eNewsletter
August 2016

Foundation Centennial

As you all know this is the year of the Centennial of the Rotary Foundation.  In 1917 Arch Klumph proposed an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world”. The Rotary Foundation today is one of the largest and in my opinion the best humanitarian organization in the world. From its humble beginnings of $26.50 the TRF now has a billion in assets which is an incredible testament to the generosity of Rotarians worldwide. Over the past century the Rotary Foundation has provided three billion dollars in global and district grants to save and transform lives. The Centennial provides a wonderful opportunity to remind all Rotarians as well as the rest of the world about our foundation’s rich history of humanitarian work. Illustrious people like Ban Ki Moon and Bill Gates know the power of Rotary and our Foundation. Hopefully your Centennial celebrations will involve your entire community so that you can showcase not only the eradication of polio but also the many ways that we are fighting other devastating diseases, providing cleaner and safer drinking water, helping local economies grow, spreading education by promoting literacy and educating scholars to create world peace in our world. So what is the best way to tell your community about the Foundation’s track record of “doing good in the world”. Plan a Rotary Day focused on the Foundation. Sponsor a centennial walk, run or bike race. Organize a drive to collect 100 items related to Rotary’s areas of focus ie books, water treatment kits, first aid kits etc. and donate them to a local organization at a centennial event. Each newsletter we will be discussing different ideas on how to celebrate the Centennial in your club and your community.

 
Rotarian Dave Dickson (Rotary Club of Williams Lake) has agreed to take on the position of Centennial Chair. You will be hearing from Dave!
 
We are extremely honoured to have Rotary International President Elect Ian Riseley come to our district in October. RIPE Ian as well as RI Director Dean Rohrs will travel to Prince George, see various Rotary projects and cultural aspects of Prince George and on Thursday, October 20th RIPE Ian Riseley will address a joint Rotary meeting at lunch. We are hoping that Rotarians in the north of our district will save this date and take advantage of this great opportunity. On Saturday, October 22nd RIPE Ian will address Rotarians again in Vancouver at a regional Foundation seminar. There will also be a dinner on Saturday evening. To get more information and to register for these events
 
Congratulations to the Vancouver Sunrise Club and their partner club the Tokyo Ebisu Rotary Club/District The Rotary Foundation has approved  their global grant application to provide a scholarship to Saori Ogura who will be studying for a PhD in Forestry  at UBC. The award is in the amount of USD $30,000.
 
In August we welcomed our exchange students into our district. Eleven lucky students participated in the Tweedsmuir Trek organized by the Burns Lake Rotary Club.
 
Our District has appointed Bala Naidoo to Chair the recently launched Rotary Global Rewards RI pilot initiative. This is not a traditional rewards/ affinity program but an automatic privilege for all Rotarians and Rotaractors that sign into your “My Rotary” account. RI has created this program to provide you and our Foundation with benefits in your home town or globally. You also have the ability to sign up your own or a third party business in your community as a service provider within the program to benefit our members.
Your AG and/or Bala Naidoo would love to visit your club to share more details about this exciting program as we expand and evolve our offering over the next few years!
 
I am almost a third of the way through the 48 club visits in the district and have found the visits to be the highlight of the year. I will go into detail of these visits on the Governor’s blog which will be posted on the new website. We started out with the Rotary Club of Mackenzie, we did the three Prince George clubs – Yellowhead, Prince George and Nechako, then down to Quesnel. Meanwhile we took a road trip to Terrace to take part in Ryla Lakelse for young teenagers (12-15yrs.) The next batch of club visits was on the Sunshine Coast – Sechelt, Sunshine Coast – Sechelt, Gibson’s and finished off with Pender Harbour Madiera Park. We then did the two Whistler clubs. We climbed back into the truck and camper and went up to the Rebound youth exchange weekend at Gavin Lake and then onto club visits in the Cariboo area – Williams Lake Daybreak and Williams Lake as well as 100 Mile. We then drove to Burns Lake where we participated on the fabulous Tweedsmuir Trek in the stunning wilderness of Tweedsmuir Park. We ended with a dinner with the Burns Lake club and then back down to Vancouver to the welcome dinner for the PACE Rotaractors. Then another dinner for the PACE Rotaractors held in Whistler and on Sept 1 a dinner in Richmond to welcome the Philippine Ambassador.
 
I continue to be amazed, although I guess by now I should not be, at what Rotary clubs contribute to their community and to our world. Surprisingly the size of the club really does not seem to matter as to the scope of projects and the creativity of each club. Each club is so unique because they are addressing the unique needs of their community. Their stories are heartwarming and inspirational. With each visit I am more and more proud and thankful to be a Rotarian. For this reason I urge each club to participate in the Club of the Week feature. This way all Rotarians in d. 5040 can become aware of what is happening in other clubs in our district.
 
Membership will be featured in each newsletter because it is a vital element to our survival, so that we can continue to “do good in the world”. There will also be a new section on the website which will welcome new Rotary members into our district. I have inducted around ten new members already  into Rotary this year.
 
Our website will soon have a new look. Please welcome Murray Woods ( Rotary Club of Whistler) who will join Keith Dinwoodie ( Rotary Club of Tsawwassen) as our webmasters. Thank you to the Public Relations/Public Image committee led by Peter Roaf (Rotary Club of Ladner ) for their efforts to keep you informed about your district. Working as a TEAM is a major theme this year. Thus each month a few District committees will be showcased so that you can become more aware of what is happening in your district.
 
There is currently no printed directory because the directory at the moment is a moving target. Many clubs with the freedom given to them by the COL ( Council of Legislation) are experimenting with different club times and locations. This is wonderful! Change is happening. Please make sure however that those changes are noted on your club websites so that all Rotarians (including me) know where and when to find you!
 
FYI  for anyone travelling to New York in November.
Rotary-United Nations Day in New York City on Saturday, November 12, 2016.  In addition, on Friday, November 11th, Canadians can participate in a special Canada Session, hosted by the Canadian UN Ambassador.
 
The Saturday meeting starts at 8am (registration) at UN Headquarters and will include presentations and panel discussions addressing key humanitarian issues of concern to both the UN and Rotary.  Enjoy featured presentations from senior UN staff, affiliated NGO’s and Rotary leaders, with panel discussions on our mutual goal of achieving peace. RI President John Germ will participate.
 
A separate Young Leaders program is planned and available only to Ambassadorial & Peace Scholars, Rotaract Club Members and select Interact Club members.  Be sure to encourage these individuals who may have an interest in global affairs. Note: The regular Youth Program is a separate registration at: riunday.org/registration.
 
Rotarians and Young Leaders can register at RotaryUNDay2016.eventbrite.com. I suggest you do this asap, since numbers are limited.  Cost is: Rotarian US$65 and Youth US$50, including a box lunch. Note: UN tours are not available on Saturday, so those interested in this should do so on Friday morning.  To reserve a guided tour Click Here
 
Thank you for serving Humanity because every day that you serve as a Rotarian you ARE changing lives. So at the end of this month dedicated to membership please remember that we need more willing hands, creative minds and caring hearts to do our Rotary work. Thank you for being you!
 
With warm Rotary regards,

DG Lyn

Focus on Membership

Over the years each Rotary club has interacted with (touched) a number of people who are not Rotarians.  It may have been Friendship exchange, GSE teams, Exchange students, Ambassadorial scholars, Adventures programs in our district, RYLA, or any of the other programs available for local community members through your club.  Somehow we lose touch with those people over time.  They are all potential Rotarians or Rotaractors or some other Rotary group.  But we can only bring them back into the Rotary family if we know who they are and how to connect with them.  Please think about your own club and it’s past “touches”.  Pass those names and addresses on to your District Alumni Committee by emailing jhansen@portal.ca so that we can connect with them, and educate them about Rotary today and how they can give back. Let's welcome these Alumni back to the family of Rotary.  
 
Joan Hansen
jhansen@portal.ca
D5040 Alumni Committee

Membership Matters

“Three Magic Questions” contest.  Every new member who sends the answers to the Three Magic Questions to Tom will get their name in the hat for a draw on September 30th for $100 in Rotary gear courtesy of CRS Marketing.  The Three Magic Questions are: 
 
  1. Why did you join Rotary?
  2. What excites you about Rotary?
  3. How did Rotary find you? 
We will learn why people join Rotary and do more of whatever we learn.
 
Tom did Membership Matters presentations to Powell River Sunrise, Sechelt, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Sunrise in August.
 
The District display was at the Burnaby club’s booth at the Korean Festival at Swangard Stadium.  Don’t be disappointed, book your date now.
 
If you have questions for Tom please contact him at tom@tascosales.ca.

News

END POLIO NOW
 
Help Rotary to eradicate Polio from the world forever.
 

Ralph Towsley presented with first "Ralphie" award

Ralph Towsley, a member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver, was presented with the first "Ralphie" award at the recent Rotary World Help annual general meeting.
Ralph was one of the three Rotarians to start shipping containers to developing countries which led to the formation in 1997 of the Rotary Clubs of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia World Help Network, operating as Rotary World Help (RWH).  Read more...


Conference 2017

DIRECTIONS:  Add 400 Rotarians & partners, add a hefty dollop of Rotaractors, Interactors, RYLA & YE students, stir in energetically sensational keynote speakers, blend in rousing entrainment, finally a hefty measure of fun. Mix vigorously and enjoy. For conference 2017 registration and details go to www.CelebrateRotary.ca .
 

The future of The Rotary Foundation

You are invited to a Regional Rotary Foundation seminar at the Wosk Centre in Vancouver. With RI President Elect Ian Riseley as the keynote speaker.  This is not an ordinary seminar. It is interactive using the unique resources at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue.  You will fully participate. Read more...


Day of Dialogue to be replaced by the President-Elect’s Foundation Seminar

In October our District is honoured to welcome Rotary International President-Elect Ian Risely to British Columbia. RIPE Ian will attend meetings with Rotarians in Prince George and preside over a Regional Foundation Seminar at the Wosk Centre in Vancouver on October 22nd. Registration details on both of these events will be out shortly.
 
Due to the timing of the president-elect's seminars and the Rotary Day of Dialogue, and some overlap of content material, we have decided to cancel this year’s event planned for November 19th at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue. We recognize there are only so many events members can attend and we hope as many Rotarians as possible will have the opportunity to meet next year’s President during his visit to our District.
We hope to see you all at the meetings in October.
DG Lyn Stroshin and PDG John Anderson

Featured Video

Take action to support education during Rotary Literacy Month

During September, Rotary Basic Education and Literacy Month, access tips and resources to help with club and district literacy projects. Click for more information.

2017 D5040 Conference
May 4-7, 2017

DG Visits

Sep 6 - Burnaby Metrotown
Sep 8 - West Van Sunrise
Sep 9 - Burnaby
Sep 13 - Powell River Sunrise
Sep 14 - Powell River
Sep 16-17 - YEX Inbound
Sep 19 - Terrace
Sep 20 - Kitimat
Sep 21 - Terrace Skeena Valley
Sep 21 - Smithers
Sep 22 - Prince Rupert
Sept 29 - Oct 2 - Zone Institute
Oct 4 - Steveston
Oct 5 - Richmond Sunset
Oct 6 - Tsawwassen
Full Calendar

Events

RI Features

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