Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 21 April, 2015 - Katie DeRosa on Asylum Seekers

Reporter: Renate Gibbs

Renate busy taking notes, and Bill with an incongruous armful

Photos: Steve Sharlow and David Sills

Steve Sharlow kindly stepped into the role of MC, citing the value of our Rotary Magazine, given that it is Rotary Magazine Month.  He shared how a past article on the topic of “transitions for retirees” stimulated his conversations with others.

O’Canada was sung, and Grace provided by Perry Bamji with the theme of appreciation, for 164 countries that benefit from Rotary Clubs.

Guests:

Peter Laurie introduced guests in attendance: Katherine Duncan, (a former Oak Bay Club member); Rosemary and John Knechtel  from Hamilton and Ancarter, Ontario; Kristi Foster with Rotaract, and Katie DeRosa, today’s speaker.

Announcements:

• Steve Sharlow let us in on the secret Facebook question of whose shoes were in the photo. Lance Shaver guessed correctly that it was none other than Peter Laurie’s shoes.
• Joan Peggs collected the Spring Spectacular newspaper clippings for George Jay School, and encouraged any Flag monies collected to go to David Maxwell.
• Heather Aked encouraged all silent auction items to go directly to Leslie at Monterey Centre by May 5th.  
• The Victoria Hospital Foundation thanked the club for a generous donation to support a Blood Pressure monitor.  
• Heather requested we let Brian Lamb know our intent for next year’s membership as the report for our actual numbers are reflected in our fees.  A July  post-dated cheque is due by the first week of May, 2015.
• Neil Rawnsley reported that our progress with  the Car Raffle is going well; sharing his thanks for the drivers and volunteers who filled shifts to date – we will need to cover 3 shifts during the TC Run.
  
  
  
• Jim Force thanked John Jordan for his work in Rwanda, and  John thanked the club for the $2,500 donated by our members, on behalf of the students who would have an opportunity to attend university because of this amount.
  
  
  
• Joan Firkins encouraged greater club participation for the New Orleans Dinner as this event is just 2 weeks away.  44 more tickets need to be sold, and more silent auction items are needed urgently.
  
  

       

Guest speaker

Vicky Scott introduced the guest speaker, Katie DeRosa. Katie is a journalist with the Times Colonist, a District Rotary Winner, and a Global Applicant for the London School of Economics.

Katie opened with the story of the MV Sun Sea, carrying nearly 500, which arrived on our shores in August, 2010.  Asylum seekers  are now affected by  Bill C31, the new “Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act,” which became law in December 2012. Amongst other provisions, this Act authorizes mandatory detention for groups of refugees without documentation, for 12 months, without review. (For Katie's Times Colonist article click here.)

The tragedy of  refugees escaping Northern Africa and trying to cross the Mediterranean for Europe, but dying at sea in increasing numbers, due to unseaworthy boats and cut-backs in funding for  water rescue operations by Italy, has been in the news lately.  To date, the incentive to leave war torn or impoverished countries for a chance at freedom in Europe, has left over 1700 dead in the first 4 months of 2015, compared to 2400 who died in  2014.

Katie spent some time in Australia, studying its refugee policies and shared her video clip of a refugee interviewed in Sydney, Australia, in "community detention" in a private home while his case for refugee status is being  reviewed.  This refugee is a participant in the "Refugee Art Project" which seeks to provide a creative outlet for detainees and enables them to tell their story through art. There is a significant mental health trauma due to the indefinite wait for a host country to accept them. (For Katie's article on this person click here.)

The Australian  government has sought out countries to take the asylum seekers, who are intercepted at sea, through monetary incentives. Refugees can volunteer to resettle in Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.

Katie questioned Canada’s shift from being a nation of immigrants, to now having laws creating barriers to those seeking refugee status in our country.  Questions from the audience included aspects of the Express Entry Visa for skilled immigrants; the implications of human smuggling and trafficking, and criminal elements. A thought to ponder is how can the world respond to the atrocities to which  various countries subject  their people, that result in such desperate attempts to flee, despite the risk to their lives.  Katie promised to use her time at the London School of Economics to find the solutions to this challenging problem!

Naida Hyde thanked Katie for the informative talk on an important topic.

Steve Sharlow closed the meeting without the Queen!

Katie and her Rotary Mug with Steve S.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 14 April, 2015

Reporter: Ron Cooley

Photos: Steve Sharlow

The meeting was held at the Oak Bay  Rec. Centre. President Jim opened the meeting with a joke about how the residents from Oak Bay had to be restrained from returning (if) they got to heaven.

Pablo Diemecke said Grace

Mary Canty introduced our visiting Rotarians:  Eero Viitanen  from Pirkkala Rotary Club in Finland and Mark Bedford from Penticton

Guests:

Anneliese Sanghara from the Rotaract Club of Victoria

Johanna Kaipio from Finland guest of Eero Viitanen

Perry Bamji announced that the International committee, with the help of Peter Lawrie and John Jordan, raised $2,405 from the sale of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay's 40th Anniversary DVD.

The DVD was sold after John Jordan's talk on his work in Rwanda last meeting.  They had hoped to raise $500 which would provide 1 student with tuition and room and board for 10 months at University.  They raised another $95 at today's meeting which will provide for 5 students.

Jim Laing was our Celebrations Master- He called on his experience as a sports announcer to levy huge fines to both hockey fans and non fans.

Happy/Sad:

Wendy Townsend was happy she was going to Hawaii

Jim Force was happy his oil tank was not contaminated when it was dug up.

Lorna Curtis was happy that she would focus on shopping next time she was Celebrations Master.

Mark Bedford was fined $5 for interrupting Jim Laing during his Hockey -Stanley Cup declamation.

Ron Cooley had a sad $5 as he was follicley discriminated against by Dallas Chapple and was forced to shave off his goatee to avoid constant fines.

Brian Lamb explained to us how the 50/50 draw was actually a 50/25/25 draw with 50% going to club and the balance split in half for the weekly draw and 1/2 going to the pot to be won if you chose the correct marble.

Wendy Townsend won the weekly draw. She said she won last time she went to Hawaii. Good thing for the rest of us she does not commute from there.

Speakers:

Lorna Curtis and Peter Lawrie were our speakers for the week and the topic was the District Training and Leadership Assembly

Lorna said our district 5020 has 88 clubs divided into areas and a territory that runs from Pt. Hardy to Woodland, Washington, including the Olympic Peninsula. We have 16 Assistant

District Governors who cover 5-6 clubs each. They all meet 4 times per year to discuss issues. The District Governor chain is in place to provide continuity for the District. Once confirmed, you  are on a 5 year path.

• District Governor Nominee Elect
• District Governor Nominee
• District Governor Elect
• District Governor
• Past District Governor

 The chairs of the District Governor committee covers issues such as membership, public image and foundation. They assist the clubs with operations.

Peter Lawrie started his talk with the importance of looking good and focused his good looks on his shoes which came up just a bit short of Lorna's shoes (as you would expect). Great try though.

Peter focused on Grant Management. He encouraged members to investigate the Certified Grant Management course. This covers both the Global and District Grants.

When a grant is applied for, the Club President must sign a memorandum of understanding to follow the Rotary International rules surround grants

At least 1 club member must be Certified.

Peter said it was the #1 reason Rotary International rated 4*'s on a study of Charitable groups. We had 2 people in attendance who had 1st hand knowledge of what it takes to complete a final project report. This is especially difficult in places like India and Rwanda where it is not common practice to give receipts. John Jordan had to provide 150 receipts for his report.

Both said it was only scary the 1st time. Mark Bedford thanked Peter for all of his help in completing the final report as it was very frustrating. The International Committee and the District Governor help with the grant application.

Anne McIntyre has a proposal for a youth leadership project in Zambia. The Shoulder to Shoulder Grant shared with Berkley CA for a project in Mexico was approved for $159,000.

It is crucial to go to the Club with your grant proposal as it must be signed off by Lorna, Tav Macpherson or Peter.

It was announced that District Community Grants of $3500 (1st yr for this) with applications from Apr1-June 1, 2015 will be combined for a total of $10,500. It must be a joint USA and Canadian club application.

Be sure to volunteer for the Car Raffle. (Contact Bill Burns if you are unsure how to sign up.) We are partnering with other clubs in Greater Victoria this year. The Victoria Foundation will match our proceeds up to $100,000. BC gaming rants guidelines require that the money be spent locally. This year's launch is at Thrifty Foods Cloverdale and Quadra.

President Jim spoke about paying our dues in May as the money remitted to Rotary International is based on June membership.

We closed the meeting with a YouTube video by the Rotaract Club of Victoria lip dubbing to Taylor Swift's song called "Shake it Off."

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting - 7 April 2015 - Citizenship Judge Pash

Reporter: Lorna Curtis
Photos: David Sills

Where was everyone?? Was it something we said?? Must be the nice weather and everyone is gardening as only about 30 people were in attendance!  Perry Bamji opened the meeting.

Guests:Sanjay introduced guests - Judge Pash and Fiona Bramble

Perry gave a mini program on the Rotarian Magazine and encourages club members to read the Rotarian.  He outlined the great PR the club has received this year.

50/50:

Dallas (Sergeant at Arms) - fined Perry for not being the speaker but giving a program anyway.

She also levied the following fines:

*Those who had ham, turkey, lamb this past weekend,

*Those who did not donate books,

*Those who have not signed up online for car raffle shifts.

Happy/sad dollars - Jack happy, something to do with Bob Schelle not being eaten by a shark in Hawaii. John Edgell happy because $150,000 US RI foundation grant has been approved for a school project in Mexico. Jessica sad as she is taking a leave from Rotary. Eugan happy as he has just returned from a trip to Dublin where he met his 11 pound grandson for the first time.  Joan P. gave a cheque in honour of the anniversary of her father's passing. Wendy happy, son got his iron ring.  Neil R happy for getting two Guinness drink tickets at Ted Harrison’s Celebration of Life.

Announcements:

Brian Lamb - still 50 Mardi Gras tickets left – please invite friends we need to sell these tickets in order to make this event a success!!!!!!

Joan Peggs - TC Butchard of Gardens template now available, bring them to Rotary and they are distributed to local schools - Joan will tell you where squares are if you need help!

Guest Speaker:  John Edgell - introduced Judge Gerald Pash who was appointed Citizenship Judge for British Columbia in 2012, following a 27 year career in radio broadcasting.  He worked for the Department of National Defence for 22 years as a public affairs officer.  He has received many awards in recognition of his commitment to active, engaged citizenship involving health, education, law enforcement, families, women, youth, veterans, heritage, culture, arts and commerce.  He has been a Rotarian for over 40 years and has just moved behind the tweed curtain. He may consider joining the Oak Bay Rotary Club.

Judge Pash asked for a show of hands from those born in Canada before January 1, 1947, and went on to explain these people were actually not born Canadian citizens but rather British Subjects, because until that time, there was no citizenship statute in Canada. In 1911, the largest number of immigrants came to Canada – over 400,000.  At the first Citizenship Court, Alexander Mackenzie King was made the first Canadian citizen and is now on the $50 bill.

Some current requirements in order to become a Canadian Citizen:

• Capable of speaking some English or French (few sentences).
• Permanent residency in Canada – 1095 days in the past 4 years before applying for citizenship. Judge Pash gave some great examples as to why some people apply for exceptions to this rule.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of Canada – Judge Pash circulated sample questions that are asked. (I am sure some Canadians do not know the answer to all these questions!) His favorite duty is the Citizenship ceremony.  

He sometimes asks why people come to Canada and the  most frequent answers are the right to vote, and  freedoms – of thought, beliefs, associations, rights and equality.

Amendments to the Citizenship Act received Royal Assent in 2014 and on June 19, 2014 certain provisions came into force with further provisions coming into force in 2015. (For an explanation of these amendments at the Government of Canada website, click here.) One such amendment provides that applicants will no longer be allowed to use an interpreter to do the test.

Judge Pash reminded us that Vimy Ridge day is Thursday.  Some club members received the Vimy Pin to commemorate Canada’s momentous victory at Vimy Ridge, France, April 9, 1917.  

Judge Pash then performed a citizenship ceremony in both official languages.