Norm's Official Visit
Assistant District Governor Karol Komar introduced our District Governor, Norm Bindon on the occasion of his Official Visit to the club. This is a special honour since Norm is our own member.
Karol commented on Norm's outstanding career as a RCAF pilot, followed by 35 years as a pilot with Air Canada and his continuing involvement as a training consultant. His passion for service through Rotary has included a focus on youth. With wife Elizabeth, he has hosted 8 international exchange students, and been an enthusiastic support of Rotary youth programs.
DG Norm Bindon started by sharing his enthusiasm from officially visiting 40 clubs to date - and most importantly, meeting Rotarians. This provides an opportunity to learn about all the good work being done here - and through the 32,000 Rotary clubs in the world. He is impressed with the impact of our collective work in the communities. He applauded the leadership in Brampton clubs to work closely together yet maintain a unique focus and their autonomy.
Norm spoke on three main topics -Rotary Theme - Make Dreams Real, the Rotary Foundation and our own Brampton Rotary Club.
The theme chosen by RI President D.K. Lee is expanded to "Make Dreams Real for the World's Children", with priority for food provision, preventative health, literacy and water. He noted that 30,000 children die from totally preventable diseases every day - 1 every 5 seconds. While this is improving, prevention of malaria, polio and water-borne diseases is possible. Polio vaccination must be completed for the Type 3 wild polio virus in the final four countries where about 1,000 cases were documented last year. $400 million is needed from Rotary to complete this job. Funding partners Google ($3.5 million), Bill & Melinda Gates ($100 million) and a commitment of $90 million from the Government of Canada will complement the on-going work of Rotary.
The Rotary Foundation has received the highest Four-Star Rating as a charity. Only 3% of funds raised goes to administration costs. $1 billion is designated for annual Matching Grants. Soon funds for local grants will be available. Norm urged each of us to become Sustaining Members by contribution $100 US annually to our own charity - barely $2.50 per meeting.
Our Brampton Club, chartered in 1940, is well known for contributions to Gage Park, Bingo and the annual children's Christmas party. Norm stressed we should be proud of all our individual and club contributions. He is personally inspired by our achievements. He urged us to remember our motto "Service Above Self" and the ethics of the Four Way Test. He closed with the simple message - Thank You - Be Proud!