Dinner, Tuesday, May 24, 2011

We welcomed members and guests this evening to our last dinner before we take a break during the summer months. While sipping on orange juice, another excellent meal was awaiting us and we enjoyed California Mixed Green Salad followed by an entrée of Prunes and Cranberry Stuffed Pork Loin with creamy potatoes and mixed vegetables. Our dessert was a light carrot cake with vanilla butter cream and walnuts, and we completed the meal with tea or coffee.

At the head table our Guest Speaker was Allan De Genova, President of Honour House Society and he was introduced by Tim Armstrong, Fire Chief, New Westminster. Present also were Lee Reynolds, Vic Leach, Councillor Lorrie Williams, and Calvin Donnelly who thanked Allan for his presentation. Honourary Member Councillor Betty McIntosh and her husband Ken also joined us for the evening and we thank you all for attending.

Following dinner we assembled in the Theatre where Allan began his presentation with a DVD explaining Honour House and the many businesses and organizations giving voluntarily of their help. An enjoyable start to the presentation was Sarah McLachlan singing “Love Come” in praise of Honour House.

WHAT IS HONOUR HOUSE?

A place of refuge where families of First Responders

and Canadian Forces Personnel can reside free, while their

loved ones are treated for any number of conditions.

So often in the past, receiving treatment

has meant either huge costs incurred

or long periods of separation from

family for the injured member.

HONOUR HOUSE

Eliminates this stress,
adding to the quality of life and speedy recovery.

Honour House is an idea whose time has come.

I visited Honour House to see its current state and met Vic Wylie, Site Superintendent with Scott Construction Group who was very helpful in explaining the status and future plans for this wonderful concept. Vic advised that the house is about 100 years old and will be a fully disabled accessible facility. Honour House will offer ten bedrooms each with its own bathroom, a 4-storey elevator, a communal kitchen and dining area, plus a media center, library and quiet room. A children’s play area is planned for the property. They are working to have Honour House ready by the end of June 2011, and we look forward to seeing the hopes and dreams of this beautiful facility materialize in the coming months.  For your convenience, on the right of this page I have included links to the Honour House web site.

In concluding the meeting, Nick our President reminded the Directors of our next meeting, which will be held in the Auditorium of the New Westminster Library on Thursday evening, June 23rd at 7 p.m.  Calvin again led us in the singing of God Save the Queen.

Another reminder that the June Luncheon will be held at La Rustica Restaurant on 6th Street on Tuesday, June 14 at 11:30 a.m., and we hope that you can attend.

Thanks again and with best wishes,

Dinner, Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Members and guests alike joined us for dinner this evening and we thank you for attending.

Easy seeing that summer is on the way! We began with a healthy green salad and raspberry vinaigrette dressing, followed by chicken stuffed with cheese and spinach and smothered with a cream sauce of Dijon mustard and basil, accompanied by mixed vegetables. Dessert followed – a delightful maple cake with vanilla cream icing and caramel sauce; a wonderful start to the evening!

Our head table guests were Dr. John Blatherwick and his wife Dr. Carol Blatherwick, Councillor Bill Harper, and Dr. Irwin Stewart. Among other guests were Councillor Betty McIntosh and her husband Ken and we welcomed a returning guest, Linda.

Following dinner, we adjourned to the Theatre where Councillor Bill Harper introduced Dr. Blatherwick before we viewed Dr. Blatherwick’s informative PowerPoint presentation on service medals.  Interspersed were humorous anecdotes and puns, which added levity to the occasion!

Dr. Blatherwick has extensively researched service medals and we wonder how he found time to do this, as he is such busy man, having an outstanding career in health care, which had to be so time-consuming. His presentation was colourful, well thought out and very professional, and we thank him for advising us on the variety of medals that have been awarded to Canadians through the decades, certainly since 1967 when the Order of Canada was created. Dr. Irwin Stewart thanked him for his presentation, as did all members.

A note to the Directors that the next meeting will be Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at Earl’s home.

Please join us for the last dinner meeting before we break for the summer recess, on Tuesday, May 24, when Allan De Genova will speak to us on Honour House, in New Westminster – now that will surely be a meeting we will want to attend!

Thanks again for visiting and look forward to seeing you during May!

Best wishes,