New Class of Rotary Peace Fellows selected

This year 264 applications were received by The Rotary Foundation for Rotary World Peace Fellow scholarships. The district 5040 candidate was not selected. We feel we put forward a very good candidate but the scholarship is very competitive.

Each application was read and scored by two of the Rotary Foundation committee members or advisors. The selected Class 10 fellows represent the most promising peace builders from across the globe. The average age is 32 years old with an average of 7 years of professional experience. A third of the selected Fellows are coming from work with an NGO and another 20 percent come from backgrounds in education or peace building. Class 10 Fellows are from 44 different countries. 44% of the Class 10 Peace Fellows are from low-income countries.

For applicants and clubs interested in reapplying, the 2012 Rotary Peace Center application will be available on line in mid-December 2010 on the Rotary website. 2012 Rotary Peace Fellowship applications are due 1 July 2011. I encourage every club in District 5040 to look in their community for the best possible person to put forward. District 5040 has had three successful candidates since the program started.

Just because

Polio on Ice

On Friday night I attended the Giants Hockey game in Vancouver at the Pacific Coliseum. Attending a hockey game is a rarity for me. The RC of Tsawwassen partnered with the Giants to promote polio and raise some funds for polio. The club sold 400 tickets to Rotarians and friends of Rotary.

Many of the Rotarians and their families met together prior to the game for a hot dog and a drink. It was good to see so many Rotarians out with their families. There was a net for the children to practice their slap shot. 

Graham Witcher & DG Penny



The kids and a few adults took advantage of the face painting. Graham Witcher of the RC of Tsawwassen took his enthusiasm to new heights and had the Rotary logo painted on his head. I am not sure if it met Rotary’s correct use of the Rotary mark but it did meet Rotary’s sixth avenue of service, “Have Fun.”

Rotary and the polio campaign were announced several times during the game. I accepted a community award on behalf of District 5040 Rotarians from the Giants and got to meet the Giants mascot “Jack”.

Penny & Jack



Special thanks to president Rick Lewall and Leslie Abramson for all the work they did in making this happen. 



The bonus was that the Giants beat the Regina Pats 5 to 4 in over time.

Winter Wonderland

Regional Foundation Coordinator Chris Offer

Chris and I attended the press conference today at Richmond City Hall. The RC of Richmond Sunset were announcing their annual Winter Wonderland Christmas tree display at City Hall and raising funds for the $200 million polio challenge. The club sells 30 decorated Christmas trees that are displayed in the City Hall atrium. The trees sell for $1500.00 each. A variety of Christmas events are held with the background of the trees. It is a very magical display for the Christmas season.

If you are in metro Vancouver the display will open on Nov. 27 – it is well worth the time to take your family to Richmond City Hall to see the trees.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Chris spoke during the press conference about his personal experience with polio when his sister contracted polio at age 14. Chris was 5 years old at the time and has memories of being treated like a pariah by neighbours and recalls the quarantine notice on their front door. His sister was lucky. She was never in an iron lung.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie of Richmond thanked Rotary for what we are doing locally and internationally to eradicate polio. Mayor Brodie said, “We are so close, it’s time to put this matter to rest and finally eradicate polio from the face of the earth.”

Zone Institute London Ontario

From November 8 to 13, I was at the Zone 24-32 Institute in London, Ontario. This is a combination of a series of training seminars and a  national conference for DGNs, DGEs, DGs and PDGs.

Seminars are held to train new Governors, district Foundation chairs and for district trainers. Zone 24 includes most of Canada, parts of the northern USA, Alaska and eastern Russia. Zone 32 is the north east USA including New York, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont and Pennsylvania. This is the first time the two zones have been combined into one institute. It was a great opportunity to meet new Rotary leaders. 

DGE Hans & Carol-Ann Doge



Chris was involved in training the Governor Elects and District Foundation chairs. He was also a keynote speaker during the institute.

I had the opportunity to be on a panel on strategic planning for clubs and districts and be a discussion leader during the Rotary Leadership Forum.

We heard a very positive report on polio from PRIVP Bob Scott the chair of Rotary’s polio committee. We really are very close to total eradication. A report on the work that Rotary is doing to rebuild Haiti from Past RI Director Barry Rassin who is from the district that includes Haiti was very sobering. The devastation in Haiti cannot be exaggerated. The work that Rotarians are doing is making a difference but there is a lot more to do. Take a look at Barry’s blog: http://www.haiti-task-force.blogspot.com/.



New DGEs from Zones 24-32



RI President Ray Klinginsmith was a keynote speaker. He talked about recent changes the RI board is making in the organization of Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs). The RAGs will take on a greater role in being the resource groups for Rotary clubs in the six areas of focus of the new Rotary Foundation future vision plan.

Our own DGE Hans Doge and DGN Rebecca MacPherson participated in training seminars with their governor classes. They are well on the way to getting prepared to lead District 5040. Rotary does organize continuity and transition well. The new DGEs were presented at the Gala dinner to RI President Ray Klinginsmith.

Winnipeg Rotary Anniversary Dinner

On November 6th Chris and I had the pleasure to attend the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg and the celebration of 100 years of Rotary in Canada. We were on our way to London, Ontario for a Rotary Zone Institute; this is a sort of national conference for DGNs, DGEs, DGs and PDGs.

PRIP Wilf Wilkinson

About 285 Rotarians and friends of Rotary attended the Winnipeg Anniversary dinner. It is remarkable that a chance meeting by a business man from Winnipeg in Chicago with Paul Harris started this club in 1910. Today there are more than 700 clubs in Canada. Think of all the service projects and all the friendships that the formation of this club has been the catalyst for in over 100 years.

The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Philip Lee spoke at the dinner and thanked Rotary for all they do in their communities. The keynote speaker was Past RI President Wilf Wilkinson. Wilf talked about the contribution Canadian Rotarians have made to the world in the past 100 years.

A video on the history of the Winnipeg club was shown and a book on the history of the club was available.

The Rotary Club of Vancouver celebrates its 100 years in 2013. This is the first club in BC. The RC of Vancouver has formed a centennial committee and is planning for the celebration.

And the pennies keep coming

WOW! The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen in District 5040 really rose to the challenge to raise Pennies for Polio for DG Penny. The club raised piles and piles of pennies and presented them to DG Penny during her official visit October 28th. They collected pennies from club members for 3 weeks and salvaged the change from the fountain at Rotary Square. A couple of pictures from the penny collection in Rotary Square appeared in the South Delta Leader - great PR for the club and for the Polio campaign.

There is no final count at this point but they expect at least $800. Thanks to President Elect Leslie Abramson for rolling many of the pennies. Thanks to all the members of the RC of Tsawwassen for their efforts to meet the challenge and support the Polio Campaign.

RC of Arbutus Roll Pennies

I had the opportunity on Saturday, October 23 to spend time with the members of the RC of Vancouver Arbutus rolling pennies for polio at Vancouver’s Arbutus shopping mall. The club members asked the community to bring in the jars, bags and boxes of coins and drop them off with the club members. The community responded not just with pennies but lots of nickels, dimes, loonies and toonies as well.

BC Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid stopped by the Rotary “counting table” and donated her change.

The club members by the end of the day were experts on rolling 50 pennies. They could grab a handful and have the exact number for a roll.

Thank you RC of Arbutus!!

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid  & DG Penny Offer



The pennies pour in!!





Interview with RI President Ray Klinginsmith about District 5040 conference

Rotary on the Buses

Rotary bus ads are rolling on the streets of Metro Vancouver.

The Bus ads were officially announced at the Rotary Foundation Dinner
( L to R) Terry Miller, Pres RC of Vancouver, Rhino Rohrs, Pres RC of Burnaby
RI Pres Ray Klinginsmith, DG Penny Offer

The Rotary clubs of Metro Vancouver are running a 4 week advertising campaign in October.

The campaign is funded with the support of a Rotary International public relations grant, a donation from each of 22 District 5040 clubs in Metro Vancouver (based on a formula of $5 per member) and a 50% reduction in the cost of space by Lamar Advertising and BC transit. Rotary ads will be displayed on the outside of 50 metro Vancouver buses for 4 weeks.

The ads will display the district web site and an e-mail address. Please let DG Penny Offer (pennyoffer@dccnet.com) if you spot a Rotary bus ad, even better send a photo.

Visit by RI President Ray Klinginsmith

Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith and Judie visited District 5040 as the keynote speaker for the Annual Foundation Dinner in the Vancouver area. Definitely a highlight of my Governor's year.

The visit started with a quick stop in Steveston to view the Rotary summer banners along the main street of the City. This was the Rotary Club of Steveston's plan to promote Rotary's continuing presence in the Community for the past 15 years. Accompanying President Ray were Club President Peter Mitchell, PDG Bob Blacker, Rtn Bob Jones, PP's Albert Wong and Wilbur Walrond, DG Penny and PDG Chris Offer.

Followed quickly with a visit to the Salvation Army Rotary Hospice House and a tour by Rotarian Major Margaret Evans. President Ray was accompanied by DG Penny Offer, PDG Chris Offer, Richmond Rotary Club President Mahase, and Richmond Rotarians Tony and Chuck.

The dinner brought 365 Rotarians and guests together from 4 districts to hear President Ray, celebrate our Rotary Foundation and recognize generous donors. DG Wayne Wiebe District 5050 presented President Ray with a soccer ball with donations of $107,000 to the Foundation.

Six Rotary couples were presented with Major Donor recognition by President Ray.

Two District 5040 Rotarians were recognized for their service to the Rotary Foundation - Magdalen Leung of the Richmond Sunset Club received the Rotary Foundation Meritorious Service Award and Jan Gisborne of the Powell River Club, the Service Award for a Polio-Free World. Congratulations to both award recipients.

A very special visit with President Ray and Judie who enjoyed meeting many Rotarians.

Pennies for Polio

Pennies for Polio. The Rotary clubs in District 5040 continue to support the Pennies for Polio challenge from the Rotary Club of Vancouver Quadra to collect PennyWeights to match the weight of DG Penny.

The Rotary Club of Richmond presented me with 129 pounds or 58.5 kg of coins and bills. The bills and loonies and toonies added up to $408 for the eradication of polio. We still have to count the majority of that weight of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters! Thank you to all the Rotarians for their wonderful response to the Polio challenge in District 5040.

Governor's Road Trip

How time flies in the life of a Rotary District Governor doing official club visits. In the last four weeks from Smithers to Vancouver to Pender Harbour and back to the Cariboo with visits to Quesnel Sunrise and 100 Mile House we have made 12 more of my official club visits. Each club is different but each demonstrates the efforts of Rotarians to Build Communities and Bridge Continents in 2010-11.

Rotarians in Smithers and Burns Lake showed us their local Rotary projects which help to build their communities including a new ski run right into the town of Smithers. In Burns Lake the community is well branded with the Rotary logo every where you look.

Rotarians in Vancouver, New Westminster, Richmond and North Vancouver continue to do the work of Rotary locally and Internationally. These clubs are actively engaged with varying degrees in the 5 Avenues of Service, raising funds and promoting Rotary in their local media. These clubs represent the ethnic diversity of the Vancouver area including a largely east Indian club and a Korean club.

Rotarians in Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast hosted a progressive diner for the DG visit - a great opportunity to get to know a group of enthusiastic Rotarians doing great work in their beautiful community. A picnic table service project has unexpectedly generated funds for the club for other projects with the sale of additional tables.

Back in the Cariboo- the forest fires no longer smoking out these communities- we enjoyed meeting the Rotarians and hearing about their work for Rotary. Both are small but active clubs. 100 Mile House had just finished the Rotary Fall Fair and Quesnel Sunrise was gearing up for the annual Terry For Run.

This completes half of the club visits in District 5040. We have travelled a total of 7847 km to the visits outside the lower mainland and spent 28 nights away from home since the beginning of August.

A weekend in the Bulkley Valley.

View from our B & B

Looking towards Hudson Bay
Moutain from our B & B

A weekend in the Bulkley Valley. After visiting the northwest clubs last week we are looking forward to visits this next week in Smithers and Burns Lake on Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George. We booked into a B&B in a log lodge outside of Smithers for the weekend. We are surrounded by mountains in this beautiful valley. We visited the 91st annual fall fair and talked to Rotarians flipping burgers and boiling corn to raise funds for their local and international projects. A very busy few days for the Smithers Rotarians. A few days for us to get some rest, catch up on emails, do a newsletter and enjoy this beautiful part of District 5040 before visiting two more clubs next week and then heading back home to Vancouver. We will drive about 3400 km on this two week trip visiting clubs before we get back home.

Pennies for Polio

Pennies for Penny for Polio. This challenge by the Rotary Club of Vancouver Quadra to all the clubs in District 5040 is generating some fun raising PennyWeights to support the $200M Challenge. A Penny Weight has been calculated as $250 - my weight in pennies! Rotarians from many clubs are bringing in their stashes of coins to support the cause.

A Single Malt box full of change
presented in Prince Rupert

Clubs are setting up Penny Pots to collect change each week. Some Rotarians are setting up Penny Pots in their places of business. Rotarian Ken from the challenging club has developed posters to advertize the campaign with a new poster each month. Thank you to everyone who is supporting the challenge. Send me your stories of Pennies for Penny for Polio.

North West Visit

Prince Rupert

Kitimat

August 21 to 26 club visits in the north west of District 5040. 1724 km from Vancouver to Prince Rupert, four club visits and three Rotary communities - Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert. Heat and smoke during the two days of driving to the north west, then clouds and rain and cooler temperatures. Beautiful country every where we go. And of course warm welcomes from Rotarians and opportunities to learn about the clubs, their projects and their challenges. Lots of issues still in this area with changing economic times, mills closed or closing, forestry in decline and new opportunities on the horizon but not yet a reality.

Rotarians continue to provide service to their local communities, host Youth exchange students and take pride in their work. In Prince Rupert the two clubs merged at the end of last Rotary year forming a larger and stronger presence for Rotary in their community. The small club in Kitimat hopes to grow this year. Membership is their key issue for the year ahead if they want to remain a viable club. They are an enthusiastic and welcoming group. In Terrace the two clubs are active and maintaining their membership size and are visible in their community. Thank you to AG Nancy and her husband Odd for their support attending these meetings with Chris and I.

August 16 to 20 2010

This week we have been back home – unpacking, catching up with Rotary emails and chores around the house and packing up to head out again on Saturday for another two weeks on the road to the far northwest corner of District 5040.
I have visited two clubs this week in the south part of District 5040 in the metropolitan area of Vancouver called the Lower Mainland where our home is located.

The Rotary Club of Steveston-Richmond, chartered 10 years ago this Rotary year is an active involved hands on club with many local and international projects. Some of their members leave soon for a dental mission in Zihuatanejo Mexico. Now 31 members strong, they are Rotarians who get it done.

The Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown gave Chris and I a warm welcome to their club. Their Membership Accountability focus making membership everyone’s responsibility is adding new members to their club. Their Rotary Coats for Kids program has provided over 5000 Burnaby children and teens with needed winter coats since 2004. Last year they provided over 1300 coats. Way to go Rotarains.

Club Visits August 9th to 12th

AG Gary Gurnsey, Pres Lisa Tomich,
DG Penny in Mackenzie 

We are back home after being away from home for 11 nights and travelling 2247 km visiting 7 clubs over the past two weeks. Last week we visited clubs in Prince George and Mackenzie British Columbia. Beautiful warm sunny weather and the wonderful hospitality of Rotarians greeted us as we travelled around this beautiful part of District 5040. The three clubs in Prince George hosted a tri city BBQ for my visit at the Rotary gazebo overlooking the city from the campus of UNBC. This was a great opportunity to meet many local Rotarians and their families. Thank you to the three presidents and each Rotarian who helped make our stay memorable.

Mackenzie, one of our smallest clubs and one of the most isolated is looking forward after some difficult years during the recession. President Lisa invited many guests to the club meeting where we inducted a new member. She hopes to get a couple of more members for Rotary in Mackenzie after this meeting.

Rotary Gazebo Prince George

Thanks to AG Gary for all his assistance during our visit to the “north” and all his support for the clubs in his area around Prince George.

A week end to catch up

Looking out the window of a cabin on Norton Ranch just west of Prince George BC, horses in the paddock beside the cabin and wide open spaces with few buildings and even fewer people! A wonderful quiet place to spend a couple of days on the weekend before starting club visits again next week. Some walks around the pastures, time to read, rest and of course catch up on emails and Rotary communications.

We are in our second week and 897 km away from home. Last week I visited the Rotary Clubs of Williams Lake, Williams Lake Daybreak and Quesnel meeting with Rotarians at Board meetings, club meetings and social events. Tomorrow we head back into Prince George to visit the three clubs there and the club in Mackenzie before heading back home next Friday.

District 5040 has quite a large geographical area that will take us away from home for a total of about 6 weeks visiting clubs as District Governor in the next three months. It is inspiring to meet Rotarians and learn more about all their efforts to build Communities and Bridge Continents.

Pennies for Penny for Polio

The Rotary Club of Vancouver Quadra challenges every club in District 5040 to collect Pennies for Polio.  DG Penny has thrown her weight behind this effort. Quadra asks that you throw your weight behind DG Penny and tip the scales in every child's favour. Raid the piggy bank, save your spare change, collect from friends. Show the world that we care by collecting thousands of Penny Weights - one Penny Weight is worth $250. Contact Ken Kolotyluk for more information kenk1666@telus.net.

Eight year old Lillian Beuschel daughter of RC of Quesnel Rotarian Rebecca Beuschel, raided her collection of pennies this week to support the campaign to eradicate Polio. Lillian presented 1.3 kilos of pennies - four dollars and thirty five cents to Governor Penny after hearing about the challenge from the RC of Vancouver Quadra to clubs to raise Penny Weights for Polio.

Thank You Lillian for your very special donation to save 8 children from getting Polio! Lillian has taken the lead - what can you and your club do?
Download the flyer with more information on the Pennies for Polio Campaign. Click HERE