Meeting: JULY 15, 2025
Sheila led us in O Canada.
Guests: Vicki Parkhill and Carol-Ann Siemens
From: Dover Bay Rotaract Club
Marshall McGuire (President)
Collin Tanner and
Mania Kamalkondori
who attended to present a cheque for $282.00, for our SeeCan project.
FUN FACT
Before the meeting President Cara asked members to send her a fun fact about themseves and at each meeting she will ask the members to identify the member from the fun fact. Tonight she asked us to name a member who had visited 64 countries. We were unable to guess - Peter Siemens was the answer - that's a lot of travel!
Colin's Rotary Minute:
DISTRICT GOVERNOR
The Rotary district governor performs a very significant function in the world of Rotary He or she is representative of Rotary International in the geographic area of a Rotary district, which usually includes about 45 Rotary clubs ( Editor's note: Our District 5020 contains 88 Clubs with over 4000 members - one of the largest in the world.) The district governors provide the "quality control" for the 27,000 Rotary clubs of the world. They are responsible for maintaining high performance within the clubs of their district.
The district governor is an experienced Rotarian who generously devotes a year to the volunteer task of leadership. The governor has a wealth of knowledge about current Rotary programs, purposes, policies and goals. The governor must supervise the organization of new clubs and strengthen existing ones. He or she performs a host of specific duties to assure that the quality of Rotary does not falter in the district, and is responsible to promote and implement all programs and activities of the Rotary International President and the RI Board of Directors. The governor plans and directs a district conference and other special events.
BUDGET
Ed circulated the draft budget before the meeting ( twice) so moved to approve Paul seconded - all approved.
REPORTS
Jim gave his report on Fundraising. No Family Day event this year, too much competition for sponsors from the 55+ games. We may do a popcorn and freezie sale ourselves at Maffeo Sutton Park at the Labour Day weekend holiday.
There is a possibility of a Garage Sale in the fall - items are being received. There will be a Beer and Burger event in November.
Paul reported that the Rotaract Club at Dover Bay is well attended ( 10-15 members) Their counsellor is a teacher at the school and a DayBreak Rotarian.
RYE will have a welcome BBQ on August 28th at the Curling Club to welcome the inbound Youth Exchange and the rebound students from last year. This is also a Fund Raiser and they need donations for the silent auction.
Rob suggested a Pub night for the 29th of July and, having received an enthusiastic response from the members, will arrange to have us socialise at Piper's again. Rob also provided a trivia question with a prize of a bag of plums from his garden. What country is this year's RI president from and what is his ocupation? Only Sheila knew the answer (Italy and Orthodontist) and took home the plums! - delicious.
Birthdays: Fred has just celebrated his 90th birthday - Congratulations! He celebrated with family in Vancouver after returning from his first RI convention in Calgary.
Program:
Sharon Speevak, from the Nanaimo-Oceanside chapter of Elderdog Canada gave a very inspiring talk about the Charity, its history, its role and its need for VOLUNTEERS. They are not looking for money: they need dog walkers, home visitors, delivery of dog dood and supplies, people who will take a dog to the vet or the groomer, care during an owner's hospitalization, short term foster care etc. Elderdog is a national registered charity dedicated to ageing people, ageing dogs and the important connection they enjoy. More info at https://elderdog.ca Check out the Local "Pawd" on Facebook : ElderDog Canada Nanaimo-Oceanside Pawd. The charity was recently featured on a Chek News article "Their mental health depends on the dog’: How Elderdog Nanaimo-Oceanside is making a difference with seniors.
New Project for the Club?
Carol-Ann Siemens gave a brief overview of what Haven Society is needing. She will be the speaker on Septeber 2nd but in the meantime Cara is looking at how our club members can get involved. More to come.
MEMBER PROFILE - BILL GRACE
Bill was born in Halifax Nova Scotia and moved to and grew up in Amherst located along the Nova Scotia New Brunswick border not far from PEI. While in high school assisted his father in managing several residential properties. He moved back to Halifax in 1978 and graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a degree in finance in 1984. He opened a real estate sales company with his father 1984-1988 then moved to Ottawa early 1989. He worked as an accountant in a real estate sales company then as a Financial Controller in a commercial real estate management company before moving to Vancouver in 1992 via a 3-day train ride site unseen with a suitcase.
Bill worked as an accountant for 6 years at the Court House Library while studying for a CGA designation and where he met his wife Valerie who is from Nanaimo.
Nearing completing of the designation he worked at Bentall Real Estate and upon obtaining the designation in 2001 started working at Marnet Real Estate as a Financial Controller/Asset Manager for 5 years in North Vancouver.
He moved to Nanaimo in 2006 and formed a consulting company and teamed up with the owner of Marnet Real Estate over 20 more years working on commercial real estate projects responsible for property and asset management including financing, construction and tenant improvements, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions as well as other business ventures with the owner such as Native Art Sales and Farming.
Bill and his wife own two properties in downtime Nanaimo where he operates Turley’s Florist and Practicar Nanaimo and has one long term tenant Baker Supply (18 years).
Bill was introduced to Rotary by Jim Turley when Jim sold his flower store and before this had no idea what Rotary was about.
Bill’s spare time is spent touring BC with his wife in their Triumph usually at various cars shows around the province.
