There are all kinds of Rotarians. Those who faithfully pay their dues annually and contribute not much more; those who occasionally put in a few hours of service, and finally, there are those who believe in the true spirit of Rotary. Such a Rotarian is Uwe Krickhahn of the Medicine Hat Rotary Club in southern Alberta.
Throughout the 35 years that Uwe has been in Rotary, he has typically been responsible for a number of concepts to fulfil his notion of what it means to be a Rotarian. For instance, 28 years ago, he started a clean-up project in Medicine Hat that has since been taken over by the city. Most recently, he was responsible for starting a reading project similar to one that is currently running in Red Deer AB whereby books are placed on buses and at various locations throughout the city. But his most enduring project yet is the one which he implemented in June in honour of Canada's 150's Birthday.
Along with his wife, Anke, and with the participation of the Saamis Rotary Club, Uwe funded the purchase of some 6,300 small blue spruce trees and distributed them to every child from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Uwe arranged, with the assistance of a local tree nursery, to have the trees brought in from Grande Prairie AB with the kind cooperation of a local trucking company. He then proceeded to arrange their distribution. In fact, 46 years ago, the two spruce trees in front of a local school were planted by Uwe's own daughters. Children of that school cannot but wonder how tall the little trees they were given will grow in years to come, and no doubt the trees will be a reminder to everyone of this year's celebrations. The air will be cleaner in Medicine Hat, birds, and small animals will be assured a home thanks to the personal efforts of a true Rotarian by the name of Uwe Krickhahn.
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