Meeting: February 6, 2024
Colin's Rotary Minute:
About Community Service
A community, defined in its simplest terms, is a group of people who have something in common. But in real life, it is something far more complex than that. Each member — every individual, group, organization, and business — draws benefits from the community in many different ways. For a community to thrive, each of its members must honor a commitment to contribute to the well-being of the whole by returning those benefits in kind.
Rotarians recognize the importance of giving back to the community. After all, Community Service is one of the Five Avenues of Service. Every Rotary club and every Rotarian assumes a responsibility to find ways to improve the quality of life for those in their communities and to serve the public interest. When those efforts are effective, they not only contribute to the greater good, they also promote Rotary's positive image.
What makes a community service effort effective? Relevance. A community service project must address a real, current community concern or issue.
Guests:
Carl Lowenberger, a potential new member.
Nadiya Tykhovod and Hanna Dmitrienko, who
spoke to our club about the Christmas event for Ukrainian Children which was held on December 17th 2023, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nanaimo. It included a puppet show, a theatrical performance, games, a visit from Santa and gifts. It also included Ukrainian songs, treats and sweets. They thanked those that had participated in the event for the Ukrainian children and families in Nanaimo.
Reports:
Jim reported on Fundraising events:
Beer & Burger night March 3 at Lantzville pub. Gift certificates for $25 - $30 are needed for a draw. Silent auction items also needed, experiences are preferred.
There will be a garage sale in May date and place tba.
Cara reminded of the next Family dinner:
We are preparing and serving dinner at Bayview Elementary on Tuesday February 13, 2024. The first shift will be from 4:00pm-7:30pm which will involve Kitchen and table set up. The second shift will be from 5:30pm-8:30pm and will involve serving and cleaning up afterwards.
Please let me know before Wednesday February 7, 2024, if you are available to volunteer and which shift you would prefer.
Derek is co-ordinating a new Interact Club
Paul is organizing a committee to manage a grant application for the project that was presented at a club meeting in December, the See Can, a "clinic in a can", to be prepared and shipped to Malawi, and placed on site of a village health unit. with the equipment and furnishings for it to be function as an eye clinic.
We will explore the grant opportunities that may help this project financially, from the Mid-Island Group, D5020, and RI. There are rules to follow and steps to take for these grants. Anyone interested in learning more, and in helping make this project happen, reach out to us and we'll keep you in the loop.
Thanks were received from Jane Pegg of ROOTS TO READ
Don reminded us of the coldest night of the year walk.
Program:
Derek introduced our guest speaker, Peter Sinclair, Director of the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. Peter began by thanking our club for its support. He gave us a presentation which included the operational goals for Loaves and Fishes. Among them are:
Making sure that every charity on Vancouver Island has the food they need to thrive.
There is a Loaves and Fishes free market depot in every community that needs it.
He also gave us a list of some of their major accomplishments.
2007 - Network of free food market depots begins.
2011 - Warehouse rebuild.
2012 - Food recovery. Food waste: a huge opportunity. It is estimated that half of the food produced is wasted.
2014 - Full warehouse.
2015 - New warehouse, investments in infrastructure and storage trucks.
2017 - Food banks, B.C. hub for Vancouver Island.
2019 - Port Hardy, free food market depot.
2020 - Port McNeill agency pick depot, and food from St. Vincent de Paul in Campbell River. Also deliveries to Gold River and Tahsis.
2021 - Deliveries to Zebellos, Lake Cowichan and Victoria. Also a new warehouse is designed.
2023 - Development permit issued for new premises. Also, the acquisition of Port Hardy Harvest Food Bank.
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