The Fernie Rotary Club formally celebrated 100 years in existence last Friday (July 15), with a club dinner at the Senior Citizen’s Drop-In Centre in Fernie.
Over 40 members came together to mark the 100 years since the club first formed in 1922, with new members inducted, another banner added to the club’s collection of 100s, speeches and acknowledgements of service.
District Governor of district 5080, Linda Bauer, shared some hopeful ideas of how Rotary clubs around the world were changing to encourage more membership and participation, and how Fernie Rotary could continue into the next 100 years by building on what it had already achieved since it’s inception.
“We want a Rotary that’s inclusive and open to fresh faces,” she said. “New approaches to our organising principles aren’t going to threaten what we had. Lets just start and stay true to ourselves, and stay ahead of the change in Fernie for the next 100 years.”
Assistant district governor, Dewayne Penner spoke of the importance of clubs like Rotary International, and read words of congratulations from sister clubs in the region in Cranbrook, Kimberley and Creston.
‘There isn’t a community that doesn’t depend on service clubs,” he said. “You cannot have a complete community until you have service clubs, until you have volunteers.”
Members also heard from members of the Rotary Youth Exchange - both returned and soon-t0-be outgoing - and two new members were inducted into the local club, while club member Randal Macnair spoke of by the club to create a time capsule for future members to open in 25 years.
Fernie Rotary has been giving away $1,000 every month since February this year as part of it’s 100th birthday celebrations. 10 local charities and organizations will get a donation, with one announced each month.
READ MORE: Fernie Rotary backs ten local causes for ten months
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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