Welcome! 
Our club was chartered on 3 June 2005 with 20 members and has grown to 34. We are one of four Rotary clubs in the Comox Valley on beautiful Vancouver Island. Check our calendar on the menu to the left to find out what's coming up. To find our meeting venue click on: Where we meet
Our Sponsoring Club Celebrating 25 Years of Service!
Comox Valley Rotary Clubs Recognized By Chamber of Commerce
The Comox valley Chamber of Commerce presented their prestigious Heritage Award to the presidents of the four clubs in the Comox Valley at their annual Awards Banquet held on Saturday, 28 January. Pictured with the award are (L-R): President Naomi Carmichael Courtenay, President Holly Grant Comox, President Deb Nolan Cumberland Centennial and President Lynn Brandon Strathcona Sunrise. The award was presented in recognition of Rotary's contribution to the Comox Valley over the years.
Hendrika interviewed by Linda
Our program today allowed us an opportunity to learn more about new member Henricka. Henricka grew up in the northern part of the Netherlands, She and husband Michel had visited Canada on vacation, and decided to immigrate to our wonderful country, about seven years ago. The opportunity to enjoy our wide open spaces, go hiking, skiing or swimming in the lake or ocean appealed to them, and to live where there is less traffic and fewer people . After living in Comox for a while, they moved to Cumberland with their young family approximately three years ago.
Hendrika is textile artist and works from home. Despite her work and home responsibilities, she has found time to volunteer at her children’s school, to work with the disabled ski program and the cancer society. She became a Cumberland Rotarian to become part of a larger group that could make a difference!
Fundraiser for Cumberland Marching Band a Success
Rotarians, family members and members of the Cumberland Marching Band raised more than $1,000 collecting donations from shoppers at WalMart Courtenay on 22 and 23 December. The decorated Cumberland Ready Mix truck was a great attraction provided through the generosity of Keith and Jill, the driver. Money raised will be added to the fund created to get the Band to the Calgary Stampede in 2012.
Photo by Kim Sleno taken 22 December during Cumberland Marching Band Fundraiser
Hockey Package Auction Closed
Congratulations and thank you to Marianne Muir, whose bid of $1,000 was the successful bid.
| value | donated by | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 prime-seat tickets for the Canucks/San Jose game on 21 January 2012 in Vancouver | up to $600 | BCAA |
| 2 return flights from Comox to YVR | $400 | Pacific Coastal Airlines |
| 1 night stay for 2 in a 4 star hotel downtown | $300 | Cumberland Rotarians Keith Tatton & Alan DeJersey |
To bid:
simply send an email to: johnpegc@shaw.ca with your bid.
Order of bids will be determined by date and time on the message. You will be informed when a higher bid has been received. Latest bid $1,000.00 as of 5:45 PM, 19 December.
Bidding will close at Noon PST on Thursday, 22 December - a great Christmas gift.
Club Welcomes Newest Rotarian
Melissa Varkonja was inducted on 22 November. Her sponsor, David Stevens welcomed her as our newest Rotarian by fastening a Rotary pin to her collar. Welcome Melissa!
Island Rotarians Gather for a Thank You From Jeneece
On Wednesday, 16 November, Rotarians from several clubs on Vancouver Island gathered in Nanaimo to meet Jeneece Edrof, the young lady who came up with the idea of building a home away from home for families of seriously ill children. Jeneece thanked everyone for their generosity. Bruce Williams of CTV Vancouver Island and chair of the fundraising committee for Jeneece Place announced that Rotary clubs on Vancouver Island had given or pledged a total of $87,000. If A total of $100,000 is contributed by Island Rotarians, a room in Jeneece Place will be designated the Rotary Room. President Deb and Bruce posed with Jeneece. The medal she is wearing was presented to her by the Lieutenant Governor of BC when she was inducted into the Order of British Columbia last year. Our club pledged $10,000 to the project over three years and made our first installment of $6,000 on 4 April when the ground was broken. Earlier in November, using proceeds from our two plant sales, we donated an additional $7,150, exceeding our pledge in just over 6 months. See: Jeneece Place
Two More Rotarians Added to Roster
On Tuesday, 1 November, Barb and Wayne Giroday were inducted as Rotarians by Jay Dahlgren, club Membership Director. Jay "pinned" both and offered congratulations to Barb and Wayne.
Induction Of Our Newest Rotarian
Our club was made richer with the addition of our newest Rotarian, Hendrika Stigter, who was inducted by DG David Stocks at our meeting on 25 October. Hendrika is a textile designer. She, her husband Michel and three children live in Cumberland.
The Rotary Foundation Recognizes Major Donors
DG David presented Keith and Joanne Tatton with pins and a crystal on Tuesday, 25 October, in recognition of their status as Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
24 October is World Polio Day
We do not all get the opportunity to administer the polio vaccine but we can all donate something to help End Polio Now!
Seventh Annual Extravaganza Italiana a Success
A sellout crowd attended our signature fundraiser on Saturday, 1 October. Everyone had good food, good fun and enjoyed the lively auction.
Coal Cart Bench Project Complete
Several Cumberland Rotarians and Kyle Jorgensen and Sean Guthrie of the Cumberland Public Works Department posed behind one of the refurbished benches in the Village. The Works Department removed the benches from the streets to their yard, the quarter-swan, old-growth, Western red cedar was donated by Island TimberFrame and 400 new bolts were donated by Strathcon Industries of Courtenay. A great project involving several work parties and lots of fun and fellowship.
Area 1B Clubs Create Drug Awareness Rulers
In 2010 a group of four non-Rotarians from different walks of life, visited several countries in Europe for about four weeks as part of a Rotary Group Study Exchange. The purpose was for team members to connect with people in their professions to exchange information and ideas. Constable Pierre Vezina of the Comox Valley RCMP Detachment was a participant in that Exchange. While in Norway, Vezina was given a Drug Awareness Ruler that had been developed to help parents, teachers and other adult leaders of children to identify young people who may have been using or abusing drugs. On his return, Vezina showed the ruler to his Rotarian sponsors and a project was born. First, the Norwegian on the ruler was translated into English by retired Highland Secondary teacher, Mike Hoy, and then Key Graphics, owned by Rotarians Bob and Ellen Hatch, took on the job of creating a version to be used in our communities based on the Norwegian model. On Friday, 9 September, at a brief ceremony, 2000 of the rulers were presented to RCMP Corporal Gus Papagiannis, of the Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service by Rotarians from the Campbell River and Comox Valley Rotary clubs. Papagiannis, whose responsibilities include serving Powell River and the North Island from the Comox Valley to Port Hardy, accepted the rulers. Plans are that the rulers will be delivered through the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in the schools, particularly aimed at students in grades 5 and 6 and through other drug awareness groups. Through connections to other Rotary clubs on Vancouver Island and other RCMP detachments, the idea will spread to other communities in the very near future. The initial cost to launch the first 2000 rulers was $2400, largely as a result of the set up charges.
Rotarians and friends participated in a ceremony to present the rulers to RCMP Cpl Gus Papagiannis of the Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service at the Salmon Point Resort on Friday, 9 September. See the double-sided ruler below:
Coal Cart Bench Refurbishment Project
On Thursday, 11 August, a work party began the task of refurbishing the 8 coal cart benches that were donated by community members several years ago. The ravages of time and the weather resulted in the need for a major repair and face-lift of the charming benches. The bench seats, back and sides will be replaced with beautiful western cedar and all the steel will be refinished in black. Likely take a few work parties to get the job done.
7 August - Pancake Breakfast
Keith and Stefan, our grill masters, cooked the sausages and pancakes for the crowd on a beautiful Sunday morning. For more pictures, please visit Photo Albums page.
Breaking New Ground
Four Comox Valley women take the lead as Rotary Club presidents during a pivotal year in the organization’s history. This year—the 25th anniversary of women in Rotary—also marks the first year in Valley Rotary history that the presidents of all four clubs will be women. From left, new leaders Lynn Brandon, Holly Grant, Naomi Carmichael and Deb Nolan, at the Rotary Skypark in Courtenay. By Terri Perrin • August, 2011 Read the entire story in InFocus Magazine online at: InFocus Magazine Story
Photo by Lisa Graham
Nautical Days Fireworks at the Phillipsons
Good Friends, good food, good fun and fellowship accompanied by a fantastic fireworks display. See more by going to Photo Albums page.
1 July - The Start of a New Rotary Year
Celebrating 25 Years of Women in Rotary
Comox Valley singer and songwriter, Helen Austin, winner of Female Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year at the Vancouver Island Music awards, has written a song commissioned by Lynn Brandon of the RC of Strathcona Sunrise to help us all celebrate 25 years of women in Rotary. To listen to the song and view the video, click on: Rotarian Women
Ambassadorial Scholar Billy Strachan Reports
Ambassadorial Scholar Billy Strachan, sponsored by our club has completed his first year of a two-year MBA program at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. He participated in an annual project of his host club, the Rotary Club of Suva Peninsula Sunset and prepared a video of the experience he had distributing goods to villagers in a remote area of the island of Suva. Click on: Project
Rhododendron Sale a Success
It was a bright, sunny Saturday on 11 June. Cumberland Rotarians offered Rhododendrons and a few other plant species to the public for $10 per gallon pot. The sale ran from 9 AM until noon and we netted $3965.05! Pre-sale sales of rhodos had already raised $1200 so more than $5000 will be available for Jeneece Place. For more pictures, please visit the Photo Albums page on this website and click on the link.
Club Member Graduates
Rotarian Chantal Stefan received her BA Honours Sociology at Vancouver Island University on 7 June and was featured in the Nanaimo Bulletin. Chantal has been accepted into the Education program at VIU and has received a six-week scholarship to study French in Montreal in July. Congratulations, Chantal!
Club Executive and Board 2011-12 Installed
The club enjoyed a classy evening at the home of Keith and Joanne Tatton's on Tuesday, 7 June. For more photos of the event go Photo Albums on this site.
Annual Rhodo Sale - 11 June
Like to have a rhododendron like this one in your garden? With patience and care, you can. The club will be offering hundreds of rhodos in one gallon pots as well as a variety of other plants for sale on Saturday, 11 June at 9:00 AM at the corner of Kilpatrick and 29th Street in Courtenay, the new home of Andrew Sheret Ltd. All proceeds to Jeneece Place, a home away from home in Victoria for families of seriously ill children admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital Pediatric Centre. Rotarians and family members have been preparing for the sale and are ready to provide healthy plant to gardeners. See next photo:
From the 4 June edition of the Victoria Times Colonist
Club Members Volunteer in Support of Empire Day Parade
Several Members of the club turn out to provide security at intersections for the annual parade on 23 May. The Cumberland Marching Band made a big hit in their new uniforms and sounded great as well. Our club helped with funds for instruments in the early development of the band last year.
Club Funds Ron Bannerman Memorial History Award
Cumberland No 6 Mine Park Playground Project
On Friday, 13 May, a cheque for $7,500 was presented to Cumberland Mayor Fred Bates, matching the $7,500 the Village of Cumberland has approved to upgrade the playground equipment in the No 6 Mine Memorial Park. Frank Carter and Richard Kitto of the No 6 Mine park Association joined president Alan de Jersey, Cindy Bannerman, Mayor Bates, Club Community Service Director David Stevens and Julia Powsey, a No 6 Mine Park volunteer, at a brief ceremony to celebrate the partnership.
