Dean Rohrs (2007-08) District 5040

Dean & Rhino Rohrs
(bio from 2007; updated 2018)

Dean and Rhino Rohrs immigrated to Canada from South Africa in 1990. Dean grew up in Zambia and after marrying Rhino lived in Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. Dean was born into a Rotary family and, when Rhino joined Rotary in 1986, became an active Rotary Ann until she became a Rotarian in District 9300 in 1989.

On arriving in Vancouver both Dean and Rhino joined the Rotary Club of West Vancouver and later, the Rotary Club of Vancouver Sunrise. Dean and Rhino have individually been club president of their clubs both in South Africa and in Vancouver.

Dean and Rhino have since moved into District 5050 and joined the Rotary Club of Langley Central.

Dean has had a varied career from the early days of being an Operating Room Nurse on Professor Christiaan Barnards' first heart transplant team to running a Nursery School in Malawi. Together with Rhino they now owner manage a company that is involved in soil stabilization during road construction.

In 2002 Dean realized a lifelong ambition by receiving her qualifications in Game Guiding and Game Management. This culminated in a Practical Course which required her to become very familiar with the "Big 5". She is an accomplished artist and professional ceramicist and both she and Rhino have a passion for the wilderness and traveling to unspoiled places.

Rhino is a Mechanical Engineer but has been involved in innovative engineering design and facilitation since 1990. Dean and Rhino have been married for 37 years and have 3 adult children.

Dean has served on District and Zone committees; which have included:
 

• 17 years of Youth Exchange in both District 9300 and 5040 District 5040
• Group Study Exchange Chair Group Study Exchange Team Leader to New Zealand
• District Governor for Rotary District 5040 in 2007/2008
• Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator Rotary Coordinator Zone 24 West
• Pacific Northwest PETS Chair 2013 Co-Chair for the 2011 Zone 24/32 Institute
• Rotary Foundation Alumni Coordinator for Zone 24 West 2012/2013
• Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator 2014 

Dean has been a panelist at the last 6 International Conventions. Her best Rotary experience is leading teams of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors to South Africa and seeing how this volunteer experience changes their lives.  

Dean served a two year term as one of 17 Rotary International Directors from 2016-18, including serving as Rotary International Vice-President in 2017-18.