Rotarian of the Month - August

In the words of club President Murray Wood...

For August I would like to nominate Bernie Lalor-Morton of the Rotary Club of Whistler.  She has had a very active month:

She is the Chair of our Avenues of Service Committee. This is a new committee for us.  Following the sudden departure of one of our members Bernie found a new person for Vocational Service.  She has worked with the new person, Marg Pallot, to make all the arrangements for the Rotaractors visit scheduled for Aug 29/30.

With Doug Mildenberger, Bernie volunteered to run our Corn Roast scheduled for the Labor Day weekend. The Corn Roast is a fund raiser where our club sells fresh corn on the cob to people on Whistler's village stroll.  This is an important event for us. It makes some money and showcases our club to the community.  It's also a good fellowship event. Bernie and Doug have taken over from other members and have been hard at work to make sure the event is a success.

As you know our long time Treasurer, Doug Deeks, passed away in earlier this month. On short notice Bernie volunteered to be the "point person" or coordinator during a gathering of friends for Doug.  Although not a Rotary event, Doug was a very prominent Rotarian and member of the community.  Many Rotarians and community members were present at the event. We were very grateful for Bernie's assistance. 

Other club nominations

Peter Jando – Rotary Club of Vancouver South – Nominated by Club President Dianna Smith

Peter is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Vancouver South, and has worked diligently with Vancouver Quadra, Vancouver Yale Town, and the Parent Advisory Committee at Tillicum Elementary School on the playground project.  Peter has coordinated and convened meetings coordinated fundraising projects and generally provided the enthusiasm and commitment to ensure this project was on track and funds were in place.

The playground project has taken on a new vision since it’s' conception. The goal still remains to raise $70,000.  To date the joint committee has been able to raise $41,000 in one year.  Phase I, $20,000 donation from the Port of Vancouver to prepare the new site and move the current playground to that site, Phase II, $20,000 (from the Partners and District Grant), these dollars will be used to purchase an Intermediate Playground on the new site.  Phase III is to be the fundraising for the final piece of equipment a climbing sphere.  This will be fundraised this coming year. 

Since the playground has been divided into three distinct areas, we are able to start with Phase 1 and 2 in October of this year. 

The joint committee has come a long way in one year under the leadership of Peter Jando.  It is with great sadness for our Club and the Joint Committee that Peter has accepted and new job and position in Victoria and has moved his family to Victoria.  His leadership and Vision will be missed by all.    

Eleanor Kendell – Rotary club of Kitimat – Nominated by Club President Margaret Warcup

I nominate Eleanor Kendell for Rotarian of the month for September for all her work leading us in Kitimat to being a peace community and for organizing the celebration of International peace day on September 21^st

Kim Miller – Rotary club of Powell River – Nominated by Club President Gerard Nachtegaele

Gerard writes;

Kim has work diligently over the summer on the Fund Raising Committee as well as helping out at many of the other activities the morning club has worked on over the last year.  In July, Kim spear headed the Sea Fair Bingo, spending three days at the bingo.  This one event netted the club upwards of $3,000.00 as well as providing good club fellowship and exposure to the community of Powell River.  Kim continues to work tirelessly in our community with her quick smile and pleasant demeanour.

Don Burkett – Rotary Club of Ladner – Nominated by Club President Ray Moschuk

Ray writes;

I nominated Don Burkett of our club for his work on Spartina eradication.

Don Burkett and several other members have been out in Boundary Bay armed with shovels in an attempt to eradicate Spartina anglica from the area.  Burkett and his team of 15 or so volunteers are out two to four times a week digging up Spartina; he is always looking for more willing volunteers.

The weed, a species of cord grass, was introduced in the British Isles as a means of erosion control. It's considered noxious because it is so pervasive and as it spreads it has the ability to take over native plants and smother natural eco-systems, such as the inter-tidal area in Boundary Bay.

The plant's dense root system binds the soil and the tall grass increases silt deposits, making it effective in erosion control, however, as the weed takes over an area it prevents birds and other natural species from feeding.

Essentially it has the potential to convert a wetland into a dry land and make the area inhospitable to salmon and other invertebrate.  The noxious weed is monitored by Delta staff and the B.C. Spartina Working Group, a consortium of conservation organizations and government agencies that now includes the Ladner Rotary Club.

Spartina plants are identified, flagged and then removed by volunteers or staff.  Despite efforts to remove as many plants as possible, the weed is spreading, said Burkett.

Last year, around 2000 plants were identified and removed. This year, 9,600 plants have been flagged. Burkett said the total number of Spartina plants in the area is probably closer to 15,000 as more are discovered during the removal process.

 
For all you do for Rotary and the good of your communities....thankyou