FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Next Luncheon (12 noon)

Coliseum Meeting Room D

Moncton, NB 

 

Greeting Fellow Rotarians:

"I’m excited to share my recent experience representing our District 7815 at the Rotary International Council on Legislation (COL) in Chicago. For most of you, the term “COL” may raise the question: What is it?

Simply put, the COL is Rotary’s legislative body, responsible for amending our constitutional documents. Each district worldwide can send one representative. This year, 486 of 511 possible delegates attended, joined by the COL leadership team—including the Chair, Vice-Chair, Parliamentarian, Chief Counsel, Secretary, and Members at Large—as well as the entire RI Board and General Secretary John Hewko.

 

Over five days, we reviewed 86 proposed enactments submitted by districts globally. Of these, 76 were presented, debated, and voted on, while 10 were withdrawn or removed. The proposals covered a wide range of topics, including:

• Age limits for Rotaract
• Standardized protocols for suspending RI officers and District Governors
• Dues increase to address projected operating deficits over the next three years
• Eliminating the requirement for annual district conferences
• Reducing the minimum membership for chartering a new club from 20 to 15

While a week of governance meetings might not appeal to everyone, I found the experience both challenging and deeply rewarding. Representing our district required me to adopt a global perspective, prioritizing what’s best for Rotary worldwide over the interests of my own district or club. Hearing perspectives from delegates across the globe often shifted my views on key issues, enriching my understanding of our organization’s diversity and shared goals.

 

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served as District 7815’s representative and would eagerly do so again. During my trip, I also visited Rotary headquarters, where I met RI President Stephanie Urchick and had a photo taken with her as shown below. A highlight was seeing the replica of the first Rotary meeting room, meticulously recreated at headquarters.

 

Attached are a few photos from my time in Chicago. I’d be happy to discuss my experience further or answer any questions about the COL!

 

 

Yours in Rotary,

 

Darren M. Hansen, PDG

Rotary Club of Moncton West & Riverview

District Governor, Rotary District 7810 2021/22

Council on Legislation Representative, D7815 2023/26

• Profession 

• I was the Executive Director of the Atlantic Provinces Medical Peer Review for 28 years; resigned from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick in August 2024.

• About me 

• I have been a chronic volunteer since being appointed to what was then the District #15 School Board in 1977 at the age of 27. The following year I became the youngest school board chair in Canada.  I have served in a number of positions in various groups including The YMCA Committee for the Vaughan Harvey Y, The YMCA Board, President of the New Brunswick School Trustees Association, the Muriel McQueen Ferguson Foundation Board, the Hospice SENB Board, and The Moncton Hospital Board. I served on the Board of Moncton Headstart for 10 years including a two-year term as President.  RCMWR has for many years contributed members to the Headstart Board, so I met many Rotarians during those years. When it came time for me to become a Rotarian myself in 2007, it was like coming home.

• Years in Rotary?  

• RCMWR has for many years contributed members to the Headstart Board, so I met many Rotarians during those years. When it came time for me to become a Rotarian myself in 2007, it was like coming home.

• My Hobbies  

• My husband Don Botten and I consider ourselves gifts to each other. We have been together almost six years, share many friends in common, and love to laugh. We enjoy travelling and planning experiences for ourselves and our four children/stepchildren (2 & 2) and our ten grandchildren/step-grandchildren (9 girls & 1 boy).

• What is your favorite thing about being a Rotarian? 
• The camaraderie, support and opportunities to work together for a common cause are key, I believe, to the success of our Club. I have been pleased to volunteer for most of our fundraisers, and I am proud to have been the lead for the Edith Cavell School project for almost fourteen years. I enjoy my work on the RCMWR Charities Board as well. 
• Tell us something others might not know about you? 
• When I graduated from MHS in 1967, university was not an option. So, in 2008, I decided it was time to get a degree. I enrolled at Crandall University - while still working three days a week - and began my studies toward a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in History and Sociology. I used to say that I was older than all the students and most of the staff. 

• Four years later - while still working, after having had breast cancer and a mastectomy, 54 weeks of chemo, and being determined to graduate with my class, I was proud to receive my degree with distinction.  It seems to me that somehow, I was meant to be in that special place at that time - it was a very supportive environment for which I will be forever grateful.

 

In honor of her 92nd birthday on April 25, our beloved Rotarian Barbara Elias is giving back in the most heartfelt way—by organizing a 50/50 draw featuring a beautiful, handmade couch throw quilt (60 inches width x 80 inches length). 

 

Join us in celebrating Barbara's incredible journey, community spirit, and generous heart. Half the proceeds will go to the lucky winner plus the couch throw quilt, and the other half will support Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview cause or community project.

 

Draw Date: April 25, 2025
Tickets: $5.00 each or 5 for $20
Location: Coliseum Meeting Room D

 

Help us honor a true community gem and maybe even take home a cozy treasure!

 

 

 

Rotary Youth Exchange Adventures

 

Julianna Mutch, and her dad, Chris Mutch, had the pleasure of spending some time with Beni (RCMWR)and Elivan (Rotary Club of Moncton), both from Uganda, on Friday. We went to Aboiteau Beach for a walk and then to the Salisbury Big Stop for some home cooking.

 

Both Beni and Elivan touched the Atlantic Ocean for the first time (technically the Northumberland Strait, but it connects to the Atlantic Ocean)!

They also got to enjoy their first ever cinnamon roll from the Cookie Jar in Dieppe. We had some good conversations around our countries' different political systems and values. (Article provided by Julianna Mutch, RCMWR Youth Exchange Events Coordinator)

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers Wanted

 

Rib Fest 2025 

 

- We are just over 8 weeks until Rib Fest and help is urgently needed at the Committee level to make sure we can run the event safely.  We still need someone to step up to volunteer as the Site Co-ordinator at the Committee level and during the week of Rib Fest.  whilst we have had 2 people say they will help, they are already sub-committee chairs, so it is essential that someone else helps out.

 

- Also, we urgently need someone to help with sponsorship as the previous sponsorship chair has left the club. 

 

- Finally, we need someone to help with social media.

 

Please contact Colin Reeves as soon as possible, f you are willing to help with any of the roles above.

Colin Reeves <colin.reeves007@hotmail.com>

 

- June 21-25, 2025: Rotary International Convention, at the BMO Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Register today for the incredible Convention experience of a lifetime.