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"Reach Out"

PERSONAL

Don was born in Vancouver in 1923, son of Daniel K. McKenzie, prominent in sports and politics, Who was presented the first annual Optimist Award for outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of, and interest shown in, the youth of New Westminster. Don attended both primary and secondary schools in New Westminster. Before enlisting in the R.C.N.V.R. in 1942 he had worked with his father in operating a general store and gas station. His service with the Navy was on coastal patrols on the West Coast. He and his wife, Fran, have one son, Danny, and two daughters, Donna and Chyrele.

On his return from service he again joined his father's firm, McKenzie and Fraser, Ltd., the oldest family business in New Westminster. He became President of the firm in 1950 on the death of his father. Since then he has enlarged the facilities of the business in keeping with the growth of the business, and in 1969 was named "Tobacco Man of the Year" by the National Association of Tobacco and Confectionary Distributors of Canada. He is a Past President of that association and is still active on its Board of Governors.

He is Past President of the United Good Neighbors of New Westminster; Past Director of the Chamber of Commerce; member of the Westminster Club, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Royal City Yacht Club, Vancouver Golf Club, the Fraser Canadian Club and the United Church. It is almost unnecessary to state that his recreations include boating, fishing, photography and travel.

LIFE WITH ROTARY

Don joined the Rotary Club of New Westminster in 1956. He has been active on all major committees in that club and was President 1961-62. Until he was Governor he was also active in District 504 affairs.

HIS GOVERNOR YEAR

In his year as Governor he stressed the advantage of good attendance at Rotary meetings, and of filling open classifications on club rosters. He was delighted with the overall growth in the district during his year with a net gain of 134 members. Two new clubs; Burnaby East and Houston were chartered.

Another highlight of his year was the district's successful World Community Service Program in which we were matched with District 386 in the Southern Philippines. To provide basic needs for pure water and decent sanitation in several urban and rural areas of the Philippine District our clubs, under the chairmanship of Cece Wakely, raised the needed money to secure a Canadian International Development Agency (C.I.D.A.) grant so that $100,000 was sent to District 386 which distributed the funds to clubs there which had sponsored projects. The participation of the Philippine Rotarians in these projects, and their completion, was heartening to all in District 504 who were involved.

Rotary Club of New Westminster