President Bob Hlina's Inauguration Speech

I will have some great Rotarians to work with: our District Governor Penny Offer, our assistant District Governor Gary Gurnsey and a fine Board of Directors that I would like to recognize and thank in advance:
 
Mary Anne Archand, Kris Zmudzinski and Rod Holmes
 
These three will be starting their first year of a two year term.
 
Then, finishing the second year of their terms as Directors, will be
 
John Kason,
John Duncan
Lorne Calder
Patrick Carter
Darrell Hubbell
 
Joining these will be Bob and I, as well as our Club's officers:
 
Travis Morgan, President Elect, Martin Meyer as Secretary, and Sheila Nelson as Treasurer and Kal Basi, Sgt at Arms.
 
 
Please join me in thanking all of these Rotarians for serving our Club (applause).
 
It's an exciting time to be President of this Club. Our Club has really been gaining momentum in many areas where our members are taking lead roles: Our International and Literacy projects are starting to take off, our opportunities for service, our involvement with area youth is increasing with awards for service and leadership, our Clubrunner website is growing in content and usage, Our 60^th Auction is being run by a great and enthusiastic group of people and I believe will bear even greater fruit then the 59^th.
 
I will work with our Board and Committees to expand our Club's involvement in all areas and continue the path of having all members included on one of the committees.
 
Our goals for this Rotary year are:
 
Increase & retain membership:
 
We are implementing mentorship, fireside chats, follow up with members who attendance slips and we will strongly encourage participation on committees and fellowship events.
 
#1 - To continue with International Service projects (possibly a great way to enjoy international travel and help with service projects);
 
#2 - To expand the Future Visioning workshops (this is already underway with Bob Campbell, Lorne Calder & Chris Zmudzinski doing the first training session in Quesnel);
 
#3 - To Participate in the Polio Challenge Grant program posed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help realize Rotary's dream of polio eradication
 
#4 - To participate in the Spring district Conference at the Riverrock Casino in Richmond
 
#5 -To have as many members as possible participate in the Rotary Leadership Courses and the District Assembly
 
#6 - To Have develop a city project where we can use to promote our fundraising activities
 
#7 - To continue our involvement with our next Generation (to do this we will continue to obtain participants for the Youth Leadership Award program, start a new Roteract club and the youth exchange program)
 
#8 - To continue working with the Rotary clubs in our city and even our district to accomplish great projects too large for one club alone
  
The new President of Rotary International is Ray Klinginsmith, whose theme for this Rotary year is Building Communities, Bridging Continents. Quote from Ray "Rotary is the best in the world at linking people around the globe and then gaining their cooperation and support to make the world a much better place to live and work."
 
This year's Presidential Citation Program will serve as our guide to Building communities, Bridging Continents: Based on the Four Avenues of Service and membership growth, it provides a framework for a healthy and vibrant Club. Achieving this Citation is a way to ensure that our Club is making a difference in the world.
 
To qualify for this award, we will:
 
- Achieve a net increase of at least one member by April 31;
 
- initiate a service project that will reduce illiteracy in at least one First Nations community;
 
- and complete one of many specified activities established by Ray in each one of the areas of Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service and International Service.  Many of these our Club is already involved in.
 
I would like to close by thanking you for the confidence and trust you've placed in me to lead our Club and to the love and support of my wife Linda who makes it possible for me to go off in many directions by having a good grounding for me at home and to my daughter Carly for being here tonight. Thank you.