Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells recognized the role Rotary plays in the community during Rotary Week in this February file photo. Outgoing president Dennis Smithers is on the left, and incoming president Brian Rawlings is on the right.
The Rotary Club of Osoyoos is celebrating its 10th anniversary Thursday, honouring some of the people who made the club what it is today.
The event, which gets underway with cocktails around 6 p.m. at the Walnut Beach Resort, will be combined with an annual general meeting (AGM) and the election of a new board, said outgoing president Dennis Smithers.
The new president, Brian Rawlings, will officially take his new post at the meeting.
Several dignitaries have been invited to attend and address club members and other guests, Smithers said. MP Alex Atamanenko and his wife Ann are expected to attend as well as Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells and his wife Martha Collins.
MLA Linda Larson can’t make it because the B.C. Legislature is in session, Smithers said.
Following a dinner and words from dignitaries, Rotary district governor Garry Hollingshead will be introduced and will present a Paul Harris Fellow Award to Osoyoos Rotarian Ron Lee in recognition of his member donation of more than $1,000.
Rawlings will then introduce past presidents of the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, including founding president Michael Welsh.
Each past president will say a few words about the year they served.
Welsh spearheaded the formation of the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, arranging for the Oliver club to sponsor the Osoyoos club so that it could be chartered, Smithers said.
The Osoyoos Club had 23 members when it first formed in 2003, about the same as its current membership, although there has been some turnover, Smithers said.
Charter member Jeff Duguid said the Rotary Club of Osoyoos was the first Rotary Club he belonged to, although he was there from the beginning.
In addition to numerous fundraising campaigns for local charities and recreation facilities, Duguid points to the annual student exchanges as being an important activity that Rotary supports.
This year Rotary brought student Isadora Bastos to Osoyoos from Brazil, and also sent local student Tiana Smith to Finland.
A list of community causes and campaigns that Osoyoos Rotary has supported is long and spreads over several pages. It ranges from small donations to major contributions.
In 2008-09, for example, the club contributed $25,000 to South Okanagan Medical Foundation for a mammography machine.
This year Rotary contributed $10,000 towards the Town of Osoyoos Splash Park, while also making a number of other significant contributions to such causes as the hospital foundation, School District 53’s Roots of Empathy program, public skating, the CASI van and Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre, among others.
While much of the club’s activities revolve around doing good deeds for the community, Duguid points out that the social aspect is also very important – members like to have fun.
That’s exactly what they’ll be doing Thursday night when the formal part of the evening is over. They’ll clear the floor and dance, said Smithers.
BY RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
