The Gyro Club of Nanaimo was inaugurated on August 11, 1922. Today it has approximately 85 members.
When does the Nanaimo Gyro Club meet?
The Nanaimo Club meets Thursday nights from early September to the end of June, with the exception of Christmas holidays.
Where does the Nanaimo Club meet?
The Nanaimo Club meets at the Nanaimo Golf Club. Approximately once per quarter, the meeting is held at a local restaurant; these nights are Mystery Dinners.
What is the format of a “Regular” meeting?
The optional cocktail hour starts at 6:00pm; dinner is served at 7:00pm and the meeting usually starts at approximately 7:30pm. The meeting runs for approximately 30 minutes and concludes the formal part of the evening. Optional fun and games to follow.
What is the difference between “Regular” and “Business” meetings?
The second Thursday each month is a “business” meeting. A business meeting is no different than a regular meeting, with the exception that the minutes of the monthly executive meeting are read for information purposes and important items may be discussed and voted upon.
What is served for dinner?
A buffet style dinner is served. It consists of bread, several types of salads, sides and proteins. Coffee, tea and desserts are also served.
What is the cost of the meal?
The total cost per meeting is $25. This includes your meal, the facility fee, taxes and gratuities. This is to be paid to the Sergeant-at-Arms during the cocktail hour and is payable by cash or a cheque to the Gyro Club of Nanaimo. Alcoholic beverages may be purchased separately from bar which accepts cash and credit cards.
What is the cost to join and what are the annual dues?
Membership applications must be submitted to the Club Treasurer with a $90 application fee which represents your dues for the year you are installed. Annual dues for subsequent years are currently $275. Also, $50 of each year’s annual dues is put towards the Nanaimo Installation; if you attend the installation, your installation fee will be reduced by $50.
What is the difference between a: Member, Guest and “Probie”?
Member: A member in good standing has been installed into Club and paid their annual dues.
Guest: Current members are encouraged to bring a friend they feel may be a good fit for the Club. This allows guests to enjoy the Gyro experience to see if they would be interested in joining Gyro. The first visit for each guest is complimentary; the club covers the cost of their meal.
Probie: A probational member is a member who has submitted an application for membership, but has not yet been installed. Probational members are treated the same as a member, except without voting rights.
How to become a member – The Path to Membership
- Complete a membership application (attached) listing two members in good standing as sponsors. If you do not know two members, speak with the Club President.
- Submit membership application with the $90 application fee to the Club Treasurer.
- Attend 8 meetings as a “Probie”.
- Probational members who have attended 8 meetings are eligible to be installed in to the club.
- Pay your $275 membership fee for the upcoming year.
How and when are new members installed?
In the Nanaimo Club, new members are typicially installed twice per year:
- Each club has an installation weekend at which time the new club executive (board members) and new club members are sworn in. Members from all other Gyro clubs are invited to attend. Nanaimo’s installation is traditionally the second weekend in April. Installations are generally a Friday, Saturday and Sunday event with a formal-attire Gala evening on the Saturday night.
- The Hump Trip – Members of the Nanaimo Club assist the Port Alberni Club with the elections of their club’s incoming executive. We charter a bus for the evening and stop on the Port Alberni summit to install new members into the Nanaimo Club. The Hump Trip is on the second Thursday in May.
What is the dress code?
The dress code for weekly meetings is business casual defined as dress pants and a button-down shirt; ties and jackets are optional.
What is the expectation of attendance?
Gyro has no minimum required attendance. We are very flexible! Come as often as you enjoy and are able; Gyro is all about fun. Just because we meet weekly does not mean you need to attend weekly. We have some members who attend only once per month. We also have some snowbird members who are away for months at a time.
What level of commitment is expected?
You can have as much or as little involvement as you desire. Some members are interested in leadership or volunteer opportunities. These are strictly voluntary; there is no pressure whatsoever. Some members enjoy traveling to other club’s installations and partaking in the international friendship of the organization. This too is optional.
Aside from the weekly meetings, what are some optional events I could participate in? What about my wife or girlfriend?
The Nanaimo Club has a large variety of optional events that may be of interest; italicized events are mixed company:
- Nanaimo Club Installation
- Saturday Golf at the Nanaimo Golf Club
- Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner
- Hump Trip to Port Alberni
- Quarterly Mystery Dinners
- Ladies Golf (2-3 per year)
- Qualicum Bay Gyro Weekend
- Annual Summer Barbeque
- Summer Seafood Extravaganza
- Yorke Brimacombe Golf Tournament
- Fall Golf Tournament
- Founder’s Night
- Oktoberfest
- Gyro Hockey Pool
- Christmas Cocktail Party
- Ladies Christmas Dinner
- Men’s Christmas Dinner
- Children’s Christmas Party
- 3-day Ski Trip to Mt. Washington