Only seven members were present to enjoy our guests and guest speakers this evening. Allan, Wayne, Leon, Nora, Rudy, John and Navnit were joined by Rick Davis (RCoLC), Brad Geddes, Isla Wu, Claire Wu, Micheal Bolu, Adrian Marsden, Peter Mann and Ashley Daemmig. That’s right, our guests outnumbered our members. Regrets were received from Anthony and Stephen.
Pre-meeting activity included figuring out how to hook up the laptop, though sadly no-one activated the zoom feature to enable a hybrid meeting. Hot chocolate proved popular, outnumbering coffee in the cups around the tables.
With our president absent due to a delayed flight returning his wife home, VP Allan chaired the meeting. We had (most of) Stephen’s regular club introduction and sang O Canada. Then we were on to announcements.
Rick Davis, Chair of the Ribfest committee, encouraged us to sign up to volunteer for Ribfest (August 18-20) through Volunteer Langley. TWU will be sending athletes to assist this year. Rick would like us to follow Ribfest on social media, and to share posts. I’m one who’ll have to figure out how one goes about doing that.
Wayne introduced Micheal Bolu, a potential member, who had been referred to our club by Rick. Micheal spoke briefly about himself and said he’d had a long connection with Rotary and would like to join us in Langley.
Allan will be working 50/50 sales on Saturday morning at Save on Foods (64th Ave,), and Leon and Wayne will be working there Sunday morning and afternoon respectively. We can always use more volunteers.
Scholarship Recipient Update
Our latest scholarship winner, Isla Wu from WGSS, then addressed the club. Isla has an ambitious plan to obtain two degrees together at the University of Toronto Scarsborough before continuing her studies to become a psychiatrist. Through leadership positions such as the Active Minds Club President and serving on the Student Council at Walnut Grove, she has demonstrated her passion for improving youth wellness and creating safe spaces for self-expression. Additionally, she actively participated in volunteering opportunities related to her interests, such as the Langley Foundry's Youth Advisory Committee and the VolunTEEN program at the Langley Memorial Hospital, where she focused on mental health initiatives and providing companionship and care for the vulnerable.
Isla was joined at the meeting by her older sister Claire, who herself won one of our scholarships back in 2015. Claire is now working as an audiologist in Abbotsford. It was good to catch up with Claire as well as compliment her sister Isla and wish her well in her studies.
Guest Speaker - Langley RCMP
Our special guest speakers were Langley RCMP officers Superintendent Adrian Marsden, Officer in Charge, and Constable Peter Mann, Community Liaison Office. Adrian said he enjoys serving in Langley as it is very community-spirited and is changing, so the job is never boring. The Langley detachment has 215 officers with more coming. Langley RCMP currently has four community programs up and running: 529 Garage, Block Watch, Business Link, and Crime free muti housing. Peter, born and raised in Langley (and who, as a very young student, remembered Wayne as his principal at Coghlan Elementary) spoke about his numerous years in Langley and working extensively in the City.
Slides of the presentation are available from Wayne, and they show information about strategic plans, overview of the Langley detachment deployment, global and Canadian policing trends, and property and business crime trends in Langley City and Township, and more.
Foundation Moment with Wayne
Next we were on to the Foundation Moment read by Wayne.
WHAT KIND OF ROTARY FOUNDATION SERVICE AWARDS EXIST?
Rotary members use their skills, time, and talent to support our programs. These awards are some of the ways that we can recognize people’s contributions:
The Rotary Foundation District Service Award honors members at the district level who are making a difference through the Foundation’s programs. It’s awarded by the district governor.
The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service honors one member from each district each year who has been actively involved in service related to the Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award is the Foundation’s highest service award and recognizes exemplary service that extends beyond the district level and is sustained for a long period.
Help nominate a worthy Rotary member for one of these awards today!
The Light Touch
This was followed by The Light Touch, which again featured three groaners. You’re welcome.
I invented a new word today: Plagiarism.
Rest in peace, boiling water. You will be mist.
Want to hear a construction joke? Oh, never mind, I’m still working on that one.
Other updates
Happy and sad dollars for Polio Plus were pledged for: the police presentation; a granddaughter singing in a choir in Vancouver; another excellent presentation; a friend who retired and was about to relax, when he discovered that he still owed some shifts; and for our Wu sisters who won scholarships and have so much to offer humanity.
We toasted Canada, and adjourned another enjoyable meeting. Right afterwards, cheques were presented to Ashley and Isla and numerous photos were taken.
Reminder: This week's meeting with be at the Rotary Interpretive Centre, and will not be hybrid due to no internet availability.
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