Operation Red Nose

Operation Red Nose Chair Neil Godbout gave the Nechako Rotary Club a very candid update on the Club's current status with the ORN Program in Prince George.

The Nechako Rotary Club has been sponsoring Operation Red Nose in Prince George since 2001.

The Program has become a resounding success in Prince George, as one of the top Community Supporters.

The Program provides large dividends to the Community in support of youth and youth sports events, including the entire funding for our Nechako Rotary Youth Exchange Program.  All our New Generations Programs are funded through our ORN funding.

The Nechako Rotary Club ORN Program consistently provides in excess of 1 thousand safe rides home during the Christmas Festive Season.

The ORN Program requires a considerable amount of time and effort throughout the entire year by a handful of dedicated Rotarians to make the program ready for delivery each and every year.

The ORN Program requires a large number of dedicated Rotarians, plus volunteers from the community to make the program successful for 9 nights each year, generally starting at 7:00 PM with set-up and training, through to driving and clean-up after 3:00 AM.

During the past couple years the support and participation from the regular Rotarians in the Nechako Club has been waning, leaving a significant shortfall to be carried by the remaining club members.

Chairman Neil provided the Club membership with a couple options to consider:

1)  Does the Nechako Rotary Club want to continue to support the Prince George Operation Red Nose Program as sponsor?

2) Does the Nechako Rotary Club want to consider an independent Safe Ride Home Program, removed from the current Operation Red Nose Program and administration under the current Charter of the National Office in Quebec?

A Unanimous vote was provided by the Nechako Rotary Club to continue to sponsor Operation Red Nose in Prince George during the current 2014 Program.

The Nechako Rotary Club also voted in favor of a small committee to review the options and dialoque necessary for the Club to consider operating an independent Safe Ride Home Program, outside of the scope of the current program in future years.

Thank you Chairman Neil and Rotarians for this continued support for Operation Red Nose in Prince George.