Welcome to the Rotary Club of Vancouver Fraserview
The Fraserview Rotary club is located in the heart of the lower mainland and services the area of Fraserview and surrounding areas. Our club consists of local community leaders from around greater Vancouver including a reach into Downtown Vancouver, leaders who take an active role in their communities, all while greatly enriching their personal and professional lives. Fraserview is a smaller club that allows our leaders to grow and contribute in ways they might not in a larger club.
Join us for a meeting! Check the column on the left for meetings dates and times, and upcoming events.Members of our Rotary Club connect at weekly meetings and learn from business experts, political and civic leaders, and entrepreneurs, who help us stay informed on topics that are relevant to our community. Together, we make great things happen. We have a structure that focuses on action and positive results.
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland is deeply saddened to learn of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
By Rotary Great Britain and Ireland
Published Date: September 8, 2022
As we learn of the sad news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away, the thoughts of the members of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland are with the Royal Family as they grieve for their Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.
The Queen demonstrated extraordinary dedication and commitment to duty throughout her Reign and did so with a graceful strength and admirable determination.
She ruled throughout decades of change, from the dark post-war years, through to the new horizons of the 21st century, providing essential continuity for the nation.
This is a period of public grief when people who do not know each other come together to mourn a national figure who has been consistent throughout our lives and for whom we have collective affection despite not knowing her personally.
We share our condolences to the Royal Family and His Majesty King Charles III at this sad time.
Garth Arnold, Chair of the Board for Rotary GB&I, Nicki Scott, Rotary International Vice President, Amanda Watkin, General Secretary of Rotary GB&I
Rotary International President Jennifer Jones wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world.
Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, revealed the 2022-23 presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, as she urged people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality.
Watch the theme address
“Imagine, a world that deserves our best,” Jones told incoming district governors on 20 January, “where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”
Jones, who will make history on 1 July by becoming Rotary’s first female president, gave a live online address to precede Rotary’s annual training event for district governors from around the world, the International Assembly. The assembly was rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be held virtually 7-14 February.
Jones told the incoming governors about a chance she took when a member asked for assistance in getting a young peace activist out of Afghanistan during the U.S. troop withdrawal last year. At first unsure how she could help, she relied on “that certain Rotary magic” and contacted a former Rotary Peace Fellow she had met a few years earlier. Less than 24 hours later, the activist was on an evacuation list, and soon she was on her way to Europe.
Rotarians in Southern Scotland have partnered with their counterparts in the US and Canada (District 5050) to deliver a Fire Rescue Truck to the city of Chernihiv in war torn northern Ukraine.
This article was first published on the District 1020 Website.
Chernihiv was under siege from late February until early April and endured some of the fiercest bombing of the war. This resulted in considerable damage, in particular to high rise residential properties where residents were often trapped and unable to escape. The rescue of these residents was rendered particularly difficult because of the height of the buildings, highlighting the need for specialist rescue apparatus to access these very tall buildings.
Kyrylo Pesenkov, president of the Rotary Club of Kyiv appealed to the worldwide Rotary community for their support to address this issue. He had identified a Fire Rescue Truck equipped with a 30 metre long extension ladder which would be the ideal solution to the dilemma facing the Chernihiv rescue services.
The fire truck was sourced from Austria but would cost $50,000 to purchase, upgrade and deliver to Ukraine.
Enter the Rotary Club of Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh club had been one of six clubs worldwide who were instrumental in the setting up of the Kyiv club following the demise of the Soviet Union and the birth of the newly independent Ukraine, the five other partner clubs being based in the USA and Canada.
On the outbreak of war in Ukraine, RI General Secretary John Hewko, himself a charter member of the Kyiv Club, asked the co-sponsor clubs and their districts to collaborate again. Since then, representatives of the Kyiv Club and District, the six sponsor clubs and their Districts have been meeting regularly by Zoom to identify ways to share what is working to raise awareness, donations and RI Disaster Response Grants.
The Edinburgh Club responded swiftly and positively to the appeal from president Kyrylo Pesenkov, and through Zoom were soon in contact with their North American counterparts, devising a strategy to get the Fire Rescue Truck to Chernihiv where it was most needed.
Rotary International had established a Ukraine Disaster Fund to finance and source relief projects to support the citizens of Ukraine. Rotarians worldwide have raised in excess of $15 million for this fund, and grants of up to US$25,000 are available to Rotary Districts who create suitable projects.
The purchase, upgrade and delivery of a Fire Rescue Truck met every aspect of the criteria to be eligible for grant funding, so the Edinburgh Club obtained the support of their own district, D1020, and co-sponsors in District 5050, (Washington State & British Columbia) to move the project forward.
Each District would apply for the maximum grant of $25,000 to fund the $50,000 purchase, upgrade and delivery price.
Both Grants were speedily approved and the wheels were set in motion for the delivery of the Fire Rescue Truck. It was driven to Latvia while the financial arrangements were finalised, then via Poland to the Ukranian border where a reception committee was waiting to make the final leg of the journey to the city of Chernihiv.
The Fire Rescue Truck was safely received by the Chernihiv Fire and Rescue Service on Monday 13th of June and given a traditional hosedown to recognise and welcome the new appliance.
Canadian and US Rotary districts may apply for grants of US$25,000 to support Ukraine. Districts can combine disaster response grants to fund larger projects and shipments.
On 19 April, we celebrate the anniversary of Rotary founder Paul Harris’ birth. Paul Harris was born in 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, and thanks to his vision, today Rotary members around the world are uniting to take action and create lasting change. There are many ways to celebrate on 19 April, including by reading about Harris’ life.
Today, April 1st 2022, Don Patrick marks 50 years of service as a member of the Rotary Club of Squamish. He was recognised at the weekly meeting with a certificate, a cake, and of course a bottle of wine!
Don joined the club on April 1st, 1972. He served as Club President in 1975-76 and has held most other executive positions, including Secretary, Treasurer, and Foundation Chair.
Don started the Club 200 lottery fundraiser and has been the chair for most of its 43 years, raising $10,000/year for the Squamish community. In addition he has been the driving force of the Rotary Bike Safety Rodeos - an annual event in the Squamish Elementary Schools.
Last week our DG Lorne spoke about ShelterBox and the wonderful work they are doing in the Ukraine.
I decided to help out for this cause! I am selling “I support Ukraine” pins, with net proceeds being donated to ShelterBox Canada — the pins cost $15 and I am donating $10 — the remainder covers supplies. Recently I raised $2,500 for the Abbotsford/Merritt flood victims with my BC Strong keychains.
My name is Jasmine Wong, I am one of the newest members of the Rotary Club of Fraserview, I joined because I want to make a difference. I am a piano teacher, and sometimes a singer/ performer in Vancouver.
I am also a single mother of four young daughters, and while things at times can be hard especially during COVID, as it has been for everyone, my daughters and myself are shocked and worried about the families, the people in the Ukraine. As we watch the news and events unfold, my daughters said to me; "Mom this is awful, those poor people what can we do to help them?"
So, I have decided that I would like to help by donating money from this week's lessons, and get it to Rotary so that they can get it to an organization that can get help to the families in need.
Our Rotary club is collecting money and then will donate to ShelterBox Canada who can get help to the people of Ukraine. I will start the donations and to start this effort, I am donating $100 to get the fund started, hopefully later I can do more. Our membership Chair Nigel has already said he will match or beat the donation.... thank you Nigel, so now we have it started.
Here are the option amounts that you can donate, we will post this here, and send out emails, perhaps if you don't mind, you could all send the same to your friends, family and business contacts with this simple plea from my 4 daughters and myself, can we please do whatever we can to help those families.
From Our families in Canada to those families in the Ukraine, from our club members in Fraserview to those club members of Rotary Ukraine, which make up a portion of the displaced.
My hope is that we can make a difference for a few.
Thank you
Jasmine Wong, Rotarian
Here are the ways to donate the links etc:
Simply choose a donation level and we wil donate on your behalf to SHELTOR BOX CANADA, who are raising money for the relief efforts:
Mark your Calendars…the 2022 Strathcona Rotary Youth Leadership Hoop-A-Thon will be on Saturday, April 23…
What is Hoop-A-Thon
The Rotary Hoop-A-Thon is an annual basketball fundraising event that helps hundreds of kids in East Vancouver. Money is raised by donations and pledges based on the number of successful free throws a player can sink in one minute.
Watch our German Rotary Partners sink an amazing 71% from the free throw line:
THIS YEAR’S HOOP-A-THON GOAL IS $50,000…
All of the funds raised will go to the kids! Including…
-Grade 12 Post-Secondary Scholarships -Strathcona Community Centre Basketball Program
-Youth Leadership Training in East Vancouver
Since 2006 ROTARY has raised over $460,000 - helping kids through education, teamwork, leadership skills, community involvement and respect for others.
Rotary has no overhead costs for this project…ALL the money you donate goes to the kids!
Who Do We Help?
All of the funds raised from The Strathcona Rotary Youth Leadership Hoop-A-Thon goes to the kids. Money is awarded in scholarships, the SCC Basketball Program and leadership training.
Scholarships help individual students with their tuition and other costs for college and university. All of the students who receive funding have demonstrated their commitment to community service, youth leadership and volunteerism - and have a verified need for financial support due to family and individual circumstances.
By Iryna Bushmina, District 2232 (Ukraine) Rotaract Representative
Iryna Bushmina
Ileft Kyiv in the first hours of the war. My sister, her husband, her 3-month-old baby and a cat were in the car. When we reached the border, men were already not allowed to leave the country, so I went on with my sister and a little nephew. We were five days in the car, six days until we got to Vienna.
We stayed for the night in different countries three times. These were not hotels but homes of Rotary and Rotaract families. I used to just say that Rotary International is a big family, now I really believe it. And I am convinced that this is a family that will stand by you. These are no longer beautiful words to me, this is reality.
I was still in the car when I got the idea to mobilize Rotaract Europe. I realized that I was not the only one who needed help and support. My sister was driving, and I had my hands free. I started writing to all chats I knew where there were Rotaractors about the situation in Ukraine. A lot of Rotaractors instantly responded. People immediately created groups with different directions and helped me to lead them. These were not perfectly thought-out projects, but they were projects that started working from the first day.
Rotaract responded very quickly, and I realized that we needed to start very rapidly with the small projects to help Rotarians and Rotaractors of Ukraine find accommodations in other countries. Now, the project has grown, and we are helping many Ukrainians find a new home for the first time. We have lined up more than 2,000 host families to take in refugees.
The requests we are processing vary from assistance with relocating, to finding accommodations, to providing other humanitarian support. Right now, there is a big request for help for the defense forces for helmets, thermal imagers, body armor, and the like.
Some cities ask for simple things – food and water. And that’s what hurts the most. Especially when we all realize that the Russian army is blocking us from bringing humanitarian aid to civilians and they are dying from hunger and dehydration.
There are more than 100 people in my international team alone and around 50 people in the Ukrainian team. I don’t know exactly how many Rotaract members are involved in helping Ukraine. Each country has its own projects. Some clubs also organize assistance separately. Some are more involved, some less, but even the smallest contribution is valuable and could save lives.
We work in four directions:
1. Distribute truthful information about the situation in Ukraine
2. Find accommodation and hosts for Ukrainians in flight
3. Send humanitarian aid
4. Securing financial support for those that need it
Not all of the people write or express their gratitude. But to be honest, I don’t expect this. After what these people have gone through – the fear, stress, spending three to four days at the border – we do not need them to say, “thank you.” We just need to make sure these people are safe and that they get what they need to survive and help others.
Now is the time for understanding. Of course, when some of the people do write their appreciation, it is a pleasure.
This year we set the same target as last year $9,000 for all giving to all sources. We are off with a quick lead to the year given how we restructured the membership fees this year, to include an out of the gate donation. Total raised so far this year is : $22,470.00
It is a tragic and sad time for the people of Ukraine and the world.
At Rotary, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship there. Continued military action against Ukraine will not only devastate the region, but also risk spreading tragic consequences across Europe and the world.
As one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, we have made peace the cornerstone of our global mission. We join the international community in calling for an immediate cease fire, withdrawal of Russian forces, and a restoration of diplomatic efforts to resolve this conflict through dialogue.
In the past decade, Rotary clubs in Ukraine, Russia and nearby countries have transcended national differences and have actively engaged in peace-building projects to promote goodwill and to marshal assistance for the victims of war and violence. Today, our thoughts are with our fellow Rotary members and others in Ukraine coping with these tragic events. Rotary International will do everything in its power to bring aid, support and peace to the region.
This is the last opportunity to make a difference in our community in 2021.
Its easy, simply skip lunch one day so that others less fortunate can eat at this Christmas season!.
This Christmas, we will simply meet on line instead of at seasons and invite you to simply donate the $29.50 you would have spent, there will not be another lunch until mid Jan, so its easy.
Money will be added to what we raised at the event this week $2,147.00 Lets see if we cant get to $2500!!!
It's been over 2 years since the last major event and fundraiser, the last one we had a band and were in the Blue Martini, and that was a huge success.
So this year we are going to duplicate the event and have a back to the Holidays dinner, band and fundraiser.
Venue is the Fortune Terrace just over the bridge at the front part of Richmond, close to the Olympic centre. The food is amazing, we had small event there, the people loved the food, and they have a great stage.
The Band is one of the best known in Richmond... Galaxy and play all the songs we love.
We need help as follows:
In order that we don't lose money we need people at the dinner... us and guests.
Prizes
Spread the word, non members would be great to be there.
Plan ahead and book early so we know the numbers, the more numbers we have the lower the cost of food per head and the more guarantee we make some profit to donate.
Money will be donated to both the Rotary Foundation and the Union Gospel Mission.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Olena Morhun fled with three of her children and made her way to Puławy, Poland. There they were welcomed by Krystyna Wilczyńska-Ciemięga, one of many Rotary members who have opened their homes to refugees.
Register now for World Polio Day 2022World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children, will be held virtually and in-person on 21-22 October in Geneva, Switzerland. The event will highlight the status of polio eradication and address the
Rotary clubs in District 6250 (Wisconsin and Minnesota, USA) have donated a mobile clinic to St. Clare Health Mission, a community organization in La Crosse, Wisconsin, that provides primary and specialty health care services at no cost for those without access to insurance.
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On the outbreak of war in Ukraine, RI General Secretary John Hewko, himself a charter member of the Kyiv Club, asked the co-sponsor clubs and their districts to collaborate again. Since then, representatives of the Kyiv Club and District, the six sponsor clubs and their Districts have been meeting regularly by Zoom to identify ways to share what is working to raise awareness, donations and RI Disaster Response Grants.
Both Grants were speedily approved and the wheels were set in motion for the delivery of the Fire Rescue Truck. It was driven to Latvia while the financial arrangements were finalised, then via Poland to the Ukranian border where a reception committee was waiting to make the final leg of the journey to the city of Chernihiv.
