The guest speaker this week was introduced by Ted Harrison.
Deborah Wakeham is the Regional Manager for Vancouver Island, Junior Achievement.

Her excellent PowerPoint-supported presentation had 3 objectives:
First, to introduce herself and reacquaint us with Junior Achievement;
Second, to talk about the programs being offered on Vancouver Island.
Third, to solicit our financial support as well as asking for volunteers to help deliver the programs.

Deborah is a former Rotarian, having been a member of Clubs in Terrace and Prince George. She said she was the only female in a club of 16 and remembers being fined every week. Junior Achievement is there to educate and inspire youth. The way this is done is by having motivated and well trained business people volunteers share their experience with “free enterprise”. The Companies Program is actually active at Oak Bay High where a reusable shopping bag with the Oak Bay High logo was developed and has turned into a fund raiser. JA is currently active in 98 countries around the world with 2.6 million youth taking part. The program was brought to BC in 1955 by John Saunders, David Poole and Stephen Owen. This year on Vancouver Island JA will deliver 190 Business education programs in total with 140 of them taking place in the Victoria area. Volunteers are key. The programs are free of charge to the schools, with the operating costs covered by donations by businesses, individuals and 18% by government grants. Fund raising is one of the biggest challenges each year. The Programs are aimed at Grades 5 through 10. The presentations include serious business operational information which is enhanced by fun activities and discussion with the students. As the grade level rises the programs lead to creation of an operating business and clear experience on making it profitable if possible. This can often be lots of fun for the volunteers and the students. Titles of some of the programs are as follows:
Business Basics: Our Business World--Gr 5 & 6. Four sessions of 1 hour each.
Business Basics: A Business of Our Own-- Gr 7& 8. Five sessions of 1 hour each.
Dollars with Sense: A project to develop Personal Financial Literacy--Gr 8--a half day event.
Economics of Staying in School: Gr 10--acquire knowledge and skills needed for long term career success (Largest program on Vanc. Island). This one is a half day and each student will be much clearer on the advantages of finishing school.
Investment Strategies: Learning about making educated investment decisions - online portfolio management experience. Gr 10. Five one-hour sessions.
JA Titan: an online program where planning and running a company teaches effective decision making. Gr 10. Six sessions of 2 hours.
Deborah encouraged all Rotarians to become involved. She handed out Volunteer Application Forms and encouraged all of us to get in touch if we could help. www.jabc.org

Wendy thanked Deborah and Jack gave her one of our “4 way test” Mugs.

PROGRAMS and DUTY ROSTER FOR MEETINGS 2008