Message From the President – Nov 2024

As we mark the passing of one third of the Rotary year, it is time to reflect upon what has happened, and what still lies ahead. We have begun the 120^th Rotary year, since Paul Harris created the Magic of Rotary. Our focus has been on membership development, led by Sarah Pruckl and her committee, and placing the Kalamalka Rotary Club in a positive light to attract and retain members. We have chosen to publicly make the community aware of our mission and accomplishments, to attract new membership and let everyone know what an outstanding club that we belong to. We have been through the Rotary calendar for months of Maternal and Child Health, Membership and Club Development, Basic Education and Literacy, and Community Economic Development, and placed a special focus on World Polio Day.

We have been graced by excellent program choices and speakers, from classification talks from Patti Lefkos about her amazing trek in Nepal, and Patty Burt on her outdoor exploits, to updates on arts and culture in Vernon, outbound exchange student reflections, peace building and a heart touching presentation from Sarah Vienna and Firm Foundations Romania, exposing the orphan crisis there. And amid all of this, we launched the Dream Auction, which we are just days away from coming to reality. The Legacy committee, led by Peter Evans and Mike Nolan, after almost a year and a half since its beginning, presented us with options for a legacy project in our community that we can call ours, namely, the Rotary Okanagan Science and Technology Centre. We have indeed been busy!

As we sweep into November, Foundation month, led by Roger Perry, we will learn more about the Foundation and what it means to our club and the world. We will welcome the Raffan family to the stage to perform for us at the 40^th Dream Auction gala, to be held on November 16^th. I want to congratulate and specially thank Faith Wood and her committee for tireless efforts to make this event a gem, in our Ruby anniversary.

We will honour our veterans on November 11^th, and give them our everlasting gratitude for creating the freedoms that we enjoy every day in our country. Please wear your poppies with pride, and remembrance.

Embrace your fellow Rotarians as we all pull to make this club a better environment, to spread our magic. We will celebrate our successes in December at our annual Christmas dinner function, and enjoy the classic humour of the Tacky Gift Exchange, where we try to unload our worst gifts on the unsuspecting. Thank you all for making the initial months filled with activity and I look forward to cataloging the remaining months ahead. Thank you for your support, and may the rest of 2024 be everything you thought it could be!

Personal regards,

Brian Reid
President, Kalamalka Rotary 2024-25