May 12, 2015 Meeting
Guests: We were happy to see our two exchange students, Bas and Rowen, back again.
Announcements
- Special Olympics Track Meet on May 31 needs volunteers. Please contact Bob if you are interested in helping out.
- Reminder of Dragon Boat coming up July 10-12. Please mark your calendar so you can be available to participate. It’s a lot of fun.
- 50/50 Ticket Draw is May 26 at Beer ‘N Burger at the White Spot in Woodgrove. This is a fun event and tickets are only $20 each. Please invite all your friends and neighbours.
- Ed asked that everyone be sure to turn in their 50/50 tickets and/or money before May 26.
- Our Installation is June 16 at Frankie’s Modern Diner. We’ve opted for a 60’s theme so dust off your love beads, your sandals, stick some flowers in your hair, or dig out that mini skirt… Frankie’s is located where Moxie’s used to be in the Costco centre. Start time is 6:00. The installation will give us a chance to see if Frankie’s could be a meeting location for us.
- Our Club has now received the funds from the City that we are holding in trust for the Heritage Days Festival and invoices are starting to come in for payment.
- There was discussion about having a float in the Heritage Days parade headed by the Downtown Club’s, Richard Finnegan. Unfortunately, it’s been postponed until the Bathtub Days parade.
- Lantzville Club is holding their annual Golf Tournament on May 29 at Fairwinds. There are still openings for golfers.
- Interact is holding a Battle of the Bands on May 30 from 1:00-6:00 pm at the Diana Krall Plaza. Please encourage all the young (and young-at-heart) folks in your circle to attend.
- Chris Beaton, Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, is hosting the second annual Xwulmuxw Nuwilam S'qupthut Soccer Tournament May 22, 23, 24 and is looking for volunteers to help out. If you have an hour or two to spare, please contact Chris at (250) 754-3215 or cbeaton@nanaimoaboriginalcentre.ca .
- Rob Waine reminded us of the Big Bike Ride to be held in Nanaimo on June 11 (Port Place Mall) and June 12 (Woodgrove Centre). Rob is looking for sponsors, so please give him a call if you are interested.
- Our Dart Competition: As you may recall, we’ve replaced the roll of the dice to a toss of the darts competition and we are pleased to advise that it is going well. The winner of the best 3 darts will be selected at the end of June. Currently, the high score is held by Rob.
- ROSTER UPDATE – We’ll be updating our membership roster shortly. So, if you have any changes that you would to make (email, phone number, photo, etc) please let us know. We’ll be circulating an update form soon.
Program: Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation – Executive Director, Crystal Dennison
Crystal recently replaced Erin van Steen as Executive Director of the Foundation. Crystal was Executive Director for the Nanaimo Foodshare Society for the past nine years and brings over 25 years of professional administrative and financial experience in both the profit and non-profit sectors. She’s a long-time Nanaimo resident and community leader and possesses a true passion for her work.
While scholarships, bursaries and awards are a major focus for the Foundation, Crystal highlighted some of the other programs and initiatives as well.
- We are now into the scholarship season and the winners of our Club’s bursary have been determined. Currently $331,000 in scholarship funds comes from our community. It is important to note that scholarships and bursaries are awarded not only for scholastic ability but also to encourage and assist those students with financial challenges to pursue post secondary education. The awards ceremony will be held at the Port Theatre on June 16.
- The Foundation provides a variety of supports for local schools:
- Student Support Services such as supplies and amenities (for example running shoes). Eye wear and hearing aids when needed.
- Money is sent to schools and allocated by them to the students.
- Breakfast & Food Program provides students at some elementary and secondary schools with nutrition so they can focus on learning, instead of being hungry.
- Stock the Lockers Program helps students with basic school supplies.
- District Initiative Grant is designed to foster student leadership, community and social engagement.
- Elementary Music Initiative introduces students to the joy of playing music. Currently 13 schools are involved in the program. Some students would never otherwise have the opportunity to play a musical instrument.
- Gabriola Elementary School Initiative was an outreach program to link seniors and students by having the students teach seniors how to use computers. The program has grown and evolved since its inception and provides a real opportunity for intergenerational learning.
- The Foundation also helps to promote RYLA.
HAPPY/SAD: A number of folks shared good and not-so-good news. Here are only a couple of examples: Paul was happy to report that they had a wonderful visit with Bas’s parents who are now back home. Suzy shared that she had written an article which will be published in the June edition of Women’s World – so we’ll all have to watch for that!
DOOR PRIZE: Craig, as last week’s winner donated a box of chocolates which was won by Suzy. As is our practice, Suzy will be responsible for bringing the door prize next week.
Next Week: Francois deJong, Nanaimo Food Share Francois will update us on the Summer Lunch-Munch Program.
NORTHWIND EDITOR – In July, we’ll be looking for a new Northwind editor. It’s a fairly straightforward process that if a Luddite like me can manage, anyone can. So, please give the matter some thought and let me or Craig know if you are interested. Doing the bulletin really keeps you in the loop!
Lee Mason
