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This was a glorious morning. With a storm and some snow over night, we began our meeting in crisp, brilliant weather. I wonder if there is another Rotary meeting anywhere that can beat the scene in front of us today.
President George began by pressing Mushtaq into leading us in O'Canada followed with Gerry's invocation and then the introduction of visitors and guests. Diana brought along Sheila and Morris Lyttle, prospective members. Doug Hill visited from the Parksville Club. Nico Human, President Elect of the West Vancouver Sunrise club, our guest speaker was also introduced.
Grant Martin, who did our Rotary House sign was by for breakfast. In recognition of Grant's work, President George presented him with an Operation Eyesight certificate.
There were a number of announcements:
The club executive meets tonight, 7 pm, at Rotary House.
We all received cards for the sale of Rotary Roses. We are limited to 500 dozen so lets sell them all.
Sponsors are asked see that the new members they have brought in have been properly introduced to Rotary with the use of a checklist that President George has given out.
There has been some kind of unspecified hitch in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner scheduled for March 9. Details will come to those involved by phone.
Diane O'Brien still has tickets for the St. Patrick's Day event the Parksville AM club is putting on March 23 and for the Shriner's British Pub Night April 12.
Our program this morning was a presentation by Nico Human of AgAware BC. Nico began by explaining that he came to Canada 3 and a half years ago from South Africa. He emigrated because of the unrest in his country and chose Canada because it is regarded as one of the best places in the world to live. He chose BC because of the climate. Before getting down to the topic at hand he explained the difficulties he experienced in spoken communication in making this transition. Whatever difficulty he may have had has clearly been overcome as his presentation was interesting and effective. One of our members went as far as to say that he was the best speaker we have had.
AgAware BC is not a government body. It is an organization that speaks for the farmers and ranchers of BC. Nico outlined a whole range of efforts AgAware has undertaken such as providing speakers at meetings such as ours, videos for use in school programs, promotion of AgriTourism and AgriExcursions, demonstrations for children and the development of the leading agriculture web site in the country. AgAware is interested in partnering with Rotary clubs such as ours to promote common goals.
Doug Hill announced briefly the event that the Parksville Noon club is sponsoring. Here are the details.
RED ROBINSON WILL MC ROCK AND ROLL DANCE IN OCEANSIDE APRIL 6TH
The man who introduced Canada to Elvis Presely and the Beattles Red Robinson is coming to Oceanside to host a Rock and Roll Dance with music from the 50 s and 60 s. The Rotary Club of Parksville is sponsoring the fund-raising event on Saturday April 6th at the Qualicum Beach Civic Center.
Red Robinson recently inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rock-a-Billy Hall of fame will spin the music that identified an era. With his vast music collection and long, personal association with the stars, Red will lead dance patrons through the 50 s and 60 s, with music and stories. This was the era that gave birth to the driving beat of Elvis, the Beattles, Bill Haley and the Comets (arguably the sound that started it all), Buddy Holly, Peggy Lee, the Crew Cuts, The Four Lads, Jerry Lee Lewis, Connie Francis and a host of others.
The Rotary Club of Parksville will set the mood with classic movie posters and icons of pop culture from the era. Some will be auctioned off to help Rotary continue its philanthropic work in the community. In addition to door prizes, there will be prizes for winners of trivia quizzes and special prizes for those who come dressed in attire of the period; poodle skirts, saddle shoes, bobby-sox, pony tails, mini-skirts, beehive hair-do s for girls while men let their locks grow a la the Fab-Four.
But more than anything it was the music. Red Robinson achieved star status himself as the upstart DJ from Vancouver who went against the grain of popular broadcast opinion. He was the first Canadian disc jockey in the 1950 s to play rock and roll music on a regular basis. In 1957, Red Robinson was chosen to MC the Elvis Presley concert at Empire Stadium in Vancouver and the Beattles concert in 1964. Red has received dozens of broadcasting and music awards recognizing a career that spans half a century.
Tickets for the ROCK AND ROLL WITH RED ROBINSON DANCE are available at the Mulberry Bush Bookstores in Parksville and Qualicum Beach or from Rotary Club members. They are $27.50 each.
(For more information contact: Sherv Shragge, (250) 752-6130)
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Professional Development Institute of Tourism
Parksville, BC Canada
250-248-2010
www.pdit.ca