The Rotary Club of Oak Bay

Program for June 19, 2007, reported by Neil Madsen

Russ Georgeson, White Tanks, Phoenix, Arizona exchanges banners with
Dave Maxwell who chaired today's meeting.

Past-Pres. David Maxwell presided, O Canada was sung a cappella and grace was by Vicki Pitt.

Visiting Rotarians & Guests, introduced by Neil Rawnsley:
Percy Bamji, Kingston, Professor;
Russ Georgesen, White Tanks, Phoenix AZ, Envir. Health;
Ron Asset, Singer Is., Fl., Real Estate;
Ken Haywood, Edmonton N.E., S/A.;
Doug Downs, Harbourside, Construction.

Nathan Georgesen was the guest of Russ Georgeson
Wolf Schopper of Hans Ockermueller
Stephen Edgell of John Edgell

Announcements:
Jack Petrie reported on executive meeting decisions which included a $500 donation to the Breast Cancer Campaign in the name of Donna Carrigan who is making the incredible journey across the Gobi Desert. Your support would be greatly appreciated. An additional $500 was committed to the AWARE School in Addis Abbaba (“new flower”), and Joan Firkins will update us on this project at a later date. In addition, three new Rotarians will join our club having received executive approval: Ross McLaughin (Chartered Accountant), Ron Gaudet (Police Service), and Wolf Schopper (Psychiatry).

David Maxwell requested that you pay by cheque only at the installation dinner. The cost is $37.00 payable to the Rotary Club of Oak Bay. Heather Aked reminded members of the popular and fun-filled “lawn bowling event” July 8th at the Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club. Instruction will be available. The garage sale is coming up on July 7th at Mark Bedford’s home at 2829 Foul Bay Rd. and Mark requested volunteers for Friday night pricing, and for two shifts on Saturday with a start up and clean-up shift.

Russ Georgeson of the White Tanks Rotary Club in Phoenix Arizona, presented the Club with a banner and gave a brief overview of his club.

Sgt. at Arms: Mark Bedford, with Ron Cooley as the kettle man, effectively extracted donations for the usual assortment of bizarre facts and purported indiscretions. He started with John Picken for early leaving, failed to extract from the missing Hazel and Tav, and captured coins from Jerry McLean, Doug McDougall, Steve Hartill and Lorna Curtis for lack of Rotary and Cridge Centre knowledge; all members who have not supported Donna Carrigan with an email, and Jack Petrie and and Victoria Pitt for something so trivial, I forgot.
Happy dollars from Neil Madsen on solar romance, John Edgell for nephew Steven's 7300 mile bike ride and Carl Jackson for a memorable Ontario trip. Dave Maxwell thanked the Sgt. for his yeoman effforts in this Rotary year and Irene Davie drew the black marble.

JULY 7th
MARK BEDFORD'S HOUSE

9.00 AM to Noon

2829 Foul Bay Road

DONATIONS
FRIDAY NIGHT
JULY 6
__________

FIFTH ANNUAL
GOLF TOURNAMENT

CORDOVA BAY
AUGUST 24TH

250-370-5664

CLICK HERE FOR MORE
INFORMATION

WHAT'S THIS?

Lawn Bowling July 8

3:30 PM

Dinner at 6:00.

Guest Speaker: Introduced by Barry Mutter:

Barry Mutter introduced Arlo Taylor, Public Relations Officer with the Cridge Centre for the Family who gave us an insight into the history of the Cridge Center which had its beginnings in 1855 with the arrival of Edward Cridge and his wife Mary after a 6 month voyage to Victoria. Edward who had entered the ministry in England, was invited to the colony by James Douglas after two previous recruits had proved unsuccessful. As the new Chaplain of Vancouver Island settling in Fort Victoria, the Cridges began a lifetime of outstanding community service as they righted the injustices around them.

They were a wonderful pioneer family who founded the Church of Our Lord, which still stands at the corner of Humboldt and Blanshard. Edward Cridge fought for prison reform, built an infirmary which would later become the Royal Jubilee Hospital and battled racism by being the first to allow different races to participate in services in his church. An accomplished cello player, he was involved with what would eventually become the Victoria Symphony and was also the first Superintendent of Schools.

Six years after their arrival, the discovery of gold in the Yukon made Victoria a boom city as the supply town for the gold rush. Social problems resulted and Mary opened a guest house to help alleviate the short and brutal lives of the ladies of the night. This was the forerunner of the YWCA. Disease and scarlet fever ravaged the city and 4 of their 6 children died; this was a catalyst in focusing their concern on the orphaned children of the city. They started by taking orphans into their home and after raising $3000 in a concert they bought a piece of land and built the first orphanage. The financial recession of the late 1880’s almost resulted in losing the orphanage but a police constable left them a sizeable fortune that allowed them to buy 12.5 acres at Hillside and Cook where a building was completed which housed 100 orphans and staff. Many wonderful stories surround the children of the orphanage.

In the late 1960’s the Board of the Cridge Centre, chaired by Charles Ellington who was himself a former orphan at the centre, looked at the current needs of the community and proceeded to meet those needs. For over 30 years they have offerred day care and before and after school care. There was a need for low cost housing so 82 units combining 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites were built, which allowed families to get on their feet with the ability to live there for up to 3 years. A transition house for women in dire domestic situations provided a safe haven for them and their children. At Victoria High School they opened a fully staffed nursery to assist single mothers in attaining their diploma. They sponsor a “respitability program” which, in conjunction with local hotels, allows parents of children with special needs to have respite from their caregiving responsiblilties. The newest community venture for the centre is the 77-unit assisted living complex which had its grand opening today. Arlo invited members to become a “Friend of the Cridge Centre for the Family” to continue
the works started by Edward and Mary Cridge.
Lorna Curtis thanked the speaker.

HOW TO PROPOSE A NEW MEMBER (click here to read pamphlet)
This pamphlet will help you make a membership proposal using Rotary International's standard procedures.

SPEAKERS

June 26	Evening meeting - Change of executive NO LUNCHEON MEETING
July 3	Jeremy Kinsman - ex-ambassador - Communities of Democracy
July 10	Tim Willis of BC Museum - Titanic Exhibition (and Liz Bandiles)
July 17	Club Assembly
July 24	Gil Parker - Looking Through Glasnost
July 31	Vocational Talks - Steve Harthill and Hazel Meredith
August 7	Kyle Danielson - Malawi Update
August 14	Christopher Bowers - Power of Personal Story
August 21	Peter Sherk - Humanitarian Aspect of Afghanistan
August 28	Mandy Parker & Veronica Osborn - Mount St Mary Foundation
ROSTER

DATE

Greet/
Grace

Greet&Introduce
Guests

Bulletin

Host&Introduce
Speaker

Thank Speaker

3-Jul

Stirling

Timmermans

Aked

Beauvais

Bedford

10-Jul

Bixler

Bristol-Price

L Canty

M Canty

Carrigan

17-Jul

Carter

Chambers

Chapple

Cooley

Croft

24-Jul

Curtis

Davie

Edgell

Firkins

Force

31-Jul

Froese

Granewall

Harthill

Harrison

Hayworth

JULY Cashier: PICKEN; 50-50 HOGARTH

CLICK HERE FOR Full List of Speakers and ROSTER FOR 2007

Click Biz Card below to Go To Advertiser's Website
Contact Tricia if you would like to add your Card here.

Our Roots Run Deep
Website design: Tricia Timmermans www.photo-j.com