August is Membership Month and Membership is a major focus for Rotary and for all of us in District 5040. Without renewal Rotary will cease to be able to do the good that it does in the world. There is a lot of talk about bringing in younger members and while that is necessary, it is not sufficient to ensure Rotary remains a vital force in our communities and throughout the world. We must work just as hard to revitalize our clubs and ensure that we engage our current members in order to curb the numbers who leave each year.
We speak proudly of 1.2 million Rotarians but the truth is that we have stayed at that number for several years. We celebrate the induction of new members but how many are we losing out the back door? Last year in our district we welcomed 88 new members into Rotary but by June 30th our numbers showed that we had lost 140 members and saw the closing of the Vancouver Chinatown Club. On the positive side, Rotary added 47,000 members worldwide last year but unfortunately, the number of Former Rotarians swelled their ranks proportionately.
Let’s keep working to renovate and renew where necessary so that our clubs are places of innovation and flexibility that both welcome new members and engage those of us who have been around for a while.
On the topic of membership, I am sorry to inform you that the members of the Vancouver – Broadway Club (formerly Vancouver-Quadra) have voted to terminate their club within the next six months. The club will continue to meet on a monthly basis to wind up their commitments and assist all members to find a new home in neighboring Rotary clubs. Quadra has done some amazing projects locally and internationally and they have some strong Rotarians who need our support. It is sad to see our Rotary family shrinking and we will miss Quadra. Let’s make sure we don’t lose any Rotarians.
On a brighter note, we have had a lot to celebrate this month with the declaration that Africa is celebrating one year without polio. When you consider that when we started the campaign in the 1980s there were 350,000 cases of polio a year and that with the work of Rotarians and others that number had dropped to 400 cases in 2014.
Today we are down to two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan and only 34 cases – 28 in Pakistan and 6 in Afghanistan. The good news too is that the Government of Canada has renewed its commitment to the eradication of polio by donating $2 for every $1 donated. When you add that to the 2 for 1 that the Gates Foundation is offering a $1 donation by a Canadian Rotarian amounts to $5.00.
More good news for those working on Global Grant applications! The Rotary Foundation (TRF Canada) has entered into a new agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development (DFATD). The agreement is for 5 years and the Canadian Government is contributing CDN $1.2 million/year to Canadian Rotary projects. More information will be forthcoming from TRF Canada.
In our district, a new sub committee has been formed to review the process and protocols for obtaining and storing criminal record checks (crcs). Rotary International and District 5040 Policy requires that all club members and volunteers working with youth or vulnerable persons must have a current criminal records check. Ron Davis our District Youth Certification Officer maintains our district records and club presidents or youth officers are required to forward their member’s completed forms to Ron. Any questions on this process should be referred to your Assistant Governor.
President Ravi has announced a series of presidential conferences in 2015-16 highlighting our Rotary areas of focus. Between January and March 2016, five conferences will be held around the world, each focusing on one area. All of the conferences are being led by local Rotary districts and are open to Rotary members and non-members. The conferences will feature engaging speakers, informative plenary sessions, and hands-on workshops. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow leaders and take away new ideas and strategies to put into action. More information will be sent to you shortly but for now, visit the conference websites to learn more about each of the programs and register to attend: www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/document/2015-16-presidential-conferences.
Claire and I start on our Rotary Road Trip August 15 with a visit to Gavin Lake to attend the Youth Exchange Rebound Camp. We are also hoping to get out to visit the inbound students who are participating on the Tweedsmuir Trek hosted by the Rotary Club of Burns Lake. On this leg we will visit clubs in Burns Lake, Mackenzie, Prince George and Quesnel. We are looking forward to meeting Rotarians and seeing first hand the great work you are doing.
As summer continues Rotarians are enjoying club picnics, BBQs and fishing derbies. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the good folk from the Burnaby Club at President Azim’s luncheon and was delighted to induct three new Rotarians, Sammy Cheak Ho Li, Cynthia Zheng and Diana Kiegne. It was also great to meet up with PDG Mel Spowart (1985-86) and his wife Joy.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and thank you for all you do for Rotary. As August is Membership month, I will leave you with the following thought,
Our motto is service but our strength is people!
Cheers,
John
John l. Anderson
District Governor 2015-16
Rotary District 5040
News
2016 Conference Keynote Speakers Announced
(Posted by Rick Lewall on Aug 18, 2015)
DG John Anderson and Conference Chair Rick Lewall have announced the first keynote speakers for conference 2016. Emmy award-winning journalist Penny LeGate, Ezra Teshome, District 5030 Seattle 2013-14 District Governor, and Julia Phelps, Rotary International Board of Directors for 2014-16 representing Zones 24-32. More info
Join the 1000 Hippo Roller Challenge
(Posted by Luke Vorstermans on Aug 16, 2015)
At the District Conference last April, the Rotary Club of Gibsons put out a challenge to the other District Clubs to: Help Us Roll 1000 Hippos.
Click on the link below to view the digital presentation of the Challenge. It gives the background to this simple innovation and also highlights the smiling faces of the women who were blessed with our club's action: www.rollahippo.com/Rotary
Rebound Orientation at Gavin Lake
(Posted by Sue Godey on Aug 16, 2015)
On August 13,14,15, 2015-2016 Outbound Students, and their parents reconnected with each other and the Youth Exchange Committee, Rotex, (previously returned youth exchange students) and District Governor John and Claire Anderson under sunny skies at Rebound Orientation, located at Gavin Lake Forestry Camp. More info and photos
Rotary Pavilion Underway at the Squamish Legacy Sports Park
(Posted by Brian Finley on Aug 16, 2015)
Construction has begun of the new Rotary Pavilion at the Squamish Legacy Sports Park - an all season park for Nordic Sports (also under construction). The 1st picture shows the framing going up for the foundation walls. The 2nd shows the site of the pavilion and the all-weather beginner ski jump. More info
Everyone loved the Rotary Beef-in-a-Bun
(Rotary Club of Squamish)
The Rotary Club of Squamish held their Annual Beef BBQ at the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival. 1500 lbs of prime Alberta beef slow roasted over an alder fire. It been a tradition at the festival for over 50 years and always a favourite. More info
Government of Canada Continues Support of Polio Eradication and The Rotary Foundation
(Posted on Aug 01, 2015)
Government of Canada Partners with Rotary Foundation Canada to Eradicate Polio Worldwide and Reduce Poverty in Developing Countries. During the next four years, the Government of Canada will contribute two dollars for every dollar raised by Rotary Foundation Canada in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s Endgame Strategy. More info
RYLA Lakelse 2015
(Posted by Lesley Erasmus on Aug 01, 2015)
Thursday July 2nd to Sunday July 5th 2015 As the sun rose over the ranch of Rotarian Carman Hendry – one could feel the excitement of the Leaders and Rotarians waiting for 38 boys and girls to register for RYLA camp. Known as RYLA Lakelse this camp used to be held at a beautiful lake property owned by the Kinsmen. This property is currently in need of repair and not suitable for our RYLA camp. Instead of cancelling as we had to in 2013 we went ahead with plans at this beautiful ranch. So in 2014 and this year our camp took on a new life. More info
August is Membership Month and Membership is a major focus for Rotary and for all of us in District 5040. Without renewal Rotary will cease to be able to do the good that it does in the world. There is a lot of talk about bringing in younger members and while that is necessary, it is not sufficient to ensure Rotary remains a vital force in our communities and throughout the world. We must work just as hard to revitalize our clubs and ensure that we engage our current members in order to curb the numbers who leave each year.
Claire and I start on our Rotary Road Trip August 15 with a visit to Gavin Lake to attend the Youth Exchange Rebound Camp. We are also hoping to get out to visit the inbound students who are participating on the Tweedsmuir Trek hosted by the Rotary Club of Burns Lake. On this leg we will visit clubs in Burns Lake, Mackenzie, Prince George and Quesnel. We are looking forward to meeting Rotarians and seeing first hand the great work you are doing.
As summer continues Rotarians are enjoying club picnics, BBQs and fishing derbies. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the good folk from the Burnaby Club at President Azim’s luncheon and was delighted to induct three new Rotarians, Sammy Cheak Ho Li, Cynthia Zheng and Diana Kiegne. It was also great to meet up with PDG Mel Spowart (1985-86) and his wife Joy.
