Rotary District 5040 November 2021 Newsletter (Nov 13, 2021)

World Polio Day: Eradicating Polio One Drop At A Time

Thanks to the work of Rotarians in Vancouver, prominent landmarks such as BC Place, Vancouver City Hall’s clock were lit up in red, while Telus Science World shone bright Sunday Oct 24.

Elsewhere, you might have seen photos of prominent landmarks around the world glowing in red.

The Nasdaq at Times Square in New York City glowing in purple, for example.

It’s all due to Rotarians around the world displaying their commitment to eradicate polio on World Polio Day on Oct. 24.

Thanks to Rotary and our partners and our vaccination efforts, more than 19 million people are walking today. More than 1.5 million children’s lives have been saved. More than 2.5 billion children have been immunized.

Why I Give to the Rotary Foundation: Alain LeFebvre

Alain LeFebvre and his wife Susan from the RC Prince George - Nechako were recently recognized by The Rotary Foundation for achieving Major Level Donor 2 status. Here's their story why they give to The Rotary Foundation.

I was introduced to the Prince George - Nechako Rotary in 1991 by my former boss.

At the time I didn’t know a lot about what Rotary did, but having been employed at the City of Prince George, I was aware of many projects Rotary had funded that made our city better. In the next number of years with Rotary, I took positions on our board and in 2000-2001 I served as Club President.

It was during PET’s (President Elect Training) that I remember learning a lot more about what Rotary did in the world, and how we as members could contribute to the Rotary Foundation to help do even more.

In discussion with my spouse, we decided to give annually to the Foundation and obtained the first Paul Harris in 2003. Subsequent to that I was able to provide PHF’s to Susan, our son, and our daughter. In the 2006 I was recognized as a member of the Paul Harris Society.

In 2012 we were awarded a Major donor level 1. Susan and I have not been looking for recognition, but truly believe in the good work of the Rotary Foundation.

Alain and Susan LeFebvre

The Rotary Foundation

Drew Antrobus Selected as 2024/25 District 5040 Governor

The Rotary District 5040 Nominating Committee has completed the interview process for the District Governor position for the 2024-2025 Rotary year. The committee has selected Drew Antrobus from the Rotary Club of Richmond - Sunset.

Drew is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Richmond Sunset in District 5040 and will be the President in 2022-23. He is currently the Executive Assistant Governor, Vice-Chair of the Foundation Committee for District 5040.

He is a Paul Harris Fellow +4, a member of the Polio Plus Society, a Foundation Benefactor. In his 35 years of service, Drew has served both at the Club Level and the District Levels.

With Richmond Sunset, Drew is currently the President Elect and the Chair of the Peace Committee and has been the Sgt-at-Arms for the club. At the District 5040 level Drew is currently the Executive Assistant Governor and Vice Chair of the Foundation Committee, District Trainer, and a Peace Conversation Facilitator. Drew has held the positions of Lead Facilitator for the PNW PETS 21, District Trainer and sat on the Learning and Development Committee for four years.

Meet Your New Prince George - North AG: Dolly Hilton

Dolly Hilton joined the Rotary Club of Prince George – Nechako in July 2010 and hasn’t looked back since.

She first joined the club from an invitation from her friend Leona Anderson, a long-time member of the club and the Board.

Dolly initially joined for networking but soon realized it had so much more to offer than a small community-minded charity once she found the true meaning of being a Rotarian. As is her habit, once she became a Rotarian she joined the Board, eventually becoming President in 2015-16. That year under Dolly’s leadership, she led the club to one of the district’s most esteemed honours, being named the club-of-the-year.

She has stayed on the Board in different capacities since and likes to be part of the decision-making team of the club.
She was asked to join the District Foundation Committee about five years ago and presently holds the position of Paul Harris Society Co-ordinator.

Youth Exchange In A COVID World

How does an exchange program function in a pandemic? The obvious answer would be that it doesn’t, but Rotary Youth Exchange has always prompted our students to be adaptable and willing to step outside the box, so it was time to listen to our own counsel.

Rotary International suspended all non-essential travel until the end of June 2022. Covid had resulted in the repatriation of students that were on exchange and cancelled the opportunity for those students already approved for travel in the fall of this year. Short-term exchange came to a screeching halt.

After investigation and thoughtful consideration, the solution was found; a virtual exchange program would be undertaken. Our YEX committee formed a smaller subcommittee to plan, organize and launch “Virtual Exchange 2021." A few other clubs in our Rotary world had already launched similar programs, RI provided a webinar on the topic, and NAYEN (North American Youth Exchange Network) had compiled some documents that could be adapted for our use.

Discover the wow factor of Rotary at the 2022 District 5040 Conference in Prince George, May 20-22!

We can’t wait to see you all again and welcome you with open arms as we celebrate the Seven Wonders of Rotary.

If you haven't already done so, visit CelebrateRotary.ca to register.

You can also watch this video from DG Lorne Calder as he welcomes you to Prince George in 2022.

District Governor Greetings

District 5040 Governor Lorne Calder

Fellow Rotarians:

The Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s greatest partnership. It is only through the generosity of Rotarians around the world that we get to celebrate many of our known and unknown successes.

I have always liked Past Rotary International President’s John Germ’s analogy that the “The HEART of Rotary” is our Foundation! Our efforts to eradicate Polio, provide clean water, provide basic education and literacy, sponsor schools and orphanages, assist mothers and children, provide basic and advanced health care don't go unnoticed

They create jobs for many underdeveloped countries, provide peaceful solutions through our youth exchange, Peace Universities, Group Study Exchanges, Ambassadorial Scholarships, protect our planet and much, much more is only limited by our creative brain power and our ability give generously to The Rotary Foundation.

Last year RI approved more than 2,000 global grants totaling approximately $100 million. This is only possible if we all give to the Rotary Foundation!

Last year our District set a new per capita record of $250.09 finishing 2^nd in Zone 28, but this was mostly because of 4 very generous donors who gave $100,000! Last year we had 46.5% of all Rotarians who gave at least $25 US and I believe that the other 53.5% is an opportunity.

I have challenged your President and Foundation Chair to work as a team and to encourage every Rotarian to consider the Rotary Foundation.

In 2019/2020, our Rotary Foundation granted more than $46 million in a variety of initiatives for Pandemic Relief Efforts. Recently we had 194 countries sign on to a Wellness and Healthy Rotary Action group initiative to eradicate Cervical Cancer and this year Rotary has pledged $2.0 million of a $6.0 million large scale project to reduce and eliminate Malaria in Mozambique.

These are remarkable life-saving projects that require us to commit to the Rotary Foundation to follow through on these large-scale commitments.

At the District level we have approved more than $75,000 for local and a few smaller internationally based projects. Eighteen projects have been selected to assist several communities in Coats for Kids, Dementia patients, youth hubs, story walk project/literacy programs, indigenous youth programs, clean water, orphanages, child development equipment and much, much more.

Each of these projects targeting one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus and leading to sustainable project funding into the future. To access the $75,000 in funding, Rotary Clubs are required to raise more than $150,000 increasing the impact of these projects even more. Many of these projects are collaboration efforts with other Rotary Clubs to make these projects a possibility.

We would like to do even more projects but need more donations being made to the Annual Program Fund Share program to do so. The world needs us even more than ever before and we can all make a difference with a donation to the Rotary Foundation.

With this in mind, I would like to challenge every Rotarian to please consider The Rotary Foundation in your charitable giving in 2021/2022.

I would love to see every Rotarian join the Paul Harris Society (PHS) and commit to a $1,000 US donation every year but if this is not affordable then what about $500 and with the District matching this donation with Foundation points achieve the next level of your Paul Harris Fellow. If $500 is too much, then what about $100 US to be a sustaining member or to join the Polio Society ($100 minimum commitment) or even giving $25 US to achieve Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) status can make a difference.

I challenge each of you to start a Rotary Direct pledge for as low as $2.50 per month (EREY) or $10.60 (Sustaining member) or $107 per month (Paul Harris Society- $1,000).

I would like to see the number of Paul Harris Society members increase from 90 to 128 members (10% of the District), I would like to see the EREY ratio increase from 46.5% to 60% (#1 in the Zone) and I would like to see the number of Rotarians making Rotary Direct donations increase from 156 to 200.

DG Lorne Calder

District Board Meeting

Nov 15, 2021 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

VANCOUVER CENTENNIAL - DG Visit

Nov 16, 2021

Rotary Speaker Series: Ram Nayyar
Zoom
Nov 16, 2021 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

NEW WESTMINSTER - ROYAL CITY 7:00 A.M.

Nov 17, 2021 7:30 AM

VANCOUVER MOUNTAINVIEW - DG Visit

Nov 17, 2021 6:00 PM

WEST VANCOUVER SUNRISE - DG Visit

Nov 18, 2021

Foundation Forum

Nov 18, 2021 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

BURNABY - DG VISIT

Nov 19, 2021

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