Thursday, September 23, 2010

Rotary's Great Canadian Food Fight

Victoria area clubs will unite with the Mustard Seed Food Bank to raise funds and collect food at Fairway Market stores.  Harbourside Rotary Club will be at the Quadra Street store.  Westshore Mall will be manned by Colwood and Westshore Club members.  Oak Bay will man the store on Oak Bay Avenue and Rotary Club of Saanich will attend to three stores on Mackenzie and Shelbourne Avenues as well as on Gorge Road.

This is the second year Rotary clubs have done this.  Mustard Seed claims the funds increase up to five fold the amount of donations compared to times when they fund-raise alone.  Fairway Markets is wonderful partner for this as they provide printed material, a space for Rotarians to work comfortable, and their cashiers accept Interact and charge cards.  Customers can add amounts to their grocery bills or convenience. 
 
Rotarians generally work shifts of two hours; although we tend to restrict our senior members to one-hour shifts.  They need only bring a smile and any Rotary paraphernalia they have.  Working the food drives gives Rotarians an opportunity for fellowship.  It is fun and I get a chance to talk to anyone without them thinking I am crazy.  If you would like to join in the fun, talk to your club president or email alanf.jones@telus.net.  Drop by any of the locations and encourage the Rotarians on shift with food items.

Saanich Club's "Plant A Seed To Read" Fundraiser

The Victoria READ Society and Rotary Club of Saanich are teaming up to present "Plant A Seed To Read" Gala Dinner and Fundraiser on Saturday, October 23, 2010.

READ Society is increasing the number of available spaces this year for youth who need an extra boost to keep up their reading, math and study skills. The Greater Victoria area is in need of more funding to address literacy challenges; proceeds from this gala will be used towards these needs of our youth as well as other new generation programs within Rotary.

For more information visit the Rotary Club of Saanich website or contact Alan Jones via email alanf.jones@telus.net or call 250-592-7044.

For tickets or to donate to the auction phone: (250) 721-0445 or email: info@saanichrotary.org Be part of the solution and have fun doing so!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up 2010


Today, 18 September 2010 marks the first day of the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up, which runs through September 26th. Two Oak Bay Rotarians, Lynne Murray and Jim Force along with a UVic Rotaract student joined more than twenty other folks for two hours in an effort to clean-up Willows Beach in Oak Bay. The event was organized by the Oak Bay Community Association with hot dogs, fries and drinks provided by the Oak Bay Kiwanis. This was a wonderful opportunity for community service.

Check out this blog’s events calendar for the Bowker Creek and McNiell Bay clean-ups next week-end, September 24th and 25th.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Rotaplast: Victoria Rotarians off to Cebu, Philippines

On October 11, two Greater Victoria Rotarians, Troy Alexander and Tricia Timmermans, will travel to Cebu in the Philippines as part of a Rotaplast team, along with veteran Rotaplast volunteer, Bent Harder of Courtenay, and three other District 5020 Rotarians from Olympia, WA.

Welcome to the blog for the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

This blog is to give all Greater Victoria Rotary Clubs an opportunity to create an awareness of the Community and International service projects (past and present) that they have participated in. The goal, in keeping with the 2010-2011 theme of Building Communities, Bridging Continents, is to promote Rotary through active, vital dialogue for the purpose of gaining "cooperation and support to make the world a much better place to live and work.”  Ray Klinginsmith, RI President.

We invite all Rotarians, Rotaract and Interact students, and guests to join in the conversation. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Jim Force, Tricia Timmermans
On behalf of the PR Committee, Rotary Club of Oak Bay