October 24th is World Polio Day. Our club will be marking this day with an update on Polio and will be asking Rotarians to donate what they can to End Polio Now. We will make a combined donation on behalf of our Rotary Club and I'm happy to say that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be matching everything 2 to 1. Our sergeant will be circulating the basket so each Rotarian can share a quick story about Polio, an experience with Polio, or simply what they are thankful for regarding End Polio Now. Please give what you can and let's eradicate this disease from the world forever!
On October 31st, District Governor Lindagene Coyle will be visiting our club. She will be giving a presentation on the happenings with District 5050 and her plans for the year. We also have some special cheque presentations to Abbotsford Starfish. I'd love to see a full turnout of Rotarians. Come out and meet your District Governor for 2017-2018! There will be no tables stakes, marble draw or Sergeants this day.
Join Rotary President Ian Riseley and his wife, Juliet, at the 2018 Rotary Convention in Toronto. The cosmopolitan city of Toronto offers something for everyone and is the perfect setting for the biggest event of the Rotary year.
As a past convention attendee, you understand that every convention is an opportunity to learn. We hope you'll come to Toronto to connect with old friends, make new ones, and be a part of the best Rotary has to offer.
As you may know RI President Ian Riseley is holding six peacebuilding conferences around the world. The first of these international conferences is close to and easy for your members to attend. On February 9-11, 2018 in Vancouver, BC the presidential peacebuilding conference will examine sustainable global and local environmental practices, and their contributions to peacebuilding and peacemaking.
Participants will discuss the impact of environmental issues on health, fresh air, clean water, vegetation, and food production – and how improved environmental conditions are a fundamental condition of building peace within communities. The conference will bring together community leaders, youth, and representatives from the public, private, and government sectors. Attendees also can participate in a hands-on service project the morning after the conference.
There will be a focus on how Rotary clubs can involve their local community in sustainable projects and peacebuilding.
The conference website has a list of keynote speakers, link to book a hotel room, draft program and a link to the registration. Please visit: www.EnvironmentandPeace.com.
The registration is currently $250 Canadian.
Rotarians from the US, Canada and around the world will come together at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver for this conference. Will your club be represented?
Thank you for all you do for Rotary and your community,
Chris Offer, PDG for Rotary Peacebuilding Conference Vancouver
The January 2018 Peace Arch Journal is available here
DISTRICT GRANTS SEMINARS REMINDERS
February 3rd - registration deadline - January 29th
Two people from each club, one must be the President Elect, must attend and become qualified in order that the club is eligible to apply for any grant monies.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (RLI)
March 10, 2018 - Surrey - 5 Star Catering, 5640 188 Street, Surrey, BC V3S 4N5 Registration is now open. Please choose Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 or the Grad Program and ensure that you register for the correct part. Cost is $60.00 Canadian. Any registrations after February 28th will be $70.00 Canadian.
WELCOME
District 5050 welcomes its 58th club, the Pacific Northwest Passport Club. Charter celebration will be March 3, 2018 at Northwood Hall, Bellingham. More information on district website.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
At our conference, we will be honouring the Rotarians who have passed away but remain with us in spirit since the 2017 conference, held in early May. Please send a headshot photo and a bio stating information about: family, Rotary induction date, Rotary positions, awards, profession, interests and other significant facts. Please send the bios and photo to Maureen Boyd maureenelizabethboyd@gmail.com by February 15, 2018.
SAVE THE DATE
March 16 & 17 - Snohomish County Rotaract chartering celebration with District 5050 Rotaract 50th year celebration. Further details to follow.
April 7, 2018 - District Training Assembly - Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey. Registration will be open soon.
Since the launch of Rotary Global Rewards on 1 July 2015, over 100,000 members have visited the site! We would like to thank you for supporting the program by spreading awareness of it among your district and clubs.
If you have not visited Rotary Global Rewards recently, we now have over 1,500 offers worldwide. We recommend using the member benefits program both locally and when you travel.
If you’d like to give discounts to other Rotarians, add your own company’s special offers to the growing portfolio of Rotary Global Rewards. To date, over 350 offers have been posted by Rotarians.
We have also added two new and exciting global travel offers, a hotel discount center and an airline discount center, which provide great discounts and give up to 10 percent of your purchase back to Rotary.
Rotary International continues to work on branding and communication of our organization throughout the world. They are pushing for greater exposure within the press, radio, television and social media.
To this end, we would like to encourage all members to participate, with contribution, on our social media sites.