Chaired by Past president Jim in absence of President Paul
Guests: Ann Northwood, Erin Hemmens, Coroner with BC Coroners Service (guest of Tyler Brown) & Julia, exchange student.
Julia
Erin Hemmens with Tyler & Jim
Visiting Rotarians: AGWayne Anderson, Rotary Club of Nanaimo.
ADG Wayne shared Rotary’s new Mission statement: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves”
Announcements:
Coffee fundraiser - Coffee was delivered to Rob, Jim and Derek, if you would like to order some you can do so on our website or email Barney Sharp at barneysharp@shaw.ca . The cost is $15 for medium or dark roast, $16 for Decaf, $3.75 from each bag goes to the club.
Tree Planting at Beban Park Sunday Sept 23rd 1 PM - Location is on the east side of Beban Park near the playing fields; entrance off Dorman Road.There will be 180 trees in total (one for each rotarian in area 4), the holes will be dug by the City. The trees come in 1 gallon pots, volunteers from area clubs will pull off the pots, place the trees in the holes and cover them with soil. Contact Jim Turley if you would like more information.
Beer & Burger Fundraiser - October 30 at White Spot, Woodgrove. Let Barney Sharp know what you can donate to the auction.
Banner exhanges
Jim with banners from New Zealand clubs represented in the Fellowship Exchange
Program:
Presentation by Theo Boere, the executive director of the Nanaimo Men’s Resource Centre, which goes by “The Men’s Centre”. He was accompanied by Scott Cooper of Box 266 Digital. It is the only full service men’s centre west of Manitoba, thus 40% of their clientele are from outside of Nanaimo. They serve 2,000 to 5,000 people per year, the fluctuation is due to funding fluctuations, as the government offers very little financial support. Provincially men receive less than 1% of what women’s resources receive.
Most of the approximately ten programs that they offer are free, and are staffed primarily by volunteers, both male and female. These are some sobering statistics that Theo shared with us:
Men commit suicide 4x more often than women, are 80% of the homeless and victims of the opioid crisis. 90% of workplace fatalities are men, and young men make up only 40% of University enrollment.
Men tend to not ask for help, they need to show their vulnerabilities, as it shows strength, not weakness.
Peter Lillico, Gill, Sandra Kyle, Raewyn & David Lusk, David Baker, Bev Lillico, Christine Meredith, Anne Abbott, Robert Kyle, DG Craig Gillis.
When nine New Zealanders (D9940) arrived at Departure Bay on 11 September, it kicked off the 2018/19 Rotary Friendship Exchange that will see Port Hardy, Nanaimo and Victoria Rotarians join our US partners in Wellington on March 15!
The team brought a range of experience from agribusiness consultant, through dairy farmers, to supply teacher. They also had a wide travel experience, some having undertaken Rotary FE to other parts of the world. They clearly also brought great enthusiasm!
At the welcome reception at Nanaimo Yacht Club, brief solo introductions were followed by a review of a truly charismatic project which converted a bus to a mobile medical/emergency coordination centre to meet needs of a remote Pacific island. This inspiring story showed how a multi year, multi club and multi sponsor project can define a real need and build toward a sustainable solution. Two Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded in New Zealand this week and the third project leader got his award at the Nanaimo presentation!
The welcome by the Nanaimo hosts was praised by all the visitors and District Governor, Craig Gillis, who joined the group on its travels to Coombs, Cathedral Grove and Port Alberni. Hosting activities were a great mix of group and individual activities, walks, sails, wine and cheese and a general sharing of life and Rotary experiences.
On September 14th the Nanaimo crew passed the guests to Victoria Westshore for the continuation of their experience. Everyone involved thanks Nanaimo North and friends for the effort, the welcome and the reputation they created.