Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 7 June 2016 - Interact presentations: RYLA and Rotary Adventure in Citizenship

Reporter: Jenny Hildebrand

Eugen Bannerman welcomed us and opened the meeting with an Aboriginal prayer. 

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Welcomed by Janette 

Ginette Thomas – West Ottawa Club

Bill Ashley – Port Angeles, Washington

Chris Garrett, Friends of Uplands Park

Jacque Sirois, Friends of Uplands Park

Chris Hyde-Lay, Oak Bay Rec

Tim Hintz, Guest of Lori McLeod

Interactors:

Tara Matthews

Nikki Frazer

Health of the club:  No news this week

Announcements:

• Lori was awarded a New Members pin for bringing 2 new members into the club.
• August 21^st is the District salmon barbeque to be held in Sooke.  There are already a few members planning to attend from our club and car-pooling is a possibility.  Tickets are $40.00.
• Please note on June 14th we’ll be holding our lunch at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) at the Oak Bay High School. The occasion is to provide our members a look at the NLC and particularly the Teen Room for which our club funded the fitting out of the room.  The suggested area for parking is at the north end of the OB Rec Centre parking lot. The High School is a short walk from there.

Celebrations Master:  Victoria Pitt

Victoria levied several fines today: Pablo for leaving early, an unnamed person who left their cell phone on … oops!, anyone who had not yet paid their yearly dues, anyone who had not yet confirmed or declined attendance for next week’s lunch as well as anyone in the raucous group near the back who continued talking once the meeting was called to order!

Birthdays: Jana, Barry, Wendy and Vicki (today).

Anniversaries: Heather (19), Wendy (4), Jim Laing (5), Vicki

Happy and Sad Dollars:

Lori is looking for nominations for a Valued Elder Recognition Award.

Joan F. enjoyed the 4 day Rotary International Convention in South Korea with 45,000 other Rotarians which included a fascinating tour of the demilitarized zone.

Jack announced Jazz Fest tickets are selling fast with some of the main shows already sold out.

Naida is delighted that her young friend from Lesotho’s visitor’s visa was approved this morning.

Mandy enjoyed a great visit with her adorable 5 month old niece in Vancouver over the weekend.  Mandy asked for the club’s support of a June 17^th Disaster Aid fundraising event to be held at Centennial Square which will raise funds to assist with the rebuilding of Fort McMurray.

Wendy is pleased her two sons are in Ecuador together.

Helen, as a former resident of Ottawa, was pleased to hear Nikki had a good experience at the Rotary Citizen Program recently held there.

Vicki gave $100 in celebration of her combination birthday and club anniversaries which she pointed out did not add up to 100!

50/50: Don had the winning ticket but did not draw the black marble.

Guest Speaker: Jim Force announced our Interact speakers Tara Matthews and Nikki Frazer.

Presentations: 

Tara Matthews: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Tara attended the RYLA Conference at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, March 10^th-13^th, 2016 which she found a stretching and transformative experience. 

Highlights:

Interesting keynote speakers including a Holocaust survivor, a professor from UW who discussed the politics of scarcity and the future of diversity in America, an interactive lecture on healthy living.

Meeting other likeminded and deep thinking students with whom she could interact around issues of substance.

Action groups of approximately 10 students which were formed to put together a skit based on learnings from the lectures and which was performed on the last evening of the event.

Overall, Tara felt the conference was a unique opportunity to expand her world view and one which made her a deeper person with new aspirations of how she can engage throughout her life to make the world a better place.

Nikki Fraser: Rotary Adventure in Citizenship Program

Nikki recently attended the 66^th Annual Citizenship Program in Ottawa with 203 other students from across Canada.  Nikki found the experience to be personally expanding and one which left her extremely grateful and proud to be a Canadian.  She thanked Rotary for the opportunity and encouraged them to continue sponsoring this valuable event.

Highlights included:

An icebreaker which allowed students to meet, engage and make new friends from across Canada

A mock election campaign

Inspiring speakers on relevant topics including Canadian Human Rights, Women in Politics (Elizabeth May) and Syrian Refugee Resettlement (Phil Gurski)

Tours of Parliament Hill and the House of Commons

Participation in an emotionally moving Canadian Citizenship Ceremony

Chris Hyde-Lay: Oak Bay Parks and Recreation, Community Service Team

Chris thanked the Club for our generous $6,000 donation which will go towards the installation of two bike racks and four educational panels at Uplands Park and Cattle Point. 

Wynn thanked the guest speakers for their inspiring presentations and pointed out the spirit of Socrates was alive and well in that our student presenters have clearly taken the maxim “know thyself” to heart.

The meeting was closed with the playing of the national anthem of Serbia.

(Steve S. was still grappling with the responsibilities of being cashier for the day.)

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 24 May 2016 - Christopher Donison on "Music by the Sea", Bamfield

Reporter: Ron Cooley

Lynn Murray delivered the Invocation

Phil Neroutsos introduced the visitors and guests

Visiting Rotarians: Dr. John Snively, Nelson; Rob Garry, Victoria; Roger Finan Victoria

Interactors: Ruby Tang; Tara Matthews

Guest: Christopher Donison Guest Speaker

Announcements:

• President Heather informed us that the District Governor Joanne Croghan will not visit our club this year and as an alternate, we can meet her at a Salmon BBQ Aug 21, 2016 3-6pm at the Charter River Salmon Interpretive Centre 2895 Sooke River Road. Tickets are $40pp  spouses/partners are welcome. No Host bar. Tickets (200 only) available until Aug 5, 2016 See President Heathe.
• Neil Rawnsley read a thank you from Principal/Directrice Terri Smith Ecole George Jay Elementary: 

"I wanted to say thank you again for the "big deal'" you made for our students last week; they were tickled pink and are still talking about how fancy the lunch was. On another note, I would like to invite your members to join us for Rock the Salish Sea; our upcoming concert including Holly Arntzen and the George Jay Singers. Thursday June 2, 7pm Victoria High School Auditorium doors open 6:30. Tickets $10 at George Jay or at the door.

• Bob Schelle has sent out a notice requesting dates you will be away for the next year as he is putting together the Roster for the year. Please respond ASAP. It is your responsibility to find a replacement if you can not make your assigned duty. He has only had 20 responses.

50/50:

Lorna Curtis our Celebrations Master started off with $1 for anyone who did not sit with her.

$1 for anyone who did not have a flag for the long weekend.

$1 to John Snively for missing him

$1 to Sanjay Uppal for  not doing the bulletin

Birthdays: Anne McIntyre May 26; Renate Gibbs May 28

Club Anniversaries: Jim Force  & Steve Sharlow.

Joan Peggs was happy we had 321 Flags out over the long weekend. Sad we lost 5.

President Heather won the draw --sad no marble to win the big pot.

Guest Speaker: Christopher Donison

Joan Peggs introduced our speaker. 

Composer, conductor, pianist, inventor and interior decorator.

He started in the music world in 1976 at the Belfry Theater.

He is a flag subscriber

His most recent project is to present the largest musical instrument in the world. Music By the Sea is a 10 year old project to create an international level music festival and mentoring school in the historic village of Bamfield on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  In past seasons, the season was launched with a set of fanfares performed by a trumpet in a rowboat from the middle of the inlet, performing a back and forth piece of music with other musicians on the shore and the Coast guard providing cannon fire and sirens.

For the 10th anniversary, he has developed, in conjunction with Limbic Media of Victoria, a system which will enable a performer with a keyboard to "Play" a set of tuned ships horns remotely. The system uses compressed air supplied buy Scuba tanks to sound the horns.

The project is building 25 horns each tuned differently over a 2 octave range. This will be the largest musical instrument in the world.

The system has attracted a humpback whale on both occasions it was used.

For Canada's 150th Birthday celebration, the system will play God Save the Queen, O' Canada and a specially written new piece for the event.

You will be able to access this remotely and listen to it on your smart phone. There is a Ted talk about the Centennial Square presentation.

Music by the Sea; Bamfield, Vancouver Island BC July 2-10 http://www.musicbythesea.ca or call 250-728-3887.

There are packages available with hotel. Best way to travel is fly 1 way and return by water on the "Lady Rose" to Port Alberni.

Don O'Coffey thanked the Speaker.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 31 May, 2016 - Kim Scott – Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association

Reporter: Jenny Hildebrand

Jim Force welcomed us and opened the meeting with “O Canada” followed by a short video clip featuring Ruby Tang’s closing remarks at the Youth Services wind-up event at Windsor pavilion last Friday evening.. 

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

 Kim Scott - Guest Speaker

Tracey Lemke – Friend of Kim Scott

Sarah Lett – Friend of Alyx G

Alyson Hawksnooma

Dr. John Snively – Nelson Rotary

Katie Coard – Downtown Victoria Rotary

Health of the club:  No news this week

Announcements:

• Please note on June 14th we’ll be holding our lunch at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) at the Oak Bay High School. The occasion is to provide our members a look at the NLC and particularly the Teen Room for which our club funded the fitting out of the room.  The suggested area for parking is at the north end of the OB Rec Centre parking lot. The High School is a short walk from there.
• Janette encouraged us to purchase Thrifty’s smile cards which are like gift cards that can be loaded at the check out with your credit card. 5% of the money loaded into the card goes towards our Club and this year will go towards the installation of  new picnic tables at the Carnarvon Rotary Water Park on Henderson Road.
• Jim announced the news that Lori has received a $25K grant for the Memory Café.

Celebrations Master:  Victoria Pitt

Ted Chambers and Renata Gibbs were fined for not responding to emails this week. Victoria tried to fine Anne McIntyre as well but was informed that Anne had in fact responded to her email in a timely manner!  Victoria quickly recanted and with her usual good humour agreed to pay the fine herself. 

Realtors and Investment advisors were fined as clearly they have pockets full of cash due to the recent boom in the housing market. Ron Cooley was fined for missing his absent wife too much!

In response to the following quote by Buddha “There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle”, which was read by Ruby Tang at the Youth Services wind-up, Victoria fined all who haven’t had a lit candle on their table during the past week.

Happy and Sad Dollars:

Naida has been working diligently since January to bring a Lesotho midwifery student here for a visit.  The student’s plane is due to depart tomorrow but sadly she has so far been unable to secure a visa.

Jack Petrie purchased a Thrifty Smile Card under his alias “Irving?” giving Janette cause to laugh.

Tom L. enjoyed a few compliments this morning while parking his sporty BMW 1200 motorcycle!

Pablo has been invited to play in the Krasnoyarsk International Music Festival in Russia, as soloist with the festival orchestra, June 26, 2016!

Jack Petrie and his wife enjoyed a holiday last week in West Vancouver where they had a firsthand look at how dramatically neighbourhoods are being impacted as a result of the heated real estate market.  Jack and his wife encountered streets devoid of children, dog walkers and regular residents.  There was, however, an abundance of luxury cars, gardening service providers and private security firms actively managing the empty properties.

50/50: Penny had the winning ticket but did not draw the black marble.

Guest Speaker:  Kim Scott – Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA)

Our guest speaker was Kim Scott from the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association who gave us a heartwarming and inspiring presentation.  Kim shared how her involvement with the VTRA over the past 10 years has provided her with a wealth of life enriching training and support.  Through the VTRA programs Kim has developed a unique skill set and significant personal abilities which assist her in facing the challenges she encounters, as a person living with cerebral palsy.

As a child Kim did not excel in sports but loved animals and was “horse crazy”!  When she joined the VTRA she was still having trouble walking on her own and so her parents were reasonably quite worried.  Even so, they gave her the support she required and within one year Kim was able to ride independently and find great pleasure in a sport she could finally excel in.  Kim certainly has excelled and is now long listed for Canada’s Para-Equestrian Dressage team.  Kim also teaches gymnastics on horseback, mentors young riders and coaches!

Kim started public speaking when she was 13 years old as part of the United Way campaign trail and which she contributed to for 3 years.  She is a member of a Community Living Victoria youth team who give presentations at middle schools promoting disability awareness.

Kim shared her story of how horses have been her healers through her journey with cerebral palsy and the anxiety and depression she has faced.  She has turned her healing and passion into her career and now works to assist others overcome their own personal challenges.  Kim wants everyone to find the support they need to “reach for their dreams and goals”!

Kim received positive encouragement and feedback from the audience at the conclusion of her talk.

Kim thanked the audience, answered further questions and concluded by stating that she includes in her “support team” all those who give her a kind word, through to those who support her financially through corporate and personal donations.  She is hopeful that in the near future she will meet the required goals that will allow her to qualify for Sports BC Funding.

Naida thanked Kim for her inspiring and informative talk and encouraged her to keep up her great work.

Jim showed a short video clip of Ruby Tang accepting a Paul Harris Fellowship award for her work on many fronts including heading the Amnesty International Club, the Environmental Club and the Interact Club at Oak Bay High.  Ruby was delighted and overwhelmed and paid tribute to her fellow team members.  Ruby plans to continue her studies at the University of Toronto next year in the Peace and Conflict Resolution Department. 

Jim closed the meeting with high praise for the youth service clubs at Oak Bay High and encouraged us to continue to support the young people involved with both our funding and our time.  Jim believes these young people welcome and benefit from our presence in their lives and that they are seeking ethical and moral mentors in business and community life.