Meeting: April 21, 2026
18 members present.
Colin's Rotary Minute:
CONCERN FOR THE AGING:
One current area of special emphasis for Rotary clubs focuses on providing "new opportunities for the aging." In 1990, the RI Board of Directors urged Rotarians to identify new projects serving the elderly that emphasize intergenerational activities and the integration of seniors into society and the workplace. The following year, the board called for an approach that stressed service "with" the elderly as well as "for" them.
With the substantial upswing in the worldwide population of older persons, their needs for special attention have greatly multiplied. As citizens grow older, it becomes increasingly important for them to retain their personal independence and to remain in control of their own lives to the extent this is possible.
Some clubs have initiated a valuable community service to assist older persons in retirement planning and adjustment by organizing and sharing the wealth of information available within the club's membership. Other clubs have developed foster grandparent programs and other intergenerational activities that allow seniors to use their experience and knowledge to help young people. Rotarians often can provide services which seniors can no longer do for themselves.
The greatest need of aging individuals is frequently a mere expression of real caring and concern by thoughtful friends. All Rotarians should seriously consider how they and their clubs may actively participate in programs for the aging. It is one area of community service in which there is a growing possibility that each of us may some day be on the receiving end.
Reports
Fund raising report: CINCO DE MAYO
As of April 20, 21 tickets have been sold. Please spread the word and sell tickets.
The activities in addition to the meal and the music will include La Loteria game which is similar to bingo but with a Mexican twist to it. There will be prizes for this activity. There will also be a hot sauce competition. Contestants will contribute a dollar to the prize pot to compete. The winner or winners are those that can work their way up to tasting the “hottest” sauce. The winner or winners will win or split the cash pot. There will also be dancing. The meal will be a buffet of Mexican food. There will also be taco chips and salsa on each table. The bar will be no host and will include tequila and corona. We will need 6 volunteers to set up the decorations starting at 4PM on May 5.
The following committee members will look after the following *Reception and check in - Sue and Ed
*La Loteria - Sheila
*Hot Sauce competition - Bob
We are looking forward to this fun evening so please spread the word. If you need posters please contact Jim.
Don gave a report from the Area 40 Partnership meeting on April 20.
Campbell River had a successful outing with visits to local Rotary projects, a chocolate factory and a distillery they are suggesting a quarterly event like this open to all Rotarians.
The Book Sale raised $138,000 ( 38,000 boolks were sold).
Lantzville raised $6,000 at their shredding event
We raised $2,000+ at our Beer and Burger.
Eath DayTrash Pickup on April 18th had 120 volunteers (50% Rotarians 50% friends and family) who collected over 1,000 kg of garbage in one hour!
Upcoming happenings:
Nanaimo Infusion this weekend at Maffeo Sutton Park. Wear Rotary stuff and be there for the big photo after noon on April 25.
Puzzle Contest: Lantzville have co-ordinated with Woodgrove Mall to create an event - competetive puzzling for all ages - April 25. There will be a follow up Puzzle Sale October 224-25.
Our Garage Sale is on May 23.
Daybreak have another shredding event at Woodgrove on May 30 and at Nanoose Bay on June 20.
A New Roster is being prepared -give Ev Boegh a note of any updates you require including a new photo.
Loaves and Fishes - Next Tuesday ( 28th) is our night for sorting - sign up on line. ( ask Larry if you dont know how)
Program:
Derek introduced Jeff Strain - VI Regional Library - Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch Manager.
Jeff gave a very interesting presentation and most of us discovered things about our library that we had not previously known. From the usual loan of books - both old fashioned, audio and digital to newspapers, magazines, comics, videos, movies, video games, CDs, music and beyond our local library offers an amazing assortment of free information. You can join a chess group, knitting club or practise your Spanish, finish a puzzle which has been set out on a table - or start another. The downtown branch had equipment for digitalizing your photos or film. Jeff also talked about the space currently used by the downtown library and how it can be changed to better suit the current patrons.
