Club Information
Richmond Sunrise

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Thursdays at 7:00 a.m.
Riverside Ballroom
1231 Burdette Road
Richmond,
Canada
Join us on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86855229058?pwd=c1pxUklLeDMwWGpCdjIrOS9Oak4wUT09 Meeting ID: 868 5522 9058 Passcode: 473892
Join Us Online [Login to view details]
District Site
Bulletins
Venue Map
Club Stories
Philanthropy with Jeff Golby
This Week’s Speaker: Jeff Golby – Rethinking Philanthropy with WellFunded
This morning, we welcomed back a familiar face — Jeff Golby, former CEO of Acts for Water, whose clean water projects our club has proudly supported. While Jeff has recently stepped back into a full-time volunteer role with Acts for Water, he’s also been busy tackling a much bigger challenge: fixing the inefficiencies in the philanthropic sector. 
Jeff was presented with a $5,000 cheque for the Water Works program and an external Paul Harris award for his outstanding contribution to his international project.
 
 
Holiday Poinsettias That Do Double Duty
Planning to buy poinsettias this holiday season? Make that purchase count twice. The Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise is offering premium poinsettias at competitive prices—with 100% of proceeds supporting both local Richmond initiatives and global humanitarian projects through the Rotary Foundation. It's a simple win-win: you get beautiful flowers for your home while funding clean water projects, medical missions, youth programs, and community support that spans from our neighborhood to six continents. Order by November 17th and turn your holiday décor into meaningful impact: https://rotary-club-of-richmond-sunrise.myshopify.com/.
Read more...
Kiva Day 2025
This week, we turned the spotlight on one of our own: Sam Jaffe, who gave us an entertaining and informative update on Rotary Richmond’s ongoing involvement with Kiva.org — a nonprofit platform that connects lenders with borrowers around the world through microloans that truly make a difference.
 
Lake Chapala Project
We are proud that the project which we have helped fund is well under way, improving water sanitation in Ojo de Agua, Mexico.  Wonderful collaboration with you, Sunrise Rotary Club of Lake Chapala!
 
Jeannette Patacsil Paul Harris Award Winner
 
Congratulations to Jeannette Patacsil on winning the Paul Harris Award. A relatively new member to our club, Jeannette has participated in so many causes and this year took on the role of membership chairperson.  A well-deserved award, Jeannette! 
 
President's Dinner
Such an evening!  Richmond Sunrise Rotary held our President’s Dinner this week, celebrating Peter Levelton’s successful presidential year, and welcoming Debbie Tablotney as our new president.  Thanks to Pat Atkinson and her team for organizing such a lovely evening at the Richmond Golf and Country Club.
 
Egg Drop
Fun times at Richmond Sunrise Rotary this Thursday morning as we challenged our engineering skills to help some poor eggs survive a fall.  With 7 of the 8 eggs remaining intact, congratulations to Judy, Debbie, Kal and Marg for the most elegant drift downwards.  Sorry that yours cracked, Sam, but thanks to you for lots of laughter! 
 
COME Family Toilet Project in India
Richmond Sunrise Rotary just received photos from Ravi with The COME Family Organization from India, whose toilet installation we supported in 2023/2024. The toilet block is now complete, comprising 5 clean toilets and 4 bathrooms, ready to serve the children who need them most.  They wrote “Your support came not just as funding—it came as hope, reminding us that even in moments of struggle, humanity shines through”.
 
Gilmore Breakfast Wrap!
It's a wrap!  June 3rd was the final Breakfast at Gilmore and students showed their appreciation with a Thank You card to our own Marg Dixon, who organized the year of pancake breakfasts!  It was a pleasure to serve you, Gilmore!
 
Richmond Firefighters Golf Tournament
On May 29, Richmond Sunrise Rotary participated in the second annual Richmond Firefighters Golf Tournament at Tsawwassen Springs, raising funds to support mental health for students in Richmond.  The weather cleared up, the golf was ‘great’ and the spirit was excellent!  Such a worthy event! 
 
Port Moody in Belize
Thanks to Brian, Al and Glen of the Port Moody Rotary Club who attended our morning meeting to share their experiences – past, present and future – in Belize.  What amazing work you are doing, supporting education and community well-being using RACHEL as a key tool. We were very impressed! 
 
Happy Birthday Kal and Judy
Happy birthday to Kal and Judy!  We celebrate your birthdays, but also your joie de vivre and the way you make us smile and laugh!  A shame Judy’s handling of the cake knife was a mangled mess – guess they don’t make them like in the 1950s! 
The inGirlsClub
Thank you, Vicky Ryan, for bringing inGirlsClub to our attention – see https://www.ingirlsclub.com/   We were enthralled by your personal story and your journey towards creating a world where girls with neurological or developmental differences feel celebrated, included and connected – where they make and enjoy friends.  
 
Amanda Sinclair, Chair
Amanda Sinclair, this year’s Gala Auction Chairperson.  Congratulations, Amanda!  You did it! 
 
Earrings lost, found, auctioned!
The Balloon earrings, lost on the ceiling, recovered by Brian Cole.   Then submitted for a last-minute Live auction item, winning bidders looking pleased!   
May 2 Auction Gala Success!
May 2 - 2025 Sunrise Rotary Gala!  A huge success with amazing stories.  Rivalry bidding among friends, lots of reconnecting among guests.  Thanks to all the guests, donors, volunteers and Rotarians.  This year preliminary numbers indicate well over $125 000 raised, including a healthy amount for our featured charity – Heartwood Women’s Centre.
 
Rotary Auction Gala Setup May 1
May 1 we set up!  Looking good, the auction items, the ballroom and the people!  Thanks to all the Rotarians who worked so hard to put this year’s Gala together!
 
Susan Ness wins District Governor's Award
This year’s District Conference was an astounding success.  Our own Susan Ness received a District Governor's Award for her volunteer work on the Organizing Committee and was called up on stage again by the DG for his recognition & expression of appreciation being given to the District Conference Organizing Committee.
 
Rotary World Help Booth
The Rotary World Help booth at the House of Friendship District Conference RID -5040 on April 25-27, 2025 with our Rotarians, President Peter Levelton, Elena Agala, Susan and Ryan Ness, Jeannette Patacsil and Pat Atkinson.
 
District Conference Apr. 25-27 a huge success
The District Conference April 25-27 at the River Rock was attended by Richmond Sunset Rotarians: President Peter Levelton, Elena Agala, Susan and Ryan Ness, Jeannette Patacsil and Pat Atkinson. and Danny Salcedo with Dr. Nishal Pandey, representing Rotary International at the conference.  Dr. Nishal Pandey, who is a Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon & a Rotarian, and who was the Conference R.I. Representative, gave congratulations to the success of the Conference, and as well expressed kudos for the many amazing Club Projects mentioned.  Caring Hearts Dental Mission (Danny Salcedo) was included amongst those that he congratulated.
 
Auction Gala Masquerade May 2
 
It’s coming soon!  Our annual Auction Gala fundraiser is on May 2nd at the Riverside Ballroom.  The theme this year is Masquerade, and we have an impressive lineup of about 250 Silent Auction items, and 10 amazing Live items.  Contact your Rotarian for more information!
Welcome Maryam Bawa
Introducing Maryam Bawa, Richmond Sunrise’s latest Rotarian. After an installation by Gordon, we played Kahoot to learn about Maryam’s life, passions, accomplishments and drive.  So many degrees, so much volunteering, so much experience both international and local, and so much love of Richmond. Maryam was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour, created to commemorate his coronation on May 6, 2023, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada.  Thank you, Maryam, for all that you have done already and all that you will do, with your new Rotarian family!
Rotary News
The game changer

Meet your 2026-27 Rotary president, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola

Indian developer donates US$50 million to The Rotary Foundation

Ravishankar Dakoju pledged that he and his wife and fellow club member, Paola Dakoju, would donate approximately US$50 million (4.5 billion Indian rupees) to The Rotary Foundation.

Olayinka H. Babalola urges members of Rotary to Create Lasting Impact

Rotary International president-elect emphasizes effective action and ‘embracing the world with open arms’

Nanotechnology brings safer water to the Ganges Delta

Nanotechnology brings safer water to the Ganges Delta

Care for the emotional wounds

A husband-and-wife team came up with first aid for mental health on a dog walk. They want you — yes, you — to join this global movement