Installation Dinner 09 + Paul Harris Presentation
A big thank you to Denis, Irene and Art for organizing this year's Installation Dinner.
The evening started with the South Side Jazz Assassins providing the music before and during dinner. The band wanted to do something for Rotary as they know the good work that we do. They have asked us to take the payment that they would normally receive for their evening's work and send that money to Rotary International for the Polio Plus program. Leo, Gordon and others pesonally thanked each member of the band for their generous contribution to Polio Plus. Everyone had a chance to mingle and socialize, then we were seated for a dinner including crab cakes, stuffed roasted chicken and veggies, dessert, wine, coffee and tea.
The program began with a Delta Police Piper leading President Peter Podovinikoff, President Elect Lynn Cameron, District Governor Elect Gordon Daglish, Assitant District Governor Wally Phillips into the room. Peter addressed our group and gave thanks to the club for supporting him throughout the year. Special thanks and wishes went to Jim Burnett who was not able to attend. Peter gave special recognition to Mel Baly and Don Burkett who spearheaded the Extended Care Patio project at Delta Hospital. This Patio Project is exactly the type of "hands on" project that Graham Witcher and the late Ted Towers promoted and encourage our club to develop and take part in. This project has allowed Ladner Rotarians the chance to work together and create a long lasting tribute to the community by our club for a very deserving group of people from Delta, the older persons in our community who need full time care. The Patio Project has made a significant difference already to this area of the Extended Care Unit. Future improvement plans include funding by the Delta Hospital Foundation and the Auxiallary who will be involved with installation of a new greenhouse, expanding the sidewalks and making a larger patio area. We still have a power washing crew and paint crew required to complete this portion of the project, so you still have time to be involved. Peter thanked Michael Cruise who is recuperating at home for encouraging our participation in the Rotary Park Improvement Project and for Michael's experience and guidance through out the year. Peter thanked Jeff for the wonderful programs all year long, Art for continuing the Seattle baseball trips which is one of the highlites of the year, Jon for organizing the Chinese New Years Dinner, Lynn & Linda and Brenda for their continued Calendar project planning, Brad and others for the turkey Christmas dinner celebration organized with Delta branch of CMHA, for all the new and old members who attended the two fireside meetings at Peter's home where everyone attending had a chance to begin friendships with each other plus learn more about Rotary and about the history of our 51 year old Rotary club.
DGE Gordon inducted the new board of directors including:
President Lynn Cameron, Past President Peter Podovinikoff (also acting as Member Director), President Elect Jeff Norris, President Nominee Brad Cooper, Treasurer Brenda Sheen, Secretary Linda Ottho (also acting as Club Administration Director), Mike Storey Director of Service Projects, Larry Pretty Director of International Service, Leo Nimsick Director of Rotary Foundation (also acting as Club Trainer), Denis Denischuk Director of Public Relations, Peter Roaf Director of Programs, Mel Baly Director at Large.
President Lynn Cameron gave her opening address to the group and she is planning on carrying on in the same direction that Peter has led our Rotary Club. We now have all three Delta Rotary Clubs on board with the Rotary Park Improvement Project so that can move forward now. This is a large project and will require funding from many sources including all three Rotary Clubs and various levels of government. We will continue with the EC Patio Project at the hospital and continue to focus on membership recruitment and retention. President Lynn wants everyone in our club to serve on at least one committee this year. Many committees are already formed, and those not on a committee will be contacted to confirm your interests so we can find the right volunteer/committee position for you. President Lynn will be looking for the support of the whole club when it comes to the Rotary Calendar and the Rotary TV Auction. Both of those projects require help from each and every Rotarian. President Lynn also thanked Kathy and Ed Klassen for visiting and supporting our Installation 2009 dinner. President Lynn let our favourite Honorary Rotarian Ed know that "they are and will always be wlecome". President Lynn will be involved in the planned Chile Friendship Exchange with Larry Pretty. Anyone interested in the Chile Friendship Exchange is encouraged to put your name forward so you can keep informed and perhaps help in the planning. This is a great opportunity to see another country from more than just a tourist perspective, you get the chance to meet new people, make new friends and really get to know the country. We, in turn, will be hosting our new Chilean Rotarian friends and showing them our country later in 2010 or 2011. This same type of exchange worked really well with our New Zealand sister club. Talk to our members to find out what an exciting trip they had when they went to New Zealand (Irene, Walt, Barry, Lynn and others).
President Lynn spoke on the Rotary training seminars that will be available this fall. All interested club members are encouraged to attend. President Lynn has completed all three levels and several others in our club have also taken various levels of this training. Our club has a reimbursment policy for our members taking any Rotary courses that improve their leadership skills. This training program was established in 1994 to assist in improving the Rotary knowledge and leadership skills of the future leaders of clubs and districts, the Rotary Leadership Institute is a multi-district program already functional in 110 districts around the world. The institute offers a training program in three full-day sessions, followed by graduate seminars. Trainers are carefully selected from among Rotarians with outstanding leadership abilities and prepared to conduct innovative and participatory course sessions.
GENERAL:The Institute offers a leadership development program in three full day sessions (Parts I, II and III). The courses are designed to provide Rotary knowledge and to develop leadership skills for voluntary organizations. Some examples of course sessions include:
After Lynn's address, Irene spoke on the history and meaning of the talking stick. Past President Peter passed this ceremonial talking stick to President Lynn for safekeeping for this Rotary year. PDG Leo spoke on the meaning of a Paul Harris fellowship. Each year, our club awards a deserving Rotarian and this year was extra special. Past President Peter assisted with the initial presentation of this year's Paul Harris to Brad Cooper. Then, another Paul Harris was presented to Brenda Sheen and another Paul Harris to Jon Yee. For both Brenda and Jon, this is their second Paul Harris and this is indicated by the sapphire set into the Paul Harris pin (this is called a Paul Harris plus one). All three Rotarians have made great contributions to help make our club what it is today and all three lead by example. Two of these Rotarians are past presidents and one is President Nominee. All three Rotarians have been involved in all our club projects and activites, from the Calendar project, the TV Auction, Farm Awareness Day, cooking Christmas Dinner at South Delta Rec, pitching in whenever they are asked, serving on the Executive, to helping organize the annual Foundation Dinner for the district. All three have been recognized and rewarded for being the great Rotarians that they are. Denis wound up the evening, thanking several people including Irene & Pam & Art for helping organize this evenings event, thanking the band for redirecting their payment to Polio Plus, and thanking the Police Band Piper for his services. Denis asked if he missed anyone, Jeff called out loudly "yourself". Denis did a wonderful job organizing the evening & being our emcee, and was rewarded with a loud round of applause as the night ended. |