Sussex Rotary Club Celebrates 30 years

Rotary District Governor Terry Lenihan spoke

at the Sussex Rotary Club’s 30th anniversary dinner Nov. 16, 2007

Having both genders and a range of age groups in its membership continually brings vitality and new ideas to the Sussex Rotary Club as it celebrates its 30th year.

Rotary District Governor Terry Lenihan, guest speaker at the Rotary’s charter night Nov. 16, commended the service club on its progressive practices and its willingness to serve not just in the community but in the world beyond.

Rotary member Bob Kimball was master of ceremonies, welcoming guests including Kings East MLA Bruce Northrup, Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr, Rotary district officials and representatives of other local service clubs to the charter night dinner at the Sussex Golf and Curling Club.

Kimball noted that reaching the 30th anniversary was “quite an accomplishment” for the Sussex Rotary Club, which started out under the sponsorship of the Saint John Rotary and went on to itself sponsor the start-up of the Hampton Rotary Club.

Members range in age from their 30s and up, with the oldest member being 90, he said. It currently has 21 members about one third of them female with Donna Gilchrist as president and Kim Pearson as past president.

Northrup congratulated the club on reaching the 30-year landmark. He said it was great to be back in Rotary company he had been a Rotarian about a decade ago.

“The Rotary works as a team for the community it’s men and women working together,” he said, praising the crucial role volunteers play in communities as organizations and as individuals.

“It’s exciting to go around and meet new people and see old friends at the clubs,” Lenihan said of his role as district governor.

The district includes all New Brunswick clubs and two areas in Maine.

He encouraged Sussex members who have served executive roles in the past to consider serving on the district level, and spoke about the upcoming district conference in his home community of Bathurst in June 2008.

“One of the key, essential things in Rotary is making new friends, learning about what other people are involved in and helping communities. The local Rotary has made a huge difference in this community and Rotary has made a huge difference throughout New Brunswick and Maine.”

Among the local efforts the Sussex Rotary Club has supported is the Portage program in Cassidy Lake for youth with addiction problems. The Sussex Rotary bought vans for the residential treatment facility and helped repair existing vans.

Lenihan said he was impressed with the Rotary Youth Merit Award applicants from the Sussex area.

“These kids are all winners and should be congratulated,” he said, urging members to introduce these youth to Rotary activities and encourage them to become future Rotarians.

He also praised the Sussex Rotary for its focus on people with mental and physical disabilities, especially through Camp Rotary, a summer camp for youth with disabilities which also provides university student camp counsellors with valuable work experience.

Referring to an upcoming Rotary exchange in which a group of Rotarians from South Africa will be visiting New Brunswick, he urged the Sussex club to consider inviting the visitors to Sussex.

“The Sussex region and the valley are gorgeous. It’s well-known that the farms down here are the best farms in the whole province,” he said. “It’s a great place to bring a group study exchange.”

Rotary is increasingly getting involved in developing microcredit programs for countries such as South Africa, to give people in struggling communities small loans to start up community businesses and help them learn to run their businesses.

The goal is for the communities to “rise up and become economically self-sufficient,” he said.

Getting involved in international projects “opens your eyes to the world of Rotary,” he said, calling Rotary the world’s biggest ambassador foundation.

“Do what needs to be done in your community, but don’t forget the wider world of Rotary,” he urged.

Referring to long-time Rotary member Harley Geldart, who was attending the event, Lenihan said, “I still see that sparkle in your eyes after all these years you still enjoy Rotary.”