April 2009 report on Community Service Committee activities by chair, Heather Aked:

The Community Service Committee has been busy this year continuing on with the good work done in previous years.

Our focus continues to be youth as we work with the Interact students at Oak Bay High - the students have been busy this year - see Interact link for more details. We also continue to support the Teen Centre (Back Door) behind the Oak Bay Recreation Centre - this year with the assistance of Oak Bay Recreation Centre staff we gave the Teen Centre a new look - there's nothing like a fresh coat of paint, some furniture, including a flat screen television and new games. We had a lot of fun with the paint!

Once again this year we have been working with George Jay Elementary School in the area of literacy - last year we bought dictionaries for the Grade 3's. This year we've purchased the series of We Both Read Books for each of the classrooms.

Continuing on this year with the Thrifty's Smile Card Fundraising program, we will use the proceeds to purchase dictionaries for Quadra Elementary. Last year program money went to Victim Services. 

We've also given money this year to the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation Child Car Seat Matching Fund which enables the Foundation to purchase child car seats for those in need.

We will be at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre at the May 3rd event hosted by the Oak Bay Community Association and Oak Bay Emergency Social Services to kick off Emergency Preparedness Week.

Club members once again this year spent hours on Oak Bay Avenure ringing the bells for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles in addition to a financial donation. We also supported Mustard Seed this year with a $500 contribution.

Fundraising:

Oak Bay Annual Golf Tournament: In conjunction with the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation we once again hosted our golf tournament in August at the Cordova Bay Golf Course.

The Scotch Tasting Event took place this year as it did last year at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre in January. 

The Victoria Soul Gospel Choir with Checo Tohomaso performed in April to wind up Embrace Aging month. All proceeds went to the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation which in turn will purchase much needed equipment for Oak Bay Lodge.

The Oak Bay Tea Party continues its tradition and Oak Bay Rotary will be there the first weekend of June to sell candy floss and popcorn - drop by and see us.