CLUB SERVICE REPORT

Chairperson: Lianne Macdonald

Vocational:
RCSBS has applied to send local high school students to the Rotary Adventure in Citizenship event April 27th through 30th, 2008 in Ottawa, and also the 5020 Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly March 6th through 9th,2008, in Tacoma, WA. The Adventures in Citizenship scholarship provides a unique opportunity for a selected group of young Canadians to come together and gain a better understanding of our country. Through meetings with political leaders, senior officials, and others, they learn a great deal about the workings of our democratic institutions. Through meeting one another and having discussions amongst themselves, the students learn to appreciate the diversity of Canada and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. The Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly scholarship is a training program for young leaders. It emphasizes leadership, citizenship and personal growth and provides high school juniors and seniors with a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of top notch leaders, motivational speakers and leadership styles.

Youth Exchange and Youth Programs:

• Interact: Rick Patterson and the student assigned teacher Ann McLean continue to liaise with Interact Students. Their meetings are Mondays at 11:20 a.m. and all Rotarians are welcome to drop in any time. Members are encouraged to keep abreast of the workings of the Interact kids as they are our future Rotarians.
• Youth Protection and Youth Protection Officer: Our Club has adopted the Rotary District 5020 Youth Exchange Abuse and Harassment Guidelines. We have appointed a Rotary Youth Protection Officer - Judy Smith. In this role, Judy must ensure that those of us who have continued contact with youth sign a Youth Volunteer Affidavit and submit to a Criminal Records search prior to carrying out our volunteer duties. Additionally, Judy is trained to respond in the event a youth alleges that a Rotarian has been abusive, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate. At present, no Club members need to register with Judy, as our contact with youth is classified as 'casual' conduct only. These rules will come in to play if our Club elects to have a Rotary Exchange Student in the future.
  

Community Service:

• Water Spray Park Work: The Nutcracker committee is working hard to complete RCSBS's commitment to this fund raising concert for our water spray park. Things are going well. Nearly all sponsors are arranged and membership should watch for advertisements of the event and plan to attend with friends and family. The Water Spray Park Committee has been expanded and includes the following members: Lianne Macdonald, Marie Rosko, Peter Guerra, Don Bateman, Vic Swan, Noel Currie, Jim Scrivens, John Bardsley, Stuart Lang, Bruce Burns, Pat Bonser, John Treleaven, Ken Podmore, and Dave Douglas (don't think I've forgotten anyone). While we raise the last of our funds, the Committee is working hard to update our budget, review the applicable health regulations, determine the appropriate type of drainage, ascertain the operating costs, and determine a construction time line for the work.
• Reverse Draw - - Final Numbers. We made $19,001.46!!!!!!!!! Congratulations and thanks to all for your work.

World Community Service Projects:

• This new committee was formed just this month and is headed up by Bruce Burns and Don Bateman. It will continue to support Project Unity initiative and identify appropriate WCS activity for RCSBS. A budget will be identified for the Committee's good works and international projects for our Club will be identified. Funds from our upcoming social at Don Batemans will likely for the seed money for the works of this Committee.

Sad News - Allotment Garden
It is with some sadness that we must report that the Saanich Peninsula Allotment Garden Society has been dissolved. The Board of the society donated back to the Club all funds that they had in their possession (just over $700) before dissolving. Apparently, after their relationship with land owner Annie Scoons was terminated, they were unable to find a new location from which to operate. This should stand as a lesson for our Club that we should not expend significant capital amounts and efforts to improve the lands of private property owners, however well intentioned.