It has been said many times that a Rotary Club is a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. So how does this relate to our club?

“A group of ordinary people” – We are a small group of people with a variety of passions and skill sets united by a common goal of service to humanity. We are your neighbors, co-workers, business owners, educators and friends. There is a very good chance that you have met one of us at the store, at a friend’s place or passed us on the sidewalk. We are a cross-section of people living and working in your community.

“Doing extraordinary things” – When a group of “ordinary” people unite together for a common goal there is very little that cannot be accomplished. Each member adds their unique personality and talent to the clubs activities. This club is no exception. In our community we have built a park, a field house, supported our youth through Youth Exchange and Values and Ethics programs and assisted local causes in a many ways. Our current project of ‘Paint the Train’ is underway and is expected to be complete by mid 2014. The above photo marks when the Rotary Club of Cranbrook Sunrise first launched the campaign.

Internationally we continue to host and participate in group friendship exchanges, sponsor the Tegucigalpa Market Children program in the Honduras, export books and medical equipment, fund shelter boxes, attend district and international Rotary conferences and of course support Rotary International’s End Polio campaign.

Our fundraising activities include the Rockies Canadian Film Festival, the Angel Tree program, the Kootenay Rockies Grand Fondo, the sale of Golf Discount Cards and Mirafiber Cleaning Cloths and our partnership in the Friends of the Library Book Sale. A majority of the money raised is returned to our community in the form of local projects or assistance to local causes.

We are passionate about every activity our club takes on. It is evident at our weekly meetings and when we work on projects that we are more than friends and acquaintances. We are a family. We may be a small family in this club but our “extended” family consists of more than 1.2 million members in over 200 countries worldwide. We are proud of our involvement in Rotary and take comfort in the support of so many like us.

So what’s next for our club? We would like to ‘grow’ our membership and involve our youth in more community projects and activities. When we complete our ‘Paint the Train’ project we will look for another community project and expand our international projects portfolio.

We have a membership committed to the Rotary motto of service above self. I see no reason why we will not continue to ‘do extraordinary things’ locally and internationally.

Rotary’s motto this year is ‘Engage Rotary and Change Lives.’  Come join us for breakfast and find out for yourself.

We meet every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. at the Prestige Inn. Visit our website for more info www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?cid=926.

Rotary Club of Cranbrook Sunrise

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