Celebrating 50 Years of Service!

 
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Club News
The Rotary Club of Ladysmith was busy last week delivering cheques to Ladysmith Arts Council, LaFF, LRCA, and Ladysmith Historical Society to support local community programming.  These funds were raised under Rotary’s Community Donations Program administered by the Community Gaming Grant Branch, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, also known as B.C. Gaming.  In addition to the cheques handed out last week, $9,500 will be given to Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation for scholarships being awarded to Ladysmith Secondary School grads later this year
 
On February 1st Rotarians Brian King and Suzzane Otterson met with Carmen Barclay, LRCA's executive director and outreach worker Shannon Crowards. They presented the LRCA with a $1000 cheque to help continue their school backpack food program. Rotary of Ladysmith helped start this initiative a year ago November with an initial donation of $4500 toward their pilot project. The school backpack food program gives food bags to underprivileged children each Friday to ensure nutrition over the weekend.
 
When Ladysmith and area residents think of Rotary they may first think of local landmarks like Ladysmith Golf Course or Rotary’s signature events such the annual golf tournament or the garden tour.  It may come as a surprise to many Ladysmith Rotary is making a significant difference in lesser developed countries through micro-loans as well? 
 
Micro-loans are loans made in small increments to self employed persons so that they can start or expand their businesses. In the case of Ladysmith Rotary, we fund these loans to budding entrepreneurs in countries such as Guatemala and Honduras.  Over the last 10 years 1195 (!!!!) of these loans have been made due to Ladysmith Rotary.  
 
The lending is done through a third-party (Kiva) And they simply rollover these loans so their impact is multiplied dramatically: 
 
The Rotary Club of Ladysmith recognizes the service provided by the Ladysmith Interact Club, During the month of December the Interact Club organized a food / cash drive at LSS with proceeds to be donated to the Local Food Bank
 
 
 
The town excelled in this year's Festival of Lights, successfully warding off the rain during the parade. The Rotary Club of Ladysmith extends heartfelt appreciation to both residents and guests who visited our concession stand. We extend our sincerest thanks to Save on Foods for their generous contribution to the event by donating all the food. Through the food sales by donation, we deeply appreciate the support from participants, enabling the Rotary Club of Ladysmith to continue our mission of aiding the local community.
 
 
 
On Wednesday, September 27th, the Cowichan Valley Rotary Clubs had the distinct honor of a visit from  District Governor Caleb Summerfelt of District 5020. It was an evening that epitomized the spirit of Rotary, emphasizing fellowship, community service, and the profound impact that one person can make.
The evening was filled with warmth and camaraderie as Rotarians from various clubs in the Cowichan Valley gathered to welcome District Governor Caleb Summerfelt. As the sun set over our beautiful community, we were reminded of the power of unity and the sense of purpose that unites us all in the Rotary family.
In his address to the members, District Governor Caleb posed a thought-provoking question: "Can one person make a difference?" It's a query that lies at the heart of Rotary International's mission, and the answer, resounding in its simplicity, is an unequivocal "yes." Rotary, as an organization, has consistently demonstrated the transformative power of individual actions when channeled through a collective effort. We have seen how one person's passion, dedication, and commitment to service can create a ripple effect that touches countless lives.
District Governor Caleb had the privilege of inducting Ladysmith's newest Rotary member, Shabnam Rana. In that moment, we witnessed the continuation of Rotary's legacy of service, as one individual took the first step on a journey that will undoubtedly lead to positive change within our community and beyond.
District Governor Caleb also presented Ladysmith's Eillen Beltgens  with a Paul Harris +2, a well-deserved honor for her dedication and commitment to Rotary's mission of "Service Above Self." Her journey exemplifies how each Rotarian's unique efforts can accumulate over time, creating a lasting impact on our communities.
Rotary is not confined to borders or boundaries. Our international reach was evident as we had the pleasure of hosting Solveig Lossin from Basel Switzerland, our Rotary Exchange student. Solveig's presence highlights the interconnectedness of the Rotary family, as she becomes acquainted with Vancouver Island and builds relationships with fellow Rotarians from diverse clubs. Her experiences here will undoubtedly shape her worldview and foster a lifelong commitment to service.
 
 
On Monday, October 2nd, the Tour de Rock Riders came through Ladysmith.
 
Rotary Club of Ladysmith presented a donation to Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock 2023 at The Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall. It was a great evening as we met the riders over dinner. Donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society through Cops for Cancer are used to fund life-saving pediatric cancer research and caring support programs like Camp Goodtimes to reduce its impact. 
 
 

"A Wet but Wonderful Day: The 13th Annual Charity Golf Tournament"

Despite a day filled with rain, laughter, and camaraderie, the 13th annual Charity Golf Tournament, co-hosted by the Ladysmith and Chemainus Rotary Clubs, was a resounding success. With 116 enthusiastic players, delicious food, and an array of exciting activities, this event not only showcased the spirit of giving but also proved that a little rain couldn't dampen the spirits of those who came together to make a difference.

The Rotary Club of Ladysmith will be conducting a Bottle Drive Fundraiser on October 14, 2023 to support its Youth Programs.