Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Dinner, Tuesday, February 23, 2010

While the Olympics combined with a hockey game are great temptations, we had a good crowd assemble for this evening’s dinner and guest speaker. Thank you all for attending.

We welcomed a delicious meal and tonight’s menu consisted of cream of chicken noodle soup, followed by an entrée of veal cutlet with potatoes au gratin, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans. A delightful dessert of chocolate mousse on graham cracker base was rounded off very nicely with tea or coffee for beverages.

In her announcements, Muriel advised that the Board of Directors has decided to help the food banks in the local community three times per year, at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our first donations of non-perishable items will be at the March 23, 2010 dinner. Please bring your items to the Justice Institute and they will be donated to the Food Bank at 6th Avenue United Church. Thank you for your tremendous offering at the Christmas 2009 luncheon; we look forward to similar donations throughout the year.

Lt.-Col. Doug M. Poitras, Commanding Officer, The Royal Westminster Regiment, was our guest speaker this evening. We are delighted that he could attend and after dinner adjourned to the Theatre to listen to his eloquent presentation (without notes), together with a PowerPoint slideshow.

Thank you so much for visiting and advising us primarily of the work you and your servicemen and women are doing in Afghanistan. It is good to see the efforts made by these wonderful people throughout the world, and especially in war-torn Afghanistan. It is hoped that the war will end but even then it could take another 20 years before the country can develop its infrastructure, social services, education, etc. and the teams of service people from allies around the world are working hard to achieve their goals and help this ravaged country.

We are so fortunate at the Canadian Club to have such exemplary guest speakers and Lt.-Col. Poitras has added his name to this list! We wish you and your Regiment the very best in your endeavours and thank you for your continuing service to New Westminster and Canada.

A reminder to the Board of Directors that the next meeting takes place on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Plaskett Room of the New Westminster Library.

Thanks for reading, and look forward to seeing you next month!

Best wishes,