For the very last time Liz and Toni were introduced as guests and its and exciting night for our club to add two new members! We also enjoyed have our Exchange Student Daniel join us, as shown in the picture with Lee helping out. It was also a great pleasure to welcome our Speaker Gary Doi.
The Club really enjoyed the new version of inducting members. Larry Rumming shared that our first new member Liz Kawahara came looking for us! Liz grew up in the Nanaimo/Parksville area then moved to Vancouver for 8 years, although has been back in Nanaimo for 3 years. Liz is currently attending VIU focusing on Digital Media and First Nation studies and works at the Student Union Office there. Her boyfriend is in the army based in Edmonton. Liz has many interests including volunteering at a farm in Lantzville and NALT nursery and is president of the Beekeepers Club at VIU. She is drawn to Rotary because it has a common goal that is community focused in that it all starts here and with that focus has become a much larger collective worldwide.She has found Rotary to be diverse with unlimited possibilities. Welcome Liz!
Our second new member is Toni Wheeler, and Larry shared that Toni came to Nanaimo from Saskatoon a couple of months ago to take the position as General Manager of Nanaimo Seniors Village. Toni has three daughters, with two of them attending university in Saskatoon and the middle daughter is a world traveling Chef, based out of Victoria. Toni enjoys photography, music and the great outdoors, and as a life-long learner she loves to travel. She is high energy and is loving Nanaimo! The club is excited to Welcome Toni as a member!
Hope and Inspiration makes for a great evening! Tonight's speaker Gary Doi whom is a retired School Superintendent, recently compiled his third book, hot of the press "From the Heart." Profits from this book will benefit the Cmolik Foundation which strives make a difference in the lives of young people. Gary shared some stories growing up and says he was part of a large family that grew up on hope and he talked about his mom whom didn't really speak english telling him to "Be Good, Do Good."
Gary created an online blog after he retired 5 years ago and it thankful of the many people that shared their stories. The first book he compiled was "Inspiring Hope" in which all net proceeds to benefit, Asturias Academy Library in Xela, Guatemala. The second book "Fly like and Eagle" proceed to benefit SORCO- a rehab faciity for injured raptors. It was an inspiring evening and as he says " Hope is many things, and its the presence of HOPE that gets you thru!' Thank you Gary for sharing!
*Colin shared that his wife is having a knee replacement, so he will be away for a few weeks and Roger will cover the door. We wish Lynette a speedy recovery.
*Jim and Bill are working on the coupon fundraiser.
*Lynne thanked Doug for introducing her to Rotary as its her 2nd anniversary
*Paul and Cathy had a wonderful trip!
*Barb went to Walla Walla and had 25 wine tasting opportunities!
