Jessica Van Der Veen conducted the meeting today
President Jim reminded the members that it is Literacy month and that Orca Books will donate a book for each person who reads a book to a baby and takes a picture . President Jim encouraged everyone to read a book to baby Ryan who was in attendance and to take that picture!
Win said grace in English and Latin in honour of the Saint’s day.
Rod Sim introduced visiting guests and Rotarians, not allowing any of them to sit down until all were introduced and welcomed.
Visiting Rotarians:
Charlie Scobie from Sackville, NB
Kris Zmudzinski from Downtown Price George, BC
Baby Garon (sleeping, eating, and pooping)
Roteractor: Joey Vaesen
Guests:
Eileen Lavigne - guest of Steve
Alyson Hawksworoth, Margaret Parker, Loretta Dodsworoth, Anne Godin and Phillip Bourne and
Sylvia Bradley – all supporters of the flag program and guests of Joan Peggs
Lesley Ockermueller - guest of Rod Sim
Health of the Club – Mary reported that David and Batya’s son is not doing well and remains ill in Israel. David and Batya are in Israel to assist with his care.
Announcements:
Heather:
- Sign up for the Vocational Visit to Anne McIntyre’s shop (Disaster Aid Canada) followed by lunch on March 31st – today is your last chance.
- The list for silent auction items is going around to those who have not yet signed up – if it comes to you please fill it in and pass it on to the next person on the list!
Vicky: Please make sure to donate any spare Aeroplan miles to the club’s Foundation. You can do this through your Aeroplan account on line and thanks to those who have already done so.
50/50 - David Maxwell after 12 years avoiding it, did duty as the Celebrations Master.
Fines were levied for:
- not wearing green;
- for TomCroft whose picture was on the front page of the paper as councillor of our fair city but without a Rotary pin in evidence;
- the loose Rotary Australia pin will cost the owner ( who was that?);
- Sandy Curry for the write up about his daughter who is soon to be married because there was no mention of Rotary;
- Janna and Ryan for doing the 2 for 1 thing;
- Ron Cooley just because;
- anyone who has never been to South America;
Birthdays : John Jordan was the only one present so he was properly sung to and put money in the pot noting it is the first birthday since he joined the club 7 years ago that he has been here rather than in Rwanda
Happy/Sad dollars:
Mary was happy to welcome Margaret Parker, a longtime friend, to the meeting.
Steve thanked Jack for doing his duty for him and awarded him with a gold star which he affixed to Jack’s lapel.
David Philip (aka Dr. Phil) said this was an auspicious day for Ireland but we should not ignore the Scots or the Welsh. Scots keep the Sabbath (and anything else they get their hands on), the Welsh pray on their knees (and on their neighbours);, the Irish fight well even when they do not know what they are fighting for and; the English are self-made and so relieve the Almighty of any responsibilities.
The winning ticket #5109 was held by Sandy – his first time winning the draw and he got the white marble as well.
Phil Neroutsos then introduced our own Joan Peggs to talk about Flags and the Flag program.
Joan introduced her topic by thanking all the subscribers were present and Joe who assisted with preparation of her PowerPoint.
There was a short Video about how Canada got her Flag 50 years ago
Joan also thanked the members of the Flag committee ( Rod, Lorna, Perry, Tricia, Sandy, Jim Force, John Jordan, Peter, Don O’Coffee, Bob Schell and TAV) who are on the committee She also thanked all the installers( who are too numerous to list here)
Rod then explained the finances of the program which is doing well and making us more money each year so far. We received the first 100 flags as gifts from the Edmonton club and are now trying to source and order any new flags locally.
We have been able to keep a large number of subscribers and garner new subscribers each year. The current chair is responsible for about 30-40% of the subscriptions (thank you, Joan!)
Funds have gone to our International programs which are worldwide. Recent projects include: Rwanda, Malawi, Mexico, India and Guatemala.
Local Projects of the club include:
- Trafalgar Park (the look out on King George Terrace)
- Windsor Park Pavilion (contribution to rebuilding)
- The Rotary Teen Area behind Oak Bay Rec. Centre
- The Teen Centre ( Portable) which will soon be donated by us to the LG’s Literacy project once the new centre opens
- The Seeing Eye Cameras at the corner of Foul Bay and Fort St ( provide sounds for those who cannot see)
- The Water Park – this was initially the vision of a Rotarian and has been supported by our club since 1990, when we contributed $90,000 to its original construction. Over the years we have done an annual maintenance party and contributed to the costs of upgrading and replacing equipment.
- Bike racks at Cattle point and the Dorset S.t entrance to Uplands park
- Climbing wall at Oak Bay Rec. Centre, used by children and adults alike.
Locally the club has also donated:
- $3,000 for a Pacemaker clinic to Victoria Hospitals Foundation;
- $52,000 to Eldercare to pay for a bath tub, a wide screen TV , a wheel chair swing and many other extras in seniors homes;
- Helped with various schools in the area including George Jay, Quadra and Macaulay to purchase needed items such as smart boards and projectors.
Many thanks to all the Flag subscribers who have supported the program and our projects
As an aside, one of the guests noted that he knew George Stanley, whose design was chosen for the flag. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Sackville, NB. The design was achieved by taking the flag of RMC, removing the middle crest and substituting it for a red maple leaf. The design, when submitted, was unanimously chosen by the committee and, the rest is history.
Totem Pole donation matching:
President Jim informed the club that the Board has approved a donation of $1,000 to the totem pole project. Anyone in the club who donates to the project will also have their donations matched by the club up to a total of $1,000. Speak to Rod for details.
President Jim then awarded “Light up Rotary” pins to Anne for driving two kids to RYLA and to TAV for his work at the district level. He also awarded bookmarks to those who have visited the “ Start Early Facebook page” – Heather, Ron, Tom C, Joan Peggs, Janna, Steve, Joan Firkins, Jessica and Anne M.
The meeting then closed with the singing of “the Queen”
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