Rotary Club of Vancouver Arbutus February 8th, 2019
Highlights of meeting
Meeting was called to order at 12:14 pm by President Dianna
A minute on silence was held on the passing of our long-time member Cyril Parry
Hans lead us in Oh Canada
Teddie provided the Invocation
Guests: Sheila and Ken Pepper from Ottawa, who were also our Guest Speakers; and Donna Patterson
Club Business:
Cyril Parry:
Mary spoke about Cyril’s life in the Club and what a generous person he was. She spoke about he was a mentor to her when she joined the Club. Many project this club has done has been because of Cyril and his vision for a better and more technically educate young people. Cyril also supported a students with learning disabilities new programs to help these young people learn were introduced to the students because of Cyril. We will miss his wisdom, humour and fellowship.
Foundation Dinner:
March 9th Event begins at 6:00 pm. There will be both a Live and Silent Auctions: Please let Sam or Dianna know if you are going. The fee is $60.00
Our Club will be donating a wine basket, with 10 bottles of wine and one of our wine bottles and bags. Please bring your bottle of Wine to the Club on February 22. Joy will wrap the basket and Esmeralda will give up her toy basket.
District Conference:
Scheduled for Sun Peaks May 2 – 5th 3 people have mentioned they plan to attend
International Conference
Will be held in Hamburg in Germany JUNE 1 – 5TH 2 club members are planning to attend.
UBC needs your Blood:
UBC is looking for blood donations for a Blood research project. The good part is they take any blood. People unable to donate to regular blood service can give to research.
Wednesday Feb 6 – Thursday Feb 28 9:00 am to 6 pm. Canadian Blood Services – Blood4Research Facility 2150 Western Parkway #207 Vancouver BC or book researchdonations@blood.ca or phone 604-221-5515.
Notes from the Executive Meeting:
We are looking for a Director of Public Relations let Dianna know if you are interested.
We are in need of Fundraising Ideas for the Club
The Executive voted to make Cyril a honourary member. Only to learn he passed away the evening before.
Happy and Sad Dollars:
Lawrie did a fine job of extracting Sad dollars for Cyril’s passing and Happy Dollars to Donna Patterson with us again.
Guest Speaker: Ken and Sheila Pepper:
Ken spoke first: Ken is a regular visitor to our club from the Ottawa, Downtown Club. As soon as the snow falls Ken and Shelia head to the West Coast for the more sunshine.
When Ken joined the Ottawa Club he took an active role in the Adventure in Citizenship and the “Fly Day” Adventures. His work with these two projects led him to receive a Paul Harris. Ken was born in 1935 during WW II in the Sea Seaside Town of Scarborough Yorkshire, complete with a Roman Castle and all the trimmings. He spoke about his time as a child growing up during the Second World War in England, how his waterfront was lost to multiple coils of barbed wire and gun emplacement in 1939 and his rock beach a couple of miles from town had the additions of mines and concrete pill boxes. In 1940 his family had to take shelter in the concrete air raid shelter under the apple orchard at bottom of the garden as air raid sirens wailed and bombers flew overhead.
After high school graduation he did a mandatory 2 years of national service and was a cadet and then a Flight Sergeant which let him to a job in the RAF.
Ken came to Canada for two years 61 years ago. He started working in the Insurance Industry but switched to the Broker side. He lived in Montreal for 6years until the F.L.Q bombing in 1964, he left Montreal for Toronto and later was promoted to run their office in Ottawa. He met Sheila in 1966 and married her in 1968; they have 2 children one of each and one granddaughter. Ken was invited to join a growing managing General Agent called Encon, till in the insurance industry which was starting to specialize in professional liability coverage for Architects and engineers and big Risks e.g. the Alex Fraser Bridge and Expo 86 in Vancouver. He retired in 1995 and then consulted for a while. They split their time between Ottawa and Vancouver.
Sheila:
Her presentation was rushed as her time was limited Shelia spoke of her hobbies and interests reflecting her choice of profession. She was an active in gymnastics and the club would put on demonstrations for the local Rotary Club. She became active in assisting people with disabilities to swim, volunteered with the Royal Lifesaving society and got a job in 1960 as a swim instructor for the Parks and Recreation Dept. Sheila went on to study Urban and Regional planning and Women’s Studies in 1980. She retired early from the City of Ottawa and volunteered through the 90’s. She is actively involved with the Canadian Council of Women and the Canadian Council on Aging.
Lydia thanked both speakers and asked Sheila to come back and talk about her Volunteer work with the various organizations she belongs to.
Meeting adjourned at 1:30pm