26 Ladner Rotarians and partners gathered over dinner, to celebrate the Lunar or Chinese New Year, as usual, or not.....via zoom. Gung Hey Fat Choy. Thank you, Chris Offer. Guillermo and Paulette read fortune cookie fortunes for some of us. We gave toasts as we start the Year of the Ox. The event included two breakout sessions in smaller groups.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 | |
Chris Offer called for a toast to the year of the OX
This year, 2021, is the year of the ox. The ox is reportedly a hardworking zodiac sign, signifying movement. So, hopefully, the world will be less static than last year and get moving again in the second half of the year. I wish you all health and prosperity in the year of the OX.
President Peter Roaf was asked to make a toast to Rotary at the start of the new lunar year
We each ended calendar year 2020 with our own New Year’s Eve celebration, for most of us, in isolation. It was the end of a stressful year, of not doing many things we take for granted and normally expect to do. We had to stand by, helpless, as local business suffered, if not closed.
But this year Rotary International is celebrating 116 years of serving our communities and the world as the original service club. Our Rotary Club of Ladner is celebrating its 64th Anniversary this year.
In that time, since 1905, our communities and our world have gone through some challenging, even horrible, periods, of illness, injury, hardship and death. Around the world today we have been going through another challenging time. We have more to come, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Things will get better as this year progresses.
On this occasion – unlike New Year’s Eve – we are able to get together in this way, via zoom. We are joining billions of people in our world as we celebrate Chinese New Year and the start of new lunar year. Together we celebrate the Year of the Ox.
I ask you to join me in a toast to our Rotary International, our 1.2 million fellow members and our Rotary Club of Ladner, as we continue in service above self to make life better for others.
Gung Hey Fat Choy!