Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Vancouver Arbutus

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Tuesdays at 12:14 p.m.
The Arbutus Club
2001 Nanton Ave
Vancouver, BC
Canada
In person meetings - 2nd Tuesday of each month at 12:14 pm. Visitors please use the calendar to select meeting registration and payment. All other Tuesday weekly meetings held on Zoom using the link below.
Home Page Stories
🏆 Proud Moment for Rotary Vancouver Arbutus!
 
We’re thrilled to share that our club was named Outstanding Rotary Club of the Year for District 5040 in 2025!
 
This banner represents years of dedication, service, and community leadership across the region — and we’re honoured to stand alongside so many incredible clubs.
Thank you to our members, partners, and supporters who make everything we do possible. Let’s keep the momentum going!
 
May be an image of text
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROTARY CLUB VANCOUVER ARBUTUS
 
POLIO PLUS DINNER
 
OSAKA TEPPANYAKI STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE
 
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025
 
1788 West Broadway #103, Vancouver, BC
 
LOCATION: Osaka Teppanyaki Steak & Seafood House
(Owner/Member - Grant
Yao)
 
1788 West Broadway, Unit #103, Vancouver
 
DATE/ TIME: Tuesday, April 15th starting at 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
 
MENU Choices (3): Steak / Chicken & Shrimp / Vegetarian
 
FEE: $75.00 per Plate (Tax Receipt - $30.00)
 
$55.00 per Plate (NO Tax Receipt)
 
Drinks are extra. ALL meal prices INCLUDE Gratuities
 
***Tables of 6, 9 or 11 People Seated at a Table
 
 
Profits from the dinner will go to the Rotary Foundation Polio Fund.
Last December we, along with our volunteer Santa Craig Lane, particpated in an fund-raising event organized by KORNA Natural Pet Supplies. While Craig posed with the various pets photos were taken by our own Michael Cowhig. We raised almost $1,900.00 for donation to BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.
 
We received the attached photo of the adorable puppy named Craig (in honour of our Santa) along with a note of thanks saying "It's only because of supporters like you that our puppies become life-changing dogs!"
 
 
 
 
Welcome to our newest members, Mary Anne Velayo and Bugsy Bunagan! 
 
Mary Anne and Bugsy were inducted by Past District Governor, Leigh Higinbotham, and welcomed by Past District Governor and our Membership Chair, Hans Doge. 
 
Our club knows Mary Anne from her many visits while serving as Assistant District Governor, and look forward to having her as an official member of our club. Bugsy is new to Rotary, but not to service!
 
We look forward to serving with both of them and to doing good in our community and the world! 
 
 
Our June meeting is at the Arbutus Club was our final in-person meeting of the Rotary year. Soon President Hans will turn over the podium and gavel to President Elect Bishnu....but not quite yet! 
 
 
 
Major Donor
John Moldon, member of our Rotary Foundation Committee presented a personalized engraved crystal Rotary Foundation paper weight and major donor lapel pin to our Foundation Director, Sam Wong to recognize his cumulative donations to the Rotary Foundation reaching $10,000 USD. Thank you Sam for your generous support of the Rotary Foundation!
 
John reminded members of the impact the Rotary Foundation has and how our personal contributions can further support Rotary's work across the globe, as well as the work of our club and clubs within our district. Funding for District Grants comes from contributions to The Rotary Foundation by Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians in our district. Last year we received a district grant to support the shipment of our second container of medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine. President Hans shared that we have applied for another district grant for the upcoming Rotary year to send our third container to Ukraine. This grant will again offer us the opportunity, and the responsibility, to carry out the mission of The Rotary Foundation of “Doing Good in the World”.
Our grant application is being reviewed and we will hear soon, so stay tuned!
 
 
 
 
 
New Member
Past District Governor, Leigh Higinbotham, welcomed and inducted our newest member, Joe Shrestha. Joe was previously a Rotarian in Honolulu, HI and not only made the move to Vancouver but started a new career in graphic design and opened a Minuteman Press franchise on Broadway. Welcome back to Rotary Joe, and to our club! 
 
 
 
 
 
Guest Speaker
Our guest speaker on June 11, Erica McFarland, is a Rotary Global Grant Scholar. As a Global Grant Scholar Erica is receiving financial support for one year of graduate school to pursue a master's degree outside of the US in an area that is aligned with one of Rotary's areas of focus, maternal and child health. 
Erica received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Women+ and Children's Health Sciences at UBC. The Rotary club in Texas that sponsored her grant application reached out to President Hans and Youth Committee Chair, Elena, to support Erica while in Vancouver. Elena really answered the call and is enjoying having Erica live with her. 
 
Erica has been very busy during her first year completing required course work, participating in professional development events, recruiting an advisory group of teens to help with engagement of participants for her study, and earning more accolades and funding! Erica is bright, articulate and has the energy and passion needed to not only complete her research project and M.Sc. but to contribute to the field and go on to achieve her goal of a PhD.! 
Thank you for joining us today Erica! We look forward to seeing you again soon!
 
 
 
Our May meeting at the Arbutus Club was filled with many highlights! We were honoured to be joined by Dean Rohrs, Past RI Vice-President and current member of the Rotary Club of Langley Central. Dean is also Past RI Director, Past Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator, Past District Governor and served on numerous Zone and District Committees, including Youth Exchange. Given her depth and breadth of experience with Rotary and travels across the globe, not to mention her career experience, we could have listened to her for hours!
If you didn't get to hear Dean, please check out the link below to read about Dean's experience as an OR nurse in the first heart transplant ever performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard.        
 
 

 
 
 
Major Donors
Dean presented a personalized engraved crystal Rotary Foundation paper weight and major donor lapel pin to three members whose generous contribution to the Rotary Foundation have reached $10,000 USD. Congratulations and thank you to Christine Mihailedes, Ilan Heller, and PDG Leigh Higinbotham. Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. Dean was able to provide her first hand knowledge of the difference the Rotary Foundation is making through global and district grants, including the growth of Rotary in Ukraine as a result of the 375 grants to support Rotary club projects, such as our shipment of two containers of medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine. You can read more about the impact of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation in Ukraine here https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-ukraine-stronger-two-years-after-war-began
 
 
 
New Members
Dean's work was not done for the day as she helped to welcome and induct our two newest members, Marg Carley and Craig Dowling! Welcome to both of you; we are excited to have you join us and look forward to serving together! 
 
 
 
 
Rotary Citation
Assistant Governor, Mary Anne Velayo also attended and presented the Rotary Citation to Past Co-Presidents Jean Gardner and Lydia Marston-Blaauw to recognize the work and achievement of club goals in the Rotary year 2022-2023. Congratulations!
 
 
 
 
Community Service
On May 23 a group of members, family and Rotary friends were at Backpack Buddies to prepare almost 1,000 bags to help feed our city and area's most vulnerable children who go without consistent access to food on the weekend. We filled the bags with foods that are familiar to them and that are easy to prepare - apples, mini carrots, oatmeal and breakfast cereal, mac and cheese, soup, chili, etc. so they don't go hungry over the weekend! You can learn more about Backpack Buddies herhttps://www.backpackbuddies.ca/
 
 
 
Home Page Stories
🏆 Proud Moment for Rotary Vancouver Arbutus!
 
We’re thrilled to share that our club was named Outstanding Rotary Club of the Year for District 5040 in 2025!
 
This banner represents years of dedication, service, and community leadership across the region — and we’re honoured to stand alongside so many incredible clubs.
Thank you to our members, partners, and supporters who make everything we do possible. Let’s keep the momentum going!
 
May be an image of text
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROTARY CLUB VANCOUVER ARBUTUS
 
POLIO PLUS DINNER
 
OSAKA TEPPANYAKI STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE
 
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025
 
1788 West Broadway #103, Vancouver, BC
 
LOCATION: Osaka Teppanyaki Steak & Seafood House
(Owner/Member - Grant
Yao)
 
1788 West Broadway, Unit #103, Vancouver
 
DATE/ TIME: Tuesday, April 15th starting at 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
 
MENU Choices (3): Steak / Chicken & Shrimp / Vegetarian
 
FEE: $75.00 per Plate (Tax Receipt - $30.00)
 
$55.00 per Plate (NO Tax Receipt)
 
Drinks are extra. ALL meal prices INCLUDE Gratuities
 
***Tables of 6, 9 or 11 People Seated at a Table
 
 
Profits from the dinner will go to the Rotary Foundation Polio Fund.
Last December we, along with our volunteer Santa Craig Lane, particpated in an fund-raising event organized by KORNA Natural Pet Supplies. While Craig posed with the various pets photos were taken by our own Michael Cowhig. We raised almost $1,900.00 for donation to BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.
 
We received the attached photo of the adorable puppy named Craig (in honour of our Santa) along with a note of thanks saying "It's only because of supporters like you that our puppies become life-changing dogs!"
 
 
 
 
Welcome to our newest members, Mary Anne Velayo and Bugsy Bunagan! 
 
Mary Anne and Bugsy were inducted by Past District Governor, Leigh Higinbotham, and welcomed by Past District Governor and our Membership Chair, Hans Doge. 
 
Our club knows Mary Anne from her many visits while serving as Assistant District Governor, and look forward to having her as an official member of our club. Bugsy is new to Rotary, but not to service!
 
We look forward to serving with both of them and to doing good in our community and the world! 
 
 
Our June meeting is at the Arbutus Club was our final in-person meeting of the Rotary year. Soon President Hans will turn over the podium and gavel to President Elect Bishnu....but not quite yet! 
 
 
 
Major Donor
John Moldon, member of our Rotary Foundation Committee presented a personalized engraved crystal Rotary Foundation paper weight and major donor lapel pin to our Foundation Director, Sam Wong to recognize his cumulative donations to the Rotary Foundation reaching $10,000 USD. Thank you Sam for your generous support of the Rotary Foundation!
 
John reminded members of the impact the Rotary Foundation has and how our personal contributions can further support Rotary's work across the globe, as well as the work of our club and clubs within our district. Funding for District Grants comes from contributions to The Rotary Foundation by Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians in our district. Last year we received a district grant to support the shipment of our second container of medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine. President Hans shared that we have applied for another district grant for the upcoming Rotary year to send our third container to Ukraine. This grant will again offer us the opportunity, and the responsibility, to carry out the mission of The Rotary Foundation of “Doing Good in the World”.
Our grant application is being reviewed and we will hear soon, so stay tuned!
 
 
 
 
 
New Member
Past District Governor, Leigh Higinbotham, welcomed and inducted our newest member, Joe Shrestha. Joe was previously a Rotarian in Honolulu, HI and not only made the move to Vancouver but started a new career in graphic design and opened a Minuteman Press franchise on Broadway. Welcome back to Rotary Joe, and to our club! 
 
 
 
 
 
Guest Speaker
Our guest speaker on June 11, Erica McFarland, is a Rotary Global Grant Scholar. As a Global Grant Scholar Erica is receiving financial support for one year of graduate school to pursue a master's degree outside of the US in an area that is aligned with one of Rotary's areas of focus, maternal and child health. 
Erica received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Women+ and Children's Health Sciences at UBC. The Rotary club in Texas that sponsored her grant application reached out to President Hans and Youth Committee Chair, Elena, to support Erica while in Vancouver. Elena really answered the call and is enjoying having Erica live with her. 
 
Erica has been very busy during her first year completing required course work, participating in professional development events, recruiting an advisory group of teens to help with engagement of participants for her study, and earning more accolades and funding! Erica is bright, articulate and has the energy and passion needed to not only complete her research project and M.Sc. but to contribute to the field and go on to achieve her goal of a PhD.! 
Thank you for joining us today Erica! We look forward to seeing you again soon!
 
 
 
Our May meeting at the Arbutus Club was filled with many highlights! We were honoured to be joined by Dean Rohrs, Past RI Vice-President and current member of the Rotary Club of Langley Central. Dean is also Past RI Director, Past Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator, Past District Governor and served on numerous Zone and District Committees, including Youth Exchange. Given her depth and breadth of experience with Rotary and travels across the globe, not to mention her career experience, we could have listened to her for hours!
If you didn't get to hear Dean, please check out the link below to read about Dean's experience as an OR nurse in the first heart transplant ever performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard.        
 
 

 
 
 
Major Donors
Dean presented a personalized engraved crystal Rotary Foundation paper weight and major donor lapel pin to three members whose generous contribution to the Rotary Foundation have reached $10,000 USD. Congratulations and thank you to Christine Mihailedes, Ilan Heller, and PDG Leigh Higinbotham. Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. Dean was able to provide her first hand knowledge of the difference the Rotary Foundation is making through global and district grants, including the growth of Rotary in Ukraine as a result of the 375 grants to support Rotary club projects, such as our shipment of two containers of medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine. You can read more about the impact of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation in Ukraine here https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-ukraine-stronger-two-years-after-war-began
 
 
 
New Members
Dean's work was not done for the day as she helped to welcome and induct our two newest members, Marg Carley and Craig Dowling! Welcome to both of you; we are excited to have you join us and look forward to serving together! 
 
 
 
 
Rotary Citation
Assistant Governor, Mary Anne Velayo also attended and presented the Rotary Citation to Past Co-Presidents Jean Gardner and Lydia Marston-Blaauw to recognize the work and achievement of club goals in the Rotary year 2022-2023. Congratulations!
 
 
 
 
Community Service
On May 23 a group of members, family and Rotary friends were at Backpack Buddies to prepare almost 1,000 bags to help feed our city and area's most vulnerable children who go without consistent access to food on the weekend. We filled the bags with foods that are familiar to them and that are easy to prepare - apples, mini carrots, oatmeal and breakfast cereal, mac and cheese, soup, chili, etc. so they don't go hungry over the weekend! You can learn more about Backpack Buddies herhttps://www.backpackbuddies.ca/
 
 
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Immediate Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Service Projects
Foundation Director
Membership

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We acknowledge that we live, work and play on the unceded ancestral territories of the Coast Salish peoples,
including the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations.
Speakers
Yashar Keramati
Jul 15, 2025 12:00 PM
NGO Peace and Love International
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