Club Cyclists (and would-be cyclists) admire Cops for Cancer rider Janine Lauder's fancy bike.
Club members pictured with Janine:Ted Harrison, Ron Gaudet, Wolf Schopper and Hans Ockermueller.

Program for September 11, reported by Giles Bixler.
(For Print Version of September 11 Bulletin click here)

President Jack began the meeting by noting that today was the sixth anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11. He pointed out that the Internation Red Cross and Rotary International were the first two NGO’s allowed into Afghanistan. On another theme, he reminded us that September is Youth Renewal Month, and listed all the programs in which R.I. involves itself with younger people, including Interact, Rotaract, Student Exchanges, Ambassadorial Fellowships and many other activities. He welcomed the young people who were guests at this meeting. Tom Lidkea played for O Canada and Anne Sims said grace.

Visiting Rotarians & Guests: ( introduced by John Snively)

Graham Robinson (with Jack, left), Mount Gambier Lakes, Australia, Technical Education; Bill Lesouri, Calgary South, Oil & Gas Exploration; Doug Downs, Harbourside, Construction. Erin Sloan was the guest of Jack Petrie, Jena Croft of Lynne Murray and Ola, our Exchange Student from Poland, was the guest of the Club - but will not be introduced again as she has her name tag and is considered a member!

Announcements:

Lorna Curtis is finalizing arrangements and participants for the Imax-Titanic excursion on September 22. See her e-mail and also pay her $28.50 if you are going.
President Jack Petrie reminded members that volunteers are still needed for Garage Sale II on September 29 at Mark Bedford’s house. Members with contributions can call Mark Bedford to arrange dropoff. Mary Canty announced that Les Canty is recovering from surgery. Ted Harrison was back after missing last week because of illness. Tom Lidkea loosened up the proceedings (see below to decide for yourself just how loose) with a joke about a U-2 concert in Newfoundland. It seems Bono was trying to impress the audience with the seriousness of the AIDS crisis in Africa. He recited the ever-larger annual numbers of dead children, punctuating each statistic with a clap of his hands, crying out “It’s a tragedy!” Thereupon an old-timer got up and yelled: “Then stop clappin’ yer hands ya f-in’ booby!”

Sergeant-at-Arms The aging ex-journalist who was covering the day’s proceedings for this bulletin was overwhelmed by the massive fundraising spectacular conducted by Brian Lamb. Whole tables full of members were forced to open their wallets as they were fined for everything from missing their duties and not signing in, to the more obscure (a table could not name the cover story on the latest Rotarian magazine) and downright exotic misdemeanor (drawing one’s own name for a prize at the Golf tournament (David Maxwell denied this but paid up anyway!). Congratulations, Brian! Birthdays were noted for Ross McLauglin, Nels Granewall, Doug McDougal and John Snively. Anniversaries are being celebrated by Doug & Norma McDougal and Tom & Jill Croft. Finally, Wolf Shopper won the draw but drew black. Only 3 black marbles left, folks!

Artist, Doug McDougall, shows ex-Yukoners Irene Davie, Joe Prentice and Ted Harrison a painting he did of Five Finger Rapids on the Yukon River. Ex-Yukoners missing from the photo are Tricia Timmermans, Tom Croft and Wyn Taylor. GO YUKON!

Guest Speaker
A more serious note was struck by our new Police Chief and Oak Bay Rotarian, Ron Gaudet, who thanked members for their concern and support following the “horrific” crime in our community. Then it was the chief’s more pleasurable task to introduce our guest speaker of the day, Oak Bay Police Constable Janine Lauder, a member of this year’s Tour de Rock Canadian Cancer Society fundraising team. See photo above. The Tour de Rock is a 14-day cycling event by Cops for Cancer that runs from Port Alice to Victoria, 140 km through Vancouver Island communities, with a goal to raise $2 million. Nationwide in scope, the Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer tours are aimed at raising money to fund pediatric cancer research programs that help children with cancer and their families. Janine said that her initial motivation came from her husband’s (successful) bout with Hodgkins lymphoma. She was also deeply touched by visits to a camp for children with cancer, where she saw firsthand the importance of the funding she is trying to raise. You can access her donation page by visiting www.cancer.ca/copsforcancerbc, clicking on Sponsor a Participant, and typing in her name. Tsuyoshi Takahashi thanked the speaker.

SPEAKERS - SEPTEMBER through NOVEMBER 20

ROSTER: September