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January is Rotary awareness month

Rotary Club of 100 Mile House continues to work for its community
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Maureen Pinkney took over as the president of the Rotary Club of 100 Mile House from Daryl Silverton who is currently the past president and youth service director.

Maureen Pinkney is the president of the Rotary Club of 100 Mile House and she takes a stroll down memory with a look back of what the club did in 2012, as well as what 2013 might bring.

The Rotary club made news when it tried to present the community with a town square last spring.

"Although most of the business were for the square, a couple of businesses had some concerns and, therefore, the District of 100 Mile House council declined Rotary's initiative," Pinkney says.

"The councillors gave the club some options to locate it elsewhere, but Rotary felt there was nowhere else that would have the same impact for the downtown businesses, as well as possible events and use that location would have been able to provide."

Maybe down the road, it can be looked at again, she adds.

The club sent students David Majcher and Kendra Harker to Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) last year. This is an international program, which was created by Rotary International, to encourage strong leadership in youth – 13-16 years old.

Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid camp to develop and enhance leadership skills through activities conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect, Pinkney explains.

It is hoped these and other student with strong leadership skills will be able to help spearhead a Rotary Interact Club at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) one day.

The club also presented $1,500 Service Above Self scholarships to Zeke Hartwig and Ali Briggs because they best exemplified this important Rotary motto.

The Rotary club hopes to perpetuate these scholarships for many years to come.

In September, Rotarians held their Second Annual Lobsterfest, and it was a great success, says Pinkney

"Some 200 people enjoyed 440 lobsters cooked to perfection. It was a wonderful evening of dinner, live and silent auctions, and a lot of fun for everyone who participated."

As this is the club's main fundraiser, the proceeds from the Lobsterfest go toward Rotary's annual contribution to the PSO scholarships and RYLA.

Since the beginning of the Lobsterfest, the club has identified three recipients for funding.

This year, the local Rotary club gave $2,500 each to the 100 Mile House & District Historical Society, the 100 Mile House Mural Society and the 100 Mile House & District Women's Centre Society.

All three groups do outstanding work for the greater good of the community and were well-deserving recipients of the funding.

In December, Rotary and the community of 100 Mile hosted its annual Seniors Christmas Dinner for 350 local seniors and it was a lot of fun for not only the seniors, but also the folks who show up to serve them year after year.

This year, they were entertained by the Wee Walkers highland dancers, and Nice 'n' Easy played and sang some old-time favourites.

Pinkney notes it is believed the Seniors Christmas Dinner was started about 35 year ago by the Kinettes Club of 100 Mile House.

Great food was provided by B.J.'s Donuts and Eatery, and the turkeys were cooked by the Red Rock Grill, Firehouse Diner, Smitty's, Mill Site Lodge and Fischer Place and Happy Landing Restaurant.

Royal LePage 100 Mile Realty went all out on the centrepieces they made and donated. Many lucky seniors got to take them home to decorate their tables.

"A lot of volunteers from 100 Mile House and area came out to help serve the food and make the event a wonderful evening," says Pinkney.

Looking forward into 2013, the Rotary Club president says they will be sending another student to a RYLA camp, and providing its Service Above Self scholarships to outstanding PSO in the areas of academics and trades.

The club will hosts its third annual Lobsterfest dinner/auction, Pinkney says, adding it will be capped at 200 seats, and is the must-attend social event of the South Cariboo.

"We will, along with the community, host the Seniors Christmas Dinner for 350 local

seniors, as a thank-you to them for their years of dedication to our community and a show of our appreciation to all of our seniors.

The Rotary club's current executive as of June 2012 includes the following people who have been enthusiastic and hard working, promoting "Service Above Self" both here and through Rotary Foundation around the world: president Maureen Pinkney, financial director Keith Greenhalgh, co-treasurer Darrel Warman, secretary Ken Alexander, co-secretary Konrad Schmid-Meil, club service director Martin Sarich, community service director Doug Dent, vocational director Marvin Scott, Rotary International director Stephen Pellizzari and past president and youth service director Daryl Silverton.