Sunrise bulletin for the week of November 21, 2012

We were very happy because we had “almost” perfect attendance this week! It’s has been a long time since we have a full house! Steve McGrandle was a guest today.
 
Rotary Moment – John Haley

John shared a story called “Taking big bites out of polio in the Big Apple” by Ramesh Ferris, polio survivor and member of the Rotary Club of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
 
In this story, Ramesh talks about how he is taking action and how his is sharing the urgency of polio eradication with world leaders. Ramesh has been a key player with Rotary to raise awareness and funds for polio eradication across Canada. To do this, he hand-cycled more that 7,000 kms across Canada. During this tough journey, he took every opportunity he could to talk about the disease to others.
 
Ramesh was born in India and he contracted polio after 25-years after the world had a vaccine to prevent it. When he was 18 months old, his mother gave him up for adoption so he could have a chance at a better life.  He joined Rotary which has worked tirelessly to eradicate this disease since 1985.
 
We all can make a difference. Canada agreed to match every single dollar raised by Canadian Rotarians, up to $1 million, to fight polio!
 
Announcements:

Abigail announced that this year’s Christmas dinner will be held at Lawrence and Bev’s place on December 1st at 4:00pm. If you want to join, please do not forget to email Abigail and let her know.
 
Matthew announced that everything is almost ready for the West End senior’s lunch that is happening on December the 2nd. This is going to be for around 350 seniors. Feel free to join us to celebrate the 25th West End senior’s lunch anniversary. We need around 3 volunteers to serve lunch. Please join us at 10:00am.
 
Guest speaker – District 5040 Governor, Rebecca MacPherson.

It was an honor to have Rebecca as a speaker in our club.  She started mentioning this year’s RI theme: “Peace through Service”, but what is peace? On its simplest level, peace can be defined by what it is not: It is a state of no war, no violence, no fear. It means you are not in danger or hungry, you are not in prosecution or suffering. Peace can be also defined by what it really is:  Peace can mean freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of choice.  Peace can also mean inner happiness, sense of calm or serenity.
 
No matter how we use or understand the word peace,  Rotary really can help bringing peace to other.  Rotary can help to meet the basic needs of others,  by providing health care, sanitation,  food and education when and where it is needed the most. Through Rotary programs and service, we know that we work together as Rotarians, we really can make a difference no matter how big the problem is. It doesn’t matter what our culture, what our background, where we live, what our social standing is, but as Rotarians we all have one thing in common: We want to make a difference in the lives of who have less than we do.
 
For Rotary Clubs to continue to do the good that we do, we must bring in new member.  Lets make sure that our Club, is a club that others would like to join!
 
Rebecca invited us to the 2013 Rotary International District 5040 Conference in Quesnel, BC on May 17 – 20, 2013.
 
"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Etienne de Grellet
 
Thought of the day:

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go”  - TS Elliot