D5040 NEWSLETTER Oct 2007 ISSUE

Sue loved life, lived life

 

Celebration for Sue Smith will take place at the Richmond Funeral Home, 8420 Cambie Road on Saturday 27th October at 2 pm.  

 

We lost a great Rotarian and a great friend, Sue is remembered by us as. . .

 

“Sue Smith was all about smiles, friendship and bringing joy to others. She was always there to lend a hand and always offer a wealth of encouragement.” . . .

 

“I shall always remember Sue's eternally smiling face, her zest for life and especially for Rotary from the day she joined our great organization. Her continuing involvement in Rotary from day one has left an indelible mark in the hearts of all particularly within our Youths for whom she cared so much and who will be the beneficiaries of her legacy to them” . . .

 

“Sue was larger than life in the way she touched everyone around her.  Her enthusiasm was contagious and refreshing to us all. All youth are better equipped for their future for having known her“ . . .

 

“She was a wonderful lady with a warm, caring heart full of life!  She lived Rotary and all the wonderful things it means and gives to others.  The room was always brighter when Sue was there” . . .

 

Dean’s Digest

The month of September has flown by in the wink of an eye.  So much has happened this past month that it is difficult to put it all into perspective.  Such high points and such low points.

 

 I finished off August with visits to the Steveston, Vancouver Fraserview and Tsawwassen clubs.  Once again I was amazed at the diversity of the clubs, each presenting with their own personality and way of doing Rotary.

 

September started with the last days of summer as I made my way along the Sunshine Coast.  What could be more beautiful than our BC coastline on a warm late summer’s day.  Sechelt, Gibsons, Powell River and Pender Harbor.  Magic places.  I rode in the rumble seat of an old Packard, watched seagulls on the beach as I sat and worked on my computer, saw the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt Rotarians raking mounds of sand as they completed a community project and had wonderful meetings with wonderful Rotarians doing wonderful projects.  I also experienced the Pender Harbor, Madeira Park annual Hungi.  Rotarians cooking a turkey, baron of beef, pork loin and vegetables under a mound of dirt!  It was a delightful evening and the food, beverages and company were excellent.

 

On my return to Vancouver I visited the North Vancouver, Vancouver Centennial and Burnaby Metrotown clubs.  Again – each so different but all working to further the ideals of Rotary.

 

On the 10th September, together with many of the Rotary leaders of D5040, Rhino and I flew to Halifax to attend the Zone 22 Institute.  This year, perhaps because it was not such an intense training period as it has been over the past 2 years, I actually seemed to learn so much more about Rotary itself.  Not just how to do Rotary, but the inner meaning of Rotary; the history of Rotary.  I learned that when Paul Harris started Rotary together with his business acquaintances, the definitive purpose was not only to do good in the community but to promote business amongst each other.  Each week they used to record how much money they spent with each other and one would sign a $5 bill which had to be spent with a fellow Rotarian.  The time has come to once again return to those roots and actively promote the business networking potential of being a member of Rotary.

 

All of us attending Halifax had the opportunity to attend workshops and seminars, network with Rotarians from across Canada and have fun with friends.  Sadly the time there ended with Sue Smith our Executive Assistant Governor, Past RYLA Chair, Past President of the Rotary Club of Steveston and partner to DGN Gord Dalglish, quietly passing away in her sleep that Sunday morning.  I stand humbled by the outpouring of support from Rotary to Gord, Sue’s family and District 5040 at this time of sorrow.  Once again it has shown just how strong the bonds are in the Family of Rotary.  Rest in peace sweet Sue you will always be part of our world.

 

Sunday the 30th I leave for my travels North and the adventures continue.  The first Rotary Leadership Institute training will take place in Terrace on the 6th and I am so excited to be part of it.  I hope that you are attending this one or the next one in Vancouver on the 20th October.

 

Until the next time we meet.

Yours in Rotary Service

Dean Rohrs

 

 

Our Foundation Dinner needs your support !!!

 

Join the Fun on Friday Nov 23rd

 

Our District Foundation Dinner needs your support!  Make up at least one table of 10 from your club.  The theme is James Bond 007 – use your imagination.  The dress is casual black and white.

 

 

Donate Silent Auction Items

 

We need at least 2 auction items from each club in the lower mainland to make our Annual Foundation Dinner a financial success.  If requested, individuals contributing auction items will be issued a tax receipt for the selling price of the silent auction item.

 

contacts

 

 


Don Kavanagh

Foundation Dinner Chair

Don_kavanagh@hotmail.com

604-929-8580

Peter Beynon

Ticket Sales

peterbeynon@shaw.ca

604-434-5158

Mary Watson

Auction Items

marywatson7@gmail.com

604-952-7044

 

Vancouver Rotary Clubs - Rotary Shares

The Rotary theme for the month of October is Vocational Service. The 8 clubs and one provisional club in the city of Vancouver are actively using the skills and talents of  Rotarians to provide service to others in the local community and around the world.  Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards in their daily lives. Four of the clubs share their story about some of their activities showing that Rotary Shares.

 

Stories and pictures submitted by AG Penny Offer on behalf of the Rotary clubs in the city of Vancouver.

 

 

Rotary Club of Vancouver Arbutus

President Mary Stark

 

Youth Scholarships

 

Our club was proud to give each of these five students a Scholarship for $800.  They were selected from the seven high schools in our area and the awards are based on academic achievement, community service and financial need. These Scholarships will help these young people pursue their future vocations.

 

Michael Gunion wants to teach grade 11 history and become an actor.  Martha Tarbot will attend the University of Victoria and major in chemistry.  May Lee will go to the Sauder School of Business at UBC. Chloe Packer will study languages and diplomacy at UBC.  Jimmy Lee wants to work in web design. He envisions competing with Google and Microsoft and wants to use his earnings to improve conditions around the world.

 

Rotary Club of Vancouver Quadra

President Erlene Woolard

 

When is the best time to learn to read?

- article by Rotarian Anne Maclachlan

 

Newcomers to Canada who don't speak English have a double challenge. That is why the Rotary Club of Vancouver Quadra has stepped in to help agencies who provide help with literacy and other services to immigrants, especially children and teens.

 

For the best time to learn to read is NOW, regardless of the challenges. It's a fact that illiteracy often leads to poverty or destructive lifestyles.

 

On January 26, Quadra is hosting it's first gala fundraiser: Bid for Books (and so much more) at the Segal Centre in downtown Vancouver. There will be entertainment, authors, food, refreshments, and some surprises. It's a beautiful venue for a beautiful and fun event.

 

Proceeds go to medical education and water projects in Uganda, so the gala has an African theme. Quadra also seeks to fund an ongoing local, multi-cultural program entitled Points of Connection: Linking Literacy, Language, and Love of Learning.

Last year Quadra purchased dual-language books for five multicultural children’s programs. These are run by inner-city service agencies to prepare immigrant and refugee children for Canadian schools.   A sense of pride in a child’s original language and culture encourages the child’s and family’s connection to books and learning. . . .Often the parents have little or no formal education. 

 

Each agency received over 50 books to match languages spoken in their programs. Each book was in English and a second language.   The books were a great success with both children and teachers. As one recipient said: "Thank you for changing lives, one word and one person at a time."

 

Rotary Club of Vancouver ChinatowN  President Linda Wong

 

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY Over the past 26 years, the Rotary Club of Vancouver Chinatown has been committed to youth from the very beginning with annual scholarships given to high schools on the East Side, and computer labs to Lord Strathcona, St. Francis Xavier, Admiral Seymour and Britannia Elementary.  We were the first Club in 5040 to sponsor Rotaract and hosted our first Youth Exchange Student in year one of our Club.

 

In the year 2000, as our millennium project, we purchased 2000 dictionaries for delivery to Grade 5 students in the Inner City Schools, this has become our annual literacy program.  We have sponsored First Nations students in a program with Lower Mainland Police offers whereby the students spend time canoeing with a group of law enforcement officers. 

 

This year, we plan to conduct the "Kids Safe" program once again, to provide Identity Kits for children.  Their weight, height and fingerprints will be recorded and given to their parents, which will become very useful should  the children be either abducted or go missing.

 

Provisional rotary club of Vancouver yaletown

President Carlos Esquival

 

Article by Rotarian Henry Fetigan

 

They may be only a Provisional Club but under the leadership of President Carlos Esquivel the Rotary Club of Vancouver Yaletown are out there carrying the Rotary torch!

 

Last Saturday September 22nd was the final day for the 2007 Great Canadian Coastal Cleanup part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Under the local direction of Vancouver Aquarium the latest addition to Yaletown,  Fairleigh Dickinson University set themselves up as part of this worthwhile endeavour and recruited the Provisional Rotary Club of Vancouver Yaletown to support in the clean up of False Creek waterfront from the pier at Science World to the Plaza of Nations.

 

From 9.00 am till 11.30 am our team of 20+ worked hard and retrieved 3563 pieces of garbage ranging from cigarettes, cigars, paper products, cans, bottles, plastic items, used needles ,and some things  about which, you would not need to know.

 

Congratulations to all those who came out for this first community project for the new Provisional Club.

 

Membership is growing. If you would like to support this initiative please contact President Carlos at cesquivel@shaw.ca  The Club is meeting every Thursday at 5.30 pm in a non meal format. We are particularly looking at recruiting new members from the residences in Yaletown.

 

 

Guarantee to be loads of FUN!!! - 2008 conference

Come and enjoy us at the River Rock Casino

Rotary District 5040 Annual Conference

May 15-18, 2008

 

The River Rock Casino Resort provides a haven of refined luxury and gracious style for a Rotarian attendees.

 

Welcoming staff will usher you through cascading waterfalls into the spectacular four story high grand lobby, which features towering trees surrounded by shrubs, rocks and ponds. Enjoy the warmth of the Fireside lounge with spectacular views of the Fraser River.

 

The 200 luxurious suites, ranging in size from 525-2,800 square feet, afford superior amenities, the fantastic views, and beds that guarantee the best sleep ever.

 

The 950 seat show lounge represents one of the highlights of the hotel, and will be the main home of our fantastic programme put together for your enjoyment, capped off with our Grand Masquerade Ball on Saturday night.

 

For those who find some leisure time during the convention, there is a uniquely shaped indoor pool for a relaxing swim, followed by a soothing soak in the oversized hot tub or for the adventurous crowd, a ride down a mountain stream while traveling down the 70 foot waterslide surrounded by rockery and natural beauty. Then energize in the complimentary  fitness centre, with treadmills and stair climbers, exercise bikes with personal televisions, cross trainer machines, and a weight room.

 

The Pacific Breeze Spa offers separate ladies and men’s changing rooms, showers, treatment rooms, couple’s rooms, a hydrotheraphy tub and a thermal capsule offering numerous treatment options. The Spa also offers delicious spa cuisine  featuring healthy food choices, snacks, juices and herbal teas.

 

Then for the truly adventurous crowd, there is the Casino, which features a 70,000 Sq. ft. gaming floor, over 900 slot machines and over 100 gaming tables including such favourites as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and Craps. The Casino is also home of the largest poker room in Canada, with 25 tables featuring Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Bad Beat Jackpots.

 

The hotel is extending the Conference rates before and after the convention as well, and provides a variety of Restaurants such as the 350 seat  Runway 26 Buffet Restaurant offering a stunning view of the Fraser River; the Dockside Café offering three meals a day; the Tramonto, offering a delicious selection of Italian cuisine and an extensive wine cellar with over 500 varieties of wine; and Java Jack’s serving up coffee and other beverages, smoothies and salads, wraps and pastries.

 

For entertainment, visit Lulu’s Lounge, a 125 seat show lounge, with a variety of show bands and entertainment.

 

Book now for the Convention, with the amenities listed above, it is guaranteed to be loads of funs.

- Larry Belsito

September newsletter Corrections

 

Rotary History Fellowship website should be www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org

PDG Charles Loh’s son should be Jason Loh

 

 

The new face of RI WEBSITE - www.rotary.org

RI Website has a NEW Look!

 

The new website is designed to accommodate future growth. The menu has been drastically simplified, allowing for faster browsing. Several new features has been added:

 

 

The new site has undergone considerable structural changes, which involved consolidating and adding sections and moving pages. As a result, some links to old pages may not work.

 

Automatic jump, or reference, links from old to new pages have been created to help those who have bookmarked their favorite sections. Nonetheless, everyone should update their bookmarks to reflect the new URLs.

 

The improvements to the Web site are designed to help people quickly find all the information and resources that RI offers online. In the future, more tools will be added to assist Rotarians in putting Service Above Self.

 

John Kenny  RI President 2009-2010 

The 2007-08 Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2009-10, having functioned in accordance with the bylaws of Rotary International, has indicated that it unanimously nominated:

JOHN KENNY of the Rotary Club of GRANGEMOUTH, CENTRAL, SCOTLAND for the office of President of Rotary International for the year 2009-10.

 

Rotary to receive United Nations Association

humanitarian award 

 

The United Nations Association of New York will honor Rotary with its 2007 Humanitarian Award on October 25 to recognize the organization's significant efforts to provide safe water and sanitation, and its commitment to sustainable development worldwide. The award is presented annually in observance of United Nations Day. This year's event will focus on the global water crisis

Rotary Alumni Celebration - June 13-14, 2008

 

A preconvention event of the 2008 RI Convention in Los Angeles, California, USA

 

Alumni are important members of the family of Rotary. Keep them connected to Rotary by participating in this first Rotary Alumni Celebration.

 

Attendees will hear prominent speakers, participate in stimulating workshops, and enjoy networking opportunities — all for just US$25 for convention registrants. A reception will be held in their honor.

Districts are encouraged to send at least one former scholar and one former Group Study Exchange team member to this event. Interested alumni should contact their Rotary Foundation alumni coordinator.

 

Find additional details, including the registration form, at Find additional details, including the registration form, at www.rotary.org/events/conventions/2008

 

District wide Rebate for 2008 RI Los Angeles Convention

 

Under the LA2008 Worldwide Financial Incentive Plan, any district in which more than 2 percent of Rotarians and adult guests are registered can qualify for a CASH REBATE, which increases according to the percentage of registrants.

 

For example, districts that register between 2 and 4 percent of their membership will earn a US$15 rebate for each person. Per-person rebates will be $25 for districts registering between 4 and 6 percent of their membership, and $35 for 6 percent or more.

 

The rebates can be spent however the district decides. They can subsidize travel expenses for registrants, serve as an incentive to clubs or individual Rotarians to register, or help finance a district project. Rebate checks will be made payable to districts and sent to 2008-09 district governors before 30 September. Find out more about the plan at www.rotary.org.

 

Rotarctors up for a challenge? - sock drive 2007

The Rotaract Club of Terrace is challenging all other Rotaract Clubs in District 5040 to take part in Sock Drive 2007!

 

Last November the club initiated the first annual Sock Drive. 70 pairs of warm socks filled with toiletries were delivered to the Terrace Emergency Shelter along with 40 toques, 40 pairs of gloves and a few scarves.

 

So what exactly is a sock drive?

Decide a local homeless shelter to receive sock donation.

Approach local retailers to donate warm socks.

Approach local businesses, community members, Rotarians to “sponsor” a pair of socks for $10 and to fill it themselves with toiletries or $30 and you will fill.

Arrange to pick up filled socks and deliver to the shelter.

 

For details, please contact Kelly Swain, Terrace Rotaract President at

terracerotaract@hotmail.com

 

Promoting Rotary on air - vancouver chinatown

A well known radio show host Tess Chang with AM-1470, Fairchild TV &  Radio, has generously arranged for The Rotary Club of Chinatown to be on one of their popular prime time program to promote ROTARY.  They were on air (live) one full hour every Tuesday night for the entire month of October.

 
The club is already getting great result in recruiting new members, President Linda Wong received many inquiries, and one listener even visited their club. Show host Tess was considered as a potential member earlier even though she is not ready to commit, she has been giving the club a lot of publicity opportunities.

Promoting Rotary through Online Video

ONLINE VIDEO IS GETTING BIGGER - FAST

 

Here's the proof, drawn from a recent ComScore study:

·         Over 133 million Americans watched online video in July 2007 -- or 74% of US internet users.

·         They watched more than 9 billion videos, 27% of them on Google sites including YouTube. There's so much nonprofit video out there on YouTube, DoGooderTV and organizational Web sites.

·         Here's how distribution breaks out: YouTube captures 40% of the current market – This most popular video hosting site receives 50,000 video uploads and streams some 50 million videos to about 6 million viewers daily. MySpace, a social networking site, accounts for another 25%.

·         The remainder consists of major Internet players like Google, MSN, Yahoo and AOL, and niche venues like the nonprofit-focused DoGooderTV, each of which capture a fraction of the overall market. 

 

CRITICAL GUIDELINES FOR JUMPING INTO ONLINE VIDEO

 

  1. Online video is an expectation, not an option, for online audiences 25 and younger.
  2. Keep videos short and sweet -- 30 seconds to two minutes max.
  3. Know your audiences
  4. Make sure your video is more than moving, talking delivery of traditional content.
  5. Tap that funny bone.
  6. Don't forget the call to action.
  7. Work it: Put your online video to work in multiple
    versions and venues.
  8. Do-it-yourself is fine...for now.
  9. Budget $1,000 per minute of finished content for a professionally-shot and edited video.

Excerpt from Sep 25 07 “ Getting attention” newsletter published by Nancy Schwartz & Co

Reinvigorate to Retain - are you a rino or tiger?

 

Let us do a self-analysis of our Rotary involvement:  

 

  1. Suppose the membership in your Rotary club was limited to 20. Would you be in or out?
  2. Suppose membership was only good for one year and re-election depended upon the service you gave to your club, the community and international efforts during that time. Would you be re-elected?
  3. Suppose you were called upon to tell why you thought the club should keep you as a member. Do you have a record of helpful participation to offer in your defence?
  4. Suppose every member of your club did just as much as you are doing. Would the club be one of the most active in District 1270 or would it disappear into obscurity?

 

By analysing the above 4 questions you should be able to tell whether you are a RINO (Rotarian in Name Only), or a TIGER, (Totally Involved Generous Energetic Rotarian).

 

Having carried out this personal self-analysis it should be a simple matter to know whether you need to re-invigorate yourself in Rotary or whether the time has come for you to move on.

PDG Malcolm Webb (1998-99)

Rotary Club of Lincoln, RI District 1270

Connecting Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, UK

 

“Once you do the self-analysis, spend a little time considering how you can become a TIGER, or, if you are one, how you will help others in your club Tiger up!

 You, your club and Rotary will be the better for it, and you might be the one who starts a new retention program, without even trying. Just suppose what might happen then.”

 

Rod Thomson

PDG D5050 2006-2007

Rotary Fellowships & Rotary Action Groups

October is Vocational Service Month and Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion is: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."  Do I have your attention?

Rotary Fellowships and Action Groups with a vocational service bent include:

 

Do you see a need and an opportunity for vocational service?

 

If Sir Isaac Newton had been a Rotarian, his third law of motion would have been: "For every need, there is a Rotarian in action, equal to the task, and pushing hard in the opposite direction."

 

Visit www.rotaryfellowhips.org and see how you can use your vocation in Rotary servic

 

Already a member? Let’s hear about your experiences and adventures with Rotary Fellowships and Rotary Action Groups. Please submit articles for publication to:  PDG Dave Kirk (email: dbkirk@telus.net), District 5040 Fellowships Chair

Member, International Travel and Hosting Fellowship

Adventure in Tourism - promoting vocational opportunities

The Rotary Club of Kelowna, Ogopogo is very excited to present their exciting, rewarding and fun filled inaugural ADVENTURE IN TOURISM. The program is intended to promote a greater level of understanding and appreciation for the value tourism represents to communities across Canada as well as promoting an understanding of the vocational opportunities present within this industry.

 

During the intensive four and a half day program, the 40 selected high school students from across Canada and the North Western United States will be given unprecedented behind the scenes access to the inner workings of an exciting array of some of Canada’s leading destination resorts, golf clubs, wineries and First Nations within the beautiful Okanagan Valley.

 

Kelowna club invites other Rotary Clubs to participate by sponsoring a student. For program detail and application form, please visit their club website:

 

The registration fee is $500.00 plus travel expenses to and from Kelowna. Kelowna Rotarian families will billet the students during their stay in the Okanagan and all food and social events will be provided.

 

The inaugural event will be held from Saturday, 29 March 2008 Through Thursday, 2 April 2008 with students asked to arrive by the afternoon of Saturday March 29 (Welcome Reception & Ice-Breaker starts at 2:30pm). 

Check out the Adventure Programs on the District website for student sponsoring opportunities.

If you know of any other Adventure Programs, please send info to editor5040@hotmail.com

“Dentistry with Heart” & “Rotarians with Heart”

On September 1st, a joint team of the Steveston Rotary Club, the Richmond Sunrise Rotary Club and Dentistry with Heart travelled over 5,000 kilometers to the village of San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala to set up a dental clinic. 

 

Dentists Jack Hutchinson (Rich. Sunrise), Doug Nielsen (Steveston) and Liz Johnson-Lee along with a collection of nine others that included Rotarians Garth Edwards, Aliza Hutchinson and Bill Jaffe helped over 500 patients in the week that the clinic was open. 

 

It was a very exhausting but enjoyable time and a true cooperative effort.  The group did manage to attend a meeting on the Guatemala City Rotary Club during their time there. 

“Alliance for Smiles” - D5040 Rotarians allied in china

Tsawwassen Rotarian Jill Moore and Vancouver Centennial Rotarian Quentin Li allied in Harbin, China.

 

While preparing for his September business trip to Harbin, Quentin, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor learned that Jill, a dental hygienist will be on a mission in the same city with Alliance for Smiles, he offered to help. He committed all his spare time to the mission using his fluency in Mandarin and English as well as his medical training, while Jill assisted in surgeries and giving dental care education. The 32 member team performed 146 cleft lip surgeries.

 

Quentin will join the Huangshi, China mission on Oct 20. Jill is a regular volunteer with A.F.S.

 

To find out how you can help, visit their website   http://www.allianceforsmiles.org/

 

NOTICE: No change on North Vancouver Lionsgate meeting date.

The club meets on Fridays from 12:15 to 1:30 pm. 

Rotarians from 5040 and 9300 joint force 

The Rotary Club of Randburg reported that the container sent by the Richmond Sunset and Vancouver Sunrise Rotary Club last December has arrived in South Africa and the goods were transported by truck to the Refilwe Community in Lanseria on August 29, 2007. 

 

 

Their long term goal for the Refilwe Community School will be to ensure that each learner that leaves grade 12 will have a sponsor for further education or a secure job to go into. Ultimately they hope to be able to provide the children of the Refilwe community the necessary education to ensure their sustainability in order to break the cycle of poverty. 

 

Our District will work closely with the Randburg Rotary Club and the Refilwe Community to build a two-storey dormitory for 40 boys and 40 girls, and a school with 10 – 12 classrooms, with 20 students in each classroom.

 

-  Magdalen Leung, Richmond Sunset

Tsawwassen - great supporter to local community

Helping ‘Garden’ Grow

 

Hot coffee overcame the morning chill as Rotarians and Earthwise volunteers assembled at Boundary Bay Earthwise Garden on September 22.

 

They were challenged to build a wheelchair accessible greenhouse as well as an entrance arbour and fence. At the end of the day they had to leave behind a safe, improved and fully accessible site.

 

Amanda Gee, education co-ordinator at the Earthwise Garden, said she certainly appreciates the contributions made by Rotarians.

 

The Boundary Bay Earthwise Garden is designed to show and teach practical methods to create sustainable communities.

 

New Boys and Girls Club Bus

 

"I love this bus," yelled Aden Schooled as he jumped off the new Boys and Girls Club bus outside the Win skill Club on September 7 in Tsawwassen. The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen contributed the final $10,000 needed to reach the $70,000 goal to purchase the bus.