Welcome!
Our club was chartered on 3 June 2005 with 20 members and has grown to 30. We are one of four Rotary clubs in the Comox Valley on beautiful Vancouver Island. Check our calendar on the menu to the left to find out what's coming up. To find our meeting venue click on: Where we meet
Club Presents $1,000 to Comox Valley Boys and Girls Club
President Alan and Past President Linda presented a cheque for $1,000 to Joanne Peterson of the Comox Valley Boys and Girls CLub to help the organization purchase a replacement van for their activities.
Club Holds Two Food Fundraisers During Big Time Out Weekend
On Saturday evening, 14 August, our club sold barbecued pulled beef sandwiches and salads and on Sunday morning sold pancake breakfasts to raise funds to help the Boys and Girls Club purchase a large van for their needs. Rotarian Robb Flannery made a short video on Sunday morning and you can see it by clicking on:
Rotary Pancake Breakfast 15 August
Club Presents Small Gift to District Governor
President Alan presented a souvenir apron to DG Bob Martin that he can wear when he's preparing a meal on the barbecue.
District Governor Visits and Recognizes Rotarian
Kim Sleno was recognized by DG Bob Martin with a special T-Shirt during his visit to our club on 13 July. Only one such shirt will be presented per club. Kim was chosen by the club for her hard work and dedication to Rotary.
Newest Paul Harris Fellow
Linda Oprica presented Greg Ehman with the certificate and pin that identifies him as a Paul Harris Fellow. Greg was sponsored by our club as a member of a Group Study Exchange Team to Germany this spring. He has become a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his service to his community.
Triple A Award Winner
Cumberland Junior Middle School Grade Eight student, Sam McKay, was the first recipient of a newly created award that recognizes academic and athletic achievement and a general positive attitude. Her principal Phil Maund and Rotarian Gale Wheeler congratulated Sam on her achievement. An honourarium of $100 is provided by our club to help Sam with school supplies.
101st RI Convention a Hit
The 101st Convention of Rotary International was held in Montreal from 20 - 23 June. 100 years of Rotary in Canada were celebrated and 10% of our club members attended (Jon and Marguerite T, David and Kathy S and John C). John C served as Sgt at Arms at at the Bell Centre where all the plenary sessions were held and posed with two Rotarians from Nigeria. One evening, David and John C were strolling around Old Montreal when they encountered a couple (Rotarians) from St Augustine Florida in front of a statue of Jean Drapeau. They had a copy of their newspaper, the St Augustine Record in their hands and we took a photo of them holding it in front of the statue. A picture of Kathy and David holding the same newspaper is featured above. Comox Valley residents aren't the only ones who take their Records on vacation!
Club Executive and Board 2010 - 2011 Installed
On 8 June, we celebrated another year of service and installed our Executive and Board for the coming year. Rear L-R: Secretary Rob Neal. Treasurer John Jones, Sgt-At-Arms Chantal Stefan, President Alan deJersey, Past President Steve Galbraith, Front: Dale Roberts, President Elect 2011-2012 Deborah Nolan. Missing: Gale Wheeler Sgt-At-Arms
L-R: President 2010-2011 Alan deJersey, AG Dale Roberts, Keith Taton International Service, John Challender & Kim Sleno Club Administration, Mac Fraser Foundation, Linda Oprica Membership, Liz Phillipson Social, Christine Dickinson PR and Jon Toogood Youth. Missing: Jill Cornwell Program. AG Dale Roberts officiated at the installation of our Board and Executive at our 5th Anniversary Celebration dinner at the Kingfisher on Tuesday evening, 8 June.
Three Paul Harris Fellows
Outgoing President Steve Galbraith, Board member Liz Phillipson and community member Marshall Fisher received the pin and certificate that identifies them as our club's newest Paul Harris Fellows. The presentations were made at the club's Installation Dinner on Tuesday, 8 June in recognition of their service to others.
29 May Rhodo Sale a Sellout!
It was like a garage sale with customers arriving at about 8:15. Linda reported that there will not be a sale on Saturday, 5 June because of an insufficient stock of plants. Well done, everyone! For more pics, go to:
http://www.sendpix.com/albums/10052912/1231520000000010b69a976e12b8e8821c230635c0446/
Tenth Defibrillator to Curling Club
On Tuesday, 11 May, PE Alan presented an automated electronic defibrillator (AED) to the Comox Valley Curling club. This was the tenth AED our club has donated to the community in the past four years.
Financial Support for Student in Kenya
World Community Service Director, Deb Nolan, presented a cheque to Alinda Ware of the Rotary Club of Kakamega, Kenya, to further a worthy student's education for one year. Kenyans do not receive stste-sponsored education to high school graduation. The last four years must be paid by the student's family, many of which cannot afford the fees. This donation will make a difference to at least one student's life.
Potting Rhododendrons to Raise Funds for ShelterBox
Charlie and Keith enjoying the fellowship and fun under sunny skies preparing rhododendrons for sale. Several Rotarians, family members and friends have been working on this fundraiser for the past month.
Care A Van Visit to Club
The Care a Van, established by the Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness Society, paid us a visit and the co-founder of the Society, Helen Boyd, spoke to the club on Tuesday, 13 April.
Rhodo Sale a Sellout
31 March - Kathy and David learn the finer points of potting from Charlie.
3 April -We had a trailer full of plants that sold in a couple of hours!
The plants were donated by Bob and Adela Smith of Courtenay and the proceeds from the sale of 140 rhododendrons went to ShelterBox Canada.
Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) Update
Jay Dahlgren, one of our club members pointed out that the
two most expensive things for her while training and competing as Olympic athlete was travel and accommodation. VIMSS is a non profit umbrella sports organization formed in July 2003. Its primary mandate is to provide support to local athletes by providing grants to help offset the costs associated with transport and advanced training, to nurture athletes on the Island and to prepare them for elite national and international competition. In addition to funding the athletes, VIMSS is overseeing a significant project based on Mount Washington. The upgrade of the Nordic trail networks and the Biathlon range, which enabled several hundred athletes to train up at Mount Washington, was completed in 2006. The second phase, consisting of the sports facility is going ahead, and it is planned to start pouring the concrete soon. This community-use facility will be open to the public engaged in training and other sport activities. VIMSS believes that this facility will be a valuable and a unique asset to the whole of
Vancouver Island and a true legacy for future generations.
Our Drummer Boy
Interview with Robb Flannery.
Cumberland Rotarian Robb Flannery was interviewed by ex-president Linda Oprica. Robb has been in the Comox Valley for almost 18 years, arriving from Winnipeg via Bowen Island. Rob is an ex-professional drummer from Winnipeg . Starting music at age 8 – he was dragged kicking and screaming to piano lessons every Saturday morning for 8 months saying ``I want to play drums``, until finally his parents relented and rented him a set of drums. Robb has been playing them ever since. He bought his first set of drums for $200.00, earning the money to do so from working around his parent`s farm.
Robb has played with Cathy St. Germaine, some of the Peterson family, Neil Young, Brad from Crash Test Dummie, Double Eagle, Tom Jackson, and locally with Todd Butler, Time Well Wasted, Rodeo Drive, Big Dave McLean, amongst others. What he loves about playing the drums is the creativity of it. Rob usually uses a 4 piece set of drums but when he goes on tour he takes a 10 piece drum set with him. Without drummers, modern music would be flat. He discussed the different types of drums and sticks available.
Robb teaches one evening a week at Sound Advice Music. One of the skills necessary to learn to play drums is the ability to tap one foot in time to the music! He recommends that beginners, especially younger players learn on a electronic drum set – with headphones the sound is controlled (a boon for parents) and since the electronic< drum comes with 50 different drum sets built in, it keeps it interesting. It also never goes out of tune! 10 to 20 hours a week are spent playing; he is a jazz junkie but plays all types of music. In his spare time Robb works 60 -80 weeks as a mortgage broker.
To hear some of Robb`s music visit his myspace page at
http://www.myspace.com/116446614 .
Club Assembly
This morning our club gathered for a Club Assembly and we had the pleasure of hearing from a several committee chairs on a variety of club activities. Rob Neal outlined his duties as club secretary including a good outline of how club attendance is calculated and reported.
Our Treasurer, John Jones provided a detailed report on club financial standings, income and expenditure.
Deb Nolan, our World Community Service Chairperson outlined the various activities and grant processes that the club is involved with on an international level including the application of Kakamega for a sanitation
treatment plant and the meeting with the Unity Project to discuss the purchase of mini buses or ambulances. We also heard from Jon Toogood, our Youth Services Chairperson, who outlined some of the activities he is involved in and touched base regarding the tragedy in Haiti and Rotary sending 500 Shelter Boxes to help in that nations time of need.
Dale Roberts, our guest from Courtenay Rotary gave a brief outline of Visioning
Shelterbox Update
On New Years Day 2010, Tom Henderson the CEO
of ShelterBox was named by the Queen to the Order
of the British Empire. 10 years previously, Tom a
member of a small rotary club in Cornwall, came up
with the concept of Shelterboxes and enlisted the
support of his club, the RC of Helston-Lizard in
Cornwall, which consisted of 25 members. This
project was adopted as its millennium project.
The
first consignment of 143 boxes was sent to earthquake
victims in the Indian state of Gujarat in January
2001, and since then the organization has grown to become the largest Rotary Club project in the
100 year history of the organization.
ShelterBox is one of the worlds most efficient and effective disaster relief organizations and it often
works in partnership with the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and United Nations Relief Organizations.
It does not receive any government grants, and does not use professional fundraisers.
ShelterBox is completely supported by public donations, of which an estimated 50% is from Rotarians.
Around 5,000 rotary clubs worldwide have supported ShelterBox since it was launched. Administrative
costs are low, since the organization has a small core of professional staff, and uses dedicated
volunteers. Each box is numbered and tracked and donors are informed when and
where their box has been deployed.
ShelterBox has provided immediate relief to disaster victims caught up in over 90 disasters
in 62 countries providing relief to over 1 million people. ShelterBox can respond
quickly, often within 48 hours all over the globe.
This is possible because ShelterBoxes are located
in key areas and can be deployed rapidly.
The boxes are prepared and packed at the
Headquarters in Cornwall and can be customized
for local conditions. With the support of
local Rotary Clubs, ShelterBox is able to reach
victims fast.
More information can be found
at http://www.shelterbox.ca/
Aspects of the World Financial Situation
Dan Phillipson gave a short presentation on the current global financial situation with an analysis of past and future trends. Key points were
- The recent financial crisis will have a profound impact on economics, financial markets and how individuals invest.
- This was a crisis of the system, not at the periphery.
- Historical themes such as globalization, easy and widespread access to leverage, reduced government involvement are less relevant today.
- DDR (De-leveraging, de-globalization, de-regulation) is the present/future.
- Government role has changed from being solely a Referee to a Referee and a Player.
- Historical implications: Slower growth; shift of center of growth to the east; lower profits; greater volatility; market surprises.
Smokey Mountain
In the shadow of the Smoky Mountain garbage dump in the middle of one of the world's worst slums, families are scavenging to survive. Inspired by their basketball coach Scotty Mac, who lives part of the year in the Philippines, Jamie and Madie Ehman together with Dad Greg came to tell us about the project that have initiated to try to help families living under these conditions.
Madie and Jamie have decorated large cardboard containers and plan to fill them with soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, combs, books and school supplies. You may drop off items at Aspen Park Elementary School or bring them to next Tuesday meeting.
more information.
Chantal Stefan is Our Newest Paul Harris Fellow!
At our meeting on Tuesday, 29 December, Chantal Stefan was recognized as our club's newest Paul Harris Fellow! Cheers were heard and tears were shed as Chantal received her certificate and pin during a short ceremony conducted by John C. Chantal is the founder and leader of Everybody Deserves A Smile (EDAS) that has been growing as a force for good by providing warm clothing and other comforts to the homeless and disadvantaged people of the Comox Valley, Nanaimo and Victoria communities. Naming her a Paul Harris Fellow is but a small recognition of her humanitarian spirit!
Initiative Raises Money for Comox Valley Food Bank
On Thursday, 10 December, PP Keith Tatton suggested that his decorated truck might attract donations from patrons of Moonlight Madness at the Driftwood Mall. A half dozen Rotarians and family members stood out in the cold and raised $435.02 at the Mall the following evening. The spirit of giving is alive and well in our community.
Club Raises $6,000 for ShelterBox Canada
Several members of the Rotary Club of Cumberland Centennial decided, at this time of giving, they would donate money to purchase five Rotary ShelterBoxes to be used for humanitarian aid in parts of the world devastated by disasters. Each ShelterBox contains a tent that will house ten people, ten sleeping bags, water purification tablets, a multi-fuel stove, pots, tools, blankets, ground sheets, rope and other survival items as well as children's school supplies. The box and its contents remain the property of the displaced family. When a ShelterBox is sponsored it is packed in the ShelterBox UK warehouse ready for despatch to the next area of need. A certificate with the name of the donor is placed in each box and each box is numbered. The donors, the number of the box and the eventual destination are recorded on the ShelterBox Canada Roll of Honour on the website: http://www.shelterbox.ca Donations of any amount may be made and tax receipts will be issued to donors. Each box costs $1,200 and the $6,000 raised from within the Club by its members included outright purchases of 3 ShelterBoxes by three Rotarians and sufficient donations from a number of others to cover the cost of the other two boxes, which translates into per capita contribution of $200! Anyone other Rotary clubs up for a challenge?
Newest Cumberland Rotarian Welcomed
On Tuesday, 1 December, we welcomed our newest Rotarian, Catherine Bell to our midst. Catherine has had an interesting career of service including representing us as our Member of Parliament. Welcome Catherine!
Second Installment to Comox Valley Hospice
President Steve and CV Hospice President, Maureen Swift were all smiles at our meeting on 24 November following our second installment of $10,000 to the Hospice Society's building fund. The club has provided $20,000 to the Society as part of its three-year, $30,000 commitment to help Hospice build a ten-bed facility in the Comox Valley.
Club Provides Funds for School Nutrition Programs
Club Community Service Director, Dodie Brand, presented cheques to Cumberland Junior Secondary School Principal Phil Maund, GP Vanier Secondary School Vice-Principal Murray McRae and Jeremy Gradsby of the Cumberland Community School to help fund the schools' nutrition programs. Each school received $500 with part of the amount for the Junior school going to purchase a clothes dryer.
Fifth Annual Extravaganza Italiana a Huge Success
Auctioneer David Stevens was in top form on Saturday, 17 October. Our Extravaganza Italiana this year attracted 264 participants and we grossed $42,000+. A big thank you to all the hard working Rotarians, family members and friends.
Two Additional Bookcases For the Residents of Cumberland Lodge
On Friday, 9 October, Community Service Director Dodie Brand and Past President David Stevens presented two additional bookcases to Donna Walsh, Manager of Resident Care at the Cumberland Lodge. In 2007 our club presented the first bookcase (same size and pattern) to establish a source of books for the residents. At each of our weekly meetings since, we donated two more books to the collection honouring our guest speaker with a label on the flyleaf of each book marking their contribution to our program. The first bookcase is full and overflowing so it was decided that it would be appropriate to build two more.
Extravaganza Italiana Forecast to be a Sellout!
Less than a month until the Fifth Annual Exravaganza Italiana and 250 of the 300 tickets have been sold. Don't be disappointed, contact John Challender at 250-339-4068 or via e-mail at: johnpegc@telus.net or Jill Cornwell at the BCAA office in Courtenay during normal office hours to get your tickets for this popular event. It's been a sellout the past four years. This, our major fundraiser features a family-style Italian dinner with a silent and live auction. Date: Saturday, 17 October at Cumberland Recreation Hall starting with cocktails at 6 PM, dinner at 7 PM followed by a lively, live auction of fantastic items and experiences. Tickets are still only $30 per person. Tables for parties of 8 may be reserved. Tickets will be delivered by arrangement with John Challender. (posted on 29 September)
Cumberland Rotarians Help Refurbish Japanese Cemetery
In partnership with the Village of Cumberland, the Rotary club of Cumberland Centennial installed a concrete walk leading to the group of headstones honouring the memory of former Japanese coal miners and residents of Cumberland. The walk was provided by the Rotarians to make it easier for people in wheelchairs and using walkers to access the site to pay their respects. The project was completed with the help of Cumberland Ready Mix at a cost of $500 using funds raised by the club at its annual dinner and auction.
Club Supports School in Kakamega, Kenya
On 1 September, Cathe Egan and Deb Nolan of the World Community Service Committee, presented a cheque for $1,200.00 to Alinda Ware of the Rotary Club of Kakamega, Kenya, to be used to develop an safe drinking water system and to renovate the Daisy School for the disabled in Kakmega.
Newest Rotarian Inducted by District Governor
At our regular meeting on 18 August, DG Harold (Alex) Alexander inducted Jay Dahlgren as our newest Rotarian. Welcome Jay!
2010 is the celebration of 100 years of Rotary in Canada, which happened when the first Rotary club outside the USA was chartered in Winnipeg. Wouldn't it be great to attend the RI Convention in Montréal as a member of a club that was chartered during Rotary's centennial? See: http://www.rotary.org/en/Members/Events/Convention/Pages/ridefault.aspx?housead for registration and other information.
WestJet is pleased to confirm your booking account QC6045 for the upcoming THE INTERNATIONAL ROTARY CONFERENCE in Montreal from June 20-23, 2010
With your Convention account number, WestJet is delighted to extend a 20% discount off our best available regular fare and 10 % off seat sale fares at the time of the booking (excluding promotional fares and not to be used in combination with any other discount). To take advantage of this discount attendees can either make their travel arrangement one of two ways:
1. By contacting WestJet’s Convention line at 1-877-952-4696. Our agents are available to assist Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Mountain Standard Time). 2. By e-mailing their request via the following link: http://www.westjet.com/index_redirect.html?uripath=/guest/conventionBookingForm.shtml
Discounted rates are available for travel up to 3 days prior and 3 days after your event. For travel outside of these dates, we will offer the best available fare at the time of booking. For groups of 10 or more travelling together, please contact WestJet’s Group Sales for fare information at 1-888-493-7853.
Club Welcomed Newest Member!
PP Linda inducted and welcomed Kim Sleno as our newest member on Tuesday, 28 July. Kim has transferred from the Rotary Club of Comox. She joined Rotary in 1992 and has recorded 17 years of perfect attendance. She just completed three years of service as our Assistant Governor. Welcome Kim!
Planning for Fifth Annual Extravaganza Italiana in Progress
Participants at 2008 Event Checked Out Auction Items
The club's signature fundraiser will be held this year on Saturday, 17 October in the Cumberland Recreation Hall. Tickets are now available for the event at $30 per person and can be obtained (we deliver) by calling: John Challender at: 250-339-4068 or e-mail: johnpegc@telus.net Tables for parties of 8 or 10 may be reserved. Requests for tickets have already begun. This year's auction will feature some unique items such as a private wine-appreciation course of 8 hours in someone's home for 8 people and a gold ring set with a diamond and a ruby valued at $1,100..
Club Helps 10-year-old Learn to Read
Ten-year old Cumberland youth, Jack Dubois, has had great difficulty learning to read. He was tested and diagnosed with a form of dyslexia. His mom, Michelle Bradshaw, was told of a program of learning that would require Jack to use a computer and software that would help him in his quest to become a reader. The club decided to help the family by providing a laptop computer that Jack can carry to and from school. O In her last day as president of the club, Linda Oprica, paid a visit to Jack and presented him with a lightweight laptop that was purchased at a great discount from London Drugs in Courtenay. "This computer will make a big difference to Jack by enabling him to become a good reader", said mother Michelle, when the computer was delivered on Tuesday. "One of the programs will show Jack a document and then speak each of the printed words to him so he'll be able to recognize the letters and words more easily", she said. Jack and his mother were all smiles and very thankful for the club's decision to assist them.
Last Meeting of 2008-2009 Held in the Heritage Orchard
It was a beautiful, sunny morning on Tuesday, 30 June, as we gathered for coffee, muffins, orange juice and champers for our last meeting of the Rotary year. Good turnout of rotarians, spouses and guests.
Retiring Assistant Governor Recognized
Retiring Assistant Governor, Kim Sleno, received the thanks of our club from Keith Tatton, Linda Oprica, Dave Stevens Steve Galbraith, for her service to our club during her three-year term.
Four Recognized as Paul Harris Fellows
Stefan Pletscher, John Jones, Linda Oprica and Joanne Tatton were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows at our installation dinner on 23 June.
Foundation Benefactors
Linda and Keith received recognition as Rotary Foundation Benefactors on 23 June.
Fifth Annual Installation Held on 23 June
