Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of 9 June 2015 - RYLA & Adventures in Citizenship and Dr. John Snively's report

Reporter: Joan Peggs

Members were pleasantly greeted by David Philip, Janna Gisler with young Garon. What a smile and wave he gave to all.

The Meeting commenced promptly at 12:15 pm with a welcome by President Jim. MC for the meeting was shared with Janette N – a relatively new member. She gave a short personal presentation:

She was born in Japan, grew up in Tasmania, a state of Australia (Hobart is the capital). Tasmania is approximately the size of Vancouver Island. Her great, great grandfather reputedly began the apple industry in Tasmania by planting the first apple tree. The apple industry is not as big as it used to be and now wine, cheese, small fruits and tourism arre the main industries.  Janette did a law degree at the local university and was the second youngest  student admitted to the university – her second cousin was the youngest. She moved to Sydney, NSW,  did a post graduate course at the University of New South Wales and subsequently worked in Sydney as a lawyer. In Sydney, she met the brother of a Canadian friend. The brother and she went on an off-shore sailing trip around the Hawaiian Islands and across the Pacific to  Victoria. She subsequently married this man and although the relationship did not last, they have a wonderful son.

Bob Schelle asked  all who are attending:

•  the meeting on Tuesday June 16 at the Victoria Golf Club
•   the Installation Dinner on Wednesday June 24^th at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel ($48/person)

to please sign the respective sheets that will be circulated. You are responsible for payment if you do not show up!!

O Canada was sung. This was followed by a Scottish grace given by David Philip

Visitors and guests commenced the buffet and Rotarian fell in behind!!

12:40 pm Janette asked Sabrina to please come forward to introduce the speakers

Nicole and Cetarah who were RCOB sponsored attendees at RYLA and Ruby who went to Ottawa for Adventures in Citizenship

•  RYLA held at Pacific Lutheran University February 26^th to March 1^st 2015

• Inspiring speakers, great fellowship, learned that leaders, 'come in all shapes and sizes'!!

•  Adventures in Citizenship held in Ottawa May 2 to May 5 2015

• 200 youth representing all the provinces and 2/3 territories

• Many activities relating to being a Canadian, activities centred around and close to The Parliament Buildings

• Bill Burns – forgot to include Eileen Lavigne in the thank you for covering car raffle shifts. 

• Eileen has done 8 Heather – Thrifty Foods Smile Card. 

• Approval for $1,500. raising money for Rock Heights School IE department. 

• Many thanks to Ryan who donated a band saw he no longer uses

• Lorna – Car Raffle sales at $32,400 – excellent.Ken Agate has asked if members of the club would be the traffic marshals for the Car Show, Sunday August 9^th, Oak Bay Avenue. Sign up sheet is being passed around. President Jim will have it at future meeting.

•  Jack – Tuesday June 30^th Willows Beach 6:30 – 8:30 pm concert with Victoria Soul Gospel Choir. The Victoria Soul Gospel Choir is a talented and enthusiastic community choral group made up of singers of all ages and walks of life, who love and embrace the unique blend of Motown, R&B, Smooth Soul and Afro-American music. Under the direction of the talented Checo Tohomaso, the choir began just over a decade ago with a handful of voices singing five-part harmony. It has now grown to over 70 members – men and women – who share spirited song and infectious energy that brings audiences to their feet! Bring your own blanket or chairs. The Kiwanis Tea House will be open for dinner, refreshments and snacks or bring your own picnic! Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Oak Bay, Rotary Club of Oak Bay and the Oak Bay News. Tuesday June 30, 2015 6:30-8:30pm Willows Park          

All were thanked by President Jim and presented with a Rotary mug and 1000 x 5 bookmark (Interact students have been involved with this project)

Janna introduced the visiting Rotarians and visitors

Rotarians:

Joe Tuck –  Cedar Creek Rotary Club TX (classification Lawyer)

Dr. John Snively,  Nelson BC Nelson Rotary Club

Interactors:

Ruby Tang, Nicole Quast, Cetareh M-F

Visitors:

Eileen Lavigne guest of Steve Sharlow

Lillian Duffy guest of Jack Petrie

Mandy Pui guest of President Jim

Jenny Hildebrand guest of Anne McIntyre

Health of The Club – Mary Canty

Batya and David Westler returning to Victoria June 15^th for 2 weeks. Hope to attend a meeting

Nadia Hyde – presently in Capetown returning home – see information at end of report

Neil R. – not sleeping well. Recovery probably will take a bit longer than anticipated. (Thinking of you Neil!!)

Announcements:

Celebrations Master:

Tav Macpherson  levied numerous fines – not wearing pins and name tags, dress code of all members displaying knees, No birthdays, no anniversaries

Happy Sad $$$:

Sandy Currie – successful wedding of daughter

Heather Aked – good trip to France – did meet up with husband!!

Bill Burns – visited grand daughter for 6th birthday

Joan Firkins – congratulations to the 'dinner committee'

Lorna Curtis – heading out  on Wednesday to drive to San Francisco. Grand sitting children while parents holiday!! Then off to Grand Canyon, and back at the end of July

Jim Force – enjoys talking to people about the Food Rescue program

Janette N. – off to Portugal and Spain for 3 weeks.

Bob Schelle won the 50/50 draw but pulled a green marble – Pot is approximately $170!!

Dr. John Snively gave an update on his work in Guatemala. He is concentrating now on health education and nutrition to curb the diabetes and dental problems. His work is mainly directed to benefit Mothers and children. The dental clinic will serve 4 villages. He will be concentrating on being the "village dentist". He has been working there approximately 6 months of the year and may be going there for a longer period.

President Jim presented Eileen Lavigne with a Light Up Rotary pin, thanking her for her volunteer work.

Meeting closed by President Jim at 1:30 pm

Remember next week – Victoria Golf Club

 Report from Nadia

"It's very hard to believe my trip is coming to a close soon. It has been marvellous and difficult as these always are. I packed lots of wool for the cold in the high mountains and the days were just like our best summer days, around 23 degrees, no wool needed! But the nights did get quite chilly.

My daughter Tholoana, the midwifery student at the university, and I spent  2 glorious weeks working together in the high mountains. She was an ace interpreter and soon became a co-leader rather than just interpreter, good practise for her, of the group of women gathered from the village. The village in this case is not like a cozy English village but is a collection of far-flung rondavels, all at great distances from each other on mountain hillsides, ridges, the back of beyond,

as Helga would say.  We spent most of our 3 days with the women's group talking about women's health. They have never learned about how our bodies work. "Is it OK to turn over in bed at night?" was one question. Truly.

"Yes, it's a really good idea. Moving helps your heart", said I. These are rural women who never, as girls, were given the opportunity to go to school.

Why would they know anatomy?

I did simple mindfulness slow breathing exercises with them because so many reported heart palpitations or some version thereof. At one point I suggested they put their hand on their heart and saw some searching around for their heart on their right side.

I should have started with a demo of where the heart is, and then move into breathing through your heart,

slowly, and notice if there is a difference. Slowing down is the idea. They were ecstatic to find that these actually work, panic attacks disappearing, blood pressure going down, (one obese older woman showed us her health

booklet where the doctor writes and her BP had fallen from 200 to 153 in a

week; she danced around the room, so happy, so relieved).

Well being improved, bodies feeling more alive.

Doctors (who often come from places like Nigeria and don't speak the language) just give them who knows what meds and send them away.

No respect, they are just old women. Then they are completely disempowered.

Reabetsoe, one of my other girls who I am with now in Cape Town says women send their kids to pick up the meds each month because there is no point to them going to the doctor, lining up all day to just pick up a bottle of pills. Great medicine. So, for them to feel empowered to change something worrisome in their body is a great relief to these lovely smart women.

And then there are the many diabetics who just get out of bed in the morning, go immediately to work in the fields, driven by

their culture's demand that women work all day,  no breakfast, no insulin. You can perhaps imagine my response to them about that.

Housework will always wait. Your body won't wait and you must stop asking your body to wait. You damage yourself by not paying attention to your body's need for food and insulin.  I had everyone promise me and each other that they would eat breakfast every day.

On our last day together, they reported they felt so much better. One woman even said she stopped beating her son. I am still shocked when I hear about beating. NO beating!, I said. We talked about how shamed and bad they had felt as kids being beaten.

All the church denominations came in here years ago and brought with them use of the switch on children. Brutal and horrifying. Because he churches did it, the parents then did too. Very hard to unlearn. They don't want their kids "soft" like Western kids. I spent a lot of time talking about love and hugs and appreciation and enjoyment of their children, teaching them, reading to them or telling them family stories in the absence of books. i hug the women and laugh with them and appreciate them and hope there is some carry over to children.

I hope you are well and happily in your beautiful garden these summer days.

I get home the 20th so will see you after the jet lag wears off and I am germ free.

love, Naida"