LOCAL FLAVOUR: Rotary Clubs serve community
On Feb. 23, 1905, a lawyer in Chicago convened an impromptu meeting with three business associates to discuss things they could do to help improve their community. Their motto was "service above self." They called themselves the Rotary Club because their subsequent meetings would be rotated amongst their various offices.
Today there are 33,976 Rotary Clubs around the world, comprising 1.22 million members.
One of those clubs is Burnaby Metrotown, chartered on Feb. 1, 1979. Over the course of those 33 years, members of the club have worked tirelessly with local service agencies, non-profit groups and civic projects to help improve the lives of kids, youth and seniors in the community. They've also extended their reach far beyond Burnaby's borders, sending a fire engine to San Salvador and books to South Africa. Along the way they've forged countless friendships and developed leaders.
"Rotary provides a place to become connected to your community and to work with others in addressing community needs," says Darlene Broadhead, the president the Burnaby Metrotown club.
Among projects the club has championed are its annual Coats for Kids program in partnership with the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House; since 2006 they've given away more than 7500 winter coats and jackets to needy families. They've also helped paint over graffiti on more than 20 buildings, highway pillars and road dividers, supported Stream of Dreams projects at various schools, sent kids from Maywood school to summer camp and helped support the Down Syndrome Research Foundation.
To raise money for those projects, the club hosts an annual wine festival, which will be held June 9.
For more information about the Burnaby Metrotown Rotary club, go to www.burnabymetrotownrotary.org
Easy recipe for baked fish
Preheat oven to 400F
Line a baking dish with parchment paper, then place frozen basa fish fillets
Season with pepper and cover with sour cream or plain yogurt
Sprinkle liberally with mozzarella cheese
Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown
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