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.