Reporter: Ron Cooley
Jim Force, our hallowed past president, opened the meeting with some thought provoking questions.
Jim Force, our hallowed past president, opened the meeting with some thought provoking questions.
- Why are you here?
- Why did you renew?
- What is your gift?
Jim thanked Jack Petrie for organizing the Gospel Choir for the Beach Party.
Jim presented Joan Peggs with her Rotarian of the Year plaque.
Visiting Rotarian & Guests:
Tom Lidkea introduced our visiting Rotarian - Bruce Willets from Laguna Beach CA
and Guests - David Westler great to see him again; Eileen Lavigne guest of Steve Sharlow;
Garen Gisler brought his parents to the meeting and Ray Bernoties our speaker regarding Cops for Cancer
Jim Force spoke of his passion for literacy and of our club's great support of that and our many projects including Africa and Mexico.
He asked members why they were here. The responses were:
- Polio Plus
- Friendship , comradeship
- Community
- Local and community projects
Jim said one of our greatest strengths is good friends working together.
Health of the Club:
Mary Canty talked about the health of the club. Neil Rawnsley is back.
Dallas has had surgery and Len has had a fall so Joan Firkins is helping out.
Announcements:
- Bob Schelle requested that anyone who had flags from the long weekend return them after the meeting.
- Bill Burns said that stolen flags were marked Oak Bay Rotary
- Lynne Murray request members check and place badges in proper spots (shifted with new members).
- Naida Hyde presented a banner and described her visit to Lesoto Rotary club.
- Neil thanked Perry, Steve Sharlow and Tom Lidkea who helped out with the flags.
Perry Bamji was our Celebrations master:
He fined everyone at baby Garen's table to ransom his toy that was left behind a previous meeting. He asked Jack Petrie to purchase a New Orleans cook book as he is the resident expert. Jack was willing to go as high as 10K. $2 from anyone who saw Lorna's picture on You tube
$1 from anyone who did not attend the Gospel choir. $1 from everyone at Joan Peggs' table for the privilege of sitting with the Rotarian of the Year. $1 from anyone sitting with Neil Rawnsley.
He then fined Vicki Pitt's table for not knowing the name of the new RI President.
No Birthday people were in attendance
Happy/Sad:
Peter Lawrie had a happy $5 for a stolen flag that was returned.
Joan Peggs had a happy $29 for her 2 dogs, one who is turning 12 and the other who turning 17. Bruce Willets had a happy $ for his 8th annivesary married to a wonderful Canadian girl who made him feel like he was 79 again. Mary was very happy for the Gospel Choir. Janette gave 5 happy $ for the recovery of her ID from her stolen purse in Portugal.
Neil won the drawn but no luck on the winning marble.
Guest Speaker:
Mary introduced our speaker Ray Bernoties Chief Superintendent Commander Island District RCMP-GRC. She said it was a pleasure as an x-cyclist. Ray is riding in this year's Tour de Rock. He has been in the RCMP for 24 years and served in Surrey, Ottawa and in Northern Canada.
Ray said he was dressed covertly in a suit as he is riding for Oak Bay Police this year.
He and his family moved to Oak Bay from Surrey and his 2 young sons, 4 and 6, were nervous about the move until the Oak Bay Tea Party parade went right past their house and they recovered a life time worth of candy. The family plans to stay forever.
His parents moved him to Ontario when he was 9. He made a note that he would be a police officer in BC by the time he was 25. Is Surrey in BC? If so, he made it.
Ray's talk was very emotional and he appeared to have a allergy attack. He said he speaks all the time but it is never about things personal to him.
He had a video that would not play but you can access information at www.tourderock.ca It will give route and dates also.
This year's tour will start in Port Alice and will be approximately 1000 kms over 9 days with stops at several schools. Vancouver Island's Tour de Rock raises more money for cancer research than all the other BC tours combined. Last year it raised $1.3 million.
Since 1998, it has raised over $20 million. It will run from Sept 19 to Oct 2, 2015. The longest day is 140 kms and the course has grueling climbs with plenty of rain.
The 6 month preparation requires training 2 nights a week, with a long ride on Sunday which is usually 100km. Not everyone makes the final cut to ride. This Sunday, the ride is up Mt. Washington which becomes competitive and turns into a race.
Ray said that when he is wearing his Tour jersey, motorists wave with all 5 fingers. He is riding with a fellow who's mom was born the same year as Ray.
Each rider is expected to raise $5000 towards Cancer. Some have raised $50,000. Ray is attending Markets, Rotary clubs and barber shops to raise money for his share. Each rider is assigned a junior rider who has or had cancer. Unfortunately, there is never a shortage.
Now 82% of children who contract cancer can expect to survive. The goal should not be only to survive. Part of the money raised sends children to Camp Goodtimes which costs $1500 to attend. Camp Goodtimes in Port Moody provides a safety-focused, medically supervised, fun and recreational experience for children with cancer and their families.
Cory Burger thanked Ray who is a past member of Rotary, for speaking about cancer which has touched many of us, and the work it takes to be a part of Tour de Rock and the funds raised.
Ray asked us "What are you passionate about?
Jim whose passion is Literacy; closed the meeting with a video from the Malawi Girls School - one of our long term literacy projects.
 |
| Our very own treasurer Brian L selling raffle tickets |
No comments:
Post a Comment