Repeat from last week or until no longer relevant or until I delete it:
Amanda Gala Update (recopied from last week as a reminder):
Get your basket items in. You can either contribute small individual items or put together a full basket yourself. Give the completed baskets to Amanda, but the items to Marg.
Bring two bottles of wine to a morning meeting.
Lawrence has a contact offering a discount on liquor, so if you want your cash to go a bit further let him know, he’ll do a bulk order next weekend (March 22)
Amanda will send out another email about the best basket items.
We need someone to lead the volunteers for the 2026 Auction.
We need sponsors for some remaining categories.
Gift certificates go to Debbie S. when she returns.
April 7 is basket making at the Funeral Home at 6 p.m. A signup sheet will be coming.
Cutoff for all entries into the Givergy database is April 3. Get your items in as soon as possible.
Let Sandra know about your tables/ticket sales and let Debbie M. know if you need a table for 12.
Live Auction Items – we currently have 8, but need 10, so if you have another idea, please let Amanda know. Experiences are very attractive.
Hours are the same for the gala as in previous years – 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Menu will be slightly changed, with appetizers: tempura prawns, chicken bites, bruschetta, caprese salad skewers – all being served before sitting. Dinner is: salads green and pasta, prime rib, mushroom pasta, cilantro fish, a chicken dish? roasted vegetables, assortment of breads and balsamic on the table, mini cannoli and cheesecakes for dessert.
Games will be 50/50, Heads and Tails, and a Balloon Game.
If you don’t have time to buy items for the auction, you can let Chris know, and she’ll shop for you.
District convention April 25-27 at the River Rock
President’s Dinner confirmed, tell Pat if you’re coming
Pathways Fundraiser evening is May 1, the night before our auction. Mary Lou is organizing a table. Three spots left at the table.
OUR THURSDAY BREAKFAST MEETING IS ACCESSED THROUGH THE LINK BELOW.
Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
1) Mute your microphone if you aren't already muted. Background noise is distracting.
2) If you are not engaged in the presentation, turn off your camera.
3) Chat function should only be used to address the speaker, not for Club member remarks during the presentation
4) Unmute when harassing the Sergeant at Arms or taking your turn during Sergeant at Arms.
5)Return the Statue of Liberty
Please direct any questions to the President or a board member of yourchoosing and we will discuss any and all questions or concerns during our board meeting. Also please refer anyone who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the club.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
From Mary Lou and ChatGPT "Together, we have the power to create positive change in the world. When we combine our hearts, minds, and hands, no challenge is too great, and no dream is too far. Let’s continue to serve with passion, inspire with purpose, and lead with compassion."
VISITORS
Here for Susan’s birthday are Andrew (her brother) and Francisco.
Peter Roaf, Assistant Governor District 5040.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
CLUB BUSINESS
District convention April 25-27, River Rock. So far Pat has a list of about 7 attending.
President’s dinner confirmed for June 14 tell Pat if you are coming.
Pathways Fundraiser evening is May 1, the night before our auction. Mary Lou is organizing a table. Three spots left at the table.
World Rotary Convention is June 21-25 in Calgary. At least 4 are going.
Happy Birthday today to Susan and Elena!
Next week’s breakfast by Elena and group
Bring a list of the things for your baskets to Marg as at the moment we have only wine
Speaker
Elena Agala:
Rotary World Help (RWH). Elena reminded us of the important work done by Rotary World Help, in the hopes that we will be more involved, and perhaps one of us will step up to become a director. Richmond Sunrise is a founding club. Our mission is to help others help themselves. We are Rotary clubs in 5020, 5040 and 5050, a non-profit society, a registered Canadian society.
In 1997, three Rotarians went to Ukraine and saw dilapidated hospitals and wanted to help by shipping medical equipment. After filling their garages, they needed to expand, so they invited other clubs. 7 joined, including Richmond Sunrise, and there are now 43 clubs involved. We have shipped 460 containers to 61 developing countries around the world. Currently, we ship a container every month to Ukraine via Poland. Each container contains medical equipment and is valued at about $350,000. That said, it is often difficult and costly to send to certain countries such as Cuba.
Supplies also include books, hospital beds, masks, etc. Upcoming containers will go to Ukraine, Cuba and Guatemala. Ongoing RWH goals include increasing membership, increasing the pool of active volunteers, increasing donations, and encouraging the use of the matching grants. We can get involved by bringing awareness of RWH, sponsoring a container, and volunteering to load. Membership fees go towards procurement of donated goods, operational and administrative costs, equipment repairs, warehouse expenses, and assisting with container shipment costs. Membership is only $10/year. See the website at https://rotaryworldhelp.com
Elena shared a video created by one of the students at the receiving school in the Philippines showcasing the on-site work done by Rotary World Help.
Peter Roaf, Assistant Governor 5040.
Our club set 18 goals and have achieved 12 of them so far, one shy of getting the Rotarian international award of excellence. There is good collaboration among Richmond clubs and South Delta clubs, which is much better than operating on their own.
With the USA withdrawing from USAID, Rotary will continue to support the polio campaign. DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), which is used as a political weapon, remains our guideline to moving ahead and involving as many people as possible, regardless of background and ability. Although rotary has not made a statement on DEI, we will carry on with that in mind and live our values.
In the Rotary Foundation, we are doing well in our district, moving up to # 3 in the world of per capital giving. We are all owners of Rotary and Peter will post Elena’s presentation to further create the Rotary community collaborating around the world. If you want something done, turn to your neighbour club. The criminal record check is important as we may be dealing with vulnerable children and adults. Both District Conference and International Convention are coming up.
SERGEANT At Arms Tidbits
Sandra had a relaxing time in Mexico but had sad news afterwards, as one of her employees, a young man with autism, passed away after a fall in the shower. He will be greatly missed.
Debbie T. attended an online peace seminar for Rotary wherein they talked about applying the 4-way test to daily life news stories, conversations, especially in these interesting times. We may react physically to some of the gut-wrenching information currently circulating, and applying the 4-way test may help.
Chris M. reminds us that Rod bought her mom’s house next to her house so they could have a double lot, but without having sold his own. In only a week, Rod’s house has officially sold, so they can now breathe easily and turn their thoughts on how to fix up the old house when they take possession in June.
Joyce had a great visit with her son last week. Thanks to the club, we gave 43 pairs of pjs to women at Heartwood and facilitated a visceral feeling of softness during a difficult time.
Dalbir told of David Ker, the District Governor at the time in 1996, who went to Ukraine, one of the original 3 who then came to clubs for help, Richmond Sunrise being one of the first. Dalbir has been to container loadings in earlier years and witnessed the real network of people calling up with equipment.
Marg is glad to be back and was so sick with severe asthma, in bed 10 days, while her cousins were here from England. She had great time in Palm Springs but brings bad luck everywhere - her teams lose, and it rained in Palm Springs. But she still had a marvelous time. A good friend married to a Cuban just got back from a visit where they only had 9 minutes of electricity, water on Sundays, and only access to food on the black market.
Debbie M. had breakfast with high school friends, and they just picked up where they had left off and had fun. With her paddling team, she had brunch on Saint Patrick’s Day. She spent time with her granddaughter.
Judy is back from Kingfisher Spa with Lindsey and her granddaughter, where they had some sunshine, and on the ferry, ran into Jeff Willis (West Coast Wilderness Lodge and former member or our club), taking a group to Tofino. He remembered to ask about Lindsey and their days in Birch Bay. This weekend her grandson in Gr. 7 is in the play “Honk” near the Bayshore and he has the leading role singing as well. Judy thinks, and many nodded, that it would have been nice if Rotary International took a stronger stand defending DEI and inclusion. Could we do something?
Kal has been to 6 funerals lately and keeps looking for his own name in the obituaries, (ED. apparently looking for his own Sixth Sense moment. He does see dead people.)
Blair was a member of the Edmonton club and they had the 4-way test on a banner.
Chewy is on spring break, with the kids sick, and his son is asking if it’s time for school yet. Chewy reminds us he has contacts for wine and can stretch our dollars – he’s shopping on Saturday.
Susan is having a great birthday week, but is on medical leave, back to work beginning of April. She is now well enough to go out, enjoying having Andrew and Francisco here.
Chris B is going on a cruise with her Gr 7 girlfriends, one of them a friend since Gr 2. Malcom was driving them to Whistler but was told to sit by himself. At one point, he heard Chris cackling with laughter, later remarking that he had never heard her laugh like that. “Therein lies the problem,” was her response. Chris found a campaign button of Marg running for president of BCTF. She remembers she went to the spa with Judy for her 25th wedding anniversary.
Amanda is back from Saskatchewan and babysitting her godsons which she found easy if you just let them do whatever they want. Her oldest nephew just had a first baby. Her Dad just turned 66 today, too.
Pat reminded us of the Rotary International Convention for which she is putting together a list of names, so let Pat know if you register. Thanks to Mary Lou for doing attendance while Pat was in Palm Springs watching tennis. Give Pat your makeups for attendance. In meetings in the USA, they always recite the 4-way test at meetings. Her granddaughter is turning 17 and passed her driver’s licence.
Danny is back after a successful dental mission, treating 2499 patients in the Philippines and will do a presentation next week. It was a tiring mission, coordinating 35 members and 40 volunteers, so afterwards, he went to Dubai and Abu Dabi, and other exotic places to relax.
Micheal must put the big story on hold again, until next week. Satnam, our server, is away and is calling Michael to make sure he set up the coffee, computer and tables.
Gordon thanks Peter Roaf for doing lots of PR work for the district, raising our image. Thanks to Elena for establishing our image, and for proudly displaying the huge banners showing Richmond Sunrise Rotary. Happy birthday to me (in a few weeks).
John went to a celebration of life for a 40-year-old woman who died in the street from a coronary embolism. Over 500 people attended, a best tribute, as even her mother didn’t know 80% of the people there. Her choir sang beautifully.
Jeannette is back from the Philippines and getting better after her post vacation syndrome. She had a good time at breakfast for Susan’s birthday (although didn’t know it was her birthday).
Elena thanks our club for sponsoring the container and to Peter for his help with the Rotary Friendship Exchange.
Debbie S. is happy to see kids and granddaughter after her trip to Japan.
Garth feels RWH is incomplete, without the “Network.” He will find time to talk about it later.
Brian simply says good morning. Ah t’were it ever thus!
Chris P. says Happy Birthday to everyone who has a birthday. Which, we guess, is everyone.
Bobby says all good and Happy Birthday.
Peter says his granddaughter in Spain has played 2 games, won 2-0, 3-2, so they’re going for a clean sweep. Pretty exciting!
MEANDERINGS
I hope nobody minds a bit of nepotism. My son Dan wrote the following poem which I think is really good. He writes a blog called "Blog for Chumps" which I don't think has more than 4 subscribers and only Sandy and I read it regularly. Hopefully you will enjoy it too.
Are we more than we can recall?
Well-recognized is repressed trauma, scars without a cause
Pain slipped into the void, yet retained even in its loss
Forgotten stories compose our lives, yet not all of them bitter tragedies
How much does the empty space on a page produce the shape drawn within it?
What of our dusty childhood dreams, obscured by layers of maturing years?
What of enrapturing beauty, uncaptured and so lost to time?
What of the spontaneous laughters, the daily smiles, the banal joys of the every day?
What of the kindness of a stranger, a day made, one among a sea of endless days?
What of you, your name hovering just on the tip of my memory, your face a warm blur?
What of this moment, of any moment, charming but unmemorable?
When I am old and my mind derelict, my life a collection of forgotten moments, will their shadows linger?
How many have forgotten me now, their lives shaped by my own faded contribution?
I content myself with my own annihilation, knowing the ripples of my life will be carried forward without me
A toast, then!
To what? I’m not sure
Its value uncertain; its impact eluding
But I am what I am, built on something I don’t all remember
Here’s to our phantom influences, may their silent echoes continue to reverberate, no longer unsung!
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 3rd, 2025 Cut Off date for prizes and Baskets.
April 7th Basket Making at Richmond Life Centre.
Friday May 2, 2025 Sunrise Rotary Gala Auction
Saturday June 14, 2025; Presidents Dinner
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Richmond Country Club,
Buffet Dinner
Approximately $90.00 per person;
TODAY'S CHUCKLEs
For my yoga routine, I tend to kneel down, bend forwards, bring my head to the floor, and sleep for a short while.
My friend Roger, the IRS agent, said his wife Ginny left him; apparently their relationship was too taxing for her.
I took a different route to the office today, hence the parachute.
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