Backpacks, Burgers, and Better Governance: A Month in the Life of a Rotary President
They say leadership keeps you on your toes — and Rotary proves it. As President, there are plenty of meetings, emails, and moments that make you double-check the calendar, but there’s also a steady stream of connection, joy, and good food along the way.
The month kicked off with Fraser Valley Rotaract Co-President and our RYLA recipient Ansh (whose name rhymes with ranch) sharing his RYLA experience. Our Club also donated a bin of care items for Rotaract’s Hope Central Service Project — the kind of handoff where you picture tomorrow’s leaders being given today’s torch, and knowing they’ll carry it further.
Meanwhile, our Starfish team kept right on going — packing, delivering, and feeding 104 children throughout the summer. No fanfare, no spotlight, just backpacks lined up like a quiet army of kindness, marching out to meet kids who count on them. That’s the kind of steady service that doesn’t make headlines but absolutely changes lives.
Next came Gala Committee planning with our friends at North Fraser Rotary. Posters printed, sponsorship packages ready, ticket sales launched, and the eternal questions: How do we boost ticket sales? What’s the cost for ads? And who forgot we were meeting at their house because they were still at Costco? (Lesson learned: never plan Gala meetings on sample day). Gala planning always carries its own blend of energy and anticipation — equal parts detail and delight — and we’re knee-deep in both and loving every minute of it.
Our Executive meeting followed with discussions on the financial climate of the Club. Ten Rotarians, one agenda, and a room full of careful questions and thoughtful debate. Cue whispering spreadsheets and mild insomnia in the lead-up.
Then, over at Hope Central, we rolled up our sleeves to help serve hot meals. Laughter bubbled up between the clinking of cutlery, and gratitude showed up in smiles that said more than words could. We weren’t just serving food — we were serving dignity, hope, and humanity.
Our Special Projects and Grants team was not to be left out, diving into District applications and exploring new opportunities to extend our impact before the Aug 31st deadline. The conversations may have started with forms and funding, but underneath it all, they were about care, foresight, and stretching our service further than we ever could alone.
Our Club Family Potluck was a hit… Burgers? Check. Salad? Check. Drinks? Check. Plates? Oops!! Luckily, Jonathon had some on hand — proof that Rotary isn’t just about service projects, it’s about having each other’s backs (and sometimes saving the dinner, too).
Now we’re shifting gears for our next big fundraising event — the Sept 6th Golf Tournament. Our Golf Chairs are in full swing (yes, Louise and Dennis, every pun intended), lining up sponsors, clearing their respective garages to store prizes and gifts, and adding the final touches and little details that make the day memorable. I doubt at this point they can remember what sleep looks like, let alone experience it.
Of course, Rotary meetings bring their own joy — from RI Convention stories to our Club Assembly, the kind that remind you a healthy Club isn’t just about projects and numbers. It’s about humour, shared memories, and those moments when the room feels lighter because we’re in it together. And if those meetings happen to be accompanied by coffee, herbal tea and crispy bacon… well, that’s not just a great meeting — it’s good governance. And frankly, a policy worth protecting.
In our Club, fines have become less about rules and more about laughter and connection. Forget your name tag? Pay a fine. No crispy bacon? Pay a fine. Speak too fast with your accent? That’s a double fine. By the end of our meetings, we’ve raised enough to call it fundraising with a smile. In the end, it isn’t really about the fines. It’s about the connections we build, the joy we share, and the way we turn small moments into lasting bonds.