New Member Spotlight
Michelle Ng is the founder of Vancouver Foodie Tours, a 16-year-old local business that has hosted over 75,000 guests and been recognized twice by Forbes as a top food and city tour. An immigrant from Hong Kong, Michelle created both Vancouver Foodie Tours and Granville Island Delivery Co. as a “love letter” to Vancouver, driven by her purpose of generating happiness and appreciation for visitors, locals, and the communities she serves. She is thrilled to bring her energy and “superpowers” to the Rotary Club.
Program Highlight:
President Navid’s Address – Building Our Rotary “Platform”
President Navid shared his vision for the coming Rotary year, describing it as building a “platform” that lets every member contribute at their full potential. Drawing on a World Cup analogy, he explained that Rotary already has the “star players” – talented, passionate members – and now needs the right field, systems, and support so people can focus on impact rather than being “tangled in the little things.”
Building on Franco’s 10-year vision and Joan’s work to strengthen engagement, Navid set out four phases for the year:
- Internal Foundations – Documenting processes, clarifying roles, and making the club less person-dependent and more system-dependent, so it can grow from 100+ to 400 members and confidently manage a $10M fund and $1M+ in annual giving.
- External Presence – Clearly telling our story and showcasing the impact of our many committees and projects, so Vancouver understands what the club actually does.
- Targeted Growth – Attracting aligned members and key local businesses whose skills, networks, and resources can help the club reach its long-term goals.
- Partnerships – Re‑establishing Rotary as a “home” for other associations and groups (e.g., business and cultural organizations), collaborating on projects rather than everyone working in isolation.
Navid also spoke about operational excellence in a volunteer club: simple, efficient systems that free members to spend more time on service, fellowship, mentorship, and fun. He envisions a central “vault” and app where members can see all committees, projects, contacts, and impacts in one place—making it much easier for new and existing members to find where they fit.
Looking ahead to June, success for Navid means a club that is prouder, more connected, more visible in the community, and clearly on track toward its 10-year goals. Above all, he wants Rotary to feel like a place where members come to enjoy themselves.
