Miscellaneous
Repeat from last week or until no longer relevant or until I delete it:
Hybrid meetings will start September 2 at the Banquet Hall - bring your mask.
There will be a Walk for Water and a cheque presentation on September 12th at 1:00 P.M. at Garry Point. Wear any Rotary bling you have and bring your Rotary Mask.
The Rotary Club of Richmond is holding their Mid Autumn Festival Charity Dinner Friday September 10th 2021 at the Continental Seafood Restaurant 11700 Cambie Street. Pat has sent an email to you with information and relevant internet links.
Zoom Meeting Rules
THE LINK TO OUR THURSDAY MEETINGS WILL NO LONGER BE EMAILED BUT ACCESSED THROUGH THE LINK BELOW.
Meeting ID: 868 5522 9058
Passcode: 473892
1) Mute your microphone if you aren't already muted. Background noise is distracting.
2) If you are not engaged in the presentation, turn off your camera.
3) Chat function should only be used to address the speaker, not for Club member remarks during the presentation
4) Unmute when harassing the Sergeant at Arms or taking your turn during Sergeant at Arms.
Presidents Report
Pat's granddog announced "arf arf arr". As he stared forlornly at her from outside the window. Pat will make up for it later.
The district is looking for nominations for District Governor for the Rotary Year 2.5 years from now.
Hybrid meeting next week and bring your mask for the singing of Oh Canada.
We will be discussing club business next week and Mary Lou will talk membership.
Gordon and Pat attended the Steveston Club last week regarding the Walk for Water and learned that ACTS had been in Uganda for 30 years.
Please direct any questions to me or a board member of your choosing and we will discuss any and all questions or concerns during our board meeting. Also please refer anyone who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the club.
Be kind and be calm and safe...
Announcements
34 had signed up for the BBQ and a big THANKYOU to Larry for hosting, cleaning, hiring servers and just being the super best host.
Visitors
Sue Godey and Brooke Svendson
sergeant At Arms Tidbits
Alphabetically by given name - good guess Kal
Bill is back from Denmark where he had enjoyed a great wedding. It takes longer to get processed at the airport. Europe is much more open in terms of covid restrictions although gatherings are limited to 25.
Bobby had good family/work balance last week. However, every Bonnie Henry announcement creates anxiety at work as clients want to know if they can dance or how many can attend. Don't we all love uncertainty. Bobby cringed at a $9 ice cream cone. Did not stop him from eating a $6 cup of ice cream though. Has banquet chairs for free and will be sending a email with details.
Chris B.'s Grandchildren have all flown home now but sadly no candy bar from air host. Had an intense but wonderful two weeks with the grandchildren and now for some R & R in Barbados. Some things ya just deserve!
Dalbir has been offered three jobs since he retired. Oh if only they included a salary. Off next week for a Peace Conversation at Tsawwassen Club with Susan. Reminded us that there are 35 million stray dogs in India.
Danny told us about the team building weekend for Dentists With Heart with a group hike at Alice Lake and a 600 meter hike up magic mountain with a multi media display.
Debbie M. attended a baby shower for Samya who is due October 4th. Soon we will have another Granny in the club. Daughter's new place had been Fung Shuieed. No it doesn't hurt! In fact Debbie found it so peaceful she is going to Fung Shui her place. Miles who was dearly missed will help with the good feelings on his return. Going for out door meditation session with Judy.
Debbie T. is cramming in her training for the Tour de Cure which is a 50K ride and rode a practice 63k so 50 should be a piece of cake. If you donate on behalf of someone let her know and she will wear a ribbon. You can go to the web site if you want to donate.
Dick has one eye botched thanks to glaucoma but is getting cataract surgery this week in the other eye so one is as good as two. May not make the BBQ but stalwart Barb will be there for sure.
Elena had a good time at the Dental retreat and even climbed the 600 metre magic forest. Collecting books for the Sunrise library for a village in the Philippines.
Garth enthusiastically told us he had painted the room in which he was sitting and we all expressed our excitement by staring into the abyss.
Gordon said hi to our speaker Sue and then gave us the good news that our grant application for the Story Walk Project at Minoru had been approved. Marg will provide the details at some point but it is a directed educational walk.
I reported that Debbie Samson runs, Bill Jaffe jogs and when you hit my age you amble. Walking is next. 92% of the covid admissions at Kelowna General are of the unvaccinated.
Judy survived the annual water fight with the grand children but it did not sound like her atomic water gun gave her the advantage it once did. Spent time on her sisters boat near Ganges. Will be with the kids for what would have been the 50th wedding anniversary.
Kal went to a 60 person wedding and saw just the first dance. Is now head of security for Disposal King. Did Dalbir turn this job down? š Oh and just to be clear Feng Shui is not a variety of Chinese pot.
Larry seems to constantly be busy with weddings anniversaries(sons) and birthdays(moms 94?). When in India he brought doggy biscuits for the stray dogs. The dogs turned their noses up at them as they were used to scavenging through the garbage. However, all was not wasted, sadly, the street children would eat them.
Marg reported that Don gets a new power washer every year and it sounded like this year he bought one and got the second one free. Very happy with in person church service and is rushing to finish the canning for the church sale.
Mary Lou has been spending time at the cabin and bonus! the evacuation orders and alerts have been rescinded. Drove part of the way with Lindsay on her cross Canada trip in 38 degree heat and smoke with no air conditioning. Yikes. Lindsay did make it across Canada.
Melinda loved Bill's wedding photos. Willow enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit at the zoo. Newman's is looking for a cook and a butcher. Hey Dalbir these are paying jobs. Melinda's not looking forward to policing masks and or vaccine cards.
Peter's grandson turned 12 and they BBQed Wagoo steaks. Installed new blinds that have the unique feature of actually going up and down.
Ron and Angie were going to spend a weekend in Sooke at the Galloping Goose but notified that some staff had come down with covid. Unable to find a room in Victoria so listened to music at Country Meadows instead along with his 10,000 ambles.
Sam is back from running a camp 8 hours a day which made some money. Moose was supposed to be 40 lbs but turned out to be 80lbs and also supposed to be smart but is dumb as S&%$. But he loves him anyway. As Youth Chair he is looking for families to host a year long exchange student who could take the student for three months. Let him know if you are anyone you know are interested.
"White Lips" Sandra from Mother's Choice, really enjoyed her two weeks riding in Whistler. However it is very busy there and you should pre plan any meals out. Had trouble getting into any of the restaurants even at 5 PM. Earl's had stopped taking names on the wait list. Sounds like they ended up with plan F.
Chris M. had offered Dalbir a job as an elections officer apparently turned down but Chris after others had backed out will be training elections officers and be the lead officer at one of the Vancouver polling stations. Thankyou Chris.
Pat's granddog kept scratching at the door and will let him in and apologize for having to ignore him with a treat. Enjoyed golfing at Mylora yesterday.
speaKER
Sue Godey, a past Rotarian of the Year in district 5040 spoke to us about the Youth Exchange Program("YEP"). She said it was wonderful to have Bill Jaffe on the committee and we thank you Bill. The YEP started in 1918 in Denmark and has been run every year since except during WW II and Covid. There are normally about 8,000 students in both the short and long term programs. There are 128 countries, 490 districts, 5,371 clubs and 13,000 host families involved. The hope is that in person youth exchange will begin in June 2022 if safe to do so.
Brooke then told us about her experience as an exchange student in Denmark where she stayed with three different families in a city south of Copenhagen. She loved it. Met many new friends and travelled extensively in Denmark. She has life long friends in Denmark. She went to high school and focused on music and math. Travelled to Germany to a Christmas Market and a small island that belongs to Sweden. Brooke established a new level of independence, learned a new language, and felt the exchange help prepare her for adult life. She is currently taking on line courses at Okanagan College.
Sue told us that they hope to have 15 YEX students from the district this year which has been as high as 25 and as few as 9. She has been super busy with public awareness, recruitment, training and the virtual exchange program. Each student is debriefed after their exchange. There is the long term exchange program (LTEP) which lasts 10/11 months. The short term exchange program (STEP) which is over the summer. Finally the virtual exchange program (VEP) commencing this October. It is organized and overseen all by volunteers so the program is affordable. The LTEP program is about $5,200 which may increase because of heath insurance. STEP is about $3,000. They are finding a shortage of host families partly because Rotarians are aging. Students are hesitant because they are concerned it is a lost year, will not graduate with their peers, and my not want to stay with older Rotarians. Sue herself is a proud Grandhost. Recruiting starts in September for the LTEP and interviews in December. STEP has interviews in March for the 2022 summer.
The VEP goes for 10 weeks starting in October 2021. There are 8 students who will be participating in a cultural exchange in English on zoom with museum tours, sports, foods, celebrations and other events. There is a structured curriculum with the exchange on Saturdays. This program allows students who would otherwise not be able to participate to do so virtually. This allow for greater flexibility and inclusivity.
One of the VEP students is one we are sponsoring from Hugh Boyd.
Meanderings
So in a land fill in Spain they are finding evidence of previously undiscovered Hominoids that we may have descended from. As they dig out the landfill they find more fossils from 11 - 12 million years ago. The Paleontologists have also made some unusual mammal finds including a chalicotherium, which everyone knows was a tall, clawed ungulate that looks like a bizarre mix of a giant sloth, bear, horse and gorilla. Apparently it was a side kick of our Mark Phillips back in his hay day.
So you know how last week we learned about National Peanut Butter Day. Well according to National Geographic there are hundreds of National Days. Two of my favourites are March 3rd "What if cats and dogs had opposable thumbs day." April 9th "Unicorn Day." I also like June 1 "National Hazelnut Cake Day." "National Olive Day." and "National Heimlich Maneuver Day." So if a Hazelnut or Olive pit gets stuck in your craw you can celebrate the Heimlich.
Of course as mentioned by several our meeting was on National Dog Day. Background as follows:
People every year observe National Dog Day is to increase consciousness about dog adoption. The day emphasizes the necessity of creating a safe and loving environment for dogs. Every year on August 26, people celebrate it to show their love to dogs in the best ways possible. Can you imagine the bondage of men and dogs is at least 14,000 years? To make a memorable day you can spend some time with your pup and share your love for them by social media with the world.
The day is established to promote awareness about adopting these animals from rescue centers. The day reminds us to be conscious of dogsā rights and make a safe zone for these lovely animals. National Dog Day was first founded in 2004. There are many pet animals but among them, dogs are able to prove their trustfulness. There are many stories that show how they are trustful to their master. Even some of them sacrifice their lives to save their master.
The day is created by Colleen Paige who was a pet and family lifestyle expert and animal advocate. She created this day to draw attention to dogsā shelters and promoting dogsā adoption. In this way, she tried to ensure the preservation of all dogsā rights. She is also a conservationist, dog trainer, and author. The date 26 August was selected for International Dog Day because it was the first time when Paige's family adopted Sheltie; he was 10-years-old.
Upcoming Events
All meetings by Zoom until September.
Please note the date for the Auction
Friday May 6th 2022 Auction Fundraiser with final details to be determined but anticipating live and in person.
Committee (and other) Updates
Melinda is reviewing and amending our projects criteria. Thank you Melinda.
TODAYS CHUCKLEs
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All my life I have done one stupid thing after another. This must be the moment it has all been building to.
I am not arguing I am just explaining why I am right.
If you are paying $3 for a bottle of smart water it isnāt working.
Iām on a whiskey diet. Iāve lost three days already.
