1) Mute your microphone if you aren't already muted. Background noise is distracting.
2) If you are not engaged in the presentation, turn off your camera.
3) Chat function should only be used to address the speaker, not for Club member remarks during the presentation
4) Unmute when harassing the Sergeant at Arms or taking your turn during Sergeant at Arms.
5)Great Gala
Please direct any questions to the President or a board member of yourchoosing and we will discuss any and all questions or concerns during our board meeting. Also please refer anyone who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the club.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
The Bulletin Team missed this one, but we think it’s from the Dali Lama, so here’s some of his inspiration:
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive."
Or you could just ask Sam to email it to you.
VISITORS
Honorary member Eleanore Matthew
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
CLUB BUSINESS
Gilmore Breakfast May 6. Everyone welcome. Let Marg know if you can make it.
We had a moment of silence in respect for the Filipino families and friends who lost loved ones in the terrible event of last Saturday.
Blair: still needs a nominee for external Paul Harris award.
Speaker
THIS SAYS IT ALL!!!!!!
SERGEANT At Arms Tidbits
Blair got a new set of irons for golf and when at the driving range, realized it’s the user not the clubs. (Right Club - Wrong Golfer).
Debbie T. was at the Conference dinner and noticed Elena and friends had already left, then heard the news, and phoned her right away to see if she was alright. Also phoned around for news of people she knew. It’s so horrible.
Chris M. is thinking of the Filipino families and all their friends, and all of us, who are so saddened by what happened on Saturday. She is expecting a successful morning setup thanks to all the background work done by Eleanore.
Joyce is thinking of the Filipino community. She is here this morning to help lift but has a sore leg.
Susan after many weeks away with an early shift, and having to be sedentary, is now here, and work will change as she’s feeling better. She is so grieved over the Saturday night tragedy. Mountain View Club is collecting for families, perhaps a good source to donate to. The District Conference last week was joyful and fun. She received the District Governor Award for her work to organize the conference. We got to see it up close!
Gordon says Happy masquerade!
Marg was in Kelowna last Saturday for a friend’s funeral and did the eulogy. His favourite place to visit was Mexico and had gone for years, then this time fell at the pool, hit his head, and didn’t recover. She wants no comments about her hair, as she went with Ben for hair together, but the hairdresser hadn’t seen that Marg had been booked, too, so she only got colour, no cut. Looks good to us!
Debbie M. said Miles’ friend lost 3 members of his family on Saturday. Amalia is learning to ride her pedal bike, down the hallway, peddling while singing “This girl is on fire!” Where does she get that?
Judy feels it’s hard to believe the tragedy happened here. Congratulations to Susan. Yesterday she had lunch with 5 people she graduated with, then dinner with teacher friends.
Bill was in Calgary seeing clients (saw 3 families), was running at airport with headphones, and heard “JAFFE!!”, saw Brian Cole (allegedly drunk as a skunk - no plausible denial on this one), so they did a make-up.
Kal says sad news re Saturday’s tragedy, happy birthday month to Judy, have a great day today and tomorrow.
Elena says it was a tragic moment. Rotary conference may have saved their lives, as they would have been there. Last year she was there all day and all night. A reminder to enjoy every moment we have.
Jeannette reports from the hospital, as VGH had to intake the victims and it was so sad. One patient from the tragedy, with surgery over, asked how it was, but they couldn’t answer, as he lost his mom and his friend. It is hard for for her to say ‘we’re good’. We’re just moving on. On a happier note, congrats Susan!
Chris B. is finally back, was on a cruise with friends from Gr 7, then with her daughter on a 7-day holiday in Cancun. She had a great time with both.
John said his son Michael was working in VGH that night and it was a “code orange”. It's Karma because Michael went on the dental mission to the Philippines in 2010 that motivated him to return to school. They finally have a family doctor, after being on the list for 2 years, but they have to go for a ‘meet and greet’ before being accepted. He’s thinking of sending Sam instead of him. Note to all: We’re going to get up to and dance to JLo to be introduced and get a photo taken. It will be quick. When Brian says it’s dinner, try to corral your guests.
Bobby thanks the first responders having to deal with that tragic event. He remembers what his niece saw during covid. Happy birthday Pat and congratulations to Susan.
Debbie S. tortured Susan for the last 5 days. Susan gave her 5 gift certificates at the basket making, but Debbie emailed a couple of days ago, looking for them. She couldn’t remember getting them. She looked everywhere, no luck. Susan looked again. Last night Debbie was in bed, thinking, it was driving her crazy: where are the certificates? Then she was starting to recall, got out of bed, John was wondering what she’s doing. John is now helping. “Maybe they fell in the file folder.” Oh! Thanks John. That’s exactly where they were. She emailed Susan that they’d found them and they both could get a good night’s sleep. Apologies to Susan, for being a complete idiot. Never, Debbie!!!
Sam and Justin were at the event on Saturday but left early. It was very harrowing, but none of his family were there at that time. With all the immigrants Justin works with as an immigration consultant, he sees them work so hard to get here, which makes it sadder. Sam has a practicum student this week, and she’s capable, so he can just look busy on his computer this month.
Chris P. was on Mayne for the first time since dad passed. She can only absorb little pieces of Saturday’s tragedy at a time, as she went to JO high school and is familiar with the area. So horrible to see that carnage. One of the pilots Mitchell works with, his mom was here visiting, was hit, and passed away. So sad, so sorry. Hard to not feel it all.
Garth says Larry’s shoes brighten up the world as best he can as the world is dark. The choir recorded a CD last week. This is the band man week; they bring in a makeup group from around North America. Fun fact: the bass sang a piece that was written for him and, without getting into the minutiae, he sang inhumanly low below middle C. They’re singing tonight. (But Humanely!)
Larry has lots going on. He deals with death every day. It’s sad to hear, the home stepped forward to pay for families and the counseling. He’s moving in Birch Bay, packing everything he owns, and the neighbours are helping to move shed stuff and lawn furniture. The movers are coming tomorrow. He was in Toronto, the president celebrating 35th anniversary with Richmond Funeral Home, so it was a big event, and he was voted # 1 Director across Canada. Congratulations, Larry!
Maryam has students who were there, and they wanted to talk about it on Monday, it has been a solemn week, seeing their faces and their reactions. She is excited to be part of the gala as a Rotarian this year, not a volunteer.
Pat congratulates Susan and Larry. The District Conference was fun, and Elena looked after the RWH House of Friendship. Caring Hearts Dental Mission was one of the projects mentioned by the RI representative. The planning committee has decided that this may be the last District Conference, and the format might be changed for next year.
Sandra celebrated Brian’s birthday. Her daughter was in cardiac ICU, not involved but on alert. On the sidewalk, on her way to work, she saw a lady passed out, with another lady standing beside her. She was just hungry and tired and needs money, but Sandra didn’t have any cash and offered to call the police to help her. The other lady commented the two of them are not really equipped to help these situations. The fallen lady wouldn’t share her name, didn’t want help, or her shoes. Kyle came by and phoned 911 non-emergency, and learned the police had already been there. It is a sad situation. Who is going to help them?
Danny attended the Rotary Convention and congratulated Susan. It is a blessing in disguise; his friends had invited him to do a tai chi session at the event. His daughter was there and left just 10 minutes before and saw the car smashing into people and was traumatized. He hopes that laws will be changed.
Carolyn sends condolences to all. She just lost an oldest friend, and his wife lost both her husband and son in an accident three weeks ago, and her life is changed forever, and she’ll never have peace again. Leaves her thinking about the families that have lost loved ones, especially from Saturday.
Lawrence was not far from the tragedy, heard all the emergency vehicles, talked about it with his kids. As the news comes out, we wonder ‘how do you help?’ with the mental health issue, which is senseless and difficult. The guy was known to police, but the system isn’t there to help him. On a lighter note, he saw Madame Butterfly with the kids, and they got the first but not the second half. While walking his dog, he ran into Bobby who was walking his kids.
Melinda congratulates Susan and Larry. Her trip to Africa was far. A highlight was sleeping in a nature park, with lions roaring all night long. She didn’t leave the tent all night, even to pee, which was not easy at her age. It was a fantastic trip, and she recommends it, but will only do it once because of the fricking bugs. At Elephant Valley Lodge, they put up lanterns, which feels romantic, but it’s for the bugs, and she has a photo of millions of bugs divebombing John’s head, and she was waving a napkin all around her own head. There were two massive cockroaches in the bathroom in the middle of the night. Could they have landed on her? Bitten or killed her? She was flailing around, and which was ‘funny’. John loved the lodge on the river, and their cabin was closest to where the hippos come up. Cape town was beautiful, her first time in 41 years, and they went to their flat, saw penguins who snort like dogs. It was an epic trip. We need to advocate for mental health.
Eleanore remembers being in Africa, with an open skylight, and a monkey looking down at her. This morning, she was a bit later than expected as her friends gave her the painting, and she thought it would fit in the Four Runner, then in her son’s Sequoia, then tried it in her BMW with the top down, but nothing worked. She needs help to transport a 4’ by 4’ painting. We think she found help... but the painting will have the final say.
Brian has been on the road and encountered Bill while Brian was drinking a beer (his first one of the day! Promise!). He saw someone with a dumpy gait, and it was, in fact, Bill. He saw 3 guys in a café on the island he knew from training in Calgary then went to the Okanagan for work, saw a long time curling teammate, then was in Calgary last week where he started his career 27 years ago, and had lunch with his first boss and his godfather. He was ghosted by the girl he was seeing and it’s ok. Calling all the single ladies.
Amanda worried about the families, victims and the witnesses, and knows it is so hard for everyone and so sad. Congratulations to Larry and Susan. Her living room is cleared out, and there is a sad cat who can’t hide in the sea of baskets anymore. One gin basket smashed, so she had to go to the liquor store. Her dad is staying with her, and sister, too. She brought out Graham’s suit and discovered a huge rip down the side. Graham doesn’t have any other black pants, as he donated the other two suits, and wanted Amanda to fix them. Amanda was slightly surprised that after 17 years Graham thinks she can use a needle and thread. So they headed to Moore’s in a panic, saying they needed the suit by Friday and that Graham would take whatever they had. Thank goodness he has long legs; no tailoring needed.
Peter missed mentioning Debbie M’s birthday: acknowledged. Thanks, Bill (Bobby? Satnam?), for breakfast. At the Conference Danny was recognized for the dental mission. We got a banner. Peter just hired a new staff member who worked on the downtown east side, with a mental health group, who was burnt out, and is happy to have her hands in soil and driving machinery, as she just couldn’t deal with it anymore.
MEANDERINGS
These are the very preliminary numbers from Bobby.
Gross for Rotary $111,140
Ask - Heartwood $17,000
Total impact $128,140
Good job everyone. More accurate numbers will be available shortly.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday June 14, 2025; Presidents Dinner
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Richmond Country Club,
Buffet Dinner
Approximately $90.00 per person;
TODAY'S CHUCKLEs
I was just about to speak to our cyber security consultant, but they ransomware.
Last night I saw a dominant, flying mammal covered in letters; I think it was an alpha bat.
We have to share our bed with our pets; you would think that they prefer the aquarium.
GROAN - if you think these are bad, just wait until next week!!! Hahahaha
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