More Adventures in Rotary Flagland

Posted by Hal Quilliam 
 

In a previous article I mentioned how I had met many of my neighbours that I had never met before through the Rotary Canada Flag Program, even though I have lived in this community for twenty years.  Here is a description of an unusual event that occurred in my quest to place Canada Flags in my community.

 

        I have about 70 flags on display in my community now, and several are either on the ETS bus route or visible in the crescents adjoining the bus route.

      My doorbell rang one evening while I was out visiting neighbours in our community to obtain further Canada Flag Program subscriptions.  When I returned a lady had left me a note and her address.   There was an explanation that she was an ETS bus driver and had been driving the route near my house and had seen all these flags spring up overnight.  She asked a little girl who got on her bus at a stop near my house where these flags had come from.  The little girl pointed

to my house and told the bus driver that I was placing them as a fund raiser for my church.    The result is that the bus driver came to my house after her shift was over to learn more about it and how she might obtain a flag for her yard, which is also in my community.  I had never met her before.

 

     I called her by telephone and made arrangements to visit her the next evening after she had finished her shift driving the bus.  I visited her at her home, with a flag in my car and spoke with her and her husband.   After some discussion about the programs of Rotary and correcting the story about my church fundraiser, I placed a flag in their lawn and have acquired two new friends in the district.

 

      A day or two later, Lorraine and I were at a greenhouse buying bedding plants for our garden.  Just by chance, there is our new friend, at the same greenhouse getting bedding plants for her garden.  She was all smiles, addressed me by name and remembered Lorraine from the initial meeting at our house.

 

       Does the Rotary Canada Flag Program build goodwill and better friendships? You bet it does!   I see the Flag Program as Rotary in the streets.  I am finding that there are many people who are totally unfamiliar with Rotary or its objects and works.  While my present mission is to sell Rotary Flag subscriptions, I am confident that my contacts will produce a new member for Rotary in the future.