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.