Our club was conceived during the winter of 1991/92 by four
Tsawwassen residents, Bill Learmont, Henk Veldhuis, Dave Hutton,
and Ross Purse. They were members of the nearby Ladner Rotary
Club and took up the challenge of spreading Rotary to the community
of Tsawwassen. An energetic membership drive commenced under
the capable stewardship of Provisional President Bill Learmont
and it attracted an astonishing number of new Rotarians.
The Club was chartered on June 26, 1992 with no less than
fifty members under the stewardship of Henk Veldhuis as our first
elected President. Henk led our new club by involving members
in all Four Avenues of Rotary Service
within our first year, including an active (and continuing) participation
in the Exchange Students program.
Dave Hutton succeeded Henk in 1993. Dave deserves much of
the credit for the initial membership campaign, which created
a solid and sustainable foundation for the Club's success. Ross
Purse retired and moved away. He maintains contact with the club
and is our first, and most respected, Honorary Member.
Subsequent Presidents Graham Mallett, (94/95); Eleanor McWhannel,
(95/96); Roger Pryke, (96/97); Bruce Cran (97/98); Blair
Ledingham (98/99)and Joan Hansen (99/00) have made unique
and lasting contributions to our club and to our community.
1997/98 Past President Bruce, like Past President Graham,
hails from Australia. Past President Henk is from Holland. Our
members originate from the length and breadth of North America
and from parts all over the world. We are a club rich in accents,
dialects, backgrounds and experiences. We take pride in our diversity,
our camaraderie and our togetherness.
During the Rotary Year 2000/2001 the club will be led by Dave
Hamilton, a charter member, Paul Harris Fellow, and one of two
members in our club with perfect attendance from day one. Dave's
commitment to Rotary coupled with his management skills will
surely have a positive effect on the club as his year at the
helm unfolds.
Individual Rotarians are honored in several ways for the work
they do as service-minded volunteers. The Tsawwassen Rotary Club
recognizes our outstanding members by enrolling them as Paul
Harris Fellows of The Rotary Foundation. Our club is fortunate
to have a number of Paul Harris Fellows, some of whom were enrolled
prior to the chartering of our club. Our current roll of Paul
Harris Fellows is as follows:
Gail Currie Bob Cotter Bruce Cran John Dick
Frank Donis Dave Hamilton Dave Hutton David Kalinovich
Bryan Kelly Bill Kushnir Bill Learmont Blair Ledingham
Bob Malcolm Graham Mallet Eleanor McWhannel Myles Noel
Graeme Peck Roger Pryke Andre Schellekens Bruce Tuttle
Hank Veldhuis Mike Virag
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