As we head into August, we recognize Membership and New Club Development in Rotary. I congratulate all our current clubs in the District for total net growth of 14 members as of July 1 2017 over same time last year. New members add to our strength in delivering community and international service and bring new experience and ideas to our “service above self”. What’s even more exciting, in keeping with this month’s theme, is the chartering of our new Rotary Club of Vancouver Mountainview which adds another 25 members as projected. Our official number as of July 1 is 1,454 Rotarians in 49 clubs making up District 5040!

 

The new Vancouver Mountainview club, which will hold it Charter Night celebration October 28, is forming among a  group of mostly Filipino heritage members who have decided to give back to the community.  They plan to meet locals and get assimilated into their new community.  They already have two fund raisers on the go. 

 

On September 16th the club will receive proceeds from a concert by Denzel Austria, a local Filipino artist.  On October 14th they will receive some of the profits from the Ladner Rotary Club’s “Taste of the Philippines” fund-raiser. To find out more about the new club, you can contact their president, Karen Bastion, at karenjoy_1222@yahoo.com. In the meantime, mark your calendars for the Charter Night Dinner on Saturday October 28th. More details to follow.

 

 

The wildfire situation in July hit hard at the Cariboo communities in BC, several of which are within the bounds of District 5040 such as 100 Mile House and Williams Lake (others such as Ashcroft and Cache Creek are outside our District but also affected). More than 35,000 were evacuated at the peak of the situation. Rotarians (from both Districts 5040 and 5060) responded in many ways, volunteering in the communities where the evacuees were housed and providing many support services.

 

District 5040 has created the Rotary BC Wildfire Recovery Fund to assemble funding that can then be directed to recovery and rebuilding efforts through the local Rotary Clubs in the affected areas. Rebuild and recovery projects are where Rotary shines, and the Fund is now open and building. As projects are identified by the local Rotary clubs, funds will be available from this special fund to help with their community rebuild projects. Contributions (Rotary Clubs or individuals) can be made by mail to Rotary BC Wildfire Recovery Fund, c/o Rotary Club of Squamish Foundation, Box 391, Squamish, BC, V8B 0A3 or on line at www.canadahelps.org, search Rotary Club of Squamish Foundation, click donate now, select Wildfire Restoration Fund from menu and complete donation.

 

Our thanks to the Rotary Club of Squamish who helped by setting up the separated structure for the Wildfire Recovery Fund within their Squamish Rotary Foundation framework - thus allowing charitable receipts to be provided to donors and keeping the fund fully accountable.

 

Thanks also to an amazing piece of good work initiated through Assistant Governor Liz Scott of the Sea to Sky area of 5040 who secured a pallet load of toiletries donated by Hunter Amenities (who have supported Rotary before by donating to things such as the last District Conference community project). But that was only the start, as Liz received the pallet at her home, had the 79 individual boxes labelled "Rotary - Caring for our Communities" (thanks to Garibaldi Graphics), then got them to Bandstra Trucking in Richmond who delivered them no charge to Kamloops where they were distributed to evacuees in need. Now that is going above and beyond!

 

 

Rotary provides outstanding training to Rotarians - a real element of the value one gets by being a Rotarian. One of the best training programs over the years has been Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) and we are delighted that RLI is coming back to our District. While final details are still being made, watch for the first RLI One September 23, with RLI Two projected for October 28 and RLI Three for November 25 in the Metro Vancouver area. Outside the Metro area - don't despair, a brand new RLI Distance Learning offering is on the way. Watch www.rotary5040.org for confirmation of dates and opening of registration around mid August.

 

Thanks to a dedicated team of people for leading this initiative and now taking it forward - while many have been involved, the efforts have been led by DGE Darcy Long and PDG Penny Offer and their team, and now the program leadership is moving ahead with Dave Hamilton as the chair. Thanks also to the many others who have helped along the way.

 

 

Your District Governor is on the road in August as visits continue to the many Rotary clubs throughout our area. As I write this piece, Deb and I have visited the Rotary Clubs of Smithers, Prince George, Prince George Nechako, Mackenzie, and Prince George Yellowhead. Visiting the clubs is a true highlight of a year as Governor, as we meet so many engaged and excited Rotarians, hear about the work around the world and visit firsthand many local community projects.  Your governor is writing a week by week blog outlining the many Rotarians we are meeting and some of their projects - you can find that blog on www.rotary5040.org

 

We look forward to our visits to all 49 clubs and plan to have all first visits done by the end of November, 2017. If your club has a major event or fundraiser, please do let us know about it as we will plan to make as many of these as realistically possible through our term as Governor.

 

Thanks to all our amazing Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in District 5040.

 

Don Evans

Governor 2017 - 2018

Rotary District 5040