Rotary Club of Nanaimo April 10, 2020 (Apr 08, 2020)

Under normal circumstances, we would have just wrapped up the book sale a few days ago and released a collective sigh of relief and satisfaction after two weeks of sorting and selling books, helping customers and packing everything back up again. Thank you to all the club members who work so tirelessly year round to prepare. We all look forward to when we can set a new date and sell all these fabulous books!

Special Announcements

Notice of Motion

For a grant for the Navy League in the amount of $3,600 to purchase a refrigeration unit for their new Galley Kitchen at their newly renovated building adjacent to VIU on 5th Street. Once equipped, the kitchen will allow the Navy League to rent out their space to a variety of groups that will provide income and stability for the league. Seonded by Jason Bradley.

There was a further motion to waive the two week waiting period. It was seconded by Wayne Anderson and carried.

Janeane Coutu sent the motion to all members via email with a link to vote on the motion via Survey Monkey. If you have not already done so, please vote.

Online Rotary Meetings

Until we are able to resume in-person meetings, the club will meet via Zoom at 12:30 pm on Fridays. You can join the meeting via desktop computer, laptop, tablet or phone. April 10 Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/338199972?pwd=dzM5VXZaMFN2aVRQNG9SNnhaS1MxUT09. An invitation with the link and full details including dial in option will be sent via email to all members. If you need any assistance accessing Zoom, Tracy Makarenko has offered her assistance and can be reached at tracy@tracymakarenko.com.

District Conference Grants

For those who received a grant towards your District Conference registration fee, you can reimburse the club via cheque and mail it to the club's address at P.O. Box 405, Nanaimo V9R 5L3 or etransfer to nanaimorotarypayments@gmail.com.

Wedding & Club Anniversaries

Chris and Susie Stephens celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. Brent Stetar celebrated 17 years with the club, Dave Connelly marked 36 years and Mike Minhas, Geoff Clay and Peggy Richardson all celebrated 3 years.

Flashback Project

This week's flashback project was Jeneece Place in Victoria. In 2009, Jeneece began fundraising for a place where families could stay when their children were in hospital. Within 14 months, $5.5 million was raised to build it. In opened in January 2012 and hosted 325 families in its first year. The Rotary Club of Nanaimo donated $5,000 and a collective effort between all the Rotary Clubs raised $100,000 to name the Rotary Room.

General Announcements

Janeane reminded everyone that if you haven't yet joined the Members only Facebook Group, please do! It's a chance to stay connected within a private forum for our club members only. The group is called Rotary Club of Nanaimo Members Only.

There will be District Training online on Saturday, May 16th. Details will be provided as soon as they are available.

District Governor Maureen Fritz-Roberts shared that Rotary is purchasing Zoom licences (one for each area) so that committees have an online platform in which to meet. There will be a total of 17 licences and they will be shared as needed, particularly if there are clubs in an area that are meeting at the same time.

Rotary Minute

April is Maternal and Child month with rotary International. Janeane shared the short video "Rotary Supports Mothers and Babies". Watch the video here and learn more about this initiative, click here.

Happy and Sad Bucks

Until we meet in person again, we will be doing "IOU" bucks. Members can bring their "bucks" when we resume regular meetings. There were a lot of happy bucks this week!

Kathy Smith, had a happy buck for Tracy, Janeane and others who initiated and helped set up the online meeting. Joyce Smith had a happy buck to thank everyone for participating. Wayne Anderson had an announcement buck that he was becoming a great dishwasher.

Dave Connolly had a few happy bucks - he was happy to see it come together online and is keeping busy by painting all the pickets for his son's fence.

Brent Stetar had a kudos buck for all for coming together online and a sad buck that this would have been the last weekend of the book sale. Wendy Pratt had a happy / horrified buck that her grandkids are safe in Haida Gwaii but that they shot, BBQ'd and ate a squirrel that was doing some damage to the house.

Joan Ryan had a sad buck due to the snow that fell just as she was gearing up for Spring gardening. Henry Jiang had a happy buck to be back and to be finished with self isolation. Norm Myden had a celebration buck for their first day out of isolation. Dawn Hankins had a happy buck for her sister who had COVID 19 but is now recovering and doing better.

John Heisterman had a happy buck for being a member since 1974. Frank Shoemaker had a concerned buck for the merchants on Gabriola Island and for members who also own retail stores.

Janeane Coutu had a happy buck that the nursing students were fast tracked and so Emily will be starting at Royal Jubilee April 6th, and that Matthew came home and his girlfriend Emily is able to do her studies remotely.

Jason Bradley had an update buck that the exchange students are doing OK. Some left while others had to stay due to travel restrictions. Igor and Catherine are faring well. Frank also shared that Egon's grandson who was on exchange in Switzerland had to come home as his host family's daughter returned.

The meeting concluded with a poll to see how everyone liked the meeting and the response was positive so we will continue to meet online each week!