June 6 TBA (I should hear back very shortly)

June 13 Fellowship meeting with the Daybreakers club, Joint executive meeting to follow(our current and upcoming executives)

Westbank Rotarians Plan for the Future

Under the guidance of a team of

District 5060 Visioning trainers, 18 of

the 28 Rotarians from the Rotary Club

of Westbank participated in a

visioning process using a Rotary

International model proven to be

highly successful in clubs around the

world.

Ed Hanes from the Rotary Club of

Kamloops Daybreak, Joseph Seiler

from the Rotary Club of Oliver and

Roger Perry, a member of the Rotary

Club of Vernon Kalamalka and the

District 5060 Foundation Chair,

facilitated the visioning process.

Facilitators Roger Perry, Joseph Seiler and Ed Hanes

While the vision statement for the club

must still be refined, the vision will

recognize that the club is one that will

be active in the community and

beyond through a committed and

highly active membership which will

focus on implementing new and

creative ways to identify community

needs and ways to

achieve its goals.

Through the process,

the club identified

and then prioritized

specific goals that it

would like to focus

on over the next five

years. The facilitators

focused the participants’

attention to the following

areas for long range goal

development: club

administration, vocational service,

community service, new generations,

international service, fundraising,

Foundation support, and public

relations.

With respect to membership, the club

members agreed that the club required

a cross section of all age groups who

were all active and who contributed

financially to the club’s projects and

to the Foundation. Club members also

recognized the importance of having

members on the club from the

Westbank First Nations and indicated

that the club should be committed to

achieve this.

In follow up to the Visioning session,

selected Rotarians will now synthesize

the club member responses to

formulate a vision statement and

summarize the prioritized goals for

club review.

October, 2011, Volume 10, Issue 4

Calendar of Events

Sept. 26 – “My Safe Ride Home” (Scott Walker) Oct. 03 – Kyla Humeniuk (Writer’s Workshop Experience) Oct. 10 – No Meeting (Statutory Holiday) Oct. 17 – Club Assembly Re Visioning Report Oct. 24 – Business Meeting Oct. 31 – Halloween Party for the Family Nov. 07 – No information available

The Taste of Westbank of September 24th in Photos

District Governor Hollingshead Makes Annual Visit to Club

The members of the Rotary Club of

Westbank had the opportunity to host

District 5060’s District Governor

Garry Hollingshead. While the DG

has visited the club on several other

occasions over the years, this was the

first time that he did so in the capacity

of District Governor. The DG was

accompanied by his wife Marion, who

were both making their first official

meeting in Area 4 (Central

Okanagan).

DG Hollingshead first met with the

executive of the club prior to the

regular meeting, at which time he was

updated on the plans the executive had

for the club in the2011-12 Rotary

year.

DG Hollingshead was introduced to

the club members by Area 4 Assistant

District Governor Bruce Falkins.

In an address to the members, the DG

referred to RI President Bannerjee’s

theme and guiding principles. The

DG reminded the Westbank Rotarians

that we should “never forget that we

are primarily here to serve.” He

pointed out that to do this, we must

first start with ourselves. “Look

within yourself first….reach within,”

stressed Hollingshead.

DG Hollingshead focused his

presentation on the need for all

Rotarians to address the recently

established Fifth Avenue of Service,

New Generations. To illustrate just

how effective our young people can be

in reaching out to those less privileged

and in seeking peace throughout the

world, he shared stories of recent

young people from District 5060 who

had received ambassadorial and peace

scholarships, who have already made

a difference in addressing

humanitarian needs and in attempting

to bring about peace. According to

Hollingshead there are over 500 peace

fellows out in the world today who are

clearly making remarkable inroads for

peace in different parts of the world.

“Through these scholars, we can as

Rotarians be the catalyst to establish

peace,” offered Hollingshead.

Hollingshead challenged the club

members to do as much as they could

to support young people, no matter

what organization they belong to.

DG Hollingshead, in conclusion,

shared that “we sometimes have to

reach out,” to truly experience what it

is to be a Rotarian. When we reach

that point, we can truly make a

difference at the club, community and

district level, and beyond through our

support for humanitarian work

throughout the world.

Club Members Remember Charter Member Kaz Taneda. Club members were saddening to

learn that Kaz Taneda, a charter

member of the Rotary Club of

Westbank and member of the club

between 1976 and 2005 passed away

on August 22, 2011, at the age of 83.

While Kaz and his wife Mary have

been living in Ontario for the past four

years ago, his heart was always back

in the Okanagan.

A memorial service was held on

September 17 at the St. Paul’s United

Church in Kelowna.

Kaz served on the executive of the

Rotary Club of Westbank for many

years, serving as a director for the

Rotary years 1983-84, 1984-85 and

1998-99, and as the president of the

club during the 1985-86 Rotary year.

Kaz was a very active member of the

club volunteering for many

community projects that the club

implemented and in providing

leadership, particularly during the

early years of the club’s formation and

service.

When Kaz left the club, he retired as

an Honourary member. During his

membership with the club, he also

received a Paul Harris Fellow for his

support of The Rotary Foundation.

The members of the club extend their

condolences to Mary and her family.

International Guests Attend Meeting

The members of the Rotary Club of

Westbank were privileged to host a

number of international guests at their

September 19th meeting.

Gunter von Steinaecter, Past District

Governor (2007-08) for District 1870

in Germany and his wife Barbara,

along with Suehash Nageshker from

the Rotary Club of Kolhapur Mid-

town in India joined the club while

visiting the Central Okanagan.

Gunter is a member of the Rotary

Club of Munster.

During the evening, PDG von

Steinaecter and club president Deb

Winsby exchanged club banners.

Suehash, an annual visitor to the

Okanagan was involved with the

Rotary Club of Westbank in a

humanitarian project in 2008-09.

Each year he makes a point of

visiting the Westbank club.

Club Member Profile

Jo-Anne Blau

Joined the club in 2004 (May)

Executive Positions Held:

Director 2006-07

Director 2010-12

Committee Chair and Other Positions:

Chair, Club Administration Committee 2006-07

Chair, Membership Committee 2007-08

Chair, Foundation/International

Service Committee 2010-12

Club Representation on Community

Committees and Events:

Member, Ethiopian Needs Assessment

Committee 2007

Committee Member, Taste of Westbank 2009

Coordinator, Movie Night 2010

Awards Received:

Paul Harris Fellow 2010

Valentina Arrives Home Safely

Hi Canada! Hi all of you Rotary

members in Westbank and Peachland

and my host families!

After my cross Canada tour, I had just

one day left to pack before I left for

home. My Canada tour was a blast! I

especially loved Montreal and

Toronto. I will definitely go there

again! Seeing Lake Louise and the

Rockies was pretty cool too but at one

point it got kind of boring because we

hardly saw any wildlife

When I had to leave Canada I was

really sad. I got back to Austria

quickly, probably because I was

thinking too much of the awesome last

year I had. I kept thinking, “why

didn't I just miss the plane?” But there

was this contract I signed.

When I arrived at the airport in Zurich

and saw my family the first time after

nearly a year, I was overwhelmed.

Everything seemed surreal. It was the

most awkward feeling I've ever had in

my entire life, and it lasted for quite a

while.

Two months after my arrival, I have

finally got back into my "normal"

daily life and Canada seems really far

away, or like a dream. The only things

that remind me of the good times are

the friends I acquired and the

communication I am having with them

and my host families, as well as the

numerous photos, the clothes, my

blazer, the gifts and the two signed

flags which hang in our hallway.

While my life is back to normal, there

is still something special which has

changed, which is probably me….but

I just can't figure it out!

I am in Grade 12 and I hope it will

only take me only this year to finish

my secondary education and to also

pass the main exams from the past

four years which I will take in May in

June of 2012.

Finally, I want to thank all of you

again for hosting me and letting me be

a part of your life and for also being a

part of my life. I extend a big thank

you to the district and all the Rotary

Clubs for supporting me and for

always being in a good mood.

Seriously! I think both of the Rotary

Clubs of Westbank and Peachland

were like a family to me.

I want to thank my first host family

for taking the step to host me, and for

keeping me even though I emptied the

milk jug and the yoghurt container

most of the time. You helped me to

overcome my fear of dogs, and would

you believe it, my family and I are

thinking of getting one.

Thank you Debbie for the hosting. I

loved our dinners and Sunday

morning breakfasts, and I still think

that we are the best in handling snow

blowers. I hope Merlin is doing fine

and is still on his league.

Last but not least, I want to thank my

third host family! I couldn't imagine

my year without them. I got to know

so many new people and experienced

so many new things. It was great

being a part of this crazy family.

I wish all of you good luck in your

future and I hope I will see all of you

once again. My home is always open

to you and I hope you will come to

visit me!

John Edwards to Serve as Contact for Jr. RYLA

Club member John Edwards has

agreed to serve as the club contact for

the new District 5060 Jr. RYLA

program.

The program will take place from

October 24-25, 2011. More

information about the program and

location of the event will be

available from John Edwards in the

near future.

Sheriff and Greeter/Grace Assignment

Greeters are responsible for setting up and taking down the banners, flags, and podium, and for introducing the guest speakers. Program coordinator, Susan Parsons, should be contacted to attain a biography on the speakers.

Remember that it is your responsibility to find someone to substitute for you if you are unable to fulfill your duties.

Club Members Recognized for Their Contributions

Sylvia Hermans and Marjolein Lloyd,

co-chairs of the Rotary Club of

Westbank WaterPark Planning

Committee, were recognized by club

president, Deb Winsby, for their

outstanding leadership and

commitment to the planning and

development of the club’s waterpark

at the Westbank Towne Centre

WaterPark on September 26th. Both

members were presented with a

framed Certificate of Appreciation

from the club.

It was because of the tenacity and

never failing optimism of Hermans

and Lloyd that the project finally came

to fruition. Without this type of

leadership and commitment, the

waterpark would not be now

providing children from the

community with a safe and enjoyable

environment for hours of pleasure.

The certificates that were presented

expressed appreciation to the club

members “for years of outstanding

service and achievement involved

in the Westbank Towne Centre

Park Children’s Water Park.”

“My Safe Ride Home,” A Program That Saves Lives

A unique risk intervention program

that provides a premiere quick pick up

prepaid taxi service, called the “My

Safe Ride Home,” program, is now

available in the Central Okanagan.

Scott Walker, a local volunteer and

coordinator of several different

Central Okanagan service programs

who spear-headed the program,

speaking to the Rotarians from the

Rotary Club of Westbank on

September 26th, outlined how the

program started and how it enables

people of all ages to have a safe ride

home from wherever they are and in

whatever situation they are. “This

allows the user of the program to

quickly leave a risky threatening or

dangerous situation,” stated Walker.

Also referred to as the SMARKRISK

Program, the program enables all

people to purchase a prepaid card that

provides payment for a safe ride

home, 24 hours a day, seven days a

week. Currently, the SMARTRISK

Program is in all but one of the high

schools in the Central Okanagan, and

in all of the high schools in Kamloops

and Vernon. It is quickly spreading

throughout North America and

beyond, pointed out Walker.

Birthday Wishes Happy Anniversary

Oct. 03 – Pam Allmand Oct. 03 – Tracy & Rick deJong

Oct. 17 – Bruce McNeill Oct. 18 – Pam & Rob Munholland

Oct. 22 – Willie Findlater

Oct. 25 – Pam Munholland

Oct. 31 – Linda Edwards

Recognition P0int Changes Coming

Commencing October 01, 2011,

Rotary Foundation recognition points

will be awarded for contributions to

the Annual Programs Fund ,

PolioPlus, or the sponsor portion of a

Foundation grant. One Foundation

recognition point will be given for

every U.S. dollar contributed to these

funds, which can then be extended to

others to help them become a Paul

RLI Scheduled for Leadership Training

The District 5060 Rotary Leadership

Institute (RLI) Training Team has

scheduled another Institute. This

fall’s RLI program will be held on

October 29, November 12 and

November 26 in Salmon Arm.

A team of trainers from West

Kelowna, Kelowna, Armstrong and

Penticton will facilitate the sessions

during the three days. Coordinator Ed

Kolybaba shared that the program has

now graduated over 60 Rotarians from

a majority of the clubs north of the

border in District 5060. He added that

four sessions have now been offered

since the fall of 2008, three in

Kelowna and one in Penticton.

Registrations will be received until

October 15th.

The cost of the program is $255 per

participant which will be paid by the

clubs.

Harris Fellow. Donors will no longer

need to be a Paul Harris Fellow

themselves before Foundation

recognition points are awarded.

Rotary Horn of Africa Famine and Refugee Fund in Place

In response to the humanitarian

crisis in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya,

and Somalia, the Rotary

Foundation has established the

Information and registration forms are

available from the club president,

secretary and Club Administration

director. Information, photos from

previous Institutes, testimonials, and a

registration form are also available on

the District website.

District Rotary Development and Training Weekend

As previously reported, the District

5060 Rotary Development and

Training Weekend will take place in

Penticton on October 14-15. The

agenda and registration form is

located on the district website.

The event will include district team

training and leadership development,

sessions on the Rotary Foundation,

grant writing, public relations,

literacy, New Generations,

membership recruitment and retention,

and fundraising. Sessions will also be

provided specifically for secretaries

and treasurers and for Rotaract

members.

Participation in the training is a must

for all executive members and

directors, but is open to all club

members.

Rotary Horn of Africa Famine and

Refugee Relief Fund, which will

support recovery projects in the

affected areas.

Learn how to donate, and read about

District 9200’s famine relief efforts in

northern Kenya.

District 5060 News

District Calendar of Events

Oct. 14-15 – District Rotary

Development and

Training Weekend in

Penticton

Oct. 22 – TRF Future Vision

Training (Kelowna)

Oct. 24-25 – Junior RYLA

Oct. 29 – Day1, Rotary

Leadership Institute

(Salmon Arm)

Nov. 12 – Day 2, Rotary

Leadership Institute

(Salmon Arm)

Nov. 26 – Day 3, Rotary

Leadership Institute

(Salmon Arm)

Dec.09-11 – Youth Exchange

Weekend in the

Mountains

(Revelstoke)

Feb. 18 – Pre-PETS North

Mar. 08-11 – PETS (Seattle)

May 03 – Jun 03 – District

Conference 2012

(Penticton)

Rotary International News