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What a great meeting we had tonight. DG Carol Tichelman joined us on her official visit and shared in the pre-meeting conversations. We easily could have chatted longer, but Les announced, “Veronica, it’s time.” So President Veronica called the meeting to order.

Because Leon was having connection difficulties (he was not at his home station) he shared the screen with Claudia and Claudia played Ginette Reno’s version of O Canada, recorded at a Montreal Canadiens’ home game. Some of us sang very well. We delayed singing Happy Birthday until next week, when we can honour both Brendan and Jim, and spare Carol.

Announcements: Rotary Opens Opportunities; we have a new member! Bob Hillmer has paper tickets for the 50/50 MegaDraw.

Veronica formally and happily introduced her mother-in-law, Nora Truman, as a member of our club and DG Carol performed the official induction.

DG Carol and PP Wayne then presented People of Action pins to deserving Rotarians from the past year. Wayne’s selections were Claudia Trigo and Leon Jensen, and he explained why. Then Carol and President Veronica presented pins to this year’s recipients. Veronica chose Anthony Ball, Trisha Evans, Jorda Maisey and Wayne Wiebe to receive these special awards, and she explained why.

Carol Tichelman delivered an interesting, inspiring, and at times quite moving presentation as she spoke about herself, about the district, and Rotary International. She quoted RI President Holger Knaack’s invitation to endless opportunities, and reminded that everything we do provides opportunities for others. She asked us what should our club look like in five years, and advised us to select new members carefully to make sure they are a good fit for the club, and the club is the right fit for themselves. Carol urged us to continue efforts to support polio eradication, and commended our club on its very generous support of Annual Fund and Polio Plus over the years. She said Langley consistently donates above the district average, sometimes three times as much, and we should be proud of our accomplishments.

We closed with happy and sad dollars for Polio Plus and a toast to Canada. Carol and the executive members then stayed for our executive meeting. For more photos please visit September 10, 2020.

September 3, 2020

Our pre-meeting conversations are always enjoyable, and tonight we were having such a good time that we delayed the start of the meeting to allow more social interaction. President Veronica called meeting #10 to order and reminded everyone of our theme, “Rotary Opens Opportunities.”

Leon played a version of O Canada from the Stanley Cup Playoffs to lead our singing of our anthem.

Announcements: Rotary is moving to seven areas of focus; Veronica presented a video showing “Rotary Supports Education;” facemasks with Rotary imprinting are available for purchase; our 50/50 Mega Draw tickets will officially go on sale online on September 8, and members are encouraged to buy early; and DG Carol Tichelman will be visiting us next week.

Foundation chair Wayne read the Rotary Foundation announcement for the week. Click What is a Paul Harris Society Member? to read the short article. Club members were reminded that the District’s offer to match recognition points for any donations of $250 US or more has been extended to the end of September. As neither the Social Committee nor the Tip ‘n Taste Committee has met, neither reported to our meeting tonight.

We welcomed Kim Houlind from Ishtar Women’s Resource Society as our special guest and speaker. Kim will send her powerpoint presentation to Secretary Trisha so you may be able to review it here soon. Langley has two transition houses, Ishtar and Libra, to help women and families when needed.

Anthony collected credit card payments, Wayne recorded happy and sad dollar pledges, some donated straight to their own collection containers, and we closed with a toast to Canada. For more photos please visit September 3, 2020.

August 27, 2020

We have come to enjoy our very pleasant social interaction and conversation before the meetings begin. Veronica waited for her cues, this time a fifteen second warning, then called the meeting to order. People are getting better at remembering our theme, “Rotary Opens Opportunities.”

Leon played a version of O Canada showing Historical Canada which allowed some of us to sing, some to watch attentively, and all of us to enjoy. We then sang Happy Birthday to Allan, and in order to mitigate the delay via online group singing, this has become a slow version of the usually upbeat tempo. We did our best to sing together, and Allan survived the experience.

Announcements: Rotaract is now involved as part of the Ribfest group; Sept. 19 will be loading day for the container to Belize, with social distancing being practised; RI President Holger Knaack announced that the African continent was now endemic free from the wild polio virus; and DG Carol will be visiting us in two weeks’ time.

Wayne read the TRF announcement for the week. Click What is a Paul Harris Fellow? to read the short article.

We welcomed Jim Calamunce, Executive Director of Langley Food Bank, as our special guest and speaker. Jim has been with the food bank for fifteen months and thanked our club for the support it has given. The food bank supports other agencies that are helping the homeless and the needy. Families assisted numbered 1000 to 1200 per month, and have dropped to 850 to 900 since some families have received CERB assistance of $300. They set up three tents in their parking lot and set out bins and carts of food, organized for families of 1-3 and 4-9. This faith-based food bank, motivated by the love of Jesus, has added hair cutting and hearing services, and is open MWF each week. Their need is for delivery drivers to take supplies to 27 family units as not all people are comfortable leaving their homes amid COVID fears.

Wayne recorded happy and sad dollar pledges, some donated straight to their own collection containers, and we closed with a toast to Canada. For more photos please visit August 27, 2020.