Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of 10 May 2016 - Threshold Housing Society

Reporter: Tom Croft

President Heather opened the meeting at 12:15!.  She welcomed us to our meeting at the Oak Bay Rec. Centre and advised us that our Club is thinking about the people of Fort McMurray.  A reminder that this is Youth Services month and our speaker will speak about the challenges and opportunities of working with homeless youth.

O’ Canada was led by Jack Petrie and Tom Croft which was sung with gusto reflecting the mood of the Club.

John Jordan provided grace and was thankful and respectful for the work that Rotary does in the world.

Visitors: Joanne Roberts and Mark Muldoon, the Guest Speakers.

Announcements:

•  Health of the Club: keep sending your thoughts and emails to Brian L.
• Tom Croft spoke on the Syrian Refugee House at 1531 Hampshire Road; a non-profit sponsor is needed to partner with the District of Oak Bay and Friends of Hampshire House.  He also welcomed everyone to the Oaks for a fundraiser led by CAOB for the Syrian House on May 14^th.
• Rod Sim: 260 Flags sold and ready to be installed for the May 24^th weekend.  Keys to our Success, Concert Piano fund raiser for Dave Dunnet Community Theatre Saturday May 14^th, 2016; 1-3.
• John Jordan still missing some flags from inventory, please look for flags and get them to him.  
• John Jordan announced an evening of African music and cuisine in support of his Rwanda Rising, at St. Mathias on May 21^st at 6 pm, tickets $25.

50/50:

Celebrations Master: Peter Lawrie, issued general fines for the following: sitting at the same table; leaving early; Peter, Jack and Lorna, didn’t perform an act of kindness in the last week; members who have not promoted Rotary in last month; and those who have not invited someone to the Club in last 60 days were fined. 

Birthdays: Neil Rawnsley and Bob Schell, Eugen Bannerman

Anniversaries: Jack Petrie, Vicky Pitt

Happy Sad Dollars: Neil Rawnsley gave a cheque for $100 trepresenting his age plus his years in Rotary; George Jay students coming next week; Tom Lidkea; Heather; Perry, Steve, Jack a joke, Vicky anniversary: Tom, Canada signing the UN Charter on the Rights of Indigenous People.

 Lorna Won the draw, and did not pull the right marble about $100 there now.

Guest Speakers:

Tom Lidkea introduced our speakers Mark Muldoon executive director of Threshold Housing Society and Joanne Roberts.

Threshold Housing Society is committed to creating a safe and stable home environment for our community’s vulnerable youth by offering acceptance, transitional housing, life skills, and opportunities to realize their potential and ultimately, hope for the future.

The organization that provides housing for young people, signed a five-year lease to use the church-owned building adjacent to the Oak Bay United Church last week, after meetings with the congregation and neighbourhood.

This project would fill an immediate need and prevents vulnerable youth from ending up on the street, said Mark Muldoon, the executive director of Threshold Housing, which receives more than 100 referrals a year and is able to provide 30 beds.

“Each youth comes with their own story as unique as a fingerprint,” Muldoon said.

The recent release of the Final Report: Child and Youth Mental Health in British Columbia — Concrete Actions for Systemic Change by the province’s Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth is a welcome sign of hope to youth in the Province.

Finding immediate, competent help for a youth with a mental-health crisis is not only frustrating but dangerous because such a crisis does not simply go away like the common cold. Mental-health issues can follow a youth through the difficult period of adolescence and sometimes set them on a course that leads to marginalization through unemployment, homelessness and anti-social behaviors.

Almost every youth at risk of becoming homeless who comes to the Threshold Housing Society for help arrives with un-diagnosed mental-health issues that run the gamut on the diagnostic charts. Depression and anxiety are almost endemic, followed by differing levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, addiction issues, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

As the committee’s mental-health report implies, the Province has not kept pace with the complex needs of youth, especially at-risk youth.

The presentation was a very sobering reflection on one of the most at risk populations in our community.  One out of every four impoverished community member in Victoria and Saanich are between the ages of 15-24.

For more information go to www.thresholdhousing.ca.

Joanne and Mark were appropriately thanked and given a Rotary mug with the 4 Way Test to share.

Heather closed the meeting with a song called Alberta Bound (Click to view)