Luncheon Feb 4,2015

For the snowbirds reading this, you will be pleased to hear that today's meeting weather was low cloud, grey, +3 and rain in the forecast so enjoy your sunshine wherever you are. Our perverse pleasure is the 80.4 Cdn dollar!

President Judy introduced our guests. Jack and Dawn Erickson from Enderby Rotary (in Osoyoos for February as snowbirds!), Audrey Cox, Keith from Osoyoos Times, and our guest speaker Carol Youngberg. Judy also noted it was Matt's birthday and her 3rd year anniversary in Rotary. 

 

First up was a report by Cheryle on the Cactus Jalopy meeting yesterday. The Cactus Jalopy Society, DO, OOWA (Oliver Osoyoos Wine Association) and now Rotary are moving forward with plans for an expanded, annual event. In addition to the Rotary Beer Garden, we are to put on a pancake breakfast on the Saturday (note that Gordon and Brian have volunteered to lead...yay!). The Golf Tournament is going ahead for June 13 in a modified format so mark your calendars for June with these two events plus the Canada Day breakfast. While you are at your calendars, mark Friday March 20 for a curling social, March 26th for Chief Clarence Louie as the luncheon speaker. Somewhere in there in June Karen H marries Trevor but obviously she will be too exhausted from Rotary functions to participate! Finally, Jim announced that Spirit Ridge had asked Rotary to help out with some volunteers for their Mardi Gras event on Valentines Day evening in return for an evening of fun and a stipend for the club. Pam volunteered to help them out. 

Brian introduced Carol Youngberg as our speaker in her capacity as newly elected councillor in the Town of Osoyoos. Carol has an very extensive background in this community going back 37 years with a long list of successful business, real estate and volunteer contributions. She had spoken to us at a previous meeting as the Chair of the Desert Park Exhibition Society that brought horse racing back to Osoyoos in each of the past two years. While she has stepped down from Desert Park, she shared some of the planning underway and her belief that it will always be an economic driver and factor in this community. She then shared some of her learnings and experiences gained in the first few months as Town Councillor. The learning curve has been steep, a larger job than she had thought and the huge volume of mail/information that flows to each of the Council members from staff, vested interest groups, committees etc is staggering. Her concerns and interests continue to center around housing, childcare, the youth and the library. In spite of all this, she continues to learn and be excited about the next four years!  Carol's real claim to fame though is that she was a charter member of this club!

 

The 50/50 was won by our guest Jack, which was appropriate as it was his birthday too!

 

A good meeting!

 

John