Meeting: August 19, 2025
17 members present. Bill presided in Cara's absence. Rob led us in O Canada and Sheila gave the invocation.
Today's Fun Fact - which member used to pump gas?
Answer - Sue! Her parents bought a marina on the Sunshine Coast and she helped out at the boat gas pumps.
Guests : Rick Stevenson ( previous club member) and Ev Boegh ( Daybreak Rotary) our speaker.
Colin's Rotary Minute:
YOUTH EXCHANGE
Rotary Youth Exchange is one of Rotary's most popular programs to promote international understanding and develop lifelong friendships. It began in 1927 with the Rotary Club of Nice, France. In 1939 an extensive Youth Exchange was created between California and Latin America. Since then the program has expanded around the world. In recent years more than 7,000 young people have participated annually in Rotary-sponsored exchange programs.
Youth Exchange participants provide their fellow students and host families with opportunities to learn about customs, languages, traditions and family life in another country while learn themselves about the customs, traditions and family life of the hosts. Students usually spend a full academic year abroad, although some clubs and districts sponsor short term exchanges of several weeks or months.
DONT MISS meeting the exchange students at the Welcome Bar-B-Q on August 28th..
Announcements:
Fundraising:
There will be Garage Sale in the Fall - Jim is still lookng for a site.
The will also be a Beer and Burger in November.
Sheila reminded everyone that Nanaimo North Rotary has an account at the Bottle Return Depot. So please return your empties there and ask for the proceeds to be credited to our account. ( It all helps keep your dues affordable!)
August 24th ( this Sunday) we will be serving hot dogs etc at
The Nanaimo Ladysmith Schools Foundation launch of their 2025 Stock the Lockers campaign at Nanaimo North Town Centre. The event goes from 11:00 to 4:00
September 14th - The organizer of the site for Jazz Fest was able to add in the Fun Fest Activities on the Sunday. It will be the same activities as last year (Bouncy castles, climbing wall Kayaking on the lagoon etc) and again as last year access to the activities will be by means of a wristband obtained by a donation to Rotary. We will be issuing the wristbands and collecting donations as well as offering popcorn by donation.
Ed has a volunteer schedule and if you woud like to help let Ed know.
Rob confirmed that he is meeting with Haven Society to firm up our committment to help, - probably with a staff Bar-b-q and/or clean up of the old transition house. Our Speaker at the next meeting will be Carol-Ann, Chair of Haven Society.
Ed added that the Board Chair of Hospice House had also made enquiries looking for volunteers to repair and repaint the Hospice House.
Program:
Ev Boegh, Chair of Area 40 Partnership Cpmmittee gave us an overview of what the 4 Nanaimo Clubs and Rotaract are doing together. Her presentation was the one which she gives to other organizations explaining who, as Rotarians, we are and what we do in the community. Don and Larry are our reps on the Committee. Events such as Coldest Night of the year walk, Silly Boat regatta, garbage pick up at Earth Day are some of the activites done jointly. The Committee also has Rotary tents and a large promotion stand for any functions that an individual club needs. Coming up
September 20th is a Social Bar-B-Q organized by the Commitee.
There will be a cash bar with proceeds going to the Air Cadet Program. Get your tickets soon as numbers are limited.
MEMBER PROFILE - PERRY WILLIAMS
Perry was born in Kelowna where he worked in the orchards and vineyards during the summers. He’s still not fond of cherries even today! It was a fun experience except for the time he ran over a skunk with the grass mower on a tractor.
He left Kelowna to attend UBC where he graduated with a degree in Zoology. Unlike today, jobs were scarce in the field, so he did one more year to obtain his teaching certificate. After applying for numerous teaching positions, a job came up in the IT field. Since a job in hand was better than a ‘maybe’ job in the future, he took the IT position in Quesnel. That was a fortunate decision and one that led to a career in computers. Quesnel was also the place where he met Ronda and another fortunate decision was made to get married. A couple of years later, their son Ryan was born. During this time, and for the next 20 years, he was an Auxiliary RCMP constable.
The next move was to Powell River where he worked for MacMillan Bloedel in the IT department. His job there was to design and implement their payroll system across the various divisions in Canada and the US. Two momentous events were to happen in Powell River. His daughter Becky was born, and he joined the Rotary Club of Powell River the day after her birth. In 1995, he was transferred to Nanaimo and – of course – joined the Rotary Club of North Nanaimo.
He worked in Nanaimo for MB until 1997 when he joined a company called PDS to work with their HR, Payroll and Benefits software. This change caused a lot more travel and he has been to every US state and Canadian province.
Today he is semi-retired, has four grandchildren, and with Ronda, travels the world. To date, they have been to all 7 continents and 114 countries and territories.
