Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 15 March, 2016 - Lori McLeod and Michelle Le Sage vocational presentation

Reporter: Neil Rawnsley

Photos: Bob Schelle

Aloha!!!  Rotary goes tropical.  Prior to the singing of O’Canada we were dazzled with the photos of the successful tropical party hosted on Saturday, by Jack and Brannon Petrie. Lots of bright aloha wear symbolizing the fun and beauty of the tropics and a definite expression of attitude. Plus Lorna’s glasses. Apparently somebody invited Sarah Palin ……

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:  introduced by Lynne Murray.

Visiting Rotarians: Jean Lister and Trevor Collom from Sooke.

Guests: Annamaria Bamji (Perry Bamji); Lesley Cobus and Janette Sproston (Club Guests); Alyx Valdal and Laura Malo (Gisler) (Janna Gisler); Tracy Richardson and Keray Stott: and Betty Pitt (Vicky Pitt).  Great to have Vicky and Janna’s mothers join us.

President Heather noted that this is Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation week and the need to provide these basic necessities to millions throughout the world. This is one of the priorities of the Rotary Foundation.

Announcements:

• Heather advised us that Brian Lamb is not well.  All of our best wishes and prayers are with Brian.
• Joan Peggs outlined the Flag program and  the status to date as earlier emails from Rod Sim had reported. She implored us to continue efforts to sell flags to friends, neighbours and colleagues as this is currently our major fundraiser. If you can help with the distribution please contact Jim Force. The program may spread to Sooke as our guests today, from Sooke, will be meeting with our flag committee.
• Jim Force reminded us to bring and buy books, about the Start Early Facebook page and the 1000 x 5 program, all in support of literacy.  Remember, kids who read, succeed, so give the gift of literacy.
• Heather reminded us of the upcoming Paul Harris evening on April 21 with tickets available from Perry or at the front desk of the hotel.

Paul Harris Recognition:

Heather provided an over view of Paul Harris Recognition and invited Lorna Curtis to introduce the most recent awardees, Lesley Cobus and Janette Sproston.

Lesley and Janette have demonstrated the objects of Rotary as employees of Recreation Oak Bay who have gone above and beyond their work obligations and volunteered many hours of their own time to the promotion and  success of Rotary programs such as the RocknRoll Revival, the New Orleans and Tuscan dinners where they organized staffing, the auctions, the dinners and more. Lesley was an instrumental part of the building of the Interact program with Recreation Oak Bay and our Rotary club starting in 1997.

Janette and Lesley thanked the club for the recognition and noted that they were proud to partner with the Rotary Club for what we do in our community. 

Club members recognized today, as Paul Harris Fellows were Michelle Le Sage and Lorna Curtis for her PHF+4. Our youngest Paul Harris Fellow Garon Gisler belatedly received his certificate and pin.

Tav Macpherson on behalf of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation made a special presentation to Perry and Annamaria Bamji on their qualification as Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation. This award places them amongst a dedicated group of donors  who receive  a crystal bowl engraved with doves – the universal symbol of peace – in appreciation of their commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Annamaria received a pendant and Perry, a pin.

Perry and Annamaria

Sergeant at Arms: (old school)

Tav quickly extracted funds from Ron Cooley, 1% of last week's draw win and for the bowtie; major donors; Lorna Curtis for the glasses at the Tropical party; President Heather for the hiring of a fashion and image consultant; anyone wearing green or who did not go to the party (guilty); and Jim and Will for the bookmark misprint.

Happy and sad bucks included, Mary Canty for her dance partner Annamaria, Jim Force thanking Ryan and Janna for taking the students to RYLA; Heather to Jack and Lorna for organizing a great party. Tom Croft was the 50/50 winner but nothing in the pot due to Ron’s big win last week.

Guest Speakers:

They needed no introduction so they did not get one. We were treated with a “vocational talk” from Lori McLeod and Michelle Le Sage who shall be described as “L” and “M” in this summary as they entertained us with a tag team-slide show short summary of their lives, at least the parts they were prepared to reveal.

• Scenic photos revealed that L was born in Thunder Bay and M in Vancouver. Heather was unable to match the baby pictures and we found that L was raised in Sidney while M called Parksville home. Growing up L was occupied with skiing, camping, boating and Girl Guides while M, one of 4 kids professed to bowling (her parents owned the lanes), fishing not so much and cycling ( bit of a stretch) and skiing and golfing in the Comox/Courtenay area.
• At sweet 16 they both shared the same interest in cars with L owning a 1970 Mustang and M a not so cool 1980 Mustang. 
• Early work experiences included L working  at Woodwards as a member of the prestigious Teen Council and selling shoes. (She advises men not to wear shorts when buying shoes.) M worked at Sunset Lanes Bowling Alley, Bayside Hotel and for National Tasting ????? 
• L graduated from Parklands Secondary in Sidney and M from Kwalikum in Qualicum Beach. 
• Apparently in their 20’s they both made their first grown up mistakes in veiled attire. Correcting the earlier errors they later found their forever guys.  L is married to Doug and they have been together 28 years and M has been with partner Earl for 20 years and have great families.
• L worked first for Elk Lake Sports and as a legal secretary then on to CHEK TV for 30 years in Community Relations a job which led her to meet M at the famous Parksville Sand Castle Days. The next move for L was to Eldercare where she is today. A recent success for Lori and Eldercare was the awarding of a $25,000 New Horizons grant.
• M has worked extensively in the hospitality industry on the Island managing a number of hotels. In Victoria she started at the Chateau Victoria, was President of the Restaurant Association and worked on Victoria Days promotions. Currently the great manager of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel she described one highlight was holding the first David Foster Event at the Fairmont Empress as the OBBH was not yet open.

As befits the story of two close friends and great Rotarians, their presentation ended with 

“Champagne and Chocolate – Of Course”.

Barry Mutter thanked the Lori and Michelle.

The meeting ended not with the usual foreign country anthem but with a short video from the Tropical evening which will likely not be seen on You Tube featuring Ron Cooley and Joan Firkins and starring John Jordon narrating a storey approximating Captain Cook’s arrival on the coast and the greetings extended by the natives. I believe it was a movement somewhat between a hula and a haka.