Rotary Club of Vancouver celebrates 100 years of service

>> SERVICE CLUB MEMBERS POOL THEIR RESOURCES AND TALENTS TO SERVE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES IN NEED

The Rotary Club of Vancouver ( RCV) was established on April 22nd, 1913, and was the first Rotary club in British Columbia and the third in Canada. Membership grew quickly and by 1914 it was the largest club in the British Empire. Today the RCV ( No. 61) is part of an international organization of 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs in over 150 countries.

The Rotary name derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members’ offices. Rotarians around the world come from businesses of all types and sizes who share a common goal of doing good in the world. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve local and international communities in need. The organization’s dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto: SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

In 1932, Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor created The Four- Way Test when he was asked to take charge of a company facing bankruptcy. This test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers. The survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary 11 years later, it has been translated into more than 100 languages and is the foundation for ethical business practice expected of Rotarians today.

Today, the Rotary Club of Vancouver is one of the leading, philanthropic clubs in BC with a long history of service. Working locally and globally to achieve great things alone and with partners, the club is an active leader in our community:

• Established the Vancouver Rotary Club Foundation with capital currently at $ 1.6 million; funds local and international projects annually.

• Charter member of the Rotary World Help, a network of 35 clubs in BC that have shipped hundreds of containers full of medical equipment, computers, books etc., valued at $ 100 million to third- world countries.

• Contributes to Rotary International’s Polio Plus Campaign to eradicate polio in the world which is is within 1% of accomplishing its goal.

• Sponsored 18 clubs in BC - there are now more than 145 clubs with over 5,700 members engaged in SERVICE above Self

Over the years the club has done many projects that can be seen throughout our community, including:

• Raised $ 150 thousand in 1953- 57 to establish a permanent International House at UBC - a haven for foreign students who attend UBC - a pioneer move when students from all over the world were not the norm. International House continues this vital role today.

• Supported the Vancouver Park Board in an early separation of cycle and pedestrian pathways, at English Bay in Vancouver. Since then cycling has exploded in popularity and separated cycle routes are all around us.

• Made a major contribution to the creation of Emery Barnes Park at Davie and Richards as a part of the early development of the Yaletown neighbourhood.

• Supported a breakfast program and reading help at Norquay Elementary school that continues to this day A major focus of the club has been on Hearing and Hearing Impairment.

• Annual Bike- a- Thon has raised over $ 2.3 million over 28 years; establishment of the Rotary Hearing Foundation to support research and treatment of hearing disorders in BC including the St. Paul’s Hearing Clinic in 1999.

• The clinic pioneered the use of Cochlear Implants to bring “the sounds of life” to those who have never heard

• Today the club continues to support organizations that deal with hearing impairment, and continues to support

the Rotary Hearing Centre at St. Paul’s.

A major expansion to the Centre will be a legacy from the centennial being celebrated this year.

Rotary is a service club - its business is mankind, its focus is service. It provides one with an opportunity that is richly rewarding, the opportunity to do something for others and to benefit community.

Membership in the Rotary Club of Vancouver is open to business persons from all walks of life who have an interest in giving back to their community. Check us out - we meet for lunch every Tuesday at the Terminal City Club and would love to see you, or find us at www. rotaryvancouver. org