View from the North

We have heard a lot about the importance of social media to the future of Rotary. In this issue, you will read about a project initiated by past district governors Tanya Wolff and Jennifer Jones that integrated traditional media – specifically television – and Facebook to “wake up” people across the continent to the ongoing polio eradication effort.

Past District Governor Douglas Vincent also shares with us how more than 200 Canadians participated in Rotary-UN Day, and how some met with Gilles Rivard, Canadian ambassador to the United Nations. Canadians played an important role in the formation of the UN, and that involvement continues today.

Education is vital to the development of strong communities. Rotarians from Penticton and Vancouver have joined with the University of British Columbia to introduce international students to a broad network of Rotarians and friends. Their story illustrates the cooperation of Rotarians from two districts, 5040 and 5060, to spread awareness of Rotary worldwide.

Finally, we sometimes hear discussions about the right age for Rotary club membership. The story of Jacinthe Paillé – a Francophone Rotarian who joined at 25 and went on to participate in Rotary Foundation, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and RI Convention events – proves that the Rotarian within can be developed at any age.