Improving our world and our community is service above self

Keeping the service alive

There’s nothing more powerful than a good idea, said Saanich Rotary president John Wilton at the club’s 50th anniversary, celebrated at the University Club May 23.

“The way you improve our world and our community is service above self,” he said, addressing members old and new who came together to share a dinner “to honour those committed to that concept.”

Since 1948, the Rotary club has raised more than $330,000 for local and overseas charities. As well as being extraordinary fundraisers, the Rotarians have also been active in their community, canvassing for various causes, loading containers for the Compassionate Warehouse and manning the Salvation Army Kettles over Christmas.

“It’s a wonderful organization and the people are very enthusiastic,” says upcoming president John Noyes. “Their heart is in the right place and they want to help the community and people in need.”

Rotarian Naz Rayani, who heads the annual Aga Khan Partnership Walk, is also a master at enlisting new club members.

Retired teacher Llynda Pearce is among the 20-odd enlistees.

“When Naz invited me to join the club I said, ‘Oh, I’m quite busy,’ and he said, ‘That’s what we want, busy people, because busy people get things done.'”

Saanich mayor Frank Leonard and Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong joined the club’s leadership at the head table.

“I am just absolutely amazed that Rotary is still going strong … at a time when we see a decline in a number of service clubs that have been around for a long time,” Chong said.

Complete at the source