Last weeks meeting
Repeat from last week:
The President's Dinner is cancelled because of the issue of member safety and the desire to have an event that can include all members.
Let's all keep each other safe by following the protocols below when attending our morning meetings:
1. Use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the meeting
2. Maximum of 3 people per table
3. Maintain physical distancing of 2 meters at all times (including when at the buffet)
4. No singing of O'Canada
5. No passing around of sign up sheets, cards, etc
6. No money will be accepted during Sergeant at Arms
(The Board strongly encourages members to annually e-transfer a minimum of $102/Rotarian to cover S@A contributions for the year)
President Debbie also advised that if you wish to contact a board member or if someone you know wants to join they can go to our web site and click on any of the names of the executive and send them an email. Good to know.
Presidents Report
President Debbie thanked Sandra Hass for diligently pursuing freeing our Canadian Flag and other items from the River Rock. Sandra performed this feat yesterday on her birthday - what a great way to celebrate. Thankyou Sandra.
Please direct any questions to me or a board member of your choosing and we will discuss any and all questions or concerns during our board meeting.
Be kind and be calm...
be socially distant and don't sing! I am not sure how easy it would have been to follow todays anthem in any event.
Garth provided us with the inspiration from Isaac Asimov - Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Visitors
12 Zoomers including Costco Susan, Double Make Up Ron and Ananda who changed into Amanda mysteriously during the meeting.
Sergeant At Arms Tidbits
Judy for the first time drove up to Penticton and back by herself without a bathroom break. I am not sure how one drives cross legged for 4.5 hours. She had a great time with Spencer's family and in-laws. Has seen Ralph twice.
Debbie M. was also in Penticton paddle boarding and was in danger of being swept away by the current in the lake and perhaps by the young man who her helped her return to her paddle board. From which she had fallen, perhaps on purpose. After all Macho Miles was on a 30km bike ride. Whatever is a girl to do?
Kal thanked Peter for waking him up for Rotary.
Peter told us about cleaning a log cabin built in 1985 and not cleaned since. Apparently there was sawdust in all the cracks. Dalbir asked for clarification.
Sam helped celebrate Justin's Dad's birthday with a candle that opens like a flower and sings Happy Birthday. The good news is they both now know Dad in laws age.
Bobby claimed he injured himself playing basketball but we all know it was from folding laundry. CAS - chore avoidance syndrome - DSM V says if afflicts 6 in 10 husbands. Some studies suggest the incidence is higher.
Brian missed the usual Ontario summer holiday at the lake and has found this to be a special family summer instead. Spent some time at Christina Lake and biked the old Kettle Valley Rail bed for 32 km over trestles and through tunnels and down hill both ways.
Danny climbed up a hill using a dangerous looking rope, had mosquitos for a snack but the view was worth it.
Elena had a nice lunch at Shaughessy's with a friend she had not seen in 5 years.
Garth grew up in Trail and Christina Lake was where he spent his summer holidays. He also pointed out the disadvantage for the zoomers in not being able to appreciate Brian's polka dot socks and plaid tie. Really sorry I missed that - NOT
Sandra's Birthday yesterday was great but back to work today.
Mary Lou says buy land in Princeton, renovation friend is very busy working for Greater Vancouverites buying land there. Lindsay is visiting from Ontario and getting Covid testing there and here so she can visit with Oscar. It is a closed book exam.
Chris M. still does not know how school will work other than she will have her 600 students divided into 10 cohorts and is asking club members to help out by volunteering during the 4.5 hours of recess. Chris chose Banfield over France this year for part of her holiday. Some things are better with Covid.
Susan kept hitting the wrong mute button but eventually told us about dinners with Joyce and Ron. Also 14 year old son driving a standard on the farm. Examples of farmers who cannot drive standard do not exist - or do they, Kal?
Ron who also had trouble finding the unmute button is bringing plums next week. Yum
Dick our Yoda, recommended that next month be education month because education represents our future.
Your Editor reported he had a dream he was fighting the Zombie apocalypse - the last refuge of the incompetent.
Kathy visited with friends on Crescent Beach and bicycled the Arbutus Corridor up hill both ways.
Welcome back Larry who had his best family visit ever in Alberta. He will turn 69 next week and Steve is returning from visiting 21 casinos. Know your limit. Or is it bet the limit?
Carolyn reported there had been 13 successful e-transfers and is learning bridge and golf from Joyce now that she is fully retired. Many would like lessons Joyce.
Joyce told us about her great experience with Telus in trying to reset a password and apparently stupidtelus is not available as it is too common.
Melinda's grand baby is due today and painted her nails blue in hopes of a boy. Melinda reminded us all that Marg's surgery is today and we all wish her well.
Belinda pointed out that Larry had cigarettes in his ears. She also told us about her wonderful boat ride up the coast of beautiful BC.
Dalbir cautioned that Sergeant at Arms was taking too long between zoomers and those present and also told us of the history of the Rotary bell obtained by David Richardson past president and subsequently polished.
Amanda/Ananda had been to her 3 year old nieces birthday.
President Debbie was on her way to Sooke for a hike and agreed with Dalbir that we need to all be more pithy during Sergeant at Arms. It will also save your editor both ink and time.
spEAKER
Sam reported on his research on on-line raffle and 50/50. There is a start up and yearly fee of $1,750 and they take 7.5% of the gross revenue. So as President Debbie pointed out unless we partner with other Rotary Clubs it does not make financial sense. Debbie is going to explore with the other Richmond Clubs if there is any interest.
Yours truly then discussed the upcoming on line auction. We are going to try what appears to be a free service to charities, Eflea. The auction if it goes as planned will run from Friday September 11 to Friday September 28th, 2020. The intention is to use the items in the Givergy data base unless it seems inappropriate or unless the donor chooses not to include their donation. Your editor will be sending an email to all members giving them until next Friday to declare. If there is no answer we will assume the answer is yes to using the item in this auction.
Meanderings
In an extended post interview with Chris M. safely by email of course, she confirmed that it was her sister who penned the wonderful birthday invitation published last week.
More on Alexander Pushkin, the Russian Poet, while enduring his two quarantine Cholera epidemics in Russia in the early 1800s became exhilarated with the threat of cholera and death. He was motivated to write the following:
There's rapture on the battleground
And where the black abyss is found
And on the giant raging ocean main
And in the desert hurricane
And the Plague's pernicious breath
For all that threatens to destroy
Conceals a strange and savage joy-
Perhaps for mortal man a glow
That promises eternal life
And happy he who comes to know
This rapture found in storm and strife
We'll sip the rosy maiden wine
And kiss the lips where plague might lie!
Editor: not meaning to be morbid with the poem but keep your kisses inside your bubble. Pushkin was fatally wounded in a dual with his brother in law who had attempted to seduce Pushkin's wife. The last refuge of the incompetent.
Very good news Marg's Surgery went well and so is she - well that is.
Upcoming Events.
August meetings will be at 14431 Knox Way behind the Grand Ballroom or by Zoom.
Planning is proceeding for an on line auction September 11 - 25, 2020
Committee (and other) Updates
See speaker section.
Fees for the Riverside Banquet Hall include a continental breakfast of pastry, yogurt, fruit juice, tea and coffee and AV equipment for zoom-in members for a total of $471.25/meeting (including taxes and gratuity). The members will be charged $13 per person for breakfast.
From our Treasurer
Current Balances as of July 17, 2020:
Operations Account: $51,454.05
Foundation Account: $33,154.55
TODAYS CHUCKLE
Two girls go fishing
Girl One: This summer we should go fish
Girl Two: We don't fish
Girls One: No we don't fish but we could fish. There is no time to fish when we are in school.
Girl Two: Fine I will give it a shot.
Girl One: Do you think these hooks hurt? Maybe we should use a net.
Girl Two: I'm going to eat my fish so the hook is the least of his worries.
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