas meeting started with a change. We all took a seat before the start. There were many festive hats, one Santa tie and some bow ties, plus an Elf in attendance.

John Edgell Introduced most of the guests (some people did not sign in their guests).

We had one Visiting Rotarian, Allison Reed of Edmonton Riverview;

Other guests were Jill Croft and Nils Jensen, guests of Tom Croft; Ray Parks, guest of Renate Gibbs; Heather Aked’s son, Alexander, who introduced his grandparents, Ethel and Maurice Aked, as Grandma and Grandpa.                                                  .

Joan Firkins announced that the Italian Night fund raiser will be held on April 28, 2012. We need silent auction items and a bottle of Italian wine from everyone. This is a great time of the year to start thinking about auction items. If you receive any gifts you do not need or want, please consider donating them.

The current Italian night Committee is finished this year; we need New People to take over.

President Joan announced that Tom Croft, John Edgell and Lynne Murray had sponsored a glass of wine each. Thanks to each of them for the Christmas Cheer.

Perry Bamji announced that our club had received 4 matching grants this year and 2 for last year, a new record. Thank you for all of your good work on behalf of the club.

Our Chief Elf (Rod Sim if you did not recognize him) fined us for the following

• $1 if you had no family at the table as it is Rotary Family month
• $1 to Brian Lamb for 36 years of service to Rotary Club of Oak Bay
• $1 to an absent Barry Mutter for 11 years of marriage. Renata had the second ticket drawn and took home the big prize.

There was a group photo for all the people wearing hats. The Santa tie and Bow Tie wearers were discriminated against with no photo.

Corey led us in Grace.

Lunch was ham and all the fixings plus pudding. Excellent!

After lunch, we were treated to word scramble by President Joan.

We ended the meeting with Christmas Carols accompanied by Carolyn Tsao from the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Reported by Ron Cooley

Bulletin - December 13, 2011

The meeting started with the health of the club, with Eugen reporting that Ted Harrison was looking forward to coming back to the club and that when he had last visited him, he looked peaceful. Mary reported that David Phillip was recovering from surgery. 

New member, Bob Schelle (Centre) with from left to right, Peter Lawrie, Don O'Coffey, Eugen Bannerman and President Joan Peggs.

Bob Schelle, who was jointly sponsored by Don O'Coffey and Peter Lawrie, was then inducted. Bob is a consulting engineer and will serve with Peter on the Community Services Committee. In other new member news, Phil Neroutsos had his yellow New Member ribbon taken off by Leslie, and Tom Croft was given a CD of Rotary songs (a tradition started with David and Batya). Dallas reported on our upcoming Christmas luncheon, which will include baked ham and a "seasonal dessert". This reporter hopes it isn't Christmas pudding or something with raisins. In other Christmas news, the poinsettia sales generated more than $1,500, with 315 plants sold. Sale organizer and President, Joan Peggs, thanked Don for the use of his house and for delivery, as well as Mark Bedford, John Edgell, Will Carter, and Ted Chambers for their delivery efforts as well. On the matter of the recent Merrython, Leslie reported that the totals were still coming in; she presented a keychain to Heather for all her work on the event. Our new membership chair, Barry Mutter, said that with regret Joe Prentice has decided to resign his membership, due to personal issues. Recent retiree, Lorna   Curtis, has taken a Leave of Absence to travel the world - although this reporter did see her at retired Mayor Chris Causton's farewell party on Friday. 

Money keeps flowing to the club as recognition of all the great work we do -  this time a letter and a cheque for $2,655 from District 5020 for Mark Bedford's toilet project in India. Mark, who plans to leave for India in the early spring, has already received $2,800 from the Victoria Clubs' Project Unity Committee. On the community side, Peter told of another great opportunity to extract money from us (make that "enjoy a concert") with Pablo and his muscians which is coming up this spring. Proceeds will go to literacy projects locally and abroad. Tickets are only $25. 

A fun moment for Jessica, Jack, Barry and Giles with one of the Rec Centre Staff.

We then voted on a few changes to Rotary Bylaws. The Nanaimo Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Chehalis / Centraliaproposals passed unanimously, the West Olympia proposal had one opposed (Perry, who felt the Rotary board was too big already), and Skookum, with one opposed (your reporter) and four abstainers. Leslie reported that a quorum for voting last week had been achieved. Results: changes to mandatory meetings - failed, Service Above Self - passed, and Rotary scholarships - passed. The full text and discussion of the various changes can be seen at: http://oakbayrotarychat.blogspot.com/

Fines were then apportioned out by Rod, who fined Phil $2 for being "unseemly hasty" in getting rid of his new membership ribbon; Bob $1 for his first fine; and the rest of his table $1 for sitting with Bob. Rod, after fining a few more people, attempted to get away with merely giving $5 for his 13 years of marriage, but was pressured by the crowd into turning that into $20. Don't let Brenda know, Rod. Mark B was very happy that Rod's marriage, of which he had a "small part", was still going strong. Our pot winner was Jack, who drew a black marble. Only a few marbles left. Expect heavy ticket sales at the Christmas luncheon! After all the enjoyment, we had a pair of Annual General Meetings, one for the club and one for the new Foundation, which will reported on separately.

Reporter: Corey Burger

Rotary Bulletin – December 6th, 2011

Reporter: Mark B.; Photographers Jack P. and David W.

On the whole, it was a very good meeting, marred only by the Celebrations Master who had the audacity to fine your scribe for the day.  Furthermore, the lead vocalists for the day started the singing of the Anthem slowly and slightly off key.  By the time we reached the last line, however, the less gifted singers had managed to correct both pitch and pace. 

President Joan (at right displaying her monthly-topic meeting hats) did a lot better with her reminder that December is Family Month.  And she enlarged on this thought by reminding us of the many ways in which in our programs,  projects and outreach work are embracing families and enhancing family life.

David Westler said Grace and Giles Bixler introduced Bob Salmond, guest of Vicky Pitt.  (Quiz: When was the last time that we had only one guest and no visiting Rotarians? Winner of the quiz may have the dubious honour of being fined next week.  After all, Win Taylor was fined today for being the “Senior Runner of the Year”.) 

Brian Lamb presented the nominations for office for 2012/13 that he and Heather Aked had prepared:  President: Joan Peggs; 

Past President: John Edgell; 

President-Elect: Pete Lawrie; 

Secretary: Leslie Rogers-Warnock;  

Treasurer: Anne Sims; 

Public Relations and Membership: Barry Mutter; 

International Committee: David Westler; 

New Generations:  Lori McLeod.  

Public Relations and Community Service chairs are still unoccupied.

Joan announced that the Christmas Party would be at our regular meeting time on December 20^th. She also remembered and thanked all the members who had been involved in the Pointsettia sales - more than 300 plants sold. In the same note of gratitude, Joan remembered to thank Leslie and her helpers for the Merrython - great fun was had by all - including Brian, at right - playing fireman.  

Then, she forgot who is to be the Celebrations Master for December!  Oh well, two out of three is a pretty good memory!  While he was on his feet,  Rod, the C.A., reminded us of the need for volunteers for the Salvation Army Kettle duties.  He promised to have an up-dated schedule on line before the end of the day. We celebrated Wolf Schopper’s birthday in song and also gave a round of applause to Jim Force who has completed 8 years of membership.

There was open discussion on the three proposals for constitutional changes - items 1, 2 and 3.  Copies of these proposals have been e-mailed to members, and items 4, 5, and 6 will be discussed next week.   Leslie counted our votes and a full report of the results will be made known later.  Please note:  if you didn’t attend today, or, if you are not planning to attend the next meeting, your votes will be included if you e-mail your vote on 1, 2, 3, to Leslie by this Friday, or 4, 5, 6 by next Friday,  At least, I think that is what I heard. Proposals are to be found in the November and December Discussion blog.

Our Guest Speaker, Lisa Helps (left), was introduced by Ron Beyer.  Lisa is the Executive Director of COMMUNITY MICRO LENDING IN VICTORIA. 

By her own admission, Lisa is a “machine gun speed speaker.”  By my confession I am a “single shot muzzle loading rifle” writer.  Hence, I missed a lot, but you can check out the full story on their web site:
www.communitymicrolendingvictoria.ca or contact Lisa at:
lisa@communitymicrolending.ca

Lisa emphasized that on the whole, Social Services are doing a good job in their areas of work, but some people could do well for themselves with just a little help to get started.  In essence, C.M.L. is a micro credit organization that is a good example of “neighbours helping neighbours” – an old saying with a new twist. The needy apply for a loan and present a business plan. The loan is made from a fund that has been built up by investments of money loaned by members of the community. All necessary police checks are made; plans are checked out; a mentor is named to work with the applicant, and favourable interest rates are agreed upon and loans are made. Micro Credit was formed originally in 1931 - the Victoria chapter was founded in 2009.  Lisa said that essentially, micro credit is making “character loans” to people who show initiative and drive, but need starter funds.  To date, the recipients have maintained a 97% repayment of their loans.  The minimum loan that they will make is $500, but some loans have been as high as $5,000. There was a lively Question and Answer period, and then Will Carter expressed the thanks of the club and presented the cherished Rotary mug.

Enjoying Tuesday's meeting: Batya, John, Neil, Eugen, Jacqueline, Jessica, Will, David, and Jim.

And so ended another Rotary event. Well, not really, our work, example, and daily upholding of the four way test continue 24/7, and thus we live up to our theme: SERVICE ABOVE SELF.