Rotary Club of Oak Bay Christmas Party - December 17, 2014

Dec, 17, 2014 Christmas Party

Reporter: John Jordan
Photos:    courtesy of Rotary Club of Oak Bay Facebook page

Members and guests (55 in total) arrived at the main lounge of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel about 6 p.m. to begin the  evening around the fire with a glass of wine, some sparkling conversation and the nostalgic tunes of Christmas, coming from the piano.  We thank the remarkable Ruby Tang, President of the Oak Bay Interact Club for her playing which lifted us into the Christmas spirit.

Heather Aked, MC for the festivities, welcomed guests into “our own” dining salon and Lorna brought us all together with her “thought for Christmas.”  

Toward the conclusion of a delicious meal, our one and only special guest arrived from the North Pole and made his rounds from table to table identifying both the naughty and the nice.  As always, Santa was a round, jolly old elf, but one could already see  the strain of the season.  The poor fellow was wearing his suit backwards.  He must have slipped away from his workshop while Mrs. Sharlow was busy elsewhere making cookies.

Carolers from the Canadian College for the Performing Arts sang a medley of favorites which, toward the last, had raised enough nostalgia that members joined in - on whatever note they fancied.  

Taking advantage of the crowd weakened by food, wine and song, Heather and Lorna enthralled us all, weaving their own poetic lines into the rhythm of a “Rotarians’ Night Before Christmas.”

A happy crowd departed grateful to Heather and Lorna for organizing a lovely evening and now ready to don kerchief and cap and settle down for a long Winter nap. 

The end.  

(At least until the informal opportunity for drinks in the Snug on Tuesday, Dec 23^rd at midday or when we meet again at the first meeting of the new year on Jan 6, 2015.) 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all members and their families.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of December 9th, 2014 - Quirks and Quarks

Scribe:   Joan Firkins

In the absence of emcee Heather, the meeting began promptly at 12:15 pm, Brian Lamb welcomed an overflow crowd of members, Rotary friends and guests prior to the a cappella singing of O Canada, led by Tom Croft. Renate Gibbs gave thanks on behalf of all present.

Guests, Visitors ad New Members:

Visiting Rotarians: Terry Jones (Victoria club)

Visiting Rotaractors: Joey Vaesen

Guests: Mike Sharlow; Sandy Sharlow; Karen Sharlow; Lesley Ockermueller; Barb Currie; Barbara Shipley; Jillyn Shipley; Len Chapple; Dimiter Bainor; Helga Jacobson; Rita Estock; Flora King; Jill Croft; Ben Andersen.

(Apologies for any errors regarding names – printing of names would be a good thing!)

Nothing to report re Health of the Club. Nice to see David Philip at our meeting today!

Two new member inductions took place today – Anne McIntyre, sponsored by Neil Rawnsley,

and Nadia Hyde, sponsored by Mary Canty.

Membership Chair Barry Mutter and President Jim presided and both women received a standing welcome to our club and to Rotary! All members are asked to make themselves known to both Anne and Nadia as they join our Rotary family.

Announcements:

Joan Peggs: thanks to those who both helped with and purchased poinsettias for record sales of just over $2,000!

Peter Lawrie: Sorry Pete – didn’t get it! (It IS the truth!)

Brian Lamb: thanks to those who volunteered their time at the Merrython – Heather will undoubtedly have a report on her return.

Lorna Curtis: last chance to sign up for the Christmas party on Wednesday, December 17^th, 6 for 7 – payment at the door is no problem.

Speaker 1 - John Jordan - Rwanda project:

John Jordan was welcomed to the podium and gave us a snapshot of the most recent Rwanda project in which the purpose was to raise the housing level of subsistence for 24 Rwandan widows.

Their houses are in a state of disrepair, specifically the roofs as the rains tend to deteriorate them quickly. With funds contributed partially by a Matching Grant, the $7000 project not only attended to the roof situation but there was a side benefit of water collection from the rain run-off to a water tank. This will save considerable hard labour on the part of the widows. They now also have a fuel efficient stove, animals that can be sold at market, a garden from which to grow vegetables and also $20 for health care for 1 year. For more information on this project or if you would like to make a financial contribution, please talk to John and he will be happy to give you more information. Thanks for all you do John to enrich the lives of the Rwandan people.

Celebrations Master Peter Lawrie extracted a few dollars from everyone for various and sundry transgressions but today it was more about getting on with the show………………….

Guest Speaker: 

Our very special guest, Bob McDonald, host of the CBCs weekly science program, Quirks and Quarks, was introduced by Perry Bamji and turned out to be the second guest speaker after Perry read out a very lengthy bio of John....oops, Bob McDonald. It should be noted that the overflowing crowd at our meeting today was in honour of Mr. McDonald and everyone’s thirst for his knowledge of all things scientific!

Scribe note: if you think this was easy……..think again. I am unable to put this in the form of a story as it was told by the speaker so it will be in note form, to the best of my limited ability to retain what I heard and wrote!

-        Speaker has been living in Victoria for the past 3 ½ years and is able to produce his weekly program from the local CBC studio or the one in the Legislature. Is also enjoying the ability to take advantage of his love of sailing by cruising the local islands.

-        His newest book entitled Canadian Spacewalkers is about three Canadian spacewalkers (as opposed to astronauts), Chris Hadfield, Steve Maclean and Dave Williams

– excerpt from book:

-        There are astronauts, and there are spacewalkers. Astronauts leave earth’s atmosphere in a spaceship. Spacewalkers don pressure suits and step outside into the universe.

-        Spacewalking is a physically exhausting, mentally rigorous endeavor. It’s so difficult, only three Canadians have ever succeeded: Chris Hadfield, Steve MacLean and Dave Williams. Chris Hadfield and Dave Williams are record breakers; Hadfield completed the first Canadian spacewalk and installed the Canadarm 2 on the International Space Station, while Williams holds the record for the longest spacewalk by a Canadian. And Steve MacLean, Senior Research Affiliate at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and former head of the Canadian Space Agency, was one of Canada’s original six astronauts.

-        In rebuttal of those who think monies shouldn’t be spent on a space program when there are other pressing needs – Canada currently spends less than $10 per year per Canadian on its space program.

-        Speaker talked at length and with exuberance of his participation in experiencing what it’s like to be in space i.e. no gravity, increased gravity etc. – in other words, what it’s like to be Peter Pan!

-        Astronauts are literally on drugs – gravol, uppers, and antihistamines – all to help combat weightlessness.

-        Bob credits his mother with his thirst for all things space related, having given him the book Planets: a Golden Library of Knowledge. He is soon to write a kids book about the solar system as “you never know what might inspire a kid”.

-        It takes 90 minutes to go around the earth in the space station at 30,000 km per hour.

-        The speaker asked each of the three spacewalkers their thoughts as they opened the hatch to do their mission – they each replied “I don’t want to mess up”!

-        Bob spoke of the 3 men as remarkable Canadians and role models.

-        Their message to young people is “Face your dreams and never let them go – take every opportunity to get there.”

-        Bob’s message to overprotective parents is “take your kids devices and computers away from them and take them out into the great outdoors to experience nature and space at its finest”.

After a standing ovation, our speaker was thanked by Lori McLeod and he was presented with the coveted Oak Bay Rotary mug.

The meeting closed with the singing of God Save the Queen.

Scribe’s note:  a heartfelt round of thanks to the hotel staff for stepping up to the plate and quickly adding more tables and chairs to accommodate the crowd this week. Also on behalf of the club, all good wishes to Michelle LeSage and her team as they carry on holding down the fort while the hotel undergoes its challenges. We are behind you all!

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 2 December 2014 and AGM

Reporter: Joan Peggs 

Meeting commenced sharply at 12:15 pm with Heather as MC.

In the Rotary calendar, December is Family Month. Heather reminded us of the responsibilities of being a member of a family – share the tasks, pitch in and help when it is necessary (she used her family as an example: encouraging Alexander to complete his assigned family tasks). A family works together by helping, encouraging and sharing the jobs to be completed.

This meeting is the club AGM. There are some Board positions to be filled. Please pitch in!!

Members sang O Canada (we were three stanzas into the anthem when the music 'kicked in'). John Edgell said grace. The membership and visitors headed for the buffet table and lunch – an interesting potato salad (with no mayonnaise (I liked that), a good green salad, great medley of steamed vegetables, chicken wrapped with bacon in a tomato based sauce and an excellent polenta. An excellent array of delicate dessert morsels.

Promptly at 12:35, Heather commenced the meeting.

Visitors and Guests:

Bill was called on to introduce the visitors:

Pablo introduced his guest – Joel Vera

Jessica introduced Barry Mutter's guest - Naida Hyde

Jim Force introduced his guest – Eileen Eby

Bill introduced Natasha Kardos and her infant Piper ( 6 weeks)

Heather thanked Joan P for her fund raising efforts of the poinsettias. She also thanked Don  for the use  of his house, Lorna for helping and others. Joan filled in by thanking Tom Will and Bill, Don and Bob and John E. and Tav for delivering the poinsettias.

Announcements:

Heather - Merrython – Sunday December 7^th, Henderson Recreation Centre. Register to participate if you are not helping

Wynn – Community Services committee meeting after this meeting

Natasha – will collect the socks for Our Place. Rotaractors also selling raffle tickets

Lorna – Christmas Dinner, Wednesday December 17^th. OBBH. $48 Commences at 6 pm with drinks at the front foyer

Lorna – Salvation Army kettles. Shifts for this weekend need to be filled

Celebrations Master – PP Peter

Money for early leaving; numerous Grey Cup fines – nobody escaped!!; shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday cost some $$s and in keeping with the Family theme for December $$s were collected

In celebration of the birthdays of Pablo and Wolf, a fairly good rendition of Happy Birthday was sung.

Peter J is celebrating 6 years as a club member.

Happy/Sad $$s:

President Jim has a grandson who is turning 20.

Vicky – a total confusion of the dates of the calender. Arrived at Henderson Recreation Centre on Sunday November 30^th only to discover no one was there for the Merrython. (Remember to arrive this Sunday Vicky)

Jessica – daughter suggested that the three of them go on a road trip. The play in which Jessica was acting, “17 Stories” was sold out. (A benefit performance for Hospice is being held at Sands Funeral Chapel, Thursday 4 December, with a reception at 6 pm and curtains up at 6.30. Call: 250 3885155 to book. 1803 Quadra St. Runs 85 minutes.)

Joan P - thanking everyone for buying poinsettias, Don (for the use of his house) , Lorna (for her help) and the 8 Rotarians for delivering the plants.  Also learned today that I won 4 tickets to see the Victoria Royals.

Bill – being able to FaceTime with granddaughter. She was given an Advent calendar so they connect every day for 24 days

Lynne – saw Jessica performing. Excellent play

Wolf – celebrating his 70th birthday. Daughter proclaimed that he is old!!

50/50 draw was won by the bulletin scribe. Black marble was drawn!!

12:55 pm – Heather turned the meeting over to David Maxwell. Beginning of the AGM of the RCOB Foundation

Minutes taken by the Secretary of the Foundation, Vicky

1:15 pm – Heather moved into the AGM of the RCOB

Studious reading of AGM material

Minutes taken by Wendy

Reported by Joan Peggs

1:33pm Heather began to close the meeting as a few announcements followed!!

Jim will MC the meeting of December 9^th

No meeting on December16th – dinner on December 17^th

If you would like to gather in the Snug on December 23^rd let Heather know

"My Christmas Wish List" adapted by Meg Huff, a member of the Rotary Club of Bloomfield, NY, from a poem appearing in a Dear Abby column (December 24^th 2013)

School supplies for children, food and medicine for the poor,
Clean water for a village, and I ask a little more….
Perform good deeds and let me know, or volunteer your time,
These things are worth a fortune, and they won’t cost you one dime.

I’ve got too many things already, C.D.’s, tools, and clocks,
My closet’s full of fashion “must haves,” sweaters, scarves, and socks.
Candy is so fattening, and grilling gadgets – I have twenty!
I don’t need cologne or gourmet coffee – and golf clubs – I have plenty.

I’ve got no place to hang more pictures; I’ve still got books I haven’t read,
So take what you would spend on me, and help the poor instead!
Dear friends, just send me cards and notes, and tell me what you’ve done,
I’ll open them at Christmas time, and read them one by one.

It won’t cost as much for postage, as a package sent would do,
And you won’t have the hassle of the paper, tags, and glue.
And I’ll thank God you listened to what I have to say,
As together we help those in need as we journey on our way.

Final closing of the meeting was a rendition of  "A White Christmas"  (click to listen) by Bing Crosby.