Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 28 July 2015 - Club Day - Report from the Committees

Reporter:  Renate Gibbs

Opening:   President Heather opened the meeting and called us to order.  Members and guests assembled, then sang a rendition of ‘O Canada’.     Tom Lidkea gave the invocation.

Guests: 

Tav McPherson announced the Visiting Rotarians (Creole Carmichael, Victoria Club, Patricia Labbe, St. Albert Club, and Bruce Willats, Laguna Beach Club ) and Guests (Peter Jones guest of Patricia Labbe and Dan Doherty guest of Bruce Willats).

Announcements:

·                  Heather Aked recognized our Rotarian of the Month, Steve Sharlow, and he was presented with a pin.

·                  Joan Firkins reported on her involvement with ‘Family Health and Aids Prevention’ and the ‘Rotary Family Health Days’ (RFHD).  This program, which began in 2005, was originally called the ‘Rotarians Fighting Aids’ in Uganda.  The power of this project is the  support it provides in promoting a healthy future for parents and their children.  Today, it spans Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa with a focus on HIV, AIDs, Malaria, TB, Hypertension, Polio and Diabetes, to name a few.  RFHD in India, in February 2016, will be a pilot project which will require a Global Grant of $30,000 and Joan will match contributions from our club up to $1000 – we hope to raise $2,500. Click HERE for additional information.

·                  Rod Sims reported on the status of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay Foundation formed in 2009, and registered as a Charitable Public Foundation in 2011.  Currently, Board members include David Maxwell (President), Tav McPherson (Vice President), Rod Sims (Treasurer), Jim Force, Joan Peggs, and Steve Sharlow.  Victoria Pitt had to step down as Secretary and that position remains vacant.  With $42,000 in assets currently, $30,0000 is endowed, and the plans are to support scholarships as this amount grows.  Another $11,000 are restricted funds which are designated, and the remaining amount is unrestricted.  A newly launched Ted  Harrison Legacy Fund will exist under the Endowment Funds.  An example of the support provided by the Foundation is the Oak Bay High School’s Totem Pole.

·                  Neil Rawnsley presented a first time Paul Harris Fellowship to Lori McLeod, and this was designated by Heather Aked.

Celebrations Master

Lori McLeod started the momentum by requesting the name of the August 1^st holiday in each province, and this emptied a number of tables of loonies and toonies with efficiency.  Happy and Sad $ were from Heather, whose niece now has a baby girl; Bill B, who survived his 6 year old granddaughter’s visit; Tav McPherson, who participated in last week’s Uplands Golf Club charity event that raised $135,000; Lori McLeod, whose son celebrated his 30^th birthday and; Giles Baxter who celebrated his 80^th birthday.  Janette  had the winning ticket number for the 50-50 draw for some cash but left the winning marble for the big bucks behind.

Club Day Reports:

President’s Report – Heather Aked is working to meet the Presidential Citation. With several opportunities already in place and sponsored, we are well underway.  

Youth Services – Jim Force briefly addressed the 25^th anniversary of the Interact Club of Oak Bay Youth, and Lori McLeod’s grant application for the Memory Café in the amount of $25,000.  The first meeting will take place August 1, 2015.

Community Service - Sandy Currie explained that this year’s focus will be on a soon to be designated Elementary School Program, as well as coordinating with Youth Services and Friends of Uplands Park.  This is a truly collaborative project.  The next meeting will take place during the last week of August, 2015. Stay tuned for the date!

International Service - John Jordan and Mandy Pui shared in the opportunity to update us on the projects which will include a matching grant for the Rwanda Eco Sanitation Project of $3,500; India Family Days (Joan Firkins); Mexico Mobile Library Project (John Edgell); Kenya Youth Leadership (Anne M); Lesutu – Preschool Nutrition (Naida Hyde); Disaster Resources (Anne M) and; Malawi (Bill Burns). Although these projects are not involved in matching grants, they will receive support staggered over 2015 and 2016.  There may be a funding gap as a result of  not having the New Orleans Dinner event in 2015. We welcome club input on which projects we can afford to support..

Membership- Bill Burns endorsed the club’s goal to increase and maintain our membership, with a focus to encourage 8 to 10 new members in order to cover departures.  The next meeting occurs this Tuesday, August 4^th at 1120 AM.

Public Image- Perry Bamji reminded us that Steve Sharlow is taking the lead on revamping the club’s website, maintaining the Facebook page and establishing a Twitter account.  The mandate of PI is to disseminate information at regular intervals. He mentioned the club bulletin, the website, and Facebook as carriers of information, and urged members to read them and take part. Perry spoke of the Paul Harris Awards evening on October 22^nd at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Perrri stressed this is an important PI event to showcase Rotary to the citizens of Victoria.  Those nominated must be a first time awardee and available to attend the dinner on  October 22.  Nominations will be accepted until August 11^th.  As this is a small committee, more members are welcome!
Administration- Bob Schelle explained how Program Speakers will alternate between those representing causes, and those who speak on general interest subjects. This elicited strong support  and appreciation by those present.
 
Closing:

The meeting ended with a musical rendition of the National Anthem of Spain.