Sunrise bulletin for the week of June 13, 2012
Posted by Rob Goodell
on Jun 13, 2012
President-Elect Julie Mantle is so anxious to be President, she just couldn't wait until July. So she grabbed the gavel this morning and proceeded to do business as if she'd been doing it for years. She did get some detailed instructions from Bill Sheddy on the correct protocol for wielding the gavel but we'll have to check with Robert's Rules of Order or something official from Buckingham Palace. Time will tell.
We were 14 members at the Coast Hotel this morning, with no visiting Rotarians or other guests. John Haley was full of stories about his grizzly encounters, Ann-Shirley and I are just back from cycling in France, and Sonya Orr dropped in between her trips to exotic places. She's off again soon to the Netherlands and Julie is doing a Mediterranean cruise in a week or two. Too bad we're all such stay-at-homes.
Rotary moment
John regaled us with the long, involved Rotary tale of James Wheeler Davidson. "Who's he?" you ask. John tells us he was a friend of Paul Harris and a pioneer in the early years of Rotary. Seems he travelled around the globe forming new clubs in many places. By one count, he was responsible for 23 new clubs in 12 countries. Be sure to memorize all this, as it will be on the final exam.
Club news
This year's Hoop-a-Thon is this Saturday, June 16. Members attending should be at Strathcona by 9:30 am. Pledges are still needed, urgently, since we are currently under prior years' amounts. The loss of our corporate sponsor means we need to generate more funds from personal contacts. Only a few days left!
The club's changeover event, kicking out the old administration and welcoming our new leaders, will be Sunday, June 24, from 1 to 4 pm. Food is being catered, and the cost is $25 per person, payable to Julie. The venue is the party room in Diana Theman's condo building in Coal Harbour.
Julie announced that the Board will be meeting on Tuesday, June 19, at 7:30.
Sunrise Foundation
Ana Fernandes from Odlum Brown, who are investment advisors for the club's charitable foundation, gave us an update on the status of our portfolio. The $70,000 (of the foundation's $80,000) that was invested through Odlum Brown two years ago in August, has grown to just over $76,000 -- a growth rate of 4.58 percent per year. Ana provided details of our investments, which are conservative in nature to minimize the risk of loss.The portfolio is currently invested 62 percent in bonds and GICs, 20 percent in dividend-paying preferred shares and 16 percent in dividend-paying common stocks and exchange-traded funds. The scholarships awarded for the past two years have been funded from the remaining portion of the foundation's funds, which are kept in a bank account for easy access when needed. It all looks like our foundation is in good financial shape.
Today's program
Hanne Kooistra was our speaker today, giving us an update on what's been happening in her life since her Youth Exchange year ended last summer. First, we saw the PowerPoint presentation she put together to show her sponsor Rotary club in the Netherlands what she did all year. Lots of good memories, for her and for us, in her many photos. If you missed it, or if you want to see it again, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlndP7SOrY&feature=youtu.be
Second, we talked with Hanne by Skype and learned that she's just finished her first year of university classes and will be taking final exams soon. She changed her education focus to economics and marketing and hopes to work in a retail or restaurant business this summer for the experience. It was fun to see her and interact with her and to note how mature and self-confident she has become.
All of which proves, once again, what a great Rotary program Youth Exchange is -- for the exchange students and also for the many Rotarians who interact with them. Thanks to Hanne for bringing some Dutch sunshine into our lives. And, it doesn't have to end. Ann-Shirley and I enjoyed five days with Hanne in Bordeaux recently, and Sonya hopes to connect with her during her trip to the Netherlands this summer.
And that's it for now. See you next Wednesday.
Rob
We were 14 members at the Coast Hotel this morning, with no visiting Rotarians or other guests. John Haley was full of stories about his grizzly encounters, Ann-Shirley and I are just back from cycling in France, and Sonya Orr dropped in between her trips to exotic places. She's off again soon to the Netherlands and Julie is doing a Mediterranean cruise in a week or two. Too bad we're all such stay-at-homes.
Rotary moment
John regaled us with the long, involved Rotary tale of James Wheeler Davidson. "Who's he?" you ask. John tells us he was a friend of Paul Harris and a pioneer in the early years of Rotary. Seems he travelled around the globe forming new clubs in many places. By one count, he was responsible for 23 new clubs in 12 countries. Be sure to memorize all this, as it will be on the final exam.
Club news
This year's Hoop-a-Thon is this Saturday, June 16. Members attending should be at Strathcona by 9:30 am. Pledges are still needed, urgently, since we are currently under prior years' amounts. The loss of our corporate sponsor means we need to generate more funds from personal contacts. Only a few days left!
The club's changeover event, kicking out the old administration and welcoming our new leaders, will be Sunday, June 24, from 1 to 4 pm. Food is being catered, and the cost is $25 per person, payable to Julie. The venue is the party room in Diana Theman's condo building in Coal Harbour.
Julie announced that the Board will be meeting on Tuesday, June 19, at 7:30.
Sunrise Foundation
Ana Fernandes from Odlum Brown, who are investment advisors for the club's charitable foundation, gave us an update on the status of our portfolio. The $70,000 (of the foundation's $80,000) that was invested through Odlum Brown two years ago in August, has grown to just over $76,000 -- a growth rate of 4.58 percent per year. Ana provided details of our investments, which are conservative in nature to minimize the risk of loss.The portfolio is currently invested 62 percent in bonds and GICs, 20 percent in dividend-paying preferred shares and 16 percent in dividend-paying common stocks and exchange-traded funds. The scholarships awarded for the past two years have been funded from the remaining portion of the foundation's funds, which are kept in a bank account for easy access when needed. It all looks like our foundation is in good financial shape.
Today's program
Hanne Kooistra was our speaker today, giving us an update on what's been happening in her life since her Youth Exchange year ended last summer. First, we saw the PowerPoint presentation she put together to show her sponsor Rotary club in the Netherlands what she did all year. Lots of good memories, for her and for us, in her many photos. If you missed it, or if you want to see it again, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlndP7SOrY&feature=youtu.be
Second, we talked with Hanne by Skype and learned that she's just finished her first year of university classes and will be taking final exams soon. She changed her education focus to economics and marketing and hopes to work in a retail or restaurant business this summer for the experience. It was fun to see her and interact with her and to note how mature and self-confident she has become.
All of which proves, once again, what a great Rotary program Youth Exchange is -- for the exchange students and also for the many Rotarians who interact with them. Thanks to Hanne for bringing some Dutch sunshine into our lives. And, it doesn't have to end. Ann-Shirley and I enjoyed five days with Hanne in Bordeaux recently, and Sonya hopes to connect with her during her trip to the Netherlands this summer.
And that's it for now. See you next Wednesday.
Rob