July 4, 2017 Meeting
President Jim in the chair for his first meeting of the year.
Guests: none.
Visiting Rotarians: Janice Perrino, Nanaimo Daybreak Rotary Club.
Announcements
VIU Scholarship recipients: We were informed by Marcela Leus, Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries Coordinator, that the recipient of the Rotary Club of Nanaimo North award was Sally Haynes in the BA program. The Frank Gregory Award was made to Colton James Castle in the Forklift Training Program. Marcela also sent a link to a You Tube video with testimonials from three student recipients:
Dragon Boat Festival this weekend. Gill said we need as many volunteers as possible. Volunteers must have their Serve it Right certificate available for inspection. If you have any t shirt with Dragon boat festival on it from any year please wear it. If you have a Rotary apron please bring it. Any Rotary garments are great.
Community Breakfast - none this month because we are at Dragon Boat; next one will be August 14.
Membership Changes. Jim reported that Lynne Hannay & Glynis Hayes have not renewed their memberships this year. Doug Pearson is now an Honorary member.
President elect Vacancy - Jim said we still need a volunteer for the president elect position.
Student Exchange - Paul said our student Man has returned home to Thailand. Next year we will have three inbound students from Hungary, Brazil & Taiwan.
Rotary Calling Cards - Larry handed out cards which provide contact information for the five local clubs.
Program
Janice Perrino came to the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation as CEO last August. She moved from Summerland where she spent 11 years as executive director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. A past president of Summerland Rotary Club, Janice also served as mayor and town councillor in Summerland, perhaps inspired by her great aunt Judy LaMarsh. (Judy's career in Lester Pearson's cabinet included a term as Minister of Health while the Canada Pension Plan and Medicare were being developed).
Janice outlined the work of the Hospital Foundation to raise funds for diagnostic equipment.
When a comprehensive health insurance plan was introduced to Saskatchewan in 1961, the budget was $22 million per year. Now, the budget for the Vancouver Island Health Authority alone is $2.2 billion annually. This is due to changes in services covered and an aging population. Drug costs are increasing at 10% annually.
Health Care already consumes 52% of its budget, so the Provincial Government is sometimes not able to purchase new equipment as needed. The Nanaimo Regional Hospital had more than 65,000 visits to the Emergency Room last year (this is the busiest on Vancouver Island). Personal donations are the largest source of funds for the foundation - more than $42 million since 1991. Community organizations & service clubs are the next largest source, followed by corporate donations and then other foundations.
Janice thanked the club for its work with Dragon Boat, helping raise funds to purchase mammography equipment.
Motions
President Jim sent out advance notice of the following two motions:
1] Moved that the club donate $1800.00 to The Boys and Girls Club to help less fortunate children to attend local summer camps.
As this amount is over the up to 1000.00 that the Board can authorize and it was not a line item in the budget, club approval is needed to proceed.
Moved by Larry Rumming, seconded by Derek Rickwood. Carried.
2] Moved that the club donate $1,000.00 to the Cottle Creek Park Neighbourhood Committee and $1,000.00 to the Cinnabar Valley Park Improvement Project Committee.
Both of these committees are raising funds that will be matched by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Moved by Ed Poli, seconded by Paul Geneau. Carried.
Next week: No regular meeting. There will be a joint meeting of past year & current board members in the upstairs room at Longwood Brew Pub 6:15 PM.
Our next regular meeting is on July 18 - Nanaimo Association of Community Living Clothing Drop Bin Program.
