Miscellaneous

Repeat from last week or until no longer relevant or until I delete it or it bears repeating:

OUR THURSDAY BREAKFAST MEETING IS ACCESSED THROUGH THE LINK BELOW.

Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87015409995?pwd=jmQDQAVbzSnDMp8WDrSXeBDA8xZPma.1

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) Thankyou Debbie T.

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

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. via Joyce

VISITORS

a group of men are standing next to each other in a room and talking .

If you didn't seem them there Thursday boy did you miss out!!! Larry Moe and Curly Joe. (or maybe Shep)

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND

CLUB BUSINESS

Send Melinda the dates you are available for Sergeant at Arms and Inspirational Quote. If you can't make it on the day you are given please find a replacement.

If you have an idea for speakers let Debbie S. know.

Something about a Rotary Picnic in Ladner with all clubs invited.

Also a fun run, I think sometime in September. We all get to race against Debbie S. If you can beat her you get her Audi EV.

Speaker

Roast, Toast... and One Very Well-Earned Victory Lap

Our annual Roast and Toast for outgoing President Debbie turned out to be far more toast than roast—a sure sign that finding something unkind to say about her is nearly impossible.

The festivities kicked off with Michael, who transformed Debbie into the world's best-dressed Rotarian-cyclist, complete with cycling jersey, sunglasses, helmet and water bottle. He reminded us that Debbie's name means "honeybee," a fitting description for someone who spent the year buzzing tirelessly from project to project while somehow keeping our club moving in the right direction. He also offered his own "D-E-B-B-I-E" acronym, highlighting Debbie's determination, empathy, bravery and dedication.

As the microphone made its rounds, a common theme quickly emerged: Debbie's kindness, resilience and ability to remain calm while steering a club full of strong personalities.

Larry praised her compassion—not only for Rotary and her family, but for animals and for supporting fellow members through life's difficult moments. Judy thanked her for leading the club through a successful year while balancing family and personal challenges. Chris M. delivered a clever poem celebrating Debbie's seemingly endless supply of meeting notes, emails, school board commitments and her famous mystery bell that never quite wanted to cooperate.

Lawrence shared how enjoyable it has been getting to know Debbie outside Rotary, noting that her son Trevor clearly inherited her determination and commitment to causes she believes in. John M. observed that every Rotary president leaves a legacy, and Debbie's may well be convincing the club to finally invest in a microphone so everyone could hear her gentle voice.

Susan called Debbie "the real deal," thanking her for being the calm voice reminding others to breathe—even when she herself was carrying the weight of the presidency. Peachy, Melinda, Debbie S., Joyce and many others echoed similar sentiments, describing her as compassionate, resilient, hardworking, generous and someone who always puts others first.

Of course, no roast would be complete without at least one playful jab. Bobby, reflecting on his time as Treasurer, jokingly handed Debbie a red card for allowing committee meetings to stretch into long, wine-filled evenings. Somehow, no one seemed too upset about that particular offence.

By the end of the morning, one thing was abundantly clear: Debbie didn't just serve as president—she served with heart. She guided the club through challenges with grace, championed Rotary's values, supported members through both triumphs and hardships, and somehow still found time to hop on her bicycle and keep pedalling.

Congratulations, Debbie, on an outstanding year. We hope your next ride involves fewer agendas, fewer emails, and plenty of smooth roads ahead. 🚴🥂

SERGEANT At Arms Tidbits

Debbie T. reflected on how much Rotary has meant to her, sharing that during a particularly difficult period in her life, coming to meetings gave her purpose and helped keep her going. A heartfelt reminder that Rotary is about far more than service—it’s about supporting one another.

Susan was full of gratitude after attending the Seniors Tea with her mom, saying it was the first enjoyable outing they'd shared in quite some time. While they were sipping tea, Glenn and Ryan were hard at work ensuring a brand-new washer and dryer arrived safely at home. Talk about teamwork!

Peachy had an action-packed couple of weeks, working the Filipino Pinoy Festival before heading to the Seniors Tea, where she gave rave reviews to Larry’s hospitality (especially the giant strawberries!). She also visited another Rotary club and came away even more convinced that our club is the best around. As Peachy put it: "Nobody can beat our club!"

Melinda is embracing summer with her granddaughters and a heartwarming new friendship. She’s been bringing meals to a 91-year-old widower in her neighbourhood, who has since invited her granddaughters over to bake cookies. It’s a wonderful story of kindness bringing generations together—and of one young granddaughter learning that doing good comes with some pretty sweet rewards.

Garth enjoyed a trip to Parksville and reminisced about a childhood neighbour whose workshop was every young tinkerer’s dream. Chris’s story about her neighbour brought back fond memories of simpler times.

Debbie S. had everyone laughing with stories of "the Monkey Man" from her family’s Pender Island cabin days—a neighbour who owned a diaper-wearing monkey. She also proudly sported orange in support of the Netherlands and joined fellow soccer fans cheering through the FIFA excitement.

Peggy hopped on the SkyTrain to soak up the FIFA festivities downtown and was amazed by the electric atmosphere. From revitalized Granville Street to crowds proudly wearing Canadian colours, she loved seeing the city come alive around the beautiful game.

Joyce echoed Peggy’s enthusiasm, saying it had simply been a fantastic week filled with great events and even better company.

Bobby experienced FIFA live with his family and declared the atmosphere unlike anything he’d ever seen—even compared to games in Europe. Between soccer fever and a busy week at the bank, he’s keeping plenty occupied.

John returned from visiting family in Kitchener, noting that relatives—like fish—are best enjoyed for about three days! He also shared a great success story involving his daughter-in-law’s permanent residency application. With a little help from ChatGPT, they quickly figured out the FBI fingerprint process, turning what they expected to take weeks into just a few days.

Larry was still recovering from organizing the hugely successful Seniors Tea (and cleaning what felt like an endless supply of strawberries!). More importantly, he shared an emotional update on his health. After meeting with a team of specialists, he learned his case is so unusual that it’s become the subject of a medical study. While another surgery lies ahead, Larry’s trademark optimism shone through as he credited his positive attitude—and his late mother’s wise advice—for helping him keep fighting. The room responded with admiration and support.

Judy celebrated grandkids’ milestones, from Sports Day to a Grade 7 farewell, while preparing for several fun-filled days babysitting her energetic grandson. She also had front-row seats to the Swiss FIFA supporters gathering outside her Olympic Village home and later joined the roaring crowds cheering on Team Canada. To top it off, she proudly tackled a clogged drain herself—although a plumber may still be getting a call!

Chris M. stole the show with a suspense-filled tale of "The Rat That May (or May Not) Still Be in the House." After a late-night sighting, she, Rod, neighbours, the family dog, and a rather underachieving Maine Coon cat launched an all-out search operation. Despite turning the living room upside down, the mystery remains unsolved. Hopefully the next chapter doesn't involve unpleasant discoveries behind the furniture!

Lawrence is eagerly counting down to a family Disneyland trip, where relatives from Taiwan and the U.S. will gather for a long-awaited reunion. Planning has already begun in earnest, with YouTube videos on the best rides getting plenty of viewing time.

Debbie T. (returning later) shared that she would be speaking at Burnett Secondary’s graduation, using Rotary’s Four-Way Test as part of her message to graduates. She also encouraged members to participate in the upcoming Steveston Canada Day Parade before congratulating the incoming Rotary leadership.

Michael admitted to having plenty of butterflies as he prepares to step into the President’s role, despite everyone assuring him he’ll do just fine. He also shared family summer plans, a story about the surprising accessibility rules at Disneyland Paris, and ended on a more somber note by informing the club of Kal’s brother’s passing, encouraging members to reach out with their condolences.

Another Sergeant-at-Arms session proved once again that no two weeks in our club are ever the same—filled with laughter, travel, family milestones, soccer fever, mystery rodents, heartfelt gratitude, and the unwavering support that makes our Rotary family so special.

MEANDERINGS

Carl Friedrich Gauss was an 18th century mathematician. Apart from everything else he did, which you can learn about by following this link, Carl Friedrich Gauss - Wikipedia, he also found all of the prime numbers between 0 and 3,000,000. Like who has anything else to do.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Usually the Gala date is here for the year but no one has told me the date yet.

TODAY'S CHUCKLEs

I've been squatting at the gym; but unfortunately, I got thrown out when someone came to use that locker.

When I tell people I live in a condo below some guy I've never heard of called Dwayne Johnson, they think I've been living under The Rock.

How do you know when you are out of invisible ink?