🎄 Join us for our annual Rotary Holiday Social on December 16!
Save the Date - Whistler - February 6-8, 2026
Fellow Rotarian John Hayto highlighted plans for the Annual Whistler Ski Weekend, one of RCoV’s most anticipated fun fellowship events. Members were reminded that the weekend offers:
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A full schedule of optional activities, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, village walks, and relaxed social gatherings.
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Group dinners and informal meet-ups, providing time for members, families, partners, and guests to strengthen connections outside regular meetings.
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Flexible attendance options so members may join for the full weekend or individual events depending on availability.
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A continued focus on fellowship, with the weekend serving as an opportunity for both long-time members and newer members—to build relationships in a relaxed setting.
Further details regarding accommodation options, registration timelines, and meal arrangements will be circulated in the coming weeks.
Interested? Email Johnhayto@gmail.com
The Rotary Foundation
- Go directly to "My Rotary" https://my.rotary.org/en and sign in
- Once signed in, click on the "Donate" button and proceed with your donation
- For annual giving, we recommend the Annual Fund Share, however, donations to Polio are welcomed
- Go to https://my.rotary.org/en/signup
- Use the same email account as used for all other Rotary communication
- Complete your information
- Last Step: Sign into your new "My Rotary Account" as outlined above to make your donation.
Weekly Program: Annual General Meeting of RCoV
During the AGM segment of the meeting, Joan, as president and chairperson, opened the session by welcoming members and establishing that the meeting was properly constituted with quorum present. She appointed Shoshanah Webber as secretary for the AGM, referenced both the notice of meeting and previous minutes, and called for motions to accept the prior year's minutes and approve them, which were carried without objection.
Paul Martin, chair of the Nominating Committee, introduces the new officers and directors,
The Nominating Committee was pleased to present the following slate for the 2026–2027 Rotary year:
President Navid Morowej
Directors (2-Year Term) Mark Hirschi, Tamlyn Mafika, Olesia Kloster
Director (1-Year Term) Adriana Zylmans
Joan also presented the results of the club's recent membership satisfaction survey, revealing very high overall satisfaction—98% of respondents rated their experience a 4 or 5 out of 5. Members especially valued being part of Rotary, the club’s service projects, the sense of camaraderie, and the meeting location.
Joan noted mentorship opportunities and networking as areas with room for improvement, though even lower scores remained relatively positive. She encouraged members who felt dissatisfied or wanted more mentorship to speak directly with her or any board member, emphasizing a proactive approach to resolving concerns.
To ensure transparency and inclusivity, Joan committed to sharing the full survey results with all members and making a special effort to reach those who hadn’t responded.
If you are a member and wish to see the full results summary, please email Admin@rotaryclubvancouver.org
The financial overview portion of the meeting focused on the presentation and discussion of the club's and foundations' financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2025.
John Bathurst and Bill Davidson led the review, explaining the club’s balance sheet and income statement. The club ended the fiscal year with a surplus.
The foundations' financials, highlighted strong asset growth, particularly in marketable securities (due to changes in accounting practices and positive market performance), significant donations such as those from the Koerner Family, and healthy balances in both the Rotary Club of Vancouver Foundation and the Hearing Foundation.
After the presentations, formal motions to adopt the financial statements, waive the appointment of auditors for the current year, and reappoint Ralph Benson, LLP for the next fiscal review were presented and approved.
Joan expressed gratitude to members and contributors, reinforced the club's collective goals and adjourned the AGM with an invited members to bring up any new business and adjourned the AGM.
The last portion of the meeting was an update on the Club's Foundation; presented by Chris Motion.
The update highlighted the Rotary Club Foundation’s vital role in supporting the club’s charitable initiatives and projects. The Foundation presently holds assets exceeding $3 million, with its growth fuelled by investments and generous member donations. The long-term vision is to expand the fund to $10 million, enabling annual grantmaking of up to $1 million to further benefit the community.
Members were encouraged to consider various giving options—including online donations, gifts of securities, estate planning, and donor-advised funds—all of which come with tax benefits. The limitations of foundation disbursements were clarified: funds can only be granted to registered charities, so some youth initiatives do not qualify.
Additionally, there was discussion about minimizing fees on donations, collaboration between committees, and boosting participation in fundraising events like the Ride for Hearing. Members were invited to reach out to the Foundation’s leaders with questions and to help promote growth in both financial support and engagement.