Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of 3 March 2015 - Talk by Dr. Samaya Van Tyler on Kibera, a slum in Africa

As Reported by: Tom Croft

Jessica was Madam Chair. Anne and Kathleen were on the front desk. Greeters were Wolfe and Sabrina. Meeting started at 12:15. Dallas Chapple was Celebrations Master, Wolfe said grace, 

Jessica reminded us that it is Literacy Month. Check our Facebook page. Start early. What is the strongest predictor of longevity?  “Literacy”.  Katherine Arnason has donated 4 children’s books that will be auctioned off in support of literacy next week. 

O Canada was sung by the choir from Nova Scotia and many members joined in.

Guests:

Carl Rumseheidt, Whitehorse Yukon - guest of Sabrina.

Arif Shivji - guest of Joan Peggs

Samaya VanTyler (speaker)

Announcements:

• Jessica reminded us that it is Literacy Month. Asked what is the strongest predictor of longevity?  “Literacy”.  Katherine Arnason has donated 4 children’s books that will be auctioned off in support of literacy next week.
• President Jim played a video to remind us of the 1000 X 5. 

(Editor's note - Here is Jim's email: "March is Literacy Month for Rotary worldwide. This year, the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria START EARLY Literacy Campaign has added a facebook page with the purpose of increasing the awareness of the importance of early childhood literacy and to support the 3 local 1000x5 Children's Book Recycling Projects. With this in mind we ask the following:Visit and "like" the START EARLY page: facebook.com/startearlyliteracy Invite your facebook friends to "like" the page and repost;Give the Gift of Literacy by reading a story to a child and then posting the name of the book and the child's age on the START EARLY Facebook page. For every post made during March, Orca Book Publishers will donate a baby board book to 1000x5. Our goal is 100 posts.To learn more about 1000x5 view our  YouTube Video)"

• Mary reported that Nils Jensen is having  eye surgery and had been threatened by a deer.
• Bob Schell reported on the March 31^st social and vocational visit at Spinnakers.
• Joan Firkins reported on ticket sales of the New Orleans, Mardi Gras Madness: 132 sold, 68 to go in 59 days!  Live auction and silent auction items are needed. Please contribute as  this is our major annual fundraiser.  We need to provide airline tickets, so donate your Aeroplan air miles on line. See Joan if you don’t know how. (Janette has previously emailed the link).
• Joan Peggs reminded us of  the Saanich Potted Easter Plant fundraiser, $18 each, and the Oak Bay Club's Flag Fundraiser.
• Bring a Book reminder.
• What made a difference for students in Fiji: iPads! Rotary Charity position 85 out of 100! 
• Peter Soo, was welcomed back.

50/50:

Anne Sim had a birthday and a rousing Happy Birthday was sung by all present.  Heather PETS this weekend and Alexander is refereeing his first game.  There were many Happy Dollars. Bob won the draw and lucky us, he didn’t win the pot.

Guest Speaker: 

Naida Hyde  introduced our speaker, Dr. Samaya VanTyler, who will speak to us today about her work in Africa. Her talk was titled:  Kibera, a Slum in Kenya.   Her mentor in Kenya was Winnie, who introduced Samaya to 9 women who were part of a co-op of women living with Aids.  Samaya introduced us to the 9 women through pictures.  She gave us the history of these women and their responsibilities in working in the community.

She reminded us of Umbuto as a philosophy that sustains these women and many other Africans and connects communities to their social roots.

Mary Canty thanked Samaya on behalf of the Club.  She was given the memorial Coffee Cup with the Four Way Test as a reminder of her visit to our Club.

Dr. Samaya Van Tyler, PhD. Walking with Lions: HIV and women living in Kibera. To read the presentation, click on the link: 

Speaker Series - University of Victoria

Jessica closed with God Save the Queen.