Another Thursday evening, another hybrid meeting, but this time only one lonely person attended in person at Timms, and he had no donuts or cookies. Anthony looked after the room for all of us. Leon stayed home because he had a cold he didn’t want to share, and the rest of us who participated showed up on the computer screens. Our social discussion included chatting about repairing a broken arm (doll’s arm – a grandpa task), translating information about gunners using google French, the Probus club folding, receiving applications for scholarships, Les residing in Jackman Manor in Aldergrove (Room 37N), and the 90th birthday celebration for him planned for Sunday, March 27 from 1-3 at RIC.
Leon chose a version of O Canada played at the Bell Centre before a game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs (an ongoing rivalry) and we enjoyed watching and singing along.
Ukrainian Aid
With the unfolding devastation in Ukraine, the topic of what we could do to help those suffering was an obvious one. We are able to see Kyiv and the pristine countryside in earlier episodes of the comedy show featuring the current Ukrainian president in which he played the role of the country’s president, satirizing the corruption in the government. It is in extreme contrast to the rubble and ruins we now view after Russia’s invasion. The World Help Network is organizing a container to be sent to Romania for Ukrainians, and we understand that Disaster Aid Canada is providing water filtration systems. It will cost $12 000 to ship the container. We wondered if the Langley community would get behind a fundraiser to pay for this shipment.
Raise for Rotary – Another Opportunity to Support Ukraine
Raise for Rotary is a Rotary Foundation fundraising platform that provides clubs and districts an avenue to create fundraisers that support The Rotary Foundation. Some benefits of this platform include:
Empowering Rotary members – Raise for Rotary is a custom-branded platform that’s integrated with our existing online giving system. This makes it easier to create a fundraiser that supports specific Rotary causes, such as the areas of focus, fighting polio, or disaster response, and it expands our reach on social media.
Giving donors recognition credit – Donors who give through Raise for Rotary using the email address they use for other Rotary functions, such as their My Rotary account, will receive Rotary giving credit and recognition.
Minimizing fees to do more good – External fundraising platforms all have their own fee structures, rules, and guidelines. By creating our own platform, we can process gifts more efficiently and accurately. And that means more of the funds donated go directly toward Doing Good in the World.
Learn more about Raise for Rotary including fundraisers already in place to support Ukraine: https://raise.rotary.org/
Jeff Golby was introduced as an old friend, almost a member of the club (we have room for you), and our returning guest speaker brought us an update about the water project we helped fund. His organization does not just provide clean water, but teaches the fundamentals of cleanliness, clean water, clean containers and gets people to change behaviour that hasn’t changed in generations. Hand washing with soap and sanitizer is emphasized, and water systems and latrines are extended and built. The people are taught how to do it, and then do the work themselves. Construction crews and health trainers are there to assist. The program actually grew in scale of involvement during COVID and 17 000 people have received clean water, kitchens, latrines, etc. Once these amenities are in place, the water is turned on. Projects include 80 km. of pipes, clean jerry cans for transporting water, and each water project requires 400-500 community volunteers. Jeff’s organization is helping communities evolve to independence. We can be proud that our club has contributed to the improvement of the lives of thousands of people.
Ribfest, our largest (only?) fundraiser is seeking volunteers for the planning committees. Contact Jeff Morfitt of you are able to assist.
Happy and sad dollars were pledged for Rotary’s strong efforts in helping Ukraine, for a sister visiting from Montreal, for managing to pull off this meeting (kudos to Anthony), for a sore throat and cough, for Jeff’s presentation, for email from Kari busy renovating at his Okanagan cottage and his South Surrey house, for the lady who crashed the Russian tv station with signs protesting the war, and for the magnificent curling shots being made at the World Women’s Curling Championships. We heard about masks not being required in Santa Barbara, and cruise ships staying on the outside and not going into their usual ports of call in the Baltic and Mediterranean. You never know just what will be discussed at our Rotary meetings, besides regular Rotary business, which often does not get reported because your scribe is actively involved in the discussions and cannot do that and transcribe the conversations simultaneously.
We closed by toasting Canada and wishing each other good night.
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