David Hamilton

 

The RI President and Theme for the year – Holger and Susanne Knaack – Rotary Opens Opportunities.

 

A 30-year Rotarian, Dave was from the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen, a charter member since 1992. He served in many club Board positions and as club president in 2000-2001. At the District level, Dave served as AG from 2003-2006. He served as RLI chair and facilitator and as a PETS facilitator and participated on several District Conference Committees. Dave was also fortunate to be on the District Foundation committee when 5040 was chosen as one of the areas to be a Pilot for the TRF Future Visions plan. Dave was District Grants Chair during the three-year pilot program from 2010-2013 and stayed on as Chair for 2014-15.  Dave served as District Governor for District 5040 in 2020-21 with his partner Tanya Hall.

Dave and Tanya looked forward to seeing the District and meeting Rotarians. During the two years prior to serving as DG they spent time at various Multi-District, Zone and International training sessions. It gave them the opportunity to see Rotary from a different perspective as well as make life-long friends from all over the world.

 

As Governor, Dave was excited to work with clubs to grow Rotary and increase our impact in the District. There was also the bonus of working with the Rotaract clubs as we continue to elevate their position in Rotary.

And it was a way of living up to one of Dave’s favourite quotes from Martin Luther King, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is - what are you doing for others?”

 

Business Improvement Association of Tsawwassen – Founding Board member in 1991, remained on the Board to 2006.

Chamber of Commerce Board - Member since 2011, VP in 2013-14, President 2015-16, Past President 2016-18. Chair of Chamber Charity Golf Tournament 2013, 2014.

Beach Grove Golf Club - Member since 2003.  Board Member since 2015, served as VP, and Chair of House and Membership and Marketing committees.

Delta Optimist - Dave’s newspaper career at the Delta Optimist spanned over 30 years.

 

 

Dave made the most of the Pandemic Rotary year, shifting to online Club visits.  Highlights were getting to visit every Club and many of them repeatedly.  Sometimes fielding 5 meetings per day between Clubs, District, International and supporting his many DG Classmates.  Dave knew he had terminal cancer when he put his name in for DG, he needed to do so much in the time he had left and leading his District was a priority.  In his lead up and during his official year Dave implemented the District Alumni Committee, the DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusions) Committee and brought Peace Facilitation Training to our membership under the Direction of MBBI (Mediators Beyond Boarders) & PDG John Anderson.  Dave passed away part way through his year as District Governor. The legacy Dave has left will be felt for years, decades, perhaps centuries to come.  His name will live on in our District with the Dave Hamilton Service Above Self Bursary for Rotary Student Graduates.