Reporter: Janette N
Photos: Jack P and Bob S
Photos: Jack P and Bob S
Lorna C, acting president, presided.
She reminded us of our theme of being a "gift to the world"; that it is a leap year, so the ladies can propose; and it is the Year of the Monkey.
Naida introduced the guests: Names TBA
Announcements:
- Mary advised on the health of the club and mentioned a couple of people who had had medical treatment.
- Perry on the PI committee announced that 5 people met to select Paul Harris fellows. Joan F, Tav M, Neil R, Ron C and Michelle L. They selected 3 candidates: Hazel Braithwaite, Councillor at the District of Oak Bay; Bob McDonald of Quirks and Quarks on the CBC; and Tania Miller, the conductor of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.
- Tickets for the Paul Harris evening are going on sale at the end of the month and will be $60 each. Date: Thursday 21 April, with the "prosecco" reception starting at 6 pm followed by a 3 course dinner, at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
- Mandy reminded us of the fund raising concert: Di Mahler, organised by our violinist member, Pablo. $10 from each ticket will go to the Syrian Refugee Fund, sponsored by St. Philip church. There are 400 tickets available and are $35 each. This is a not to be missed, classical music event on February 27, at 2.30 p.m, St Mary’s church: 1701 Elgin Street.
- Please note the email which purported to have been sent by Wolff recently, was spam - delete it.
- Garon’s parents thanked all for the party, last week, held in Garon’s honour.
Wynn was celebrations master and his range
of questions prompted Lorna to comment that he had been reading too much of
Wikipedia! We were all exhausted by the breadth of his questions. Perhaps it was pub quiz night at the OB Beach hotel?:
- Those who had not been to Club in a Pub in 2016 were fined.
- Those who don’t pronounce Caribbean properly (with the emphasis on the b instead of the i) were fined.
- Questions asked by Wynn included: Where was Republican, Ted Cruz, born and at which hospital? (Born in Calgary). What do Conrad Black and Ted Cruz have in common? (Renounced Canadian citizenship.)
- Wynn mentioned Groundhog Day but I didn't catch what the question was!
- Wynn pulled out a long, white candle from his inside jacket pocket, and said it was useful during an earthquake. (I wonder if he keeps one there all the time?). He asked what alternative materials to candle wax have been used. (Tallow and whale oil). What does candle light measure, he asked. (Candela). He then asked about Luminosity. All this science had us stumped and everyone had to pay.
- When is the next earthquake expected he asked. Some said “anytime” and he said, “when it happens, I will return your $ but everyone has to pay.”
- Another question was when was sunrise today? (7.42 a.m.)
Happy/Sad:
Our visiting Rotarian from Edmonton paid $5
for enjoying the visit to Victoria. David P was 83 years young today, and he donated $83. Don O was happy because enough money has
been raised by his fundraising organisation for Syrian refugees, to sponsor 3 families. Lorna is happy because she is going down to SF to visit her 2 granddaughters
next week.
Wendy won the draw and drew a clear marble.
Guest Speakers:
Bob S introduced the speakers from B.A.C.A. – Bikers Against Child Abuse. Their
names are “Tugs" and “Pops”. Tugs is from England and Pops is from
Montreal.
Tugs showed a movie clip from CrimeWatchers,
in the USA, to provide us with an overall understanding of BACA and how it
operates. From the film clip we learned the following: the purpose of BACA is to protect children from abuse. "Tombstone" is the President
of this International non-profit group to assist children who have been abused
by those close to them. Incidents are referred by law enforcement agencies such
as the Justice Department. The volunteer bikers in BACA escort abused children
to therapy, to court and even go to their homes, if asked in the middle of the
night, to stand guard outside their home. Each child is presented with a vest
and the whole chapter goes to meet the child. The bikers themselves have been changed
though the experience; they play with dolls and do face painting. The volunteer bikers
have to go through a background check and are fingerprinted. The organisation
relies on donations. For donations check back on their charitable status in Victoria, through Bob S.
Tuggs told the audience that research/statistics show that 1 in 3
girls will be abused and 1 in 5 boys. It is possible that one perpetrator can
affect up to 400 victims. Anyone can join BACA but not if they have been convicted of any type of physical abuse, or if he or she has been a spouse abuser. Volunteers are fingerprinted every year and are
tightly controlled.
On Vancouver Island, there is one chapter
in Bowser but there is no established chapter in Victoria. All the members on the Island
will go to the mainland. Recently, they went to Mission for a level 1. 30 bikers pulled up to the house. There were 2 traumatised children because their
mother’s partner had tied them up and they witnessed him killing their mother. On
this occasion, they joined the Fraser Valley chapter. The visit resulted in the
children going from withdrawn and silent, to laughing.
Pops explained the organisation is not big
on social media due to privacy issues. They
are trying to liaise with the police and court officials for referrals to assist.
Due to many questions from the audience, we also learned the following:
- BACA was started in Utah by “Chief” and “Thor”. Chief is a welfare officer and the child welfare system deals with child abuse cases but there is no further contact with the child after the case has finished.
- With BACA, the children become part of the “family” and are so, for life. BACA will put sentries outside the house, escort the child to school and will watch out for the child 24/7 .
- They have 9 members in the Victoria chapter, which is affiliated with the Bowser chapter that has up to 50 members.
- There are 4 women members on Vancouver Island..
- They are on call through cell phone contact.
- They do not have any government assistance in Canada.
- Level 1 is where they meet the children and the family to empower them. Level 2 results in them escorting to school and sitting outside their house. Level 3 is where they ask the perpetrator to stop. Level 4 results in circulating leaflets to the neighbourhood, about the perpetrator.
- Their overall objective is to provide a sense of support to the children and put a protective barrier up between the children and the perpetrators.
(For further information on BACA including the mission statement, a video, and a link to donate to the International organisation, click on bacaworld.org and click here for a video and article which describes BACA as "jaw dropping". Thank you for what you do for the children. You really are a "Gift to the World")
Lorna closed the meeting by mentioning it is Family Day next
Monday.
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