This “big money” evening we had eight members attending: Wayne, Rudy, Allan, Carl, Leon, Micheal, Anthony and Nora. We were joined by guests Rick Davis, Gay Holm, Yvonne Hopp (who brought sweets), Victoria Biggs and Jeff Morfitt.
Following opening remarks, welcomes and O Canada (“Good singing. Thank you very much.”) Rudy and Anthony showed a video of the banner presentation to Muthu Azhakappan Palaniappan which occurred last Friday. As our visitors from India were too late for our meeting last Thursday, Rudy and Allan met with them on Friday to exchange banners. Unfortunately, I could understand little of what Muthu was saying, as he spoke with quite an accent and kept his face down, reading from his telephone, so I am unable to share his message. We think he said he loves Langley.
Rudy thanked Nora for distributing the latest ESRAG bulletin. Then fellow Rotarian Jeff Morfitt, the chair of the 50/50 MegaDraw committee, took centre room (we don’t have a stage). He told how he had phoned Carl Holm to share the good news but the phone wasn’t answered. Then, fifteen minutes later, Carl phoned back, and was officially told that he had won $157 925 in this year’s draw. Carl recalled that it was Jeff’s father, John, who had interviewed him before he became a member of our club. Jeff presented an envelope holding the valuable cheque to Carl, and we were surprised that Carl didn’t have a bigger smile on his face. He and Gay are making house renovations and Carl says this will help with those bills.
We discussed Ribfest (the committee had a debriefing report) and the barbecue and social we had at Jorda and Norm’s place. Rudy thanked all who attended. The club is donating $1000 US in support of Lee Harman and Miss Vicky, with the funds going to Polio Plus.
Guest Speaker - Micheal Bolu
Next up was our newest member, Micheal Bolu, who used a power point presentation while telling us about himself. He has an intertest in technology and community service. Micheal came to Canada from Nigeria, and he compared government structures in his former country and Canada, pointing out that here individuals do the jobs that two or more would do in Nigeria. He feels most fortunate to quickly get a job as a project manager with SFU in his area of expertise and thereby avoid having to take other jobs that many immigrants are forced to do. Micheal has a wife and two children (ages 2 and 10) and has applied for his MBA. He loves to cook and barbecue, and supports kids in a camp in Nigeria.
He thanked Rick Davis for introducing him to Rotary, and thanked Wayne for immediately making him feel welcome, giving him a ride home and discussing Rotary with him. He said that he felt he had found a community where he belonged and he looks forward to his involvement with our club.
Rotary Moment with Wayne
Rotary in Action : Canada
The pandemic’s toll on older people struck especially close to home for the Rotary Club of Cornwall Sunrise in southeastern Ontario. “Until COVID, our club met at a seniors residence, and the need for the residents to be able to get out was made clear to us,” says club member Elizabeth “Bette” Miller, a past governor of District 7040. To ease the isolation of the town’s older population, the Cornwall Sunrise club teamed up with the Rotary Club of Cornwall and their city government to introduce Seniors on Wheels tours on three-wheeled cycle rickshaws. Volunteers pedal seniors around on seasonal tours along the St. Lawrence River.
“The trishaw is used primarily by local seniors who would otherwise be unable to enjoy the beautiful scenery,” says Miller, whose club contributed an initial CA$3,000 (US$2,500) for the project. “The routes for the trishaws follow the bike paths with stops at points of interest, many of which are projects Rotary has partnered on with the city.” Volunteers and their passengers covered a cumulative 300 miles last year.
I wonder if something similar could be done here in Langley City, as new bike lanes are appearing everywhere. Is this a project that we could share with other clubs?
The Light Touch
Wayne followed this with The Light Touch, featuring three items.
One hundred years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and only the rich have horses. Oh, how the stables have turned.
The couple, upon seeing a run-down house being shown to them for possible purchase, said, “We’d really like to look at something a little higher priced.” “Okay,” replied their realtor, “I can show you this house again tomorrow.”
I’ve been watching my weight. It’s still there. (Ouch.)
Other updates
Donations were made for: Micheal’s story; a granddaughter performing in “Anastasia”; strata concerns and changing management companies; a wonderful barbecue meal for seniors put on by the Fort Langley Lions; Carl’s good luck; Micheal’s presentation and enthusiasm; this being his last $20 until he cashes the cheque; Micheal’s talk; problems with visas for travelling; a wonderful time at York Island, cleaning out 90% of the material that had filled in the structure; the participation of Jeff, Micheal, Rick, Carl and Gay; and the Township helping with repairs at Brookswood Seniors Centre.
We closed with a toast to Canada. Next week we’ll be back at Timms for another great Rotary evening.
Note: If you would like to visit the Alano Club, show up there at six o’clock on September 7th before our meeting to join President Rudy in presenting a cheque to their club. Next Thursday our presenter will be Steve Rutledge, of “Adopt A Village In Laos” Foundation and the following week we will be hosting our District Governor David Lukov. Plan to attend!
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