Stories

 

June 09, 2025---Talbot McInnis Shares the Future of Airborne Search & Rescue. At our recent Monday meeting, the Rotary Club of London was proud to welcome Talbot McInnis, a Western University graduate, award-winning engineer, and now a key volunteer with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) in the London zone.

 

The Jack Burghardt Community ‘Service Above Self’ Award

The Jack Burghardt Community 'Service Above Self’ Award recognizes a member of the Rotary Club of London who is primarily involved as an active volunteer in “non-Rotarian” activities in the community, and secondarily as an active member within the Rotary Club of London. 

Recipients of  The Jack Burghardt Community ‘Service Above Self’ Award 

*1996/97 Doug Parnell
*1997/98 Gord Corneil
​1998/99 Dave Cummins
2001/02 Susan Sharpe
2002/03 Nick Niro
​2003/04 Ed Holder
2004/05 Jim Hales
2005/06 Maj. Neil Lewis
*2006/07 Bill Barnett
2007/08 Jim Swan
2008/09 Jeannette Eberhard
​2009/10 Heather Broadhead
2010/11 Bruce McGauley
​2011/12 Randy Warden
2012/13 Felipe S. Gomes
*2013/14 Thomas Lawson
2014/15 Jan Delaney
2015/16 John Eberhard
2016/17 James H. Belton
2017/18 Robert A. Earley
2018-19 T. Ron Posno
2019-20 Harry Joosten
2020-21 Lori Da Silva
2021-22 Jerry Pribil
2022-23 Ian Davies

2023-2024 Howard Shears

 

Student:
International Youth Exchange Student:.....2022-23--Nanda Jurt, from Sissach, Switzerland.

Members:
Hon. Ray Lawson Rotarian of the Year:.....2022 Howard Shears
Jack Burghardt Service Above Self Award:.....2022-23 Ian Davies

A letter from Lily Oving, our Youth Exchange Student in Japan:

Hi Everyone,

I've been at school for just over half a month now, and it's really fun.  I was invited by the kendo team (a Japanese sword fighting sport) to join in their practice today. My host mom bought me all the equipment I'd need and borrowed the armor (since it's really expensive) despite me insisting that I could buy it myself. A couple of days ago, I went to a tea ceremony and then was taken to a hotel restaurant for lunch. I would never be able to afford to eat there, as it was one of the most expensive hotels in all of Tokyo. It was delicious, though. I keep feeling bad about all the money they spend for me to participate, but the response is always the same: "Don't worry about it, it's fine." Except in, you know, Japanese. Speaking of which, I can converse pretty well with the people around me, although I still don't understand most of what they're saying unless they're directing it at me (then they slow down and use easy words).

We had a sports festival and it was really fun, though the events weren't really conventional sports so much as really weird activities (like the four person three legged race in box formation). My team won first place. My rotary club had a meeting for my arrival on a dinner boat the other day, and it was amazing. One of the Rotarians gave me two tickets to Tokyo Disneyland for me and whomever I want to take. Finally, my host family has been taking me to all sorts of traditional Japanese things, like temples and shrines. They even managed to get me into a parade for carrying a portable shrine around town. It was heavy and my shoulders hurt for days afterwards, but it was really interesting. By the way, usually you have to be at least 20 to participate in carrying the shrine, but they made an exception for me. Though, they kept trying to offer me alcohol. I'm having a lot of fun here.

Lily Oving

Kawasaki Rotary Club

Check it out at:   www.youtube.com/user/LondonRotary

 

Many “Thanks” to Jim Swan for uploading these videos.  

To celebrate 100 years of service to the London community, Rotary clubs in London are donating $100,000 to install a 14-foot illuminated clock in the tower at Covent Garden Market.  

Highly visible to patrons of Budweiser Gardens and the Market, the clock will enhance the area known as Rotary Square that is home to the Rotary Skating Rink and numerous community events.

Construction will begin in late fall with the official grand opening in March 2015. The same clock builder installed the clock in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa – The Verdin Company.  

The clock will be a spectacular enhancement to the existing Market structure and beautify the area while raising the profile of Rotary Square.  

Eden is our Youth Exchange Student studying in Brazil.

Hi Randy,

Elsie is our Youth Exchange Student studying in Belgium.

Hello,

 

Here is a little note to say that everything is still wonderful for me in Belgium! I have started French Language courses now, and I aim to be Fluent when I return. I also have been visiting many places with my host family and friends in Belgium. I have now visited almost every Belgian city as well as the great European capitals! I love how I can get on a train and in an hour and a half, I'm in Paris. However, it is always nice to return home after my adventures. Which are Rotary Sanction, I will add! 

 

The Rotary Club of London, through your World Community Service Committee, has committed to send “Market Kids” to school in Danli, Honduras.

These children are called “Market Kids” because Mom, almost always a single parent, must keep her children with her all day at the market. She cannot afford the cost to send them to school, and cannot afford alternate care. For 11 hours every day, while Mom scratches out enough income to feed her family and keep a tin roof over their heads, her children roam the market and surrounding streets. The conditions are ripe to be lured in gangs, crime, prostitution and drugs, and many will fall victim.

Our RI Innovation & Flexibility Pilot Program Committee has completed the Corporate Membership format and package contents and these are at the weekly meeting registration desk. If you are taking a package to present to a company in our Community, please advise Heather Broadhead so that we don't have any repeated asks going on. We appreciate your support to date, and your ongoing commitment to ensure that we grow our membership to make this International project a success. Any questions, please contact Heather, 519-474-3373 or e: Heather@bfg-inc.ca