On Oct 30th, our club welcomed District 5040 Governor Garry Shearer at the Harold's Bristro, a rather informal social gathering. We had an exceptional turnout with over 40 members, visiting Rotarians and guests.

 

DG Garry told us about his plan for the year, followed by re-inducting Claudette Anrude and welcoming return member Debbie Vance.

 

We received a cheque from Granville Island Brewing, thank you for supporting Rotary to do good in the world . Also thank you to Harold's Bistro for giving our club 20% donation of the food order.

 

It was a very enjoyable evening filled with Rotary business, friendship and fun, some went home with great prizes. Many non-Rotarians learned a little about Rotary and are interested to find out more during our regular meeting.

 

The Rotary Club of Richmond would like to give a huge thank you to Granville Island Brewing for supporting our club -- It is because of amazing companies like yours that we are able to do what we do.... to do good in our community and the world.

 

On our October Social evening, Granville Island Brewing presented President Ken Dennis a giant cheque of $7,500. This cheque was the culmination of efforts of The Arbuthnot Group of Pubs and Liquor Stores (Thanks to Todd Arbuthnot) and Jim Lister, the General Manager of Six Pints and Granville Island Brewing. It was from their corporate sponsorship and their dedication to supporting community and embracing corporate giving that made this possible tonight.

 

It is with our most Sincerely thanks and heart felt appreciate to both The Arbuthnot Group and Granville Island Brewing for making this donation happen, which will go so far in better our community, and supporting other Rotary initiatives.

 

 

On Saturday November 9th we will be making shepherds pies for about 200 members of the St Alban's Church community.

 

We plan to meet at the church at 9:00 am, roll up our collective sleeves, and enjoy some fellowship around the cutting boards. After we have finished we will sample the results of our labour around lunch and anticipate being finished by about 12:30pm to 1:00pm.

 

Don't let Ken, Sarah, Ken's mom Debbie, Philip, Cecila, Keith and Barb have all the fun, join the team, let Barb know if you can come. See event detail

 

 

My fellow Rotarian:

 

November is upon us again and it’s time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom and giving us the liberties that we now enjoy in Canada. To the many Rotarians in District 5040 who served or lost loved ones in military service.....thank you…you will never be forgotten.

 

Back in 2001 I took the opportunity to thank my father-in-law for his military service. Harold was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War. That year Colleen helped to move Harold into a Royal Canadian Legion nursing home in Scarborough Ontario. He shared a room with another veteran and on the walls hung medals and ribbons that they had received throughout their military service. This gave me the idea to give Harold another medal….a Paul Harris medallion. So at the foundation dinner in November I made a donation to our Foundation for a Paul Harris Fellowship in Harold’s name.

 

On our next trip back to Scarborough, Colleen and I visited Harold in his nursing home and I presented him with the Paul Harris Fellow certificate, medallion and pin. I told him the story of Paul Harris and explained our Rotary motto “Service Above Self” and how I believed he represented this ideals of Rotary through his service to his country and his family. There were tears all around. We picked Harold up later that evening to take him out for dinner. He was dressed in his legion blue blazer, gray slacks and tie wearing his service medals and ribbons on his jacket. Around his neck hung the Paul Harris medallion. He looked so proud to wear it and grateful to be recognized for his service. More tears flowed.

 

Harold passed away in 2002. When Colleen and I went back for his funeral we had the opportunity to visit Harold one last time during the family viewing. He looked so peaceful in his legion blue blazer, gray slacks and tie, adorned with all his medals and ribbons. Around his neck was his Paul Harris medallion and on his lapel his Paul Harris pin. My sister-in-law told us how proud he was of that medallion. More tears.

 

I am so grateful for our Rotary Foundation and that it gave me the opportunity to honour my father-in-law and war veteran Harold Robinson with a Paul Harris Fellowship. I have since made donations to our Foundation to dedicate Paul Harris awards for my parents and my wife Colleen who have been great inspirations and supporters in my life.

 

November is Foundation month in Rotary. When you remember those who “served above self” for our country and freedoms please remember to support our Rotary Foundation. Also mark your calendars for Saturday February 1, 2014. The District Foundation Dinner will be held at the North Shore Winter Club. Details to follow.

 

We wish you the very best of memories.

Garry and Colleen

District 5040 Governor 2013-14