Reported by Jim Force
President Joan called the meeting to order advising us that today's theme's were Literacy and Friendship. Her quote for the day: "Good looks catch the eye, a good personality catches the heart."
President Joan called the meeting to order advising us that today's theme's were Literacy and Friendship. Her quote for the day: "Good looks catch the eye, a good personality catches the heart."
O Canada was sung acapella. Leslie Warnock Rogers said Grace.
Ann Sims introduced Visiting Rotarians and Guests:
Philip Winsor Aitken, South Carolina, Architect, retired.
Tyler Fitzpatrick Guest of Leslie Rogers Warnock.
Lesley Wynne Pechter Guest of Leslie Rogers Warnock.
Philip Winsor exchanged a banner from his club. He said that South Carolina was noted for its involvement with the military, golf, and warm winter weather.
Our Literacy Speaker was Lesley Wynne Pechter.
Lesley was a fellow member of Leslie's Book Club which their husbands described as a "Wine Club with a book problem". Lesley had painted a series of wildlife paintings for her grandson's room which were picked up by Orca Publishing for their ABC board book. She praised these board books for infant readers as they are pretty indestructible.
President Joan reminded us of her email regards DLTA hospitality. Would you be able to host dinner or provide accommodation the evening of Friday March 30?
Dallas Chapple announced that the District Conference organizers were looking for Home Hospitality. Area Clubs are requested to offer social evenings for groups of 24 (12 local and 12 visiting Rotarians). e.g. potluck, barbeque, catered. Hosts are asked to provide transportation for out of towners. The contact is Jimmy Handley of Sidney Rotary by the Sea.
Bill Burns found a Rotary App on his iPhone to be useful in finding other clubs' meetings. Perry asked if Blackberry had a similar function.
Neil Rawnsely swung into action as Fines Master, aka Sergeant at Arms:
1. Early leavers included Jack Petrie, Dallas Chapple and Pablo Diemecke.
2. If you hadn't yet bought a ticket for the Concert Saturday March 24...$2.
3. Rod Sim fined as a later arrival.
4. Question: What is today? Answer: the first day of Spring....but at what hour did spring arrive. Members paid for many wrong guesses...the correct time was 1.14 a.m. As this is literacy month and poor literacy has a connection with hunger, the question was: what percentage of Americans in 2010 face hunger or food shortage? The answer was 25%. Gerry Mclean, who had control of the tea kettle, then thrust it in from of Neil and demanded a toonie for this long question he had posed. Undeterred, Neil then posed another question....what percentage of people will develop a mental illness in their lifetime....once again the answer was 25%.
Everyone was encouraged to sign the card to Ted Harrison.
Anyone who had not yet bought a bottle of wine for the Tuscan dinner was fined.
Birthdays: Tom Lidkea and John Jordan.
Happy and Sad Dollars:
Vicki Pitt...the power went off in her office at 10 am and she had just dismissed the staff when the power came back on. Phil Neurotos was glad to be home after two months in Thailand visiting his son.
Perry Bamji failed to recognize Heather in her winter coat. The name of the District Newsletter was correctly identified as "The Stocks Report"...read it!
Peter Lawrie won the draw and drew a black marble.
President Joan began the Club Assembly by introducing our Executive:
Leslie Warnock Rogers, Secretary
Heather Aked, Administration
Brian Lamb, Treasurer
Perry Bamji, International
Peter Lawrie, Community
Barry Mutter, Membership
Lori McLeod, New Generations
Joan Peggs, President Elect
Correy Burger, Publicity
Neil Rawnsley, Foundation
Brian Lamb auctioned off a round of golf for four at Olympic View. The winner at $150: Rod Sim, who said it was a great waste as allegedly he doesn't golf.
Brian was not looking forward to attending PETS...he had already been president years ago, but found the weekend in Tacoma worthwhile. There was so much information that it was like trying to sip the water with a straw coming out of a fire hose. The three mandatory sessions were Membership, Foundation, and Publicity. Brian noted that our Oak Bay membership has declined to 55 and that membership would undoubtedly be a concern for us.
Our two main fundraisers...the Tuscan Dinner and the Concert are coming soon. He has budgeted $19,000 for the Tuscan Dinner and $6,000 for the Concert. International has spent most of their budget; Community has not yet spent theirs.
Neil Rawnsley: Foundation
Neil thanked those Paul Harris Fellows who continued to support the Foundation. He said that it would be unlikely that he would go to Malawi but the $100 a year from every Rotarian would make a great difference. Neil read out the names of those who had earned additional Paul Harris recognition and President Joan made the presentations.
Don OCoffey PH+1
Brian Lamb PH+2
Ron Beyer PH+2
Dallas Chapple PH+2
Lorna Curtis PH+2
Anne Sims PH+3
Tricia Timmermans PH+3
Neil Rawnsley PH+3
Jim Force PH+4
Heather Aked PH+4
Rod Sim PH+6
Perry Bamji PH+6
Vicki Pitt PH+7
Tav McPherson PH+7
Tom Croft PH+7
Perry Bamji: International
This has been a successful year thanks to dedicated Rotrians. We have four current projects and six volunteers currently overseas...Tricia Timmermans, John Snively, Jacqeline Mealing, John Edgell, Mark Bedford, John Jordan.
Mexico: La Penita...install washrooms in the kindergarten and provide tank water on the roof. OB gave $2,500 of the $7,500 and provided sweat equity. Thanks to John Edgell who said the glow in the children's eyes made it all worthwhile
Guatemala: Lake Atitlan (Solola Department) ... provide dental equipment for a dental unit for remote villages. OB gave $2,500 of $7,500. John Snively volunteered many hours of dental treatment assisted by Maria Consalvo (Certified Dental Assistant from Victoria), Tricia (who also did logistics, appointments, and database work), and Ursula Cumez Calabay, an indigenous young woman from Santa Catarina Palopo. Maria and Jacqueline gave lessons in dental hygiene. Thanks to John, Jacqueline and Tricia of our club.
Rwanda: Fabrication of smokeless cooking stoves were a great boon in reducing respiratory problems. John Jordan taught students to make these stoves and they used the money they earned for their education. Thanks John.
India: In Cochin, toilets with a septic field were built. Mark and Jo Bedford travelled there just this week to see the project. OB gave $2,800 towards this project. Thanks Mark and Jo.
With all the projects, Perry emphasized the importance of matching grants and how working together brings great results. The $25,300 given by our club has generated over $50,000 worth of work...well done!
Community Service : Peter Lawrie, Lori Mcleod
Youth Leadership...OB High School Interact Club is thriving with about 35 members. Their three project areas ar Rwanda and Malawi, the Memory Cafe, and Kool Aid.
Memory Cafe is a joint project of Rotary and Eldercare. You are welcome to join the activities the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm at Oak Bay Lodge.
The Selection Committee has chosen some amazing students for attendance at RYLA and Adventures in Citizenship. Caitlin will be attending Adventures in Citizenship and Emma and Heather, currently in grade 12, were chosen for RYLA. Steven Wong is active in the UVic Rotaract.
Literacy: Thanks to the Thrifty Smile Card program and a generous anonymous donor we are able to buy another Smart Board. Giles Bixler and his committee will be allocating this Smartboard to either George Jay or Quadra School and will be inviting you to the presentation and demonstration.
Jim Force represents our club on the Literacy Round Table of Greater Victoria Clubs. Their book drive will be coming soon. We are currently supporting the 1,000x5 program (read every child 1,000 books by age 5) as early childhood literacy is so important for later cognitive development. The Roundtable also supports a First Nations video program encouraging literacy.
The Waterpark has been completed....OB Rotary contributed $28,000 for this upgrade.
OB Rotary has been asked to help develop the Radcliffe Lane Park. The shape of this project will be determined by the new Municipal Council.
With the redevelopment of OB High School we expect to be involved with the development of the new Teen Centre located therein...we are awaiting clarification of what our role will be.
The meeting concluded with the singing of the Royal Anthem (God save the Queen).
President Joan said she would see us all this Saturday March 24th at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Church on Elgin Road for the Rotary Concert.
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