Congratulations to Kirk, our newest grandfather – a little girl to spoil!

The community nominations for Paul Harris Fellowships will be presented and voted on at the next meeting on May 23 – nominators will have 2 minutes each to present their candidates. Please note that these awards are confidential until they are presented at the installation in June. Thanks to everyone who nominated club members for a PHF. These will be voted on by all club members who are Paul Harris Fellows (by email – watch for an email from Larry).

July 20 is the date of the District Governor’s installation at Star of the Sea hall. Darren needs someone to help with the entertainment that evening, i.e. make sure the band is welcomed. Please contact him if you are planning to attend and can help out.

Mary Rhode presented the Rotary Moment – some timely reminders about “Rotary etiquette and expectations”:

ATTENDANCE:You will get out of it what you put into it!  Regular attendance at Rotary meetings is expected. Attending meetings and functions & enjoying fellowship and service opportunities is a way to optimize the Rotary experience. Make-ups at Board meetings and other clubs count toward your attendance record and are another way to enhance your Rotary experience.

YOUR ROTARY PIN:Wearing your pin or a garment with the Rotary logo identifies you as a member of an international organization known for good works and helps promotes Rotary in our community.

FIRST NAME BASIS:Rotary is a first name organization. Each of us has a “badge name” by which we prefer to be known. When addressing a member who is chairing a meeting, it is appropriate to recognize “President Judy”, rather than “Madam President”.

HOSPITALITY:Make an effort to greet fellow members and guests.  Our guest speaker usually is seated at the President’s table.  Please take a seat at that table until all places are filled. Make an effort to sit at a different table each week to get acquainted with all club members over time to work on that relationship building piece.

UNDER YOUR WING:Make an effort to get acquainted with new members. Invite them to sit with you during breakfast; encourage them to work alongside you in our service activities.

GUESTS AND VISITORS: When introducing a guest, please stand and invite your guest to stand beside you. Introduce your guest as a “guest”- it is not appropriate to identify a guest as a “prospective member”. Guests are welcomed by applause. When visiting Rotarians are introduced, they are welcomed with a collective “Hi,  (first name)”.

PROGRAMS:Guest speakers should be invited to present topics of interest to our entire membership.  Presentations that promote commercial products or services are inappropriate. Programs presented by campaigning politicians within 60 days of the election are discouraged.

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS:It is appropriate to use a variety of means to inform club members about club activities. It is appropriate to include only club members who have requested such information. Promoting one’s business to club members is discouraged. Member contact information should not be shared with non-Rotarians without the member’s permission.

GOLF REMINDERS: please get your prizes in to Greg asap, either by bringing to a meeting or to his home; Greg also needs a couple more “wrappers” to help the weekend o f June 8/9. Call Stuart K. or Mike R. if you aren’t clear what you will be doing on tournament day (Stuart will send out another list by email) and please let them know if you will be unable to work on June 12. Joe will send out a list of duties for Calcutta night (June 11) – he needs people who have a “Serving it Right” certificate to help with the bar.

There is a “Friendship Exchange” in the fall with a team from New Zealand and a team from our District heading there in the spring. Judy will send out an email so we can discuss our possible participation at the May 23 meeting.

SASSY Nominations are open until Friday, May 24. Anyone who is interested in helping with the Selection Committees please let Beth know – the meeting will likely by in early July.

GUEST SPEAKER: Ellen Cmolik presented information on the Cmolik Foundation that she and her husband Russ “started by accident” in 2008. It provides scholarships for post-secondary education to students who would not otherwise be able to attend university, technical or trades training. There are currently 37 students in the program which provides up to $35,000 over 5 years; students contract to “Pay it Forward” and sponsor a student when they have established themselves in careers. Their “Expanding Horizons Program” provides students from Grade 5 at Lena Shaw Elementary with career-related field trips, e.g. to Peace Arch Hospital to see the range of jobs that keep the hospital working. They also provide a summer camp for students in Grades 5/6/7 in partnership with SFU.