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This is the weekly bulletin for
The Richmond 
Sunrise Rotary Club 
for September 18, 2025

Miscellaneous

 
 
Repeat from last week or until no longer relevant or until I delete it or it bears repeating:  
 
Yeah you heard me - fo ge tabout it. 
 
 
 
OUR THURSDAY BREAKFAST MEETING IS ACCESSED THROUGH THE LINK BELOW.
 
 
Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
 
 
Zoom Meeting Rules 
 
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)Welcome Autumn. 
Please direct any questions or concerns to the President or a board member of your choosing and the board will discuss any and all questions or concerns during a board meeting. Also please refer to the members committee anyone who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the club.
 
 
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
 
Silence is sometimes the best answer. Anonymous via John
 
   VISITORS     
 
Yuhan Chen President of the Rotary Club of Richmond
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND 
CLUB BUSINESS
 
Thanks to Debbie S. for hosting the summer social.
 
Thanks to Lawrence for hosting the board meeting and to Bobby and Michael for the food. 
 
Container loading this weekend, Elena will send out an email for those who are interested. 
 
Speaker
 
So if you still have any doubts about how good ChatGPT is - this is what came out of the discussions on Thursday. My prompt was:
 
These are the recorded voices from a Rotary meeting where two issues were discussed. Our rotary gala and a thrift store project. there were questions and comments on both topics. can you please review the recording and provide as best as possible a summary of the points and questions and answers that were given on each topic.

Topic 1: Rotary Gala – Casino Night & Auction

Key Discussion Points:
  • Casino Night Proposal:
    • Idea is to add a casino night experience to the gala.
    • Guests would purchase play credits/tokens (no cash winnings allowed) and use them for blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, etc.
    • Tokens convert into prize draw tickets – players can enter for baskets or items.
    • Extra credits can be purchased during the night; proceeds go to the club.
    • Estimated cost for casino setup: around $3,000 for ~8–9 tables (mix of regular and premium tables).
    • Recommendation: have enough tables for 25–30% of guests to play at a time (50% would be too expensive).
  • Concerns Raised:
    • Cost vs. potential revenue – need to make sure it’s financially worthwhile.
    • Ensuring non-gamblers also enjoy the night (other activities like auction items would still be available).
    • Need bigger prizes to make casino play appealing.
    • Licensing requirements and whether extra ticket sales would be cost-effective.
  • Auction Format Discussion:
    • Concern that last year’s auction had too many items (320+) and not enough engagement.
    • Suggestion to switch to a ticket-based draw system (guests buy tickets and drop them into boxes for items they want).
    • Could reduce the number of items and simplify logistics.
    • Still locked into Givergy contract, but could adjust quantity of items.
  • Action Items:
    • Amanda to send out a survey to gauge member interest in casino night.
    • Consider inviting Jacqueline (experienced with casino events) to a future meeting.
    • Plan to start gala 30 minutes earlier to accommodate gaming time and close tables before live auction.

Topic 2: Thrift Store Project

Key Discussion Points:
  • Proposal Overview:
    • Key Discussion Points: Three Rotary clubs potentially collaborating (one club declined for now).
    • Location: former Steveston hardware store – large space, good layout, parking in back.
    • Goal: create a sustainable, year-round fundraising hub for Rotary projects.
    • Proposal includes guaranteed collateral (likely property), but details need clarification.
  • Benefits Discussed:
    • Promotes environmental sustainability and youth involvement (Interact, Rotaract).
    • Opportunity to raise Rotary’s profile and attract new members.
    • High community demand – other thrift shops turning away donations due to lack of space or staff.
    • Potential for free labor support and volunteer interest (including students).
  • Concerns & Questions:
    • Governance: Would require a formal board, not just a committee, with proper directors & officers insurance.
    • Liability: Need clarity on WorkSafe BC obligations, staffing, and volunteer policies.
    • Financial Risk: Need to review full business plan, collateral offered, and budget.
    • Club Commitment: Need at least one or two members willing to sit on the governing board.
    • Timing: Not urgent, but needs a walk-through and further due diligence.
  • Action Items:
    • Interested members to participate in site walk-through.
    • Form a committee/board representation if moving forward.
    • Proposal and budget revisions to be circulated (Debbie T. will send updated version).
    • Presidents of clubs to meet with district leadership in coming weeks to discuss next steps.
 
 
SERGEANT At Arms Tidbits
 
Okay so there was no S at A this week so I took last weeks and asked GPT my best buddy to liven it up a little. Or perhaps ROAST it up a little. No offence intended. 
 

Sergeant-at-Arms Roast: The “We’re All Busy but Marylou Wins” Edition

Amanda – Amanda is apparently running on jet fuel. One minute she’s at a board meeting, next she’s in Bobby’s “secret lair,” then off to Cultus Lake to cheer on her family’s open-water swim team. Monday she’s road-tripping to Edmonton to meet her great-nephew — who will learn very quickly that “Great Aunt Amanda” is really just Aunt Amanda with more wine.
 
Michael – After three trips, two photo retakes, and one existential crisis, Michael has finally conquered the passport office. His new passport arrives September 17 — just in time for him to flee the country before he has to renew it again. Kids are back in school, meaning his life is once again organized, or at least quiet enough to drink coffee in peace.
 
John – Daughter Darcy’s business is now a finalist for the Delta Chamber of Commerce Environmental Award and she’s up to 19 employees! John is proud, but also slightly concerned that if she keeps hiring people, she’ll soon have enough staff to stage a hostile takeover of his retirement.
 
Lawrence – Still trying to gain control of his LinkedIn account like a hacker in a spy movie. Rumor has it his next step is meeting Leanne over virtual coffee — which sounds suspiciously like therapy for tech support victims.
 
Marylou – Marylou wins the “Most Ridiculously Glamorous Life” award: jazz cruise, Milan, Croatia, Slovenia — with carry-on only. The rest of us are still traumatized trying to fit a pair of shoes and a laptop into a backpack. This weekend she’s hosting houseguests, Sean’s 40th birthday party, and Oscar’s first day of kindergarten. She’s juggling more than Cirque du Soleil.
 
Dalbir – Finally got the grandson’s passport sorted after multiple court appearances — because nothing says “family bonding” like international bureaucracy.
 
Marg – Found a mysterious Slovenian souvenir during her cupboard purge — possibly cursed, possibly a bottle opener. Hung out with her superhuman 97-year-old relative who still drives, delivers Meals on Wheels, and restores trams, proving most of us peaked decades ago.
 
Judy – Hosted her siblings for dinner, then battled smoke alarms that wouldn’t stop beeping even with new batteries. She’s now accepting advice — or an exorcist.
 
Debbie M. – Working through a summer of firsts without Manuel, and now dragon-boating her way to Penticton on a tiny prop plane, luggage-free. She says it’s easy. Marylou is still laughing in five languages.
 
Kal – Had the drive of his life at Savage Creek — 400 yards! Unfortunately, it is now living its best life somewhere in the Fraser River. Predicts the Seahawks will beat the 49ers. (We’ll check back Monday to see if Kal is still speaking to us.) Sadly he is!
 
Bill – Spent the weekend at two back-to-back funerals, reminding us that even in sad times, Rotary friends show up to honor one another’s lives.
 
Blair – Something about visiting kids and grandkids and provinces — basically Blair is on tour like The Rolling Stones, but with fewer guitars and more booster seats.
 
Sandra – Heading for a cruise through Italy and Croatia. Offers to take extra luggage for Marylou, which is the most selfless act of friendship we’ve ever heard.
 
Maryam – New school year, new class, and “interesting combinations” of students — which sounds like teacher code for brace yourself.
 
Brian – Eleven days at Christina Lake cliff-jumping, boating, golfing, eating A&W with Adam — then a hot, AC-free truck ride home. Sounds like paradise, if paradise came with heat stroke.
 
Bobby – Ran a wedding where the cake mysteriously disappeared (he swears he just “nibbled fruit”), hosted the board meeting with wine and takeout, then stayed late cleaning up hoping someone would notice. He finished his week with a 15 km family bike ride, proving he is still powered by chaos.
 
Susan – Shared a magical three-generation moment: her mom playing piano for her son. Honestly, we all feel like Susan is secretly living inside a Hallmark movie.
 
Jeanette – Survived Bobby’s four-hour board meeting, snuck out early, and is doing it again today. This is her new superpower.
 
Peachy – Shared an incredibly heartfelt update about someone she’s helping through surgeries and dementia care — reminding us that even in tough times, we can all be someone’s lifeline.
 
Larry – Had his lively 82-year-old mother-in-law in town. They shopped for “must-have” luggage and ate their way through the week. Now that she’s gone, Larry’s house is so quiet he might actually miss the chaos.
 
Elena – Pulled off a busy event weekend and still had energy to DJ the party. She’s basically Rotary’s answer to Beyoncé.
 
Garth – Promised an update next week, which we will hold him to — or we will start making them up.
 
Debbie T. – Helped run International Overdose Awareness Day events, then reminded us that every time she goes out with her son, he spills coffee and blames the car. At this point, we’re wondering if the car just hates lattes.

Closing Thought of the Week

If there’s a moral here, it’s this: Rotary members are either traveling the world, fighting bureaucracy, juggling chaos, or losing cakes — sometimes all at once. Whether you’re cliff-jumping, passport-wrangling, or just trying to get your smoke alarm to shut up, remember: we’re all in this together… and at least Marylou has room in her carry-on if you need to escape.
 

MEANDERINGS    

 
Here is a book recommendation for our member affectionally known as "Roadrunner." One Hundred Runs in a lifetime. If she hasn't read it she doesn't know that you would have run 1,152.8 miles if you ran every run in the book. 1,576 steps for running up the Empire State Building. 7 continents. At 13.2 miles of the Big Sur International Marathon you pass a tuxedo clad concert pianist. No it is not Kal Mahal! 😱
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
 
Third Thursday of every month will be a projects meeting.
 
Friday, May 1st, 2026; Rotary Gala.
 
 
 
 

 TODAY'S CHUCKLEs     

 
 
Premium Vector | Happy Farmer or Rancher Emoji Emoticon Chewing a Barley Straw and Holding a ...
 
Well it is harvest time ya know!
 
 
 
I want to go on record that I support farming. As a matter of fact, you could call me protractor.
 
I think it was a magic tractor; it was driving down a road when it suddenly turned into a field.
 
 
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bob Shoker
September 24
 
Sam Jaffe
September 30
 
Spouse Birthdays
Kal Rai
September 30
 
Anniversaries
Bob Shoker
Karin Shoker
September 7
 
Dick Wagner
Barbara
September 7
 
Join Date
Dalbir Rai
September 2, 1992
33 years
 
Mary Lou Miles
September 2, 1999
26 years