Sunrise bulletin for the week of March 21, 2012
Posted by Rob Goodell
on Mar 21, 2012
Today is supposed to be the start of spring weather but it didn't feel like it on an early Wednesday morning. Tomorrow's forecast is for more snow. No wonder everyone's gone (or is going) to Palm Springs.
The 16 members who aren't in warmer climates gathered for Rotary at the Renaissance Hotel, across the street from the Coast which booted us out for bad behaviour. Thanks to Larry Belsito for arranging such luxurious space for our two weeks in the penalty box. Next week we'll be at the Renaissance again, this time on the top floor.
Today, we learned that Simon Hauck, our last year's Youth Exchange student, is enjoying spring break in San Luis Obispo, California, with a former YE student who lives there. Closer to home, Diana Theman and Julie Mantle had a "girls' night out" which may have been a little wild. And, Abigail Turner is celebrating the news that her in-laws, recently relocated from the UK to BC, will move out of her basement in a few weeks into their own place nearby. I hear they're starting a baby-sitting business.
President Matthew Lynam led a business meeting highlighting some of the items considered by the board recently. He distributed copies of the updated Operation Plan, which seems to have grown to four pages, indicating that the club has a lot going on. Some of the discussion items were:
Youth exchange. After a very successful year exchanging Simon for Hanne Kooistra, the club is taking two years out but is tentatively scheduled to re-enter YE in 2013-2014. Rob Goodell has been asked to speak to parents at King George school, where Hanne was a real hit, to see if there are potential YE candidates. Today's discussion confirmed that the club expects to commit this August to participate in 2013-2014, with candidate interviews starting in September. Three members indicated that they would consider being host families for this program.
Afghan police women's project. Ann-Shirley Goodell met with photo-journalist Alison McLean last week for an update on this effort, for which club members and others made contributions which have been matched by an RI District Grant to provide protective clothing and equipment for these brave police candidates. Due to the recent military and political turmoil affecting everything in Afghanistan, Alison's trip to distribute these items has been delayed and is now planned for May or June.
President-elect. Matthew announced that Banu Tulumen's upcoming marriage and travel plans will prevent her from serving as club president in 2013-2014 so the board will take steps to fill this position soon.
Corporate memberships. Lori Pobuto is preparing a Power Point presentation to use with prospective firms.
Programs. Cam Scott announced that our annual Stanley Cup hockey pool will be at the April 4 meeting. He has arranged programs/speakers through May 23 and thanks the members who sent him ideas.
District events. A district assembly and Future Vision training will be held in North Vancouver on April 14. Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) training will be offered as part of the District Conference, May 17-19, in Richmond.
Social events. Bill Sheddy will look into a Rotary day at Hastings Park racetrack, preferably on a Saturday afternoon in spring. Bill is also looking into the possibility of holding an event at the Jazz Cellar on West Broadway, perhaps as a fundraiser.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Our student candidate had to cancel, so the $450 earmarked for RYLA is available for other uses. Strathcona Community Centre suggests we support one of their girls' basketball players with a scholarship to help her with post-secondary education at Langara. The club seemed to support this idea.
Foundation giving. Most of our members agree with the notion of donating at least $100 per year as part of the Every-Rotarian-Every-Year plan but actual contributions are down substantially since we stopped including this item on club dues invoices. We discussed the options of restarting the dues invoice plan vs. letting members make their own contributions online or by cheque, with no real consensus reached. We also talked about donating to the RI Annual Program Fund, or to the RI Polio Eradicaton program, or to our own Sunrise club foundation, or some combination of these. Again, no consensus. John Haley was asked to propose something here that will be workable, perhaps involving some level of follow-up with members who intend to contribute but procrastinate. Ann-Shirley (and maybe others) will work with John on this.
The discussion was lively, especially on the last item of business, but Matthew gonged the meeting to a conclusion so members could get to their offices. He didn't even have time for his thought of the day, but here it is:
"Today's thought comes to us from Duke Ellington who, upon being asked what kinds of music he liked, said 'There are only two kinds of music -- good music and bad.'"
Remember, don't go the the Coast Hotel next week unless you're prepared to pay for all the damage we caused. Have a good week.
Rob
The 16 members who aren't in warmer climates gathered for Rotary at the Renaissance Hotel, across the street from the Coast which booted us out for bad behaviour. Thanks to Larry Belsito for arranging such luxurious space for our two weeks in the penalty box. Next week we'll be at the Renaissance again, this time on the top floor.
Today, we learned that Simon Hauck, our last year's Youth Exchange student, is enjoying spring break in San Luis Obispo, California, with a former YE student who lives there. Closer to home, Diana Theman and Julie Mantle had a "girls' night out" which may have been a little wild. And, Abigail Turner is celebrating the news that her in-laws, recently relocated from the UK to BC, will move out of her basement in a few weeks into their own place nearby. I hear they're starting a baby-sitting business.
President Matthew Lynam led a business meeting highlighting some of the items considered by the board recently. He distributed copies of the updated Operation Plan, which seems to have grown to four pages, indicating that the club has a lot going on. Some of the discussion items were:
Youth exchange. After a very successful year exchanging Simon for Hanne Kooistra, the club is taking two years out but is tentatively scheduled to re-enter YE in 2013-2014. Rob Goodell has been asked to speak to parents at King George school, where Hanne was a real hit, to see if there are potential YE candidates. Today's discussion confirmed that the club expects to commit this August to participate in 2013-2014, with candidate interviews starting in September. Three members indicated that they would consider being host families for this program.
Afghan police women's project. Ann-Shirley Goodell met with photo-journalist Alison McLean last week for an update on this effort, for which club members and others made contributions which have been matched by an RI District Grant to provide protective clothing and equipment for these brave police candidates. Due to the recent military and political turmoil affecting everything in Afghanistan, Alison's trip to distribute these items has been delayed and is now planned for May or June.
President-elect. Matthew announced that Banu Tulumen's upcoming marriage and travel plans will prevent her from serving as club president in 2013-2014 so the board will take steps to fill this position soon.
Corporate memberships. Lori Pobuto is preparing a Power Point presentation to use with prospective firms.
Programs. Cam Scott announced that our annual Stanley Cup hockey pool will be at the April 4 meeting. He has arranged programs/speakers through May 23 and thanks the members who sent him ideas.
District events. A district assembly and Future Vision training will be held in North Vancouver on April 14. Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) training will be offered as part of the District Conference, May 17-19, in Richmond.
Social events. Bill Sheddy will look into a Rotary day at Hastings Park racetrack, preferably on a Saturday afternoon in spring. Bill is also looking into the possibility of holding an event at the Jazz Cellar on West Broadway, perhaps as a fundraiser.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Our student candidate had to cancel, so the $450 earmarked for RYLA is available for other uses. Strathcona Community Centre suggests we support one of their girls' basketball players with a scholarship to help her with post-secondary education at Langara. The club seemed to support this idea.
Foundation giving. Most of our members agree with the notion of donating at least $100 per year as part of the Every-Rotarian-Every-Year plan but actual contributions are down substantially since we stopped including this item on club dues invoices. We discussed the options of restarting the dues invoice plan vs. letting members make their own contributions online or by cheque, with no real consensus reached. We also talked about donating to the RI Annual Program Fund, or to the RI Polio Eradicaton program, or to our own Sunrise club foundation, or some combination of these. Again, no consensus. John Haley was asked to propose something here that will be workable, perhaps involving some level of follow-up with members who intend to contribute but procrastinate. Ann-Shirley (and maybe others) will work with John on this.
The discussion was lively, especially on the last item of business, but Matthew gonged the meeting to a conclusion so members could get to their offices. He didn't even have time for his thought of the day, but here it is:
"Today's thought comes to us from Duke Ellington who, upon being asked what kinds of music he liked, said 'There are only two kinds of music -- good music and bad.'"
Remember, don't go the the Coast Hotel next week unless you're prepared to pay for all the damage we caused. Have a good week.
Rob