July 30: A visit to the restored CPR Steamship Terminal to explore the world of Robert Bateman.

Remembering Hans

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of long-time member, Hans Ockermueller. Hans was an excellent Rotarian who was extremely proud of his perfect attendance record, which spanned over 30 years. He passed away on July 25 after a difficult battle with cancer. A service will be held at McCall Bros. funeral home on Thursday, August 8th at 2:00 pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 30 meeting reported by Renate Gibbs.
Guests: Rotarian Terry O’Halloran, Bailgate Lincoln Club, UK (District 1270); Jean Lawrie and her sister Judy, guests of Peter Lawrie; Betty O’Coffey, guest of Don; Colleen Force, guest of Jim; and Kathleen Schelle, guest of Bob. (Note: Rotarian Tourist, Terry O'Halloran, made the trip from downtown to the OBB Hotel for the meeting, only to have to taxi back to town to make the meeting!)

Downtown Victoria

The newly restored CPR Steamship Building

We learned from club member, Dr. Phil Neroutsos, that his grandfather played a significant part in the inspirational design of the CPR Steamship Terminal building, through his close friendship with architect, Francis Rattenbury. Phil’s grandfather, Captain Cyril Demetrius Neroutsos, began his seafaring days at the age of 13, and was promoted to Master Seaman within 9 years. He eventually settled in Victoria and became Manager of the BC Coast Steamship Service of the CPR in 1928. (Neroutsos Inlet in Quatsino Sound is named after him.) His Greek heritage helped inspire the Ionic columns and ancient Greek iconography, such as the facades lined with images of dolphins, crowns, crosses and the heads of Poseidon, which associate the original function of the building with the sea, and which also reflected his friendship with Rattenbury.  Here Phil’s story turned a new path and took us into the scandalous personal life of Rattenbury, who left his wife for a younger woman, who then took up with the family chauffeur – which resulted in Rattenbury’s untimely death at the hands of this same chauffeur! In 1924, the CPR building was valued as one of the most important buildings in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. From 1970 to 2010, the building was home to the Royal London Wax Museum. The building's owner, the Provincial Capital Commission spent $5 million on seismic upgrades. Now the Greater Victoria Harbour Commission has taken it over on a lease to be rented out to Romers Restaurant and the Robert Bateman Foundation. For more information on its historic significance, check this link: http://www.bcpcc.com/pdf/significance_cpr.pdf

Inside this magnificent building, we were introduced to the Robert Bateman Centre by Marketing & Media Director, Aimee Ippersiel (right with Robert Bateman in the gift shop). She began the information portion with a short video and Q&A presentation, after which we had an opportunity to wander through the gallery and view over 110 paintings, drawings and etchings. During our light sandwich lunch, we learned more about Robert Bateman and the Centre through Executive Director of the Bateman Foundation, Paul Gilbert. The centre was opened on May 24, Robert Bateman's 83rd birthday.

At 83 years of age, Robert Bateman continues to paint. Over the past 10 years Bateman has explored preserving an artistic legacy as well as creating an avenue to offer programs to get people out into nature.  He recognizes the importance of individual connection to nature and the need to counter the loss of sense of place. We were able to see never-before-shown paintings from the $11 million collection that has been donated to the Centre.  With our smart phones or tablets, we downloaded (free wifi in the gallery) the App to read the QR code placed by each print or painting, and view/listen to stories of Bateman’s life in digital format. In the Kathryn Iredale Gallery we were treated to the magic of bird songs that technology enabled to be paired with paintings of Bateman’s birds. 

Joan and Heather try out the QR (Quick Response) matrix barcode technology available for each exhibit.

In two locations a wall of 6 screens enabled us to use touch screen technology to peek through the remaining 6,000 works available for viewing in this state of the art centre. The gallery is in but Phase 1 and reflects an incredible feat of hard work, having opened only 9 months after the space was first started to be developed.

The Gallery is not commercial in nature, but is a National Public Charity that exists to do public good. Generous donors have contributed $4.5 million. Phase 2 hopes to expand from the existing 4,000 square feet to 18,000 sq. ft. of space (2^nd and 3^rd floors) to focus on artists involved with the environment, and adding a space for dialogue and education to allow schools to be connected via Internet with Robert Bateman’s educational sessions. We learned from club member, Wynne Taylor, of how Bateman’s love of teaching reached back to the early 60’s when he was his geography teacher. Given the opportunity to choose between ‘Art’ by Bateman or ‘Typing’, he sadly chose the latter. Others such as Paul Gilbert were able to have art classes throughout their high school years in the Toronto, Rosedale area. Next week an 18-km trail through a ravine in the Forest Hill/Rosedale area of Toronto will have a permanent designation named The Robert Bateman Urban Nature Trail.

Peter Lawrie thanked Paul Gilbert and Aimee for including us in the front end of this new endeavour and a donation to the Polio Program will be made in the Foundation's name.

President Pete Lawry, Guest Terry O'Halloran, and scribe Renate Gibbs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Club in a Pub by Jim Force. Photo by David Sills

The July 25th Club-in-a-Pub gathering at the Penny Farthing was quite lively and interesting with ten Club Members, one Rotaractor and three Guests in attendance. During a conversation about smoking dope [WHAAAT?], one un-named person mentioned, “if you smoke it under a blanket, you get stoneder.” Of course the unanswered question was, “do you know this from personal experience or did you read it in a book.” As usual, many folks enjoyed a meal along with their drinks. As can be seen from David Sills’ photo some folks were a little fuzzy.

Next week's (August 6) speaker will be Holly Jones, GM of the Victoria Harbour Cats. Learn more about Holly and her team here.

July 23, 2013 Meeting - 11 Days at Augusta National

Program for July 23, 2013    –     Cub Reporter David Sills

NOTE: Next Tuesday we meet at the CPR Steamship Building at 470 Belleville.

Down To Business                           

President Peter wished a happy new year to Rotary as we begin our fortieth year as a Club in Victoria. His opening remarks dwelt on the 2013-2014 Rotary theme “Engage Rotary, Change Lives”. It’s a tough gig to address this gang of Rotarians. At one point a hungry member was heard to interject – Let’s get on with the song!

Grace was provided by Lorna Curtis (left), who has just returned from yet another whirlwind journey around the globe. She reminded us of our good fortune to live in Canada and of our obligation to be of service to all in need.

Our visitors were introduced by Ron Beyer:

Rotarian – Steve Sharlow from Kanata, Ontario

Guests – Mike Sharlow, brother of Steve Sharlow;
and Richard Acomba, guest of Joan Peggs.

Black Jack (or was it Jack Black?)

This is the last week for MMF - that’s Music Month Fines. The S-at-A’s table questions were devoted to the music emanating from New Orleans over the past fifty years. How maddening to know the answer and still be fined when a table mate blurts out the wrong answer. Jack always provides unusual facts – for example - more homes were lost in the recent gulf storm than all of the houses presently existing in Greater Victoria and that Cuba contributed more ‘blues’ material than any other country. Naturally he closed his performance with reference to Louie’s classic…It’s a wonderful world. Let’s hope his next performance features opera music, which was the theme in the classic 1930’s Groucho Marx movie, A Night at The Opera.

Happy / Sad dollars from Joan Peggs for a birthday sleep-over at the Empress Hotel; from Lorna Curtis, who reckons that she made over 93 flights and covered 250,000 kilometers in her last world odyssey; from Claire Helm who is expecting a little Helm; from Vicki Pitt whose son is leaving home by railway to work in Toronto; from Neil Rawnsley who attended a celebration of life for former member Helen Biernes; and from Bill Burns who first met Mike Sharlow 45 years ago.

Announcements

Thrifty Cards – Heather Aked advised that this year’s program has been approved for $1,200 to purchase document projectors for Macaulay School. She will have extra cards available for members and friends in the near future.

Top prize in the raffle is this
Nissan Rogue or $19,000 cash

Car Raffle  –  There are only three weeks to go on this venture with the Downtown Club, so be quick if you want a choice spot to sell tickets. See Perry to reserve your spot.

Club In a Pub – Jim Force reminded us of the monthly meeting this Thursday at The Penny Farthing. You might have a chance to continue discussing the Egyptian crisis with Leyland Cecco, last week’s speaker, who hopes to attend the gathering. This is the fourth year for this popular meeting which attracts an average of nine members each month. 

11 Days At Augusta National

Jim Force introduced our guest speaker, Jason Wilde, Food & Beverage Manager at the Victoria Golf Club. Jason’s topic – How a Canadian from Victoria landed a job at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Course during the Masters Golf Tournament last month.

Jason attended a conference in Richmond, BC of The Canadian Society of Club Managers where the guest speaker was Jim James, who is Senir Director, Club and Hospitality Operations at Augusta National Golf Club. While the other attendees filed out for lunch, he waited by the stage to talk to Mr. James and tell him of his interest in working at the Augusta event. It took some persistence but eventually his request was forwarded to the Augusta clubhouse manager and finally to the Director of Operations. He was accepted and appointed manager of Mackenzie’s Scottish Pub, a brand new venue in Berckman's Place itself a relatively new $60,000,000 complex at the Augusta course.

Jason reported that service was first class in all four venues in Berckman's Place: The Pavilion, MacKenzie's Scottish Bar, Ike’s and Calamity Janes, with one server giving full attention to only two tables. There were four attendants in each washroom. It shows what can be done with an unlimited budget. It brought to mind that old adage – why use one person when four will do! He recalled one day when a senior Augusta director showed up for lunch with three friends. They were assigned a table with two attendants. The bar even ordered in and served a specific orange juice for this director. This reporter recalls a Canadian politician visiting London who had a predilection for $16 a glass orange juice. The resulting notoriety quickly reduced her status in parliament.

Despite his busy schedule Jason did manage to get an occasional peek at the grounds. Since the complex is situated near the fifth hole, he had easy access to the course. To his surprise the terrain was quite hilly. Apparently 150,000 people attended the event on the last day which should go a fair way (pun intended) in paying the expenses.

Jason, as featured in the TC. Photo by Bruce Stotesbury.
Click here if you would like to read the TC's story.

Tav Macpherson thanked Jason for his presentation. He appreciated the insights into the workings at Augusta which gave him, so he said, the inspiration to continue with his modest golfing efforts.

Name the colourful shirt wearer! Summer Days - let's hope they continue.
At least till next Tuesday when we're meeting at the CPR Terminal

For a little architectural significance and history on the CPR building, which was constructed in 1924, click here.

Meeting of July 16, 2013

Reported by Jim Laing

Brian Lamb, filling in for President Peter Lawrie, called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. Tom Lidkea provided the music on "our" new grand piano for O'Canada, and Reverend Mark provided the blessing. Our group sat down to a lunch of curried chicken, beef, rice and salad.

Guests included speaker Leyland Cecco, Sandra Teiffel, hosted by Mary Canty, Bill Randall, hosted by Neil Madsen, Carla Ode, hosted by Lynne Murray, Richard Acomba, hosted by Joan Peggs and guest Rotarian Dave Sheppard from Qualicum Beach Rotary Club.

Bob Schelle  reminded members to buy their $15.00 tickets to the Robert Bateman lunch / event on July 30. Tickets will be available at the 50 - 50 desk from Lynne next Tuesday, July 23.

Brian thanked Sabrina, Heather and those who helped with the Maxwell barbecue last Wednesday. Jim Force, chair of the Fundraiser Governance Committee, spoke about the importance of members being involved in club fundraising. He reviewed its purpose: to raise funds, develop fellowship and help build a better community with Rotary as a leader. If you can "champion" a fundraiser that you think would be a winner for OB Rotary, please talk with The Force!

Jack Petrie our Fines Master, provided fun and laughter trying to stump the members with questions about country music as we celebrate Jack's "Music Month"!   Most of the members were pretty hip on the subject but Jack raised some cash anyway!  One of Cactus Jack's favourite country tunes is entitled "I kissed her lips but left her behind for you". We all sang a few verses and some folks giggled a little!

Speaker, Leyland Cecco. Photo source: Leyland's Facebook page.

Sabrina introduced our guest speaker, Leyland Cecco, who was born and raised in Victoria and graduated from Oak Bay High School . He was the OB Rotary Youth Exchange student when in Grade 11, and a Rotary Exchange Student to Slovakia in 2004-05. Leyland was president of our Interact Club in 2005-06 and our Rotary Ambassadorial scholarship student to Turkey in 2009-10. He graduated from Dalhousie University with a degree in Philosophy in 2011.

Leyland photographing in Cairo. Photo credit: Amru Salahuddien

The situation in Egypt is very complicated by politics and religion. Leyland began his presentation with a video and photo's taken by himself as a photojournalist in Cairo. He went to the Middle East because of his interest in the history and politics in the region. He now works as a freelancer and does work for Al Jazeera and the Sunday Times of London. He is also a high school teacher in an English school in Cairo. His photo presentation dealt with various groups of the Egyptian population and their involvement in the most recent revolution that began June 30 of this year when the Islamist government led by Dr Morsey was brought down.

Leyland spoke specifically about:

1. Youth:  Age range is 17 - 24 years. Most of the protesters we see on television are these young people who Leyland says want to be seen by the media to help their cause - the majority of them are unemployed and uneducated.

2. Military: The military in Egypt is very different from how it is perceived in Canada. In Egypt they control and operate 60% of the economy and control most of the country's wealth. 

3. The Poor:  Most of Egypt is very poor - up to 50% live below the poverty line and are illiterate. Many live on bread doled out by the government of the day - in an effort to keep them onside as voters.

Egypt is heavily subsidized by other countries including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in the form of so-called loans. The US government provides Egypt with 1.4 billion dollars annually. Leyland explained how when the people saw that the elected Islamist Brotherhood government was not abiding by the so-called democratic rules, five groups came together to protest and topple the regime. Egyptians protest anything, Leyland says, with nearly 10,000 protests in one year. Egypt is now under military control and, as Leyland describes it, is now entering its next phase. He states that Egyptians don't respect a democracy as we might and will protest the next democratically elected government which begs the question - why have elections?

Leyland feels that civil war appears on the horizon and that democracy may not survive in Egypt, and possibly the country needs to be under military rule.  Despite this, Leyland will return to Cairo August 23 to his teaching position. In addition, his next project is to work in the mental health field. There are just five mental health facilities in Egypt - a country of 90 million people.

Our membership was very impressed with this young man who did a special job of sharing a very complicated religious and political story with us. It was one of those presentations where, unfortunately, the time was too short to hear more on this very interesting subject.

Meeting of July 9, 2013 - Rain Gardens - at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel

Tom Croft picked up the Aussie flag at
the Rotary Convention in Lisbon that
he recently attended; Oak Bay was well
represented as Lorna, Joan F and Joan P
were also in attendance. Sydney is the
venue for next year's RI Convention

Reported by Giles Bixler

Guests were introduced by Dallas: Speaker Scott Murdoch, and Colleen Force, guest of Jim.

Perry Bamji opened the meeting with an appeal to members to sign up for raffle ticket sales shifts. Perry’s  appeal was seconded by Finesmaster Jack Petrie, who praised those who’ve already signed up. Jack also suggested that the club consider a New Orleans' theme for our club’s next dinner/fundraiser.

Mary Canty suggested that those of us with hearing aids go their audiologist for an attachment called a “loop” as the David Foster Foundation Theatre will be equipped with this technology to help the hard of hearing.

Joan Peggs, recently returned from England, had an interesting story. Her mailed train tickets to get her from Euston to Stockport arrived in her mailbox while she was sitting in Vancouver airport - a little too late. So she bought another 75.20 pound ticket. The train was delayed due to rail track work. She mentioned her saga to the train conductor just prior to alighting at Stockport. To her delight, he told her about the company policy where if a train is from 60 to 199 minutes late, the customer is refunded 100% of the cost of the ticket. Virgintrains.co.uk also gave her 10 pounds to cover any cost of converting pounds to dollars. Amazing company policy. Only in England! And while she was there, a Brit won Wimbledon for the first time in 77 years.

A Pensive President Pete

Our guest speaker,  landscape architect Scott Murdoch,  opened up a new area of study and information for most, if not all of us: rainwater management. Apparently, there is more to it than simply shunting the rain off into the nearest storm drain. Scott, whose firm, Murdoch,  de Greeff Inc., has developed a special interest in rainwater management, described rethinking how we deal with rainfall. The company  has produced an eco-friendly system for dealing with runoff in populated areas. By draining runoff directly into storm drains, which usually drain directly into creeks, we have all too often “evened out the landscape and stopped its capacity to store water.”  It also places stress on the creek, causing erosion. Scott asked us to consider what the consequences are.  In Colquitz , for example, about 80% of the water is in pipes. It drains directly into creeks and streams. “This can kill an urban creek,” he said.

Scott introduced the idea of rain gardens to us. By slowing down the water from rainfall, taking it through a rain garden located around your house, for example, we can clean the living systems in our landscape and create a living urban infrastructure.  By taking the rainwater directly through pipes to the creek we even out the landscape and stop its capacity to store water.

Scott illustrated his point with the example of the Yarrow Place Rain Garden near the Gorge Waterway. There, water management people took pipes and fed rain water into a complex of pools. This slows down the water flow and allows it to filter before it gets to the waterway, giving it time to be cleaned and grow more trees. Another example Scott gave us was Trent Street Rain Gardens where not only was the water flow slowed, but it separated pedestrians from traffic. The downtown Atrium water feature piped all its water into the Inner Harbor. The water flow changed  after  engineers designed a system intercepting the water before it reached the drains and slowed the water flow considerably.

On behalf of the club, Will Carter thanked Scott for an interesting presentation.

First meeting (officially) back at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel

Bulletin report by  Renate Gibbs

Hon. Member Mayor Nils Jensen along with Joan, Peter , Wendy and Anne toast the return to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel

Greeters were Eugen Bannerman and Ron Beyer

The first meeting of the  new year opened with Peter Lawrie’s encouragement to engage with Rotary to make a difference.  Missing the presence of official flags, we almost omitted singing “O Canada,” however, after a rousing rendition of our National Anthem, Eugen Bannerman said Grace.

Health of the Club – Mary Canty

Mary followed up on Hans' health reporting that he’s started chemo and at this time is not feeling up to having visitors. We continue in sending him our positive thoughts.

Delicious Lunch

Introduction of Visiting Rotarians and Guests – Ron Beyer.

There were 3 Rotarians: Ali Edgell of the Rotary Club of Victoria, David Stocks, Rotary club of Westshore, and Honorary member Nils Jensen. Five Victoria Rotaractors attended: Lance Shaver, Samantha Lloyd, Scott Higbie, Connor Trelawney, and Clara Bradley. Our three guests were Brian Burger, Guest of Mary Canty, Frances Stocks, Guest of David Stocks, and Jean Lawrie, Guest of Peter Lawrie.

Announcements

Car Raffle – Perry Bamji.

Please continue to sign up to sell tickets for the car raffle, either on paper (folder circulating at meetings) or online.  If you sign up online, e-mail Perry to let him know what shifts you signed up for so that he can keep track of all the Oak Bay Rotarians who help with this.  Amongst our club members we already have had 58 shifts committed to or completed, and Wendy Townsend’s record of 7 shifts is now being challenged by Lynne Murray with 10 shifts!  

Social BBQ –  Heather Aked

The BBQ is at David Maxwell’s house (1590 Wilmot Place) on July 10^th at 6 PM; the sign-up sheet is circulating at meetings until then. Guests are welcome and the cost is $15/person at the door.  Food is included in the price, with a reminder to BYOB, plus a chair and birthday wishes for Heather!!

Delightful waitresses!

The Rotary Centennial Cup – Ali Edgell

In support of the Mustard Seed Food Bank and celebrating 100 years for the Victoria Rotary Club, a special Polo Match and High Tea is planned for August 25 at 1PM.  Both $50 and $20 tickets are still available.  You'll be treated to a Skydiving Team, 4 chukkahs of Polo, a halftime show of Peruvian Paso Fino horses, British Classic Car club cars on display, traditional stomping of the divots, and the “Queen” will be there to present the cup.  Tickets may be purchased from the Rotary Club of Victoria, by calling 250 590 1215 or e-mailing aenikma@shaw.ca

Fines, Birthdays, Anniversaries, 50/50 Draw, Happy & Sad Dollars – Black Jack Petrie:  

Challenging us to remember David Foster’s protégés along with a singing rendition purported to be Bos Scaggs, ‘Black Jack’ continued to pull out toonies from the pockets of Rotarians.   

Heather Aked (and Tim) are celebrating 14^th  years of marriage.  Hans Ockmueller celebrates a 13^th  anniversary; Will Carter and Neil M are both celebrating 17 years as Rotarians, and Joan Peggs is celebrating her 7^th  year as a Rotarian.

Joan Peggs gave happy $$ because she was given free accommodation in Lisbon after a hotel mix-up; Joan Firkins gave a happy $ to celebrate being “Rotarian of the Year” shared with Jim Force, and her happy memory watching Joan P in ‘concert mode’ while in Lisbon. Heather Aked had an anniversary cheque made up of the appropriate number of happy dollars (undisclosed) despite Black Jack’s commentary. Neil M gave happy $$ to acknowledge his 17 years as a Rotarian. Leslie Rodgers-Warnock gave happy $$ to commemorate her ‘hand-over’ of secretarial papers to Wendy Townsend; Nils Jensen gave happy $$ to express happiness to be a resident in Oak Bay and enjoying 5 Block Parties on Canada Day, and Corey Burger shared his happy/sad $ to now have a 3-gear bike instead of 21 gears.  

George Pritchard won the 50/50 but pulled the black marble, so didn’t win the big pot.  He came away with $16.

Lance - on Facebook

Today’s Meeting – Tricia Timmermans & Lance Shaver.

Tricia provided a clear and succinct approach to demonstrating how to send an e-mail while using ClubRunner.  Reviewing the method to access ClubRunner using our e-mail address and password (first name dot last name - until you change it), we were walked through the elements of getting to the e-mail message centre, composing a new message, sending files, placing a link inside the message, and the caution to avoid copying and pasting Word documents for a message.

Lance Shaver followed with a presentation on Facebook which he explained is the world’s largest social media network, used for connecting with people. He suggested it could work perfectly for Rotarians. Elements of using the tools such as the News Feed, a Profile Page, Connecting with Others, Posting, and the Navigation Bar were highlighted. Lance demonstrated the ability to control different pages and how to add a “Like” for our Rotary Club or Rotaract.

Ad Blockers were suggested to avoid the annoying presence of advertisements – free downloads can be found on the web for Facebook or for your browser.  Changing your privacy settings to filter who can access your information, posting to private or public, friend of friends, blocking unknown or annoying names, and limiting what is added into your profile, are all good options to maintain security and reduce any detractors while on Facebook. With Rotaract members at each table, club members were able to interface with Facebook and practise some of these valuable tips and suggestions from Lance.  

Corey Burger thanked Tricia and Lance, as well as all the Rotaract members who took time to help us navigate through ClubRunner and Facebook.

We closed the meeting with “God Save the Queen”. 

And what a day it was!