President Jim Turley started the meeting at 6:15 pm
O’Canada led by Ian Thompson followed by invocation by Rob Waine.
Guests: Cathy Holmes, Coordinator, Better at Home Program, Nanaimo Family Life Association
Visiting Rotarians: none.
Order of Dinner by President Jim.
A wonderful baked salmon dinner was had by all.
Formal part of the meeting started at 6:34pm.
Colin provided the Rotary Minute about what $100 can provide around the world. The four way test.
Member Moment by Rob Waine:
Introduced to Rotary by Bruce Coleman in1994
Former Lion
Stayed with Rotary because of the potential to “give back”
Became President in 2001
There was a sense of belonging to something bigger
Showed a video about Rotary opportunities to give back around the world
Continued to stay with Rotary because of what Rotary is.
Deryk Rickwood volunteered to present the Member Moment September 5th
President Jim’s Club announcements:
A thank you from Symphony by the Sea for the valued contribution of the North Club on August 12th to collect $7,000.
November 7th will be Beer ‘n Burger at the White Spot which will include the sale of donated items from the membership above $20.
142 meals were served at Saturday’s breakfast August 12th
Paul Geneau introduced the Youth Exchange Beer ‘n Burger Night to be held at The Rugby Club on August 29 to include a silent auction and presentations by returning exchange students. Attendance $25.
Bill Robinson introduced our evening presenter Cathy Holmes, Coordinator, Better at Home Program, Nanaimo Family Life Association. Briefly:
A Senior Program
She has been running it for 4 years
A Ministry funded through the United Way
In Nanaimo’s population there are 15,837 seniors over 65, of which she is working with 466 and only funded for 100, and 8,307 have an income of only $16,000 a year
Has a volunteer staff of 18 and contractors of 26
Services include:
-nurse next door, some transportation, reduce their isolation due to medical issues, Meals, washing and bathing, housekeeping, Introduction of peers,
she spreads the word of the plight of seniors
meets with every single client
i. Nanaimo senior service network focuses on all senior services in this area
j. efforts to make Nanaimo more senior friendly
k. 50th anniversary of the Association
l. 80 people on the wait list and 140 waiting to get on the wait list
m. Question period followed.
n. Cathy Holmes was thanked by Perry Williams (7:30)
Don Dempson spoke about Public Image and good things are happening
Rob Waine advised that the speaker spot for September 5th meeting was open (there was a maybe) but subsequently Roger Northwood volunteered to speak about his medical issues. Chris Beaton, well known to the membership will be speaking on the September 19th.
President Jim then asked for membership comments:
Some speakers needed for November and December
Loaves and Fishes next week
September 12th next Board meeting
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Jeff Tomlinson on the 23rd
Next meeting on September 5th at 6:10pm, same location, preceded by thirty minutes of fellowship.
Ian Thompson collected for Happy Sad
Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm after a toast to Rotary.
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
As president, Rassin aims to strengthen our public image and our use of digital tools to maximize Rotary’s reach.
An Opportunity for Rotary, the Environment, and Peace
RI President Ian Riseley has made environmental sustainability a major focus for his year.
Click here to see President Riseley's invitation to his Presidential Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Peace in Vancouver on the weekend of February 9 - 11, 2018.
As members of the Rotary Family who understand the central role that environmental sustainability plays in the long term success of all that Rotary does, we urge you to join us at this conference.
Keynote speakers:
Ian Riseley, RI President 2017-2018. Chartered accountant. Paul Netzel, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair. Management Consultant. Dr. Jonathan Patz, Director, Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin Jess Housty, Heiltsuk First Nation, tribal councillor & chair of the lands portfolio. David Suzuki. Prof. Emeritus, UBC, Companion to the Order of Canada, recipient of the UN Environment Program Medal. Douglas Justice, University of BC Botanical Gardens, Associate Director of Horticulture. Linda Low, Rotary Peace Fellow at Duke/University of North Carolina Rotary Peace Center.
Rotary International Convention Highlights - Atlanta 2017
Click here to watch video of RI President Ian Riseley's remarks at the Presidential Peace Conference in Atlanta
"Environmental sustainability is and must be everyone’s concern."
With that strong statement, and to the cheers of ESRAG members in the Closing Session, Ian Riseley became RI’s President for 2017-18. ESRAG marshaled its resources to provide a strong presence at the Atlanta Convention in support of his vision for “a Rotary that recognizes our responsibility, not only to the people on our planet, but to the planet itself, on which we all live and on which we all depend.” [excerpt from RI President Elect’s speech, June 14, 2017, Atlanta ]
The learning and fellowship began with the WASRAG’s World Water Summit, which this year focused on women and water.
Dr. Bernice A. King at the Presidential Peace Conference in Atlanta
Click on the photo to access videos
The annual Peace Conference followed with an inspiring keynote by Dr. Bernice King in which she quoted her father, Martin Luther King, Jr., “True peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” She reminded us that we seek to defeat issues and conditions, not other people. She encouraged us to remember the “we” factor, a message that resonates well with Rotarians!
