Howard Goodridge introduced April’s chosen student with the criteria for the awarding of the Student-of-the-Month Certificate of Achievement. Logan Dutrisac is a grade 8 student at George Bonner School. With him was Veronica Allan, a teacher/librarian at the school. She has known Logan’s family since 2001. Logan is her right hand young man in the library and has held a library monitor position for three years. He is in helping out with early morning jobs as well as end of day jobs in the library. Veronica describes him as being trustworthy, honest, and reliable. Logan is also involved with the school’s year book as photographer, and in the lunch time sales of quesadillas and pizzas. He helps special needs students with his signature patience and kindness. The principal Ms. Grant describes Logan as the most polite, respectful and responsible of any student she has known. President Gordon presented Logan with the Certificate of Achievement along with a cheque. 

On August 13, 2012 – 115 Canadians were nominated to take part in a formal training offered by the Honourable Al Gore, former Vice-President of the United States, and Nobel Prize Laureate. The Canadian delegation will join 800 new presenters from over 20 countries, on August 21-23, in San Francisco, California. 

The participants represent a wide range of backgrounds and ages and include students, lawyers, university professors, business leaders, environmental consultants, engineers, professionals from diverse sectors, and climate scientists. Valerie Russell from Maple Bay, BC, will be part of the group of Canadian trainees and will be available to offer free presentations on climate change as of October 1^st, 2012.  Valerie has a degree in genetics from the University of Berkley, California. She now teaches grade 11 and 12 biology and ecology courses at Dwight International School.  Valerie also is the school’s fencing coach. She and her husband with their three children moved to the Cowichan Valley a number of years ago. She gives talks around the Cowichan Valley on Global warming.

President Gordon Butt introduced Linda at our meeting March 15th, she gave a presentation on the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation (CWF) an organization that she is very involved with. The CWF has been in existence for 10 years and the Foundation was started in 2003. Its office is based in Surrey, has two people, and its true success is from partnerships with Rotary Clubs, and Rotary Districts all over the world.  For more information go to www.cdnwheelchair.ca

The Foundation’s vision is to deliver mobility to the physically disabled in developing countries to give the recipients dignity, hope, freedom and opportunity. They approach this matter through public education and other initiatives. The group speaks around the world describing the challenges of the disabled. The second major job is the physical delivery of wheelchairs. They have delivered 34,000 wheelchairs in over 35 countries. Through their public education program, countries are now viewing the disabled in a different light. They have forged incredible relationships both on the helping side and on the recuperative side.