Rob led us on O Canada and Sheila gave the Invocation

 

Guests:  Vicki Parkhill,  Tiana Nguyen and Taylor (friend of the speaker.)

 

Sheila's Foundation Minute:

 

The Annual Fund of Rotary International is the main source of funds for Foundation Programs. Donations to the Annual Fund of TRF empowers sustainable service projects in local communities and around the world. At the end of each year contributions are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund. The World Fund supports major programs and our district uses the DDF to pay for district projects chosen by clubs in our distrct. TRF is recogised as being one of the most efficient charites dedicating 90% of total sepnding to programs. 

 

Jim gave a leghy report on the Family Fun Day event

Family Fun Day Background and Update
Last fall Ed and Jim met with Kim Smythe who is an event organizer in Nanaimo. He had been approached by the group of Rib Fest vendors to host a third Rib Fest in Nanaimo on the Labour Day weekend in September 2024.  Nanaimo North was approached to be the charitable organization that would provide the needed volunteer hours in exchange for a portion of the revenue.  It was discussed by the Fund Raising Committee who decided to proceed.  Kim set up a company, Oceanside Rib Fest Events to seek a grant of $8,000.00 from the City, available to "for profit organizations".  Over the following 6 months it became very apparent that we could not come to an agreement with the City for a location.  Kim booked Maffeo Sutton for Sunday September 1 2024 to hold the a one day Family event and changed the grant for the rib fest to the Family Fun Day.  Ed and Jim agreed to a split of funds gained through wrist band donations and net corn sales.
Attendees received a wrist band for a donation to Rotary, allowing participation in any or all of the activities. Kim’s company paid for the rental and staffing of the activities and up to 50% of the wrist band donations will be paid to the company to help offset these expenses.  All sponsorships, food truck rental and vendor booth fees went to Kim’s company.  Up to 20% of the net corn on the cob sales went to Oceanside Rib Fest in lieu of paying a set rental for the location we occupied.  It was decided that it was safer to go with the percentage rather than set fees as had the attendance and weather not been optimum, we could have lost money on the flat fee option.  We received all of the net income from popcorn donations.
Based on this experience there is no reason why this cannot become an annual event.  With more lead time we can garner more sponsorship and grants meaning that the majority of donation and sales income would stay with our Club.
A huge thank you to the Mid Island Co-Op, Downtown Nanaimo BIA, Old City Quarter BIA, Ian Thompson, Country Grocer, Nanaimo Paddling group and other food trucks and vendors including Dogs ‘N Suds.  Also thanks the Nanaimo Golf Club for loaning us the 3 chafing dishes and sterno and the hand washing station.  Snuneymuxw for the use of the Old Howard Johnson parking lot for overflow parking.
Finally this would not have been possible without the following volunteers
Ian Thorpe, Don Dempson, Bill and Val Grace, Perry Williams, Paul Geneau, Lynne Hannay, Moin Edraki, Deb Marshall, Ian Thompson, Warren Turley, Megan Lewis, Ann Seaweed, Sheila Anderson, Pat Cox, Rob Waine, Sue Gibson, Rod Smith, Bob Hargreaves, Catherine Hargreaves, Fred Von Schellwitz, and Bill Robinson.
There is a meeting with Kim on Friday to finalize the financials.  Once that is determined the club will be advised how much we received for our effort.

Don advised of the upcoming Rotary events:

September 8 - Walk for Nepal 
 

Paul said that the Youth Exchange event went well. We will have 4 inbound students this year from Denmark, Czech Republic , Spain and Mexico.