October is Economic and Community Development Month
Fellow Rotarians:
Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. Rotarians promote economic and community development and reduce poverty in underserved communities through training, well-paying jobs, and access to financial management institutions. Projects range from providing people with equipment and materials to vocational training. Our members work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
Clubs throughout District 5040 contribute significantly to this work with the support of District and Global Grants. Projects like that of Richmond Sunrise, which is expanding and equipping a community health clinic in Ajijic Mexico. Or like the Rotarians at the Burnaby Club who will use their district grant to purchase doors and windows to complete the security of a school building in Bali Indonesia. With the aid of Global Grants, the Richmond Sunset Club will provide organic farming education and skills training to the mentally and physically impaired in Hsinchu County Taiwan and the New Westminster Club will train students in Uganda to repair and maintain hospital equipment. Further information on Grants is available on our website or give Garry Shearer (District) or Mary Watson (Global) a call.
Claire and I have done quite a bit of travelling since my last newsletter. We attended the Zone Conference in Providence Rhode Island and celebrated with DGE Lyn Stroshin, who graduated from the Governor Elect Training Program (GETS). We then visited clubs in the Pacific North West, the Lower Mainland and Powell River/Sunshine Coast. We have reached the half way mark in our club visits and thank everyone for their hospitality and enthusiastic welcome. We have seen some great Rotary projects like the Smithers ski trail and the Waterfront Park in Prince Rupert, met with the Interact students at Caledonia Secondary School in Terrace, enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner with the Kitimat Club and visited Willingdon Park unofficially dubbed Rotary Park the site of the planned outdoor fitness circuit and picnic shelter in Powell River.
October 24th is World Polio Day and we have a lot to celebrate. With the removal of Nigeria from the list of endemic countries we are even closer to that wonderful day when we can say polio is no more. During our visit to the Powell River Club, I spoke with a Nigerian doctor who has first hand experience with the polio virus in his country and he was eternally grateful for the work Rotary and it’s partners were doing to rid the world of this terrible disease. We are making a difference and with the help of the matching funds from the Canadian Government and the Gates Foundation, our money goes five times as far.
The Rotary Day of Dialogue is fast approaching. If you haven’t registered please do so as soon as possible as we need final numbers to prepare the materials and arrange lunch. The day is open to all Rotarians and if you have thoughts on what kind of district you would hope to see, this is the event for you.
Dialogue is shared inquiry, a way for people to think and reflect together. It provides the opportunity of listening to others and telling one’s own story “It challenges you to shift your attitudes about relationships with others, so that we gradually give up the effort to make them understand us and come to a greater understanding of ourselves and each other”. (Isaacs, 1999) The art of dialogue empowers people to learn with and from each other. Membership is still our greatest challenge and it will be front and centre on the dialogue agenda. We have RI and Zone leaders joining us on this and other topics and we want to hear your voice and your opinions on the issues facing Rotary, our district and your club. We urge you to join us and register on line through the district website.
Another opportunity to share ideas and inform others about what you are doing with district and global grants will occur at the District Conference in Whistler. On the Saturday morning we will hold a Poster Session where clubs and individual Rotarians are invited to speak to their projects. All the details are on the conference website at www.celebraterotary.ca If you haven’t visited the site lately, take a look at the exciting list of speakers and fun activities planned. We have over 140 people registered already and the rooms at the Chateau are going fast. Register now and if this is your first district conference let us know and we will be pleased to give you a $25 discount on your registration fee. Everyone who is anyone will be at the Whistler Conference April 28-May1. We would hate to see you miss out!
Many thanks to Penny Offer and her team of RLI instructors for ensuring that all is ready for the Rotary Leadership Institute on October 24th. RLI is a very good way to learn more about Rotary and what it offers us as Rotarians and those we serve. I ask that all clubs consider supporting new members to attend the next available session and ensure that all incoming Board members have at least RLI 1 under their belts.
A bigger and better Foundation Dinner will take place on Saturday January 30th thanks to the Tsawwassen Club and an intrepid multi club committee. Same venue and same Bollywood style – Mark the date and get out your print shirts, Nehru jackets and saris. Watch the web site for all the details.
In closing I want to acknowledge all that our Rotarians are doing for their communities and the world at large. We are a talented bunch and it is the willingness to share these talents, our time and our resources that makes Rotary tick. Thank you for being a Gift to the World. Be kind to each other and remember if you can’t laugh at yourself you may be missing the joke of the century!
Remember to take care of one another and Be a Gift to the World
All the best,
John
John l. Anderson
District Governor 2015-16
Rotary District 5040
Membership Matters
Membership Committee Chair, Tom Smith will have presented his new membership presentation and engaged membership survey to seven Clubs by the end of October and four more scheduled in November and two in December. Tom is working on a couple of northern trips for the new year. As of September 30th membership in the District is +13.
What is Rotary? It’s a leadership organization… we’re made up of local business, professional and civic leaders. We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships, and through that, we’re able to get things done in this community.
At the DAY OF DIALOGUE on Nov. 21 you will have the opportunity hear and meet RI staff member Brianne Haxton. Brianne is the Manager of Membership Resources and Support. She works closely with her team to develop Rotary membership publications, and provide membership resources and materials using webinars, email, web, and social media. Her team also collaborates to provide membership training materials and sessions at Convention, International Assembly, and club and district seminars. Brianne’s background is working with not-for-profit membership organizations.
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2015 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Location: Wosk Center for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings, Vancouver Cost: $95.00 per person, coffee, lunch all materials - Click here to register.
DG John Anderson and Conference Chair Rick Lewall have announced additional keynote speakers for conference 2016. Danielle Lallement will speak on bringing young professionals into Rotary. Steve Mason Steve has worked for the Aga Khan Foundation for over eleven years. Poster Session: If you have a project worth sharing consider participating in the Poster Session at District 5040 Conference 2016. The poster session is on Saturday morning and is 75 minutes long. Visit the Conference website for a full list of speakers. www.CelebrateRotary.caMore info
Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. Rotarians promote economic and community development and reduce poverty in underserved communities through training, well-paying jobs, and access to financial management institutions. Projects range from providing people with equipment and materials to vocational training. Our members work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
Clubs throughout District 5040 contribute significantly to this work with the support of District and Global Grants. Projects like that of Richmond Sunrise, which is expanding and equipping a community health clinic in Ajijic Mexico. Or like the Rotarians at the Burnaby Club who will use their district grant to purchase doors and windows to complete the security of a school building in Bali Indonesia. With the aid of Global Grants, the Richmond Sunset Club will provide organic farming education and skills training to the mentally and physically impaired in Hsinchu County Taiwan and the New Westminster Club will train students in Uganda to repair and maintain hospital equipment. Further information on Grants is available on our website or give Garry Shearer (District) or Mary Watson (Global) a call.
Claire and I have done quite a bit of travelling since my last newsletter. We attended the Zone Conference in Providence Rhode Island and celebrated with DGE Lyn Stroshin, who graduated from the Governor Elect Training Program (GETS). We then visited clubs in the Pacific North West, the Lower Mainland and Powell River/Sunshine Coast. We have reached the half way mark in our club visits and thank everyone for their 
hospitality and enthusiastic welcome. We have seen some great Rotary projects like the Smithers ski trail and the Waterfront Park in Prince Rupert, met with the Interact students at Caledonia Secondary School in Terrace, enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner with the Kitimat Club and visited Willingdon Park unofficially dubbed Rotary Park the site of the planned outdoor fitness circuit and picnic shelter in Powell River.
October 24th is World Polio Day and we have a lot to celebrate. With the removal of Nigeria from the list of endemic countries we are even closer to that wonderful day when we can say polio is no more. During our visit to the Powell River Club, I spoke with a Nigerian doctor who has first hand experience with the polio virus in his country and he was eternally grateful for the work Rotary and it’s partners were doing to rid the world of this terrible disease. We are making a difference and with the help of the matching funds from the Canadian Government and the Gates Foundation, our money goes five times as far. 
The Rotary Day of Dialogue is fast approaching. If you haven’t registered please do so as soon as possible as we need final numbers to prepare the materials and arrange lunch. The day is open to all Rotarians and if you have thoughts on what kind of district you would hope to see, this is the event for you.
Membership is still our greatest challenge and it will be front and centre on the dialogue agenda. We have RI and Zone leaders joining us on this and other topics and we want to hear your voice and your opinions on the issues facing Rotary, our district and your club. We urge you to join us and register on line through the district website.
a Poster Session where clubs and individual Rotarians are invited to speak to their projects. All the details are on the conference website at 
Many thanks to Penny Offer and her team of RLI instructors for ensuring that all is ready for the Rotary Leadership Institute on October 24th. RLI is a very good way to learn more about Rotary and what it offers us as Rotarians and those we serve. I ask that all clubs consider supporting new members to attend the next available session and ensure that all incoming Board members have at least RLI 1 under their belts.
In closing I want to acknowledge all that our Rotarians are doing for their communities and the world at large. We are a talented bunch and it is the willingness to share these talents, our time and our resources that makes Rotary tick. Thank you for being a Gift to the World. Be kind to each other and remember if you can’t laugh at yourself you may be missing the joke of the century!
