Louis Thomas was awarded the inaugeral Community Peace Builder Award Paul Harris Fellowship at the first community Peace n Pizza event on Friday, June 21st.

Louis was the first speaker at the monthly event, which encourages community members to share their stories and experiences, to build a stronger, more peaceful community. He spoke about his life, and how truth and reconciliation can only happen if various members of the community speak to one another.

For a more thorough look at the evening, follow the link to the Salmon Arm Observer article.

 

Shuswap Rotary welcomed Mike Dedels from the Grasslands Conservation Council of BC who discussed grasslands tonight. Https://bcgrasslands.org

 

 

Shuswap Rotary was fascinated with the program tonight by Rajula Gupta who is a tea taster. He told us about tea, how it's grown and marketed, and how to brew a perfect cup.  Pre-heat the pot. 1 tsp of tea per cup, plus one for the pot, brew one minute, serve! (It gets bitter and acidic after that, and then you'll need sugar and milk for it to be palatable). If you've bought a brand of tea in one country, and thought the very same brand in another country didn't taste the same- you're right! Even the big companies blend for the local market.
Rajula has the Foods of India store in downtown Salmon Arm, across from Askews and next to Acorn Music.

 

Past Assistant Governor Penny Brown honoured Shuswap Rotary member Rita Greggor with an individually sponsored Paul Harris Award for Rita's community volunteerism. Rita is active in many organizations besides Rotary where she is our Club Service chair. Rita shows up with enthusiasm and gets things done!

 

February 27 Shuswap Rotary welcomed representatives of School District 83 to tell us about Pink Shirt Day and the district policies and practices to support anti-bullying and to promote kindness in the schools and community.  Gillian Dawes-Taylor SD83 Director of Student Services explained the 9 focus areas to ERASE negatives and EMBRACE positives.  
e.g. erase cyberbullying, embrace online safety; erase bullying, embrase kindness; erase racism, embrace diversity. 

Ariana Scholinger, Jackson Science and Student Leadership teacher spoke to the specific way the policies play out in the school and what leadership that's student led looks like.  We have very inspiring young people in our schools! 

Photo: Prez Jody, Gillian Dawes-Taylor, and Ariana Scholinger

Shuswap Rotary sponsored Salmon Arm Secondary Jackson and Sullivan campus wrestlers to attend the recent Chilliwack STORM Wrestling tournament.  We were delighted with their thank you letter which celebrates that 12 of the 20 students who attended earned top 3 medals in their weight classes.  Well done SAS wrestlers!

The three local Rotary clubs are inviting the community to help us raise $150,000 to install a rubberized walking track in the arena.  This surface is much safer for the folks of all ages who walk in the area, and will last for many years.  Shuswap Rotary (the evening club), Salmon Arm Daybreak Rotary, and the Rotary Club of Salmon Arm (the lunch club) are working together on this iniative. Please contact rob_marshall @ shaw. ca if you'd like to contribute to this project!

Shuswap Rotary welcomed former member and Friend of Rotary Vahlleri Semeniuk to tell us about the Second Harvest in Salmon Arm, which each week helps ~300 folks facing food insecurity.  Second Harvest has an interesting shopping model, where folks can choose items from the shelves that meet their specific needs.  They are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Wednesday.  You can find more information on the Shuswap Second Harvest website.  

Back at more participation in Shuswap Rotary now she has retired, Past President Steve Genn presents Shawn Bird with her Paul Harris award.

One of the Societies Shuswap Rotary Supports Is the Family Resource Centre.

 Executive Director Of Shuswap Family Resource Centre, Patricia Thurston, receives three members of Shuswap Rotary, James Bowlby, Rita Greggor, and Kathy Dunfield, Chair of Applications.