Rotary Shares Kicks Off in Ladner

District Governor Dean Rohrs, Past President Bill Bramwell, fellow Rotarians and honoured guests:

Well, as the saying goes.I missed the meeting where the Club chose its President.so here I am. It is, in fact, an amazing honour to be sandwiched between Past President Bill Bramwell and President Elect Peter Podovinikoff. They both have been Rotarians for a lot more years than I have and they both have been extremely successful in their respective professional careers. I feel indeed humbled to serve as the President of the Rotary Club of Ladner in the year that we will celebrate our 50th anniversary. Coincidentally, I will also turn 50 during this 2007-2008 Rotary year.

I also want to specially thank Marion Burnett for joining us tonight. Seriously, Ernie Burnett was the coolest over-80 dude that I have ever met. I am so honoured to have his widow Marion joining us tonight.

In the last 5 years, Rotary has made a profound difference in my life. Through many Rotary workshops and seminars, I have actually become a better businessman. I have learned to work less and achieve more. I have also found some amazing mentors, many are here among you. You have helped me redefine the meaning of success. You have taught me to be grateful for what I have and what I can give. I am filled with gratitude when I think that I can count you all among my friends.

In five short years, I've learned from Past Presidents: Mel Baly to 'Sew the Seeds of Love', Denis Denischuk to 'Lend a Hand', Brenda Sheen to 'Celebrate Rotary', Mike Storey to return to our root of 'Service Above Self' which inspired Bill Bramwell to 'Lead the Way'.and now we are ready to show the world that 'Rotary Shares'.

Yes, in this year of Rotary Shares, we want to share our past by celebrating where we have come from -- our 50 years of memories and achievements as the Rotary Club of Ladner. We will invite the four clubs that we sponsored to share in our celebration - North Delta, Tsawwassen, Vancouver Centennial and a Sunshine Coast Club. I invite all of you to help plan our biggest and best party ever tentatively scheduled for February 2008. I invite you all to join in to celebrate our Club's 50th anniversary.

We also want to share our present. In the last few years, I was lucky enough to get to know Ernie Burnett, Ted Towers, Colin McKenzie, Tony Morabito and Arden Leung. We are so lucky that we still have elder statesmen like Ron Bollen, Clark Wise and Michael Cruise who are active with our club. In fact, PDG Michael has agreed to serve on our club's board as Director of Rotary Foundation this year. PDG Leo Nimsick, who's not quite as old, will serve our club as Club Trainer. Newly retired and Past President, from a long time ago, Arthur Birk will help bring back many wonderful memories to our 50th anniversary celebration.

It is a time of transition. Past President Mel Baly has recently retired. Second generation Rotarians like John Thomas and Jim Burnett, both past presidents just like their respective fathers, Stan and Ernie, have experienced significant changes within the last year. After overcoming some major physical challenges himself the last year, Jim lost his older sister Margaret to cancer just a few days ago. John concluded the sale of his family's company Delta Cable a few months ago. John had work there for 40 years in his still young 60-year life. While both are still very busy with their professional and personal endeavors -- John and Lindae are also eagerly anticipating the arrival of two more grandchildren -- I am hoping that both John and Jim will also be significant participants in our Club this year. I have invited Jim to serve as Club Director of Service Projects and John will help us create the best celebration ever.

We also need to share Rotary with a new generation of Rotarians. We need to create an atmosphere of inclusiveness for younger members like Melissa Granum, Tracy Yolland and even long-time member like Richard Lowe. We also want to embrace the return of Marjorie Higginson, another one of our Past Presidents and a recently retired Assistant Superintendent of Delta School District. Incidentally, I am happy to report that Marjorie had lunch with Delta Secondary's Principal yesterday. She is championing our effort to bring Rotary to the high school by creating an Interact Club for 14 to 18 year-olds this coming September. Kelly Guichon, who happens to be the Chair of our School District Trustees, has agreed to take on the challenging role of Director of Public Relations. We hope she will help us brand successfully Rotary Club of Ladner to a new generation of Rotarians.

In this year of 'Rotary Shares', I would like to share with you Rotary Ladner's 3 I's - be included, be informed and be involved. We want everyone to feel included regardless of age, race, gender, marital status or religious affiliation. We want both busy people and not so busy people to all feel they can contribute. We want this to be a club where diversity will be our strength, instead of our weakness. We want everyone to be informed about what is happening. We will find creative and effective ways to let all members know what's going on in our club, in our Rotary family and community, in our Rotary district and in the Rotary world. Most importantly, we ask for you to be involved. We want to encourage the participation of spouses, partners and other family members in Rotary. All spouses and partners are invited to every meeting. You don't have to wait for the "Spouse Luncheon" to come.

Ed Klassen, a Past President and an Honourary Member of this club, has created a fantastic exchange with New Zealand's Mount Maunganui club where trips where shared with the spouses - our team consisted of Lynn and John Cameron, Irene and Charles Forcier, Walt and Claudette Hayward and Barry and Margaret Irvine. Past President Barry Irvine is now preparing an exchange of children or grandchildren of Rotarians with the New Zealand club. To make Rotary cool, we need to have wonderful programs for our Rotarians to share with their families.

In conclusion, I want to remind you of two things: the definition of Rotary as defined by the ABC's of Rotary and the Six-Way Test. I will get to the Six-Way Test in a minute. Rotary is an organization of business and professional people providing humanitarian service to the local and world community, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations and promote peace and goodwill around the world. That sounds pretty cool, don't you think?

The Six-Way test is the traditional 4-way test plus 2.

The Four-Way Test:

1. Is it the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendship?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

To which, I would like to add two more:

5. Is it fun?

6. Is it interesting?

In other words, if it is not fun or interesting, we will not be doing it.Thank you. Let us look forward to sharing Rotary this coming year.

Now, for something fun to cap off this evening of Rotary Shares, we are going to honour Past President Bill and Marilyn Bramwell for leading the way in creating a legacy in the Rotary Foundation. Recently, Bill and Marilyn made a leadership pledge to join the Bequest Society by pledging to leave at least US$10,000 in their will to the Rotary Foundation. I am happy to report that a couple other Rotarians in this Club have already indicated to me that they will join Ruby and I in making similar pledges in the upcoming months. On behalf of the Rotary Foundation, we now ask Past District Governor Leo Nimsick and District Governor Dean Rohrs to make a recognition presentation to Bill and Marilyn Bramwell as members of the Bequest Society.

Chu Wu

President 2007-2008

Rotary Club of Ladner (Delta)

Rotary International District 5040