The Rotary Club of Sooke held its 1398th meeting on Valentine's Day, 2018.
Past President John Topolniski chaired the meeting on behalf of President Roger Temple who was unable to attend. John was had Cupid's wings and a bow and arrow to mark Valentine's Day. He also distributed red-wrapped chocolates to each table.
John reported that the Board had decided to proceed with the Rotary Auction Dinner (RAD) at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort as its major fundraising event of the year.Mark Ziegler described a photo session which he and Kimberley Legeard had in the morning with the Board Chair Sandy Pedneault and Director of Administration Kerry Williams of Ayre Manor to record Rotary's donation of $8,504 for the purchase and installation of a mechanical lift for a quadriplegic resident of the seniors' lodge.
Debi's father is home from the hospital and healing well.
Myrtle has a new great-grandchild in Vancouver.
The meeting was the monthly Club Assembly, with reports from each Board member present.
John informed the club that the application for scholarships will be put on the club website. Students who live in the Sooke Region are eligible, even if they attend schools outside of the region. Rotary Friendship Exchanges (RFEs) are being arranged with India and New Zealand. John and his wife Linda will be on the New Zealand RFE. Roitarians from New Zealand will visit Sooke in September 2019.
Literacy: Jean Lister described a method to help deaf student to learn to read that was developed with the help of a Rotary scholarship. She noted that Vicki Temple and Margot Swinburnson are reading with students at the Sooke Elementary and Sassenos Elementary schools. If the club receives a Gaming grant, a donation of $$2,500 will be given to the Parent Advisory Committee of local schools to fund book purchases. Jean also proposed that the club consider participation in a Habitat for Humanity Project that will build affordable townhouses for up to 30 families on Murray Street.
Club Administration: Jeannette provided notice of the White Elephant dinner on Wednesday, March 7th which will raise funds for global Polio eradication. The club will soon be holding two evening meetings each month, on the first and third Wednesdays. A barbeque will be held in may, followed by an awards meeting in June and a Golf Tournament in July. A Highway Cleanup morning will be organized for March.
Community Services Committee: The club will purchase the parts required for a tractor which SEAPARC has donated for the turf field.
Membership: Jean Lister encouraged members to directly approach prospective members.
Youth: Deb Johnston reported that EMCS Grade 12 student Jacob Pleasance will be funded to attend the Adventure in Films in Powell River and EMCS Grade 12 Mark Dyson will be funded to attend the Adventure in Forestry in Saskatoon. Deb is selecting students who would like to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly (RYLA) in Tacoma in March.
Frank Gertsma won the 50-50 draw and received a bottle of wine as a bonus prize.