The pleasure of our travels through our beautiful province was magnified with fabulous Fall weather. We have put on thousands of km on the truck/camper. September’s visits included the Rotary clubs of Burnaby Metrotown, West Van Sunrise, Burnaby, the two Powell River clubs and then all the clubs in the North West: Terrace, Terrace Skeena Valley, Kitimat, Smithers and Prince Rupert. For a change of scenery on our return trip we took the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. To find out the interesting aspects of these visits please visit my blog. We also have had very interesting tours of some of the communities. This gives you an insight into the town and how the Rotarian projects are answering the needs of that particular place.
I would like to thank the AG’s who accompanied Alex and I on these visits. These dedicated Rotarians deserve medals for the amount of effort, time and commitment that they put into these visits. They confirm the visit date and time and coordinate the Leadership meetings of the club’s executive. The results being that the club can be showcased to the DG as well as making the DG look good! One AG drove us hundreds of kilometers to the various clubs in the North West. You have no idea how much I as well as my “chauffeur/ Go’fer” husband appreciated this gesture, especially after all the driving that he has done recently. Another AG has to take two ferries to do his territory. One AG presented me with beautiful manuals containing data on her clubs. I was fed dinner and given a bed when I showed up late at another AG’s house. The generosity and hospitality of everyone has been so appreciated.
Besides the visits we, along with RI Director Dean Rohrs were invited to the 50th Anniversary of the Squamish Rotary club. We attended a ground breaking ceremony at the Burnaby Foreshore Park with the mayor of Burnaby and other officials. In Williams Lake we attended the 25th Anniversary/Foundation dinner celebration of the Williams Lake Daybreak club. We attended the Inbound Orientation at Gavin Lake for our new exchange students. What a great group of students we have this year. They did a service project in the pouring rain and they were still grinning from ear to ear!
We, along with the Governor team and many PDG’s attended the Zone 24/32 Institute in Winnipeg at the end of September. We in district 5040 belong to zone 24 which includes the Rotary districts in parts of Bermuda, Canada, France and the United States.
The theme set by RI Director Dean Rohrs was “ Rotary Rohrs for Human Rights”. It was an educational and inspiring program of amazing speakers, break out sessions, networking, peace scholars and governor education. DGE Don Evans was presented with his certificate of completion of governor training. PDG John Anderson accepted the award for our district as the highest contributor to Polio Plus for Zone 24 in the Rotary year, 2015-16. One of the functions was held at the stimulating and provocative Museum of Human Rights where we heard Dr. Oscar Arias, a Nobel Peace Laureate speak. This museum is a must see for every Canadian. One of the most emotional and inspiring moments of the conference was when my friend and fellow DG Vern Nielsen addressed the audience, surrounded by his fellow DG’s for support. Vern was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April but is still assuming his DG duties.(photo from Facebook here)
New Website Updates
Speaker Directory: We would like to have a speaker list on our new website. If you have heard of someone or had a good speaker at your Rotary club please tell us about it. Contact Murray Wood at murrwood@gmail.com.
Welcome to Rotary: We would all like to extend a very warm welcome to our new members inducted into our Rotary family. We are starting a new item on the website which will introduce our new members and provide a little information about them. New members will also receive a small reduction in the district conference fee in an attempt to provide a greater awareness of our district and Rotary.
District Conference
The district conference is ramping up. The conference has two new co chairs. As the theme of the conference is Generations Serving Humanity not only does the conference program but also the selection of the conference chairs reflect this theme. One chair is Marg Pallot an experienced Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Whistler. Marg’s co chair is Maya Christensen. Maya is a Whistler Interactor.
The conference program is almost nailed down. Be prepared to laugh and to cry with our conference speakers. They will inform, educate, entertain and touch your heart. We are putting a local spin on the conference with home hosting on Friday evening. The conference will showcase how our clubs are serving humanity and how we as Rotarians through this sharing of knowledge and experience can learn from each other. Go to www.celebraterotary.org to get the latest updates.
Foundation:
RI President John Germ would like to see every Rotary club contribute $2,650.00 to the Foundation this year to fight polio.
Please remember to sign up for the Regional Foundation Seminar in Vancouver on October 22nd. (detail link)
How is your club going to celebrate World Polio Day on October 24th? For events and ideas visit www.endpolio.org.
I am inspired by the passion and commitment of all our Rotary members, all united in the desire to change lives. Whichever club that Alex and I visit we see the perseverance, integrity, compassion and generosity of spirit that makes Rotary the finest membership organization in the world.
Both Alex and I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving spent with family and friends.
With warm Rotary regards,
DG Lyn
World Polio Day - October 24
Mark your calendar to tune in for Rotary's World Polio Day update on October 24th. The event will be broadcast live at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. Featured speakers include CDC Director Tom Frieden, RI President John F, Germ, polia survivor and Paralympian Dennis Ogbe, and more. Watch the event at www.endpolio.org and use the resources below to get involved.
Membership Matters Organizers are you interested in making your booth look really professional?
Members of the Rotary Club of Kitimat wanted to go to that next level too and were looking to showcase Rotary with pizzazz.. Based on a suggestion from Tom Smith, District Membership Chair, members of the Rotary Club of Kitimat borrowed a new display. Read more ...
Those of you who follow DG Lyn's travels will know that she recently attended the 2016 Winnipeg Zone Institute. The theme of the institute was Rotary Rohrs for Human Rights. The special guest was Dr. Oscar Arias, recipient of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize. There were many very special speakers including Rotary International President John Germ, Mpho Tutu (daughter of Desmond Tutu).
The Rotary Club of Burnaby recently recognized 5 members for long and distinguished service above self. Talk about a group that's been there and done that. We congratulate the Rotary Club of Burnaby's newest Honorary members.
District 5040 was honoured by RI President John Germ for being the District with the largest contribution to Polio Plus in the 2015-16 Rotary year. PDG John Anderson accepted the award on behalf of our District at the Zone Institute in Winnipeg.
For more information about Rotary's campaign to eradicate polio forever, please click HERE.
Each year in District 5040, RI Policy requires we choose a Rotarian to serve as District Governor approx. 2.5 years from now (Rotary Year 2019-20). The President of any Club in the District may submit the name of one of its members for consideration by the District Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee in District 5040 is made up of the District Governor Elect, the District Governor Nominee, the two immediate Past District Governors and one Assistant Governor who is a member of a club in District 5040. This year’s Committee is chaired by Immediate Past District Governor John Anderson.
Vern Nielsen sits in a chair in Kelowna, British Columbia attached to a tube. A cocktail of chemicals winds its way through the tube and into Vern’s veins. This cocktail is just one of three such treatments that Vern must take every two weeks. The chemicals are searching out a particularly aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. The survival rate for this disease is about 2% within 12 months. Vern is in month five.
I didn’t hear about Vern in a medical journal. He wasn’t on the nightly news. His picture is not on my Facebook feed. Vern was standing in front of my Rotary club. As a district governor, Vern has spent the last two years preparing to motivate and guide the 60 clubs in Rotary District 5060, which covers parts of Washington State and British Columbia. Some might have thought he wasted those two years of preparing.
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.
Rotarians mark your calendars! The 2017 District 5040 is scheduled for May 4 - 7, 2017 in Whistler! The theme for the conference is Generations Serving Humanity. This is your chance to find out much more about Rotary and how it makes a huge impact beyond our local community. Each year members from our Club attend the District conference and they find it's a very worthwhile experience.
Much more information including the program and activities may be found on the conference web site. Since the program will evolve we recommend that you check the site frequently for the latest information.
On September 8th, the Rotary Club of Squamish celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner at the Squamish Valley Golf Club. Our special guests were RI Director Dean Rohrs and Rhino, District Governor Lyn Stroshin and Alex, District Governor-elect Don Evans, MLA Jordan Sturdy, and Mayor Patricia Heintzman.
The Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise celebrated the 100th Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation and the key role the Philippines played in eradicating the disease, at a dinner on September 1, in Richmond. A recent article in the Richmond News newspaper announced the event.
Oct 14 Vancouver Arbutus
Oct 15 100 Mile 40th Anniversary
Oct 18 Burns Lake
Oct 21 RIPE Dinner
Oct 22 Zone 24 Foundation Seminar
Oct 24 North Vancouver
Oct 25 Vancouver Cambie
Oct 28 North Van Lions Gate
Nov 1 Vancouver
Nov 3 New Westminster
The pleasure of our travels through our beautiful province was magnified with fabulous Fall weather. We have put on thousands of km on the truck/camper. September’s visits included the Rotary clubs of Burnaby Metrotown, West Van Sunrise, Burnaby, the two Powell River clubs and then all the clubs in the North West: Terrace, Terrace Skeena Valley, Kitimat, Smithers and Prince Rupert. For a change of scenery on our return trip we took the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. To find out the interesting aspects of these visits please visit my blog. We also have had very interesting tours of some of the communities. This gives you an insight into the town and how the Rotarian projects are answering the needs of that particular place.
I would like to thank the AG’s who accompanied Alex and I on these visits. These dedicated Rotarians deserve medals for the amount of effort, time and commitment that they put into these visits. They confirm the visit date and time and coordinate the Leadership meetings of the club’s executive. The results being that the club can be showcased to the DG as well as making the DG look good! One AG drove us hundreds of kilometers to the various clubs in the North West. You have no idea how much I as well as my “chauffeur/ Go’fer” husband appreciated this gesture, especially after all the driving that he has done recently. Another AG has to take two ferries to do his territory. One AG presented me with beautiful manuals containing data on her clubs. I was fed dinner and given a bed when I showed up late at another AG’s house. The generosity and hospitality of everyone has been so appreciated.
Besides the visits we, along with RI Director Dean Rohrs were invited to the 50th Anniversary of the Squamish Rotary club. We attended a ground breaking ceremony at the Burnaby Foreshore Park with the mayor of Burnaby and other officials. In Williams Lake we attended the 25th Anniversary/Foundation dinner celebration of the Williams Lake Daybreak club. We attended the Inbound Orientation at Gavin Lake for our new exchange students. What a great group of students we have this year. They did a service project in the pouring rain and they were still grinning from ear to ear!
We, along with the Governor team and many PDG’s attended the Zone 24/32 Institute in Winnipeg at the end of September. We in district 5040 belong to zone 24 which includes the Rotary districts in parts of Bermuda, Canada, France and the United States.
certificate of completion of governor training. PDG John Anderson accepted the award for our district as the highest contributor to Polio Plus for Zone 24 in the Rotary year, 2015-16. One of the functions was held at the stimulating and provocative Museum of Human Rights where we heard Dr. Oscar Arias, a Nobel Peace Laureate speak. This museum is a must see for 
every Canadian. One of the most emotional and inspiring moments of the conference was when my friend and fellow DG Vern Nielsen addressed the audience, surrounded by his fellow DG’s for support. Vern was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April but is still assuming his DG duties.(photo from Facebook here)
Welcome to Rotary: We would all like to extend a very warm welcome to our new members inducted into our Rotary family. We are starting a new item on the website which will introduce our new members and provide a little information about them. New members will also receive a small reduction in the district conference fee in an attempt to provide a greater awareness of our district and Rotary.
The district conference is ramping up. The conference has two new co chairs. As the theme of the conference is Generations Serving Humanity not only does the conference program but also the selection of the conference chairs reflect this theme. One chair is Marg Pallot an experienced Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Whistler. Marg’s co chair is Maya Christensen. Maya is a Whistler Interactor.
The conference program is almost nailed down. Be prepared to laugh and to cry with our conference speakers. They will inform, educate, entertain and touch your heart. We are putting a local spin on the conference with home hosting on Friday evening. The conference will showcase how our clubs are serving humanity and how we as Rotarians through this sharing of knowledge and experience can learn from each other. Go to 
RI President John Germ would like to see every Rotary club contribute $2,650.00 to the Foundation this year to fight polio.
I am inspired by the passion and commitment of all our Rotary members, all united in the desire to change lives. Whichever club that Alex and I visit we see the perseverance, integrity, compassion and generosity of spirit that makes Rotary the finest membership organization in the world.
Organizers are you interested in making your booth look really professional?
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