Gateway Rotary Activities Wednesday Aug 15 to Aug 23
Our Club Meeting on the 15th was a “Rotary Meeting”. We did not have an outside speaker. Instead some of our longest term members shared stories of how they joined Rotary.
Judy Wilson told us how she tried to join Rotary in the 80s when her and David Winfield were working in Kanaskis. Her application was rejected because Rotary did not allow women members then. She persisted and later joined our Club (invited by David Winfield). Judy talked about the Rotary history and how that rule was changed. She shared some “fun and caring” stories about the early days of our Club
Peter Elder joined our club in the early 90s when it was still called the “Millwoods Rotary Club”. He talked about the dissention and lawsuit that nearly lead to the demise or our Club and did cause the Club to change it’s name to the “Rotary Club of Edmonton Gateway”. He circulated one of our Club Bulletins from the early 90s. It was in a paper book format and contained pictures of some people who are still members of our Club. Peter also talked about some of the Club’s early projects including;
The Millwoods Water Park;
The Rotary House at the Grey Nuns hospital;
Building a playground at the Mckee school;
Sponsoring of a girls school in India and
Sponsoring projects in Poland.
He also reminisced about working Bingos and collecting big revenue from the early days of satellite Bingo
Dave Dorcus also joined the Club in the 90s. He talked about participating in Reading Week and McKee school, hosting and chaperoning kids on the Cross Canada tour, hosting kids and participating in the Rotary Student exchange program and other great Club activities.
Thanks to Elizabeth Bonkink’s organising several of our members got together to attend the Mayfield Dinner theater.
Although there was no scheduled meeting for Wednesday August 22 but several members got together for breakfast in the restaurant at the Delta.
Once again, Elizabeth organised another event for us. Several of us got together for Pub Night at the Courtyard Marriott downtown after work on August 23 thank You Elisabeth.
