Stories
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Schools in Guatemala
 Using the money we raised at our November Guatemalan Fashion Show and other donations we have been able to purchase 44 refurbished Chromebooks. The first 8 were brought in luggage in January and the rest are coming through our friends in Texas. We are working with organizations in Guatemala that provide skill training that provide jobs for thousands of disenfranchised Guatemalans. These laptops and the money we raised will allow us to set up 6 rural and community schools with a computer lab and Digital Bibliotheca Education system called RACHEL from Mundo Posible. |
2022 Rotary Earth Day Celebration
 THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Earth Day Celebration and Challenge. Even though this was not a fundraiser we still received $428 in donations for Ocean Legacy. We served over 200 free hotdogs and drinks to kids and parents who participated. Our club filled a pickup truck with trash from the bushes around Transfer Beach and Slack Point. |
Guatemala Fashion Show and Gift Sale |
Ladysmith -Chemainus Rotary Golf Tournament
The Ladysmith-Chemainus Rotary Golf Tournament is back ! Sign-up in advance and join us on September 25th at Mount Brenton Golf Course!
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Rotary bottle Drive
The Rotary bottle Drive returns and we are once again accepting returnable / refundable donations of bottles and cans to help support local Ladysmith Rotary projects. |
Rotary Bottle Drive
The Rotary bottle Drive returns and we are once again accepting returnable / refundable donations of bottles and cans to help support local Ladysmith Rotary projects.
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Rotary Bottle Drive Please join us in our first of a series of bottle drives to fundraise for Rotary projects.
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A Quiet Remembrance Day
Honouring the Fallen in the Age of CovidThe Rotary Club of Ladysmith paid tribute to the fallen from their homes on Remembrance Day due to requests to not attend in person. President Eileen Beltgens arrived at the Cenotaph at 11:15 after the minute of silence and placed a wreath for the Club. |
Rotary Club of Ladysmith 50th Anniversary Meeting
Rotary Club of Ladysmith 50th Anniversary Meeting and Celebration! Eileen BeltgensThursday, October 1st the Rotary Club of Ladysmith invited members, district leadership, Rotarians from District 5020 from Washington and BC, and community friends and leaders to our Zoom celebration of 50 years of fellowship and service in Ladysmith. What fun it was to hear some of the stories, especially in a video from charter members Pat Bryan and Bob Bafaro. We recognize the depth of the legacy our current membership enjoys from the past, and look forward, inspired to re-invent our service for the future! We so appreciated those who took the time to attend and to support our efforts! We heard Mayor Stone read the Proclamation to create Rotary Day and Rotary Club of Ladysmith Week; we welcomed guests – community members and Rotarians throughout the BC-Washington Rotary District; we revisited a list of projects completed over these 50 years and some stories about the past; we heard from the first woman and a two-time President who joined Ladysmith Rotary thirty years ago; student Interact leaders celebrated the past and the future; a fellow Rotarian and historian summed up the community building and support in his discussion about why Rotarians and members of other service organizations do what they do for their communities with passion and commitment. It was a great evening to be inspired and hopeful amid challenges in how we meet and work together. Ladysmith Rotarians are a small club committed to working collaboratively with other organizations to build our community. It takes a community of people to build community.  |
Rotary Sponsor Recognition Day - a Golf Pivot
Rotary Sponsor Recognition DayBy Joan Phillips Covid-19 killed the Ladysmith Chemainus Golf Tournament, so Joan Phillips and Tom Andrew pivoted and saved the day! Thank you to all the amazing supporters we have in our communities. List of supporters available here Sponsor and Donor List |
Celebrating 50 Years of Service - The Ladysmith Golf Course Story
Celebrating 50 Years of Service - The Ladysmith Golf Course Story |
Forrest Field All Access Walking Trail
 Forrest Field All Access Walking TrailIt was a smoky Saturday that members of the Ladysmith Rotary, Kinsmen, Eagles and the Soccer Clubs began preparing the ground and forming for new paving from the parking lot and around the soccer pitch. Part of the work will include widening the existing concrete sidewalk to allow wheelchairs and walkers to navigate around spectators during games. The Clubs have raised close to $20,000.00 for the project through fundraisers, including an All Clubs Oktoberfest at Aggie Hall in 2018 (Lions, Kinsmen, Eagles, Soccer and Rotary) and an “Eggs Benefit” organized by the Oceanview Church of Ladysmith. Funds were also provided through a BC Gaming Grant application and a raffle by the Rotary club of Ladysmith. Island Savings Credit Union donated another $1,000.00 and the Lions Club donated $750.00. - Continued... |
Bottle Drive update |
Rotary Bottle Drive |
Rotary new President and Board Installation via Zoom
At the July 2nd meeting of the Rotary Club of Ladysmith, newly installed President, Eileen Beltgens, introduced her Focus of Engagement with Community, as well as Rotary International’s theme, Rotary Opens Opportunities to the membership. This is also the Rotary Club of Ladysmith’s 50th anniversary! Look for activities this summer and fall to celebrate our involvement in Ladysmith over the last half century!
The Installation was performed via Zoom and many Rotary District and local Interact Club leaders were in attendance. |
Mid Island Rotary Clubs Provide Food Relief in Guatemala
Vancouver Island Rotary Clubs Provide food Relief for Mayan Communities in Guatemala in collaboration with Disaster Aid Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Members of the Rotary Mid Island Group (Ladysmith, Chemainus, Nanaimo) informed Disaster Aid Canada (DAC) in April 2020 that people are under a strict lock-down and on the verge of starvation in Guatemala. There are dire food, hygiene and PPE needs including masks. Workers have no jobs, there is no social safety net and the communities including markets are under complete lock-down. These Rotary Clubs have been involved in sustainable development projects in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala for several years. |
Rotary Club of Ladysmith Donates Emergency Preparedness Kits to the Town
Sandra Milne, 2019/2020 Rotary Club of Ladysmith President and the LSS Interact Club presented 5 Emergency Preparedness Kits from Disaster Aid Canada to the Mayor Aaron Stone, Fire Chief Chris Geiger and Bill Drysdale from Ladysmith Search and Rescue. The event was held in front of the Fire Hall on Friday June 12.
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Coldest Night of the Year
Rotarians are People of Action!!!
What a great event...Coldest Night of the Year ...Feb.22, 2020. Thanks to the Ladysmith Resource Centre for organizing this worthwhile event in our community. Thank you Paul, Michael, Marshall, Sandra, Brian, Mary, John and Andy! |
Destination Vacation Earlybird draw
Rotary's Dream Vacation Draw extended to September 15, 2020 due to Covid - 19Earlybird draw for Rotary’s Destination Vacation raffle held Saturday, February 15th, 2020 !
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Cancelled - Artists for HospiceCancelled - The Magic happens Saturday February 29th from 6 to 8:30pm at 444 Parkhill Terrace in Ladysmith. Original photography and art will be auctioned off in a live and silent action plus there are 50 amazing $20 art bargains. All profits go to Cowichan Hospice Rotary Gardens, with a goal of $10,000 that evening.
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Awards and Art at the December 19 Meeting
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Dream Vacation Raffle - Rotary Gardens at Cowichan Hospice House
Rotary's Dream Vacation Draw extended to September 15, 2020 due to Covid - 19
Rotary's Dream Vacation Draw extended to September 15, 2020 due to Covid - 19Dream Vacation - A Raffle for the Rotary Gardens at Cowichan Hospice House The Rotary Clubs of the Cowichan valley are holding a Rotary Dream Vacation Raffle in support of Cowichan Hospice Society Programs. There are 20,000 tickets available and they are selling well. First Prize is a European River Cruise for two, including flights out of Vancouver Airport. Second Prize is a Mexican Holiday for two, including flights out of Vancouver Airport. Third Prize is two tickets to anywhere WestJet flies. An Early Bird Draw will be held on February 15, 2020 for a $3999.00 diamond ring and the Grand Prize Draw will be September 15, 2020. Tickets are available at all 49th Grocery Stores in Ladysmith, Chemainus, Cedar and Duncan as well as Rotarians at all 5 Cowichan Valley Clubs. |
Rotary Shows Up for Christmas
Ladysmith Rotary Club Shows Up For Christmas |
Community Service Work Party
The Rotary Club of Ladysmith successfully completed 2 community service projects for Stz’uminus First Nations families. |
Rotary Supports Tour De Rock |
DG Maureen Fritz-Roberts addresses Joint Meeting
 DG Maureen Fritz-Roberts and AG Gay Wise address Special Joint Meeting of Ladysmith and Chemainus Rotary Clubs |
Ladysmith and Chemainus Rotary Clubs Raise $15,000.00 for Community Projects at Golf Tournament
 Ladysmith and Chemainus Rotary Clubs Raise $15,000.00 for Community Projects at Golf TournamentEighty six golfers participated at Annual Rotary Golf Tournament held at Mount Brenton Golf Club on September 21st. The event started with a delicious buffet breakfast prepared by the course catering staff. Silent and live auctions were held during the luncheon featuring the many donated items from local businesses and Rotarians. At the end of the day the tournament netted, after all expenses, over $15,000.00 to benefit local youth and community organizations in Chemainus and Ladysmith. |
Local Legends Event was a Wonderful Success
All of the work that led up to the Local Legends event paid off. During my year as president of Ladysmith Rotary Club, our club, along with four other clubs in the Cowichan Valley, committed to raise funds to create the Rotary Gardens at the Cowichan Hospice House which will soon be under construction. Many more photos available at - Photos by Gerry Beltgens
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An Evening with Local Legends |
LMS Sea Life Festival
What a great day at the LMS Sea Life Festival ! Despite the cloudy skies earlier in the day, the weather down on the water was perfect and the number of families that showed up to view all those slimy sea creatures was amazing ! And how could you go wrong with adding free hotdogs, juice and chips to those kid’s day :)
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Oceanview Church donates $3,000.00 to support Forrest Field Enhancements
Earlier this year Pastor Darin of the Oceanview Church offered to donate the proceeds from the 2019 Eggs Benefit annual fundraiser to the Forrest Field Enhancement Committee. The June 23 event raised over $3,000.00.
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Joan Phillips Completes Successful Year as Ladysmith Rotary President
The Rotary Club of Ladysmith capped off an exciting and productive year of service on June 27 with the passing of the gavel from Joan Phillips to Sandra Milne. ** |
Rotary Garden Tour
.jpg) The 2019 Rotary Garden Tour showcased local gardens and raised money for community projects. |
Barn Dance for Hospice
.jpg) The five Cowichan Valley Rotary Clubs combined to hold a very successful Barn Dance and raised money to go towards the Rotary Gardens at Cowichan Hospice House. |
Ladysmith Interact Club
 The Interact Club at Ladysmith Secondary School has raised thousands of dollars and spent countless hours giving back to the community. |
Corks & Forks
.jpg) The first annual Corks & Forks event raised awareness an funds for Disaster Aid and Community Projects |
Helping people with disabilities make their own music Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school. After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school. |
Finding Safe Haven For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.
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Saving lives in Ghana What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga. |
Awards and Art at the December 19 Meeting
An amazing evening of local music !