Meet Your Board - President Joe Fras
Diane Macdonald
This is the beginning of a number of articles to introduce you to your Rotary Club of Calgary Board of Directors. In this issue of the COG we will be featuring President Joe Fras and President Elect Bill Hamilton. "I joined the Rotary Club of Edmonton Downtown in the fall of 1992 at the suggestion and urging of a good friend. After attending a couple of introductory meetings, I liked what I saw and signed up for the tour.
I had also been approached for membership with the Kinsmen and Jaycees I was attracted to Rotary because of the its ideals of service above self, conducting itself with unwavering integrity in all its actions and its commitment to working towards international understanding and goodwill. Also, I was impressed by the energy and the friendliness I experienced at my first ‘looksee’ Club meeting.
At that time, I was working for a home builder in Edmonton and was offered an opportunity to join a larger residential developer in Calgary. In July 1995, I joined Qualco as the General Manager of their multi-family division (Streetside)
Sometime in 1996, I bumped into George Brookman at a coffee shop in Marda Loop. We had not seen each other since the late 70’s when we both worked in the same office for ATCO. George being George convinced me to attend an RCCD meeting for a ‘looksee.’ The rest, as they say, is history and I have been a proud member of Rotary Club of Calgary since.
I was asked to provide some personal info. …Besides the time I spend on Rotary duties, I spend time managing a development company; Vericon Communities Inc. develops inner city smaller townhouse and low-rise apartment projects.
My free time is spent on recreational activities; golf, skiing, biking, hiking, and most recently pickleball. I am blessed with two beautiful daughters and two grandchildren whom I enjoy. Currently I am reading ‘There are places in the world where rules are less important than kindness’ by Carlo Rovelli, a theoretical physicist and free spirit. I always have one of Louise Penny books on the go.
When I was asked to let my name stand for President for the 24/25 Rotary year, I thought long and hard about the decision. I agreed to the nomination for two reasons. One, it was simply time for me to accept this ‘tour of duty’ for the Club and secondly I felt my experience and personal skills could bring about some positive changes for the Club.
It starts with instilling pride in being a member of RCCD. I will continue to remind all that our Club has a rich and storied 110-year history in Calgary and in the Rotary world. Home of John Wheeler Davidson, the Marco Polo of Rotary; we have every reason to celebrate our past accomplishments and to be inspired to not sit on our laurels.
With my fellow Board members, I am focused on three overarching priorities: increasing membership, improving member communication and member engagement. There are a lot of moving parts to achieving these goals. For example, we are working hard to make our now exclusively in-person Club meetings to be interesting, informative, and energetic. If we can do that I am confident we will steadily increase the attendance numbers and member engagement.
For our newer members, I challenge you to get involved with the Club activities and engaging with fellow members. Only by doing that will you really feel the gift of being a Rotarian.
I have remained an active Rotarian for these many years because it is added to my life in more ways than I have given of my time and treasure. Plus, its given me the opportunity to make lifelong friendships with fellow Rotarians and to connect with the larger world Rotary family.
I encourage you to stay with the Rotary journey."