Chu's Rotary Journal - Aug 13 to 19, 2007

On Saturday, August 18, the Rotary Club of Ladner co-sponsored a container of hospital supplies heading for Panama.  Larry Pretty, Melissa Granum, Barry Irvine and I joined another dozen Rotarians for the loading of this container at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.  From about 9:00am to just after 12:00noon, we had a forty-foot container fully loaded with hospital and computer equipment and supplies with an estimated replacement value of over $250,000.  This RWHN (Rotary World Help Network) project initiative is one of the coolest things we can do as Rotarians.  Our discarded hospital and computer equipment and supplies are treasures in third world countries. 

For $1,250 and a few labour hours, we helped send an incredible amount of life saving supplies to Panama - hospital beds, wheel chairs, power-lifted bath tubs, tables, chairs, computers, printers, linen, soap, shampoo and all kinds of small medical supplies.  This was my second time at Riverview.  The last time, our club sponsored a container to the Philippines.   The Consulate General from the Philippines was there to thank us and some of the members of the Philippino community were there to feed us lunch.  This time, it was more low key, but nevertheless equally meaningful.  Thanks go to Larry Pretty for organizing it on behalf of the club. and Barry and Melissa for being there.  We Rotarians are making a difference. 

Saturday afternoon, Walt and Claudette Hayward hosted a wonderful summer garden party for the second year in a row.  We had attendees from 3-month old to 80 plus.  It was especially nice to see Clark and Freda Wise there.  Clark gave me a brief history lesson on Dow Chemical and their processing plant in Tilbury in the 1950s, before everyone else showed up.  Lynn and John Cameron, as usual, were the best dressed and accessorized couple.  They had the most decadent picnic "suite case".

 We had children, cats, dogs, a llama, a donkey and an 18-hand horse named Monty.   The weather mainly cooperated.  It was sunny for most of the party.  Even when it did drizzle for a minute, Walt's many umbrellas added colours to the festivities.  It was really nice to see the children and grandchildren of Rotarians at the party.  Jon and Margaret Yee brought their well dressed grandchildren Braedon and Victoria.  Denis Denischuk brought his son Ron, who will be one of our Friendship Exchange representatives to New Zealand next year.  Former Delta 2000 Rotarian, Russ Brown, brought his granddaughter McKenzie, who was a great company to my son Brandon for exploring all the different pets on the farm.  Walt's 3-month old granddaughter, Jessica, was the centre of attention to everyone, especially to my daughter, Patricia.  The children sure kept everyone involved.  The really young ones made the party interesting for the older children.

The foods were tremendous.  With steak, salmon and chicken breasts, we certainly were not protein deprived.  We had some amazing salads and Marion Burnett's legendary slow cooked beans recruited a few more fans.  The choice of desserts was extensive, to say the least.  Best of all, we had great conversations and fellowship.  Thanks go to everyone who attended.  Special thanks go to Walt and Claudette for the spectacular setting and warm hospitality.  Finally, a big "thank you" goes to Irene Forcier for bringing it all together with such amazing grace.

P.S.:  Mike and Kathy Storey could not join us at the Garden Party, because they were walking in The Weekend to End Cancer.  Kathy suffered from some major blisters and could not finish.  Ironically, the pedicure Kathy had recently probably shaved away all her calluses and contributed to her pain.  Mike successfully completed the 60 Kilometer walk over two days.  That's 3 years in a row now for Mike.