Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 19 January 2016 - Ryan Gisler on suspension bridge at Elk Falls

Reporter: Tav McPherson

A boisterous gathering was brought to order by President, Heather Aked.  Heather reminded those in attendance that January is Vocation Month. She told us that her childhood dream was to be a biologist (but did not disclose how she ended up as a successful financial advisor).  She invited us to share our childhood dreams with the others at our table over lunch.

After a lusty performance of our National Anthem, Rod Sim set a record for the shortest blessing ever delivered.  Promptly at 12:45 pm, the meeting program commenced with recognition of our guests.  Brian Lamb welcomed visiting Rotarians, Patricia Tubbe, St. Albert; Tom Kofin, Edmonton South and Ali Edgell, Victoria.  Rotaractors: Riley Strother and Leah Anthony.  Flori Ens and Colleen Force were also our guests.

Announcements were made by Heather Aked (2), Rod Sim and Mary Canty.

Lorna Curtis noted the misdeeds of various members and mercilessly separated them from their money.  She also noted an anniversary for Steve Sharlow and Club anniversaries for Anne Sims and David Maxwell.  A number of members expressed their happiness with small contributions and one or two deposited sad dollars. Tom Croft won the draw.

Guest Speaker:

Tom Croft introduced club member, Ryan Gisler who delivered an interesting vocational talk.  Ryan is a mechanical engineer but rather than speak in general terms about his occupation, he focused on the outcome of an idea when engineering principals were applied. 

His example was the construction of a suspension bridge at Elk Falls.  The Rotary Club of Campbell River was a partner in the project and the timeline for the project lasted for six years from 2009 until 2015.  The bridge opened last Spring and is 60 meters in span and hangs 64 meters over the river canyon which makes it the highest pedestrian bridge on Vancouver Island.  Ryan used the term “inceptioneering” to describe the process used to build the bridge.  He illustrated how to seize an idea and move it from concept to completion, co-coordinating partners, suppliers and construction.  With a cost in excess of half a million dollars, the project resulted in many beneficial outcomes.  The bridge is part of the Millennial Trail Network and joins two previously separate parts of the same park.  He remarked on the bountiful wildlife in the area including eagles, otters, cougars and trout.  Ryan noted the role of Rotary and said that the completed project was an illustration that a small idea can yield a big result when Rotary leverages its power to do things.

Well done and thank you Ryan.  This was a most interesting talk.  Ryan was suitably thanked by Steve Sharlow.

Jim Force on Lorna Curtis' achievements:

The second part of the program saw President, Heather invite Past President, Jim Force, to take the floor.  Jim commented on the large number of members who give their time and talent to Rotary projects.  None more so than Lorna Curtis.  Over the last couple of years, Lorna has spearheaded a project that has had a significant impact on the whole of the Greater Victoria region.  The Food Share Network project will mean that less food is wasted and more people, children especially, will receive nourishment.  Lorna was able to stimulate the interest and participation of almost all the local Rotary clubs as well as draw together other significant partners, notably the local Thrifty Foods stores and the Victoria Foundation.  Her drive and commitment were examples to us all.

Carol Hall of the Victoria Foundation stood and noted Lorna’s vision and leadership and also commenting that Lorna was a pleasure to work with because she made everything fun.  She presented Lorna with a collage of framed photos as a token of thanks.

Ali Edgell (Past President, Victoria) also took the floor.  She commented how Lorna had taken the car raffle and turned it into a multi-club project involving over 400 Rotarians in 10 clubs serving eight different communities.  She further noted Lorna’s organization and drive in making this project a success.  Lorna thanked all Rotarians for their support.  She was surprised by the recognition and suggested that no-one can do projects such as the Food Share Network on their own. Lorna deservedly received a standing ovation from the appreciative attendees.

The meeting concluded with the playing of the Australian National Anthem.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 12 January 2016 - Lori McLeod on the Eldercare Foundation

Reported by Tom Lidkea.

Blessing:  David Phillip gave us the Selkirk Grace, followed  by a lengthy explanation of what it means.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Introduced by Sanjay Uppal. 

Visiting Rotarians:  Tom Kofin of South Edmonton, who it is rumored is looking for a club.  Look no further.

Guests:  Flori Ens, guest of Jenny Hildebrand.

Announcements:

• Apparently everyone in the club is healthy.  On the health front, President Heather informed us that oregano oil is very good for us.
• Jim Force was presented with another Membership Circle, for bringing new members into the club, and also announced that the Youth Services Committee will be meeting at 4:30 this Thursday at the Penny Farthing.  Speaking of the Farthing, Jim also announced that Thursday January 28 will be the 75^th Club-In-A-Pub meeting and invited all and sundry.
• President Heather announced a Director’s meeting on January 18 at 5:00 PM in the library at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
• Mary Canty announced that a blog is now available for Guatemala.

Sergeant-at-Arms (AKA Celebrations Master)

Lorna Curtis levied $1.00 fines for those who have never attended Club in a Pub nor gone on MyRotary.  Tom Croft was fined for being late, despite his strenuous and extended objection.  Sabrina was fined for looking good.  This seems unfair and counterproductive.  We could raise much more money by fining people for NOT looking good.  Jana was fined for wearing a hat.  (Lorna, I seem to recall your president’s year involved the wearing of multiple hats). 

She then fined all those of us who have never seen or bought a Jenny Hildebrand scarf, Steve Sharlow for being on the Knowledge Network, anyone who has not exercised recently, and anyone who has not submitted an article to the Rotarian (Lorna herself and Giles Bixler the only exceptions).

Finally, at last, Lorna fined a number of members whose table did not know the contents of certain specific pages of the most recent Rotarian.

Happy Birthday to one of the Joans and Sandy Currie.  Happy 45 years of marriage to Steve Sharlow.

Sad and happy dollars:  Heather was sad about a trip to Port Alberni where Alexander’s soccer team did well, earning a 0-0 tie against the Campbell River Riptides.  Later she gave another dollar because she was happy about having passed something.  (I had a similar experience recently in Bali, although I was passing rather too much).  Joan Firkins was happy about a trip to Vancouver and a wonderful farewell tribute to Dallas Chapple’s father Dal Richards.

Tom Croft had $2 for something (perhaps a further protest against injustice) but Lorna shut him down.

Joan Firkins won the draw last week, but Lorna had lost her marbles, so Joan got to draw this week.  Unfortunately, it was a black marble.  Ron Cooley won this week, but he too drew a black marble.

Speaker:

Jim Force introduced our own Lori McLeod, who spoke about the history, work and goals of the Eldercare Foundation.  The Foundation is now 34 years old, and in addition to running 4 hospitals gets involved in outreach programs for seniors.  The Foundation is NOT funded by government, but relies entirely on private donations.  They support over 700 residents in care facilities as well as running community programs.

Lori showed a touching video of the Art Therapy Program at Aberdeen Hospital, featuring among others a 101 year old artist.  The works created are shown at an annual exhibition, and the artists have participated in the Moss Street Paint-In.

Another video showed animal therapy, featuring dogs Rowan and Cajun.  The dogs are trained to interact with clients, who feed them, groom them and just plain touch them.  Rowan has retired and adopted, and has been replaced by Cajun.

Brian Lamb thanked Lori for her presentation and her good work.

President Heather ended the meeting with a recitation of the 4-Way Test and the Zimbabwe national anthem.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 15 December 2015 - Days for Girls/ Anne McIntyre and John Jordan

Reporter:  Brian Lamb

In her opening remarks today, President Heather provided inspiration by telling us about the various ways to interpret and embrace the concept of “Spirit”

Last second fill-in for missing in action Tom Lidkea to provide the invocation was Wynn Taylor

Guests:

Lorna Curtis introduced visiting Rotarian Danny McCoy and the following guests:

Elena Muratova (guest of Vicky Pitt), Barbara Guyton (guest of Joan Peggs) and Kathy Baan (guest of Anne McIntyre.

Kathy Baan, Senior Community Affairs manager for the Telus Victoria Community Board, was invited up to present a cheque from that board to Disaster Aid (Anne McIntyre) for $2500 for its Soap for Hope program

Announcements:

• Mary Canty indicated that as far as she knew, all club members were in good health
• Lorna Curtis (who seems to be everywhere) reported on a very successful Saturday night fundraiser for The Rotary Club of Oak Bay Foundation.   The entertainment was great and Interact students ran a concession (visitor Kathy Baan bought the remaining chocolate bars).   President Heather later singled out club members Rod Sim, Lorna Curtis and Joan Peggs for special thanks for their hard work on behalf of the Foundation’s fundraiser.
• President Heather brought updated information on the fundraiser for Polio eradication “The World’s Greatest Meal to end Polio”.  Taking into account all the Meals, over $17,000 was raised which when matched by our Federal Government and then the Gates foundation turned into over $102,000.   That will be enough to provide 255,000 polio inoculations.  What a great fundraiser in this long running fight that Rotary is so associated with.

50/50:

Celebrations master Jack Petrie was in usual fine form with jokes and several table questions to bring in loonies.  When he felt that too many tables had been able to answer his question, he fined everyone one more loonie.

Guest speakers:

Our program today (“Days for Girls”) was presented by Anne McIntyre and John Jordan.

Anne began by outlining that Days for Girls was founded by Celesle Mergens in 2008 based on an experience she had while in Kenya working in orphanages.  She wondered what the girls did for feminine hygiene and was told “Nothing”.  They wait in their rooms.  She was horrified and made the decision to change this.  This resulted in the production of washable hygiene kits accompanied with education in basic biological functions.

Seven years later DFG is helping in over 85 countries and has reached over 200,000 girls.

Anne then related how she and Disaster Aid Canada got involved.   The idea initially came from a discussion with Jim Force who asked whether it distributed washable hygiene kits and when he found it didn’t, he urged Anne to consider the idea.   A subsequent visit by Anne to the Sooke Rotary club brought the same question and answer.   Finally on a trip to another club, Anne read about “Days for Girls” and Celesle Mergens and decided all the signs had to be followed up and she contacted Celesle.   This resulted in DAC becoming a team leader and it now distributes these kits in almost all its international shipments.

John Jordan then related his own parallel story of starting to distribute the kits in Rwanda, the resistance he met initially at the administrative level (the girls loved them) and how this has led to the production of the kits in Rwanda in a local cottage industry.   The improvement in the lives of the girls has been significant since they no longer have to miss school.   They have also brought reproductive health education to the girls through training 6 women and hope that the government will soon take over the costs associated with this education.

Tom Croft offered the thanks of the club to Anne and John for their presentation.

Tom then conducted the conclusion of the silent auction and live auction of 3 pieces of jewelry provided by Creole Carmichael.   Vicky Pitt was the successful bidder for the brooch provided by Creole and St Philips church fund drive to sponsor Syrians is the beneficiary of the funds raised today.   (Historic note, Oak Bay Rotary charter club member Neil Robinson was Rector at St Philips church.  Neil later moved up Island and left our club but was a longtime supporter of the student exchange program).

Reminder: there is  no Rotary meeting on  December 22nd or 29th. The next official club meeting is January 6, 2016.