Rotary District 5040 Governor Shirley-Pat Chamberlain talked about the meaning of membership in Rotary and recognized the club and some of its members on her annual visit to the Ladner Rotary on October 31, 2023.
The Reverend Dr, Graham Witcher gave this invocation at the start of the club meeting Where to begin? There is a danger inherent in paralysis by analysis on the turmoil throughout our world: international conflict; undermining of democracy; damage to the environment; proliferation of diseases; subjugation of girls and women; distortion by the media. How to intervene? Identify stakehholders and decision makers. Cross-fertilize best practices. In other words: JOIN, SERVE, GROW IN ROTARY. Motto of Winifred Holby, 1898-1935: "God give me work til my life shall end and life til my work is done." |
She brings to her job as our District Governor that perspective and 20+ years of leadership, project management, community development, fund development, teaching, and mentorship.
Shirley-Pat has been committed to social action literacy initiatives and community development innovation in rural and remote British Columbia in both indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
Her extraordinary service above self has been demonstrated in what is likely this District’s largest, most impactful program throughout the province: Write 2 Read -- a joint Government House of BC and Rotary International literacy equity initiative. Write 2 Read is now preparing to set up its 27th library or learning centre in a remote First Nation community.
Shirley-Pat has been a leader of the program with Past District Governor Bob Blacker and former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia when the program was founded, The Honourable Steven Point, who referred to her as the ‘original champion sparkplug”.
She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012 for outstanding volunteerism.
Shirley-Pat recently completed a Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
 |  |
District Governor Shirley-Pat Chamberlain brings District greetings and thoughts about meaning of membership | Ladner Rotary Immediate Past President Guillermo Bustos receives a Rotary International recognition certificate for the club's generous support of the global End Polio campaign |
 |  |
Guillermo Bustos also received from Shirley-Pat a Paul Harris Fellow Award +5 for continuing to donate to The Rotary Foundation | Shirley-Pat and Past District Governor Chris Offer, Rotary Foundation Canada board director, present to Elise Roaf and Assistant Governor Peter Roaf pins as Major Donors, having reached the $10,000 level in total Foundation contributions |
 | |
President Brian Coe and Chris Offer thank Shirley-Pat, and her sidekick Mini Me, for visiting the club with a donation in her name to The Rotary Foundation End Polio campaign | |
 |  |
President Brian Coe models the new work vests for club members when out doing community service | |