District Newsletter - September 2018 (Sep 01, 2018)

Education & Literacy

September is here and with that summer will become fall and school is back in. Our focus this month is Education and Literacy so that is very fitting. Also fitting is the Vocational Training Team is focusing on Education. Watch your INBOX for information and updates coming from both PDG Don Evans, Chair of the committee and PDG John Anderson as the teacher selection will be done this month.

The District Training committee has been busy as well. Bringing educational sessions to Prince George and the Lower Mainland this month of September. There is still time to register for the Membership/PR session in Prince George, happening September 15th.

Keep checking out the District Calendar for upcoming events in your area and online.

During September Rotary recognizes the important role of education and literacy. Together, as people of action, we are making a global effort to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy of children, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. It’s encouraging that literacy rates among adults and youths around the world, according to a United Nations report, are on the rise and the gender gap in literacy is narrowing.

Illiteracy and innumeracy, as well as poverty and natural disasters which destroy crops and homes, can leave people vulnerable as they and their families struggle to survive. To make ends meet they may put themselves in financial debt from which they can never recover. They become slaves. Up to 46 million people worldwide are estimated to be enslaved.

That’s one reason why Rotary supports improved education and literacy for children and adults as one of its six areas of focus. Another reason is that there would be 66% fewer maternal deaths if all women completed primary education. A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.

Here at home, in our Rotary District 5040 communities and the rest of the province, we are, together, making a difference in education and literacy. Through the Rotary led Write2Read program, the 17th library, or learning centre, has opened at Rocky Pines, near Merritt, BC. It is one of three to be opened this year. Nine more BC communities are possible candidates for learning centres.

As Past District Governor Bob Blacker says, “The success of Write2Read is its simplicity. Communities just want to have what we enjoy in our towns and cities. We are starting to see the fruits of our labors as many communities are enjoying their libraries not only as learning centres, but as gathering places.”

One example of this success along the coast is the learning centre in Bella Bella.

Vessels of all kinds traveling up the coast to northern BC and Alaska take stock and refuel in Shearwater, across the water. While in port, sailors come over to the library to take out books, which they return on their trip back, or to use the computer to send messages and search. The Bella Bella learning centre also supports an Indigenous literature book club, field trips for preschool and elementary classes, story hours, author readings, or children's music performances when possible, pre-teen/young teen homework time and host talks/cultural orientations for school classes, researchers, tourists, and other visitors to Bella Bella.

The Write2Read program has also designed 10 buildings for either learning centres or multiplexes now awaiting funding as the program works with the communities to find them the funding. Klemtu, on the inside passage north of Bella Bella, is one of those projects.

Although Doug and I did not get a chance to visit these communities while traveling down from Prince Rupert we know that through our programs we Rotarians have made a difference.

CLUB VISITS

Doug and I have had a very busy month visiting clubs throughout the Northern sections of our District. We started with spending a few days with the Prince George/Mackenzie/Prince George Yellowhead Clubs.

Before leaving on our driving Northern Tour we attended our home club of Sunshine Coast-Sechelt. One of the biggest differences of that was I never had to try to remember names. 😊 A reminder of how important it is for us all to wear our name badges for guests.

Doug and I left on August 9th to attend the Governor meeting in Whistler, hosted by PDG Don and Deb. We then continued to YEX rebound at Gavin Lake. A very important piece of our YEX program. It was great to talk to the students who have returned from their year abroad. Life changing experiences for sure!

Smoke in the Interior at that time was very thick. We continued to Prince George to attend the Prince George Nechako club. Then to Quesnel meeting followed with a wonderful dinner and leadership meeting at PDG Rebecca and Ted’s. On our drive back to PG on the 17th we encountered a fire/smoke black out at 10:30 AM which was very freaky. Watch for our video and pictures on FaceBook

We then started the trek to the North Coast. We drove to Burns Lake for one night. The club visit had to be cancelled due to the fires. The club members are all engaged with various aspects of fire fighting. Smoke was extremely heavy here as there are huge fires close by. Burns Lake Rotary Club Foundation Chair, Angelika Posselt, is working with The Postmen and Doug and I were able to meet with Angelika and Burns Lake Town Councillor Charlie Rensby to discuss the situation. It was very educational having first hand perspectives. I have posted via Facebook and emails to all of the clubs the information to contact The Postmen, who are helping to gather needed supplies for the locals in the fire-stricken areas. They are “boots on the ground” and helping to supply much needed items. This same group is who Liz Scott has worked with both last year and this year to distribute the toiletries that she has secured through donations. Thank you Rotarian Liz! Our thoughts and prayers to everyone involved with the fires to keep safe and that there will be cooler wetter weather to help put them out.

We also discussed long term effects and I have asked the Presidents of all the clubs, throughout the fire effected areas, to identify projects that would be of help to the communities to rebuild. We will then make sure that all of the clubs in our District know about these projects so we can partner and support our fellow Rotarians.

Smithers was our next stop and the skies were the best we had since leaving home. This was the real working part of the trip so far, with Doug and I helping the Smithers Rotary Club with their Fall Fair Food Booth. For a couple days Doug cooked burgers on the grill and I helped to fill the orders of Poutine, Burgers, Chicken Strips etc. It was great to be of service and hang out with such awesome Rotarians!

We decided to unpack our bags for a few days and made Terrace our home base as we visited the Rotary Clubs of Terrace, Kitimat and Terrace Skeena Valley. We started with a tour of projects that both the Terrace Clubs have completed and are in the planning stages. We also had some time to tour the area, so past Assistant Governor Brian Downey showed us the lava fields, toured some of the towns in the NIsga’a Nation including the awesome museum, then lunch of fresh seafood at Gingolx.

Back in Terrace we enjoyed a Helicopter tour as the sun was brightly shining. What glorious views we had of the mountains, lakes and rivers. Thanks again to Rotarian Chad for your hospitality.

The Kitimat Club also put us to work in a little different way as they hosted a BBQ and invited some potential new Rotarians to attend. So we tailored the “talk” to inspire our guests to take a closer look at how being a Rotarian can enrich your life. We know first hand how that works!

Our la

st day in Terrace started with breakfast with the Rotarians of the Terrace Skeena Valley Club. Now that we are retired there needs to be a good reason to get up that early and attending a Rotary meeting is a good one. 😊

We finished our trip to the North with a drive to Prince Rupert along the Skeena River Valley. We hadn’t had rain yet so it was a beautiful drive.

The Rotary

lunch meeting was full of laughter, fun and Inspiration. We met our exchange student from Bolivia, Sabastian, and there is no doubt in my mind he will have a great time with this fun loving club.

The Rota

ry Club of Prince Rupert is 98 years young and they have done some amazing projects over that time. President Chris took us on a tour of a few of them after the meeting then Doug and I enjoyed walking the Rushbrook Trail.

As I write this we are on our way home for a few days to see our furry family and we will start September club visits a little closer to home.

Remember that we are posting on Facebook so watch on the District page or my personal one, for more on all the club visits. And repost!

The club visits truly are a highlight. Most interesting and inspiring, is seeing all of the projects the Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs have done in their communities!!

A shout out to all the District Conference Champions in all of our Rotary and Rotaract Clubs! Let’s keep promoting this unique opportunity to Celebrate all things Rotary with District 5060 next May in Sunpeaks and Kamloops.

Until next month let’s all keep on Being The Inspiration!

Darcy and Doug

Rotaract Update

The Rotaractors of District 5040 experienced exciting days during this year’s edition of PACE. For those of you who have not heard of it yet: PACE stands for Pacific Canada Experience. Six Rotaractors from all over the world are given the opportunity to experience the Canadian Pacific Coast during summer, hosted and guided by local Rotarians and Rotaractors. Highlights of the trip include the visit of Victoria and Whistler, as well as several of the most popular hikes in our District.

This year’s participants were Rotaractors from Italy, Denmark, Colombia, England, Switzerland, and Belgium.

We would like to take the opportunity and thank all Rotary Clubs for their support, both in financing and hosting PACE with us. Without you, PACE would not be possible!

With summer coming to an end, the Rotaract Clubs of District 5040 are getting busy again, including some fun events:

The Rotaract Club of New Westminster organized their first “Jump for Rotaract” Fundraiser for August 31st at Apex Adventure. We are looking forward to present photos of this fun-promising event in next month’s newsletter.

On September 21st the Burnaby Rotaract Club will host a Beerger Night Trivia and Fundraiser to support the club’s projects. The event will be held at Oscars Pub (3684 East Hastings), tickets are 20$ each and can be purchased from any Burnaby Rotaractor.

The Rotaract Young Professionals of Vancouver will have a Charity Dodgeball Tournament on September 29th at Coal Harbour Community Centre. Proceeds from this event will benefit Ethiopia’s Rotaract Club of Keroggie’s Back to School Project, which provides school supplies to kids in need in their community. For further information on how to sign up your team, please contact Club President Thomas Miller or any other member of the Young Professionals.

As always, we invite all Rotarians to join us for our events and hope you have a great September!

2019 District Conference

May 2 - 5, 2019

Sun Peaks, BC

Click to register Now and save!

We hope to see all Rotarians at our District Conference May 2nd to May 5th in Sub Peaks at the Sun Peaks Grand

Register Now | Conference Hotel

Priority #1 Plus Membership Workshop, Prince George, September 15

Posted on Sep 02, 2018

Want to increase membership in your Rotary Club? This is a great opportunity to learn more and get excited about the possibilities for membership growth. A great workshop with Assistant Rotary Coordinator Jim Adamson, Past District Governor District 5060. Also features a presentation on marketing communications and PR. Register now.