Rotary: Billy Weselowski
Our Guest Speaker was our friend, Billy Weselowski, from Inner Visions. From his classic opening of “My name is Billy, and I’m an alcoholic”, he went on to tell us the harrowing story of his childhood and youth amongst alcohol, drugs.and the penitentiary. Eventually he was 33 and a mess. He had never married, never held a job, and skid row was all he knew. .
In 1988 he asked for help, and went into a recovery center in New Westminister. When he was three months sober his sponsor asked him “what now?” It had not occurred to Bill that he would need a job, and to make a life. Billy went out and got a Masters degree, and now has a wife and children He opened Inner Visions Recovery Center with 4 beds in ½ a duplex, because he couldn’t afford the whole building. He had no business plan. Now the programme is highly structured; they turn no one away.
His wife then encouraged him to open a women’s facility, so they did. It is in Maple Ridge. They tried to get a $500,000 government grant, but couldn’t agree to the restrictions. So, with money the raised themselves, they added a 17 room addition. It will open Feb. 15th. They are now looking for money for furnishings, and we were pleased to be able to tell Billy that the Port Moody Rotary Club will sponsor and furnish a bedroom, at a value of $2000. Billy was effusive in his appreciation of all this Club has done for Inner Visions. There will be a plaque in the meeting room with our wheel on it.
Billy’s motto: “Dreams Can Come True”