September 8, 2026
Our guest speaker, Marty Pease of the Rotary Club of La Conner, shared an inspiring update on the work of the International Project Alliance (IPA) in Copán, Honduras. IPA is a partnership involving 14 Rotary clubs in District 5050 and a Rotary club in Copán Ruinas, working together to support Mayan communities through education and economic development.
Through its Adopt-A-School program, IPA supports approximately 1,700 students in 40 villages, while the Adopt-a-Dream program helps students continue through middle school, high school and university, with more than 50 students currently attending college. IPA also operates a Mobile Library, rotating book boxes among communities every three to four months to give students greater access to reading materials.
IPA also supports economic development through savings and loan programs, agricultural training, micro-financing and vocational education. A satellite trade school serving the Copán and Santa Rita area has produced strong results, with 83% of its first 110 graduates finding employment or starting businesses. IPA operates with an annual budget of approximately $300,000 to $350,000, funded through Rotary club commitments, grants and private donations.
Club News and Announcements
There is plenty happening at White Rock Rotary over the coming weeks. Other upcoming activities include the Newcomers' Potluck on September 18 from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Avra building, the Terry Fox Run on September 20, and the District 5050 Foundation Dinner on November 7 at the White Rock Community Centre.
Members are also reminded to check the club website regularly, where upcoming events and announcements are posted.
September is Rotary's Basic Education and Literacy Month, an especially appropriate theme following another successful White Rock Rotary Book Sale. October's Rotary theme will be Economic and Community Development. Locally, our club continues to support organizations and community partners including UNITI, SOURCES, Family Place and Brella.
Another Successful Rotary Book Sale
Our latest Rotary Book Sale welcomed approximately 4,700 customers and generated about $70,000 in sales. Approximately 300 volunteer shifts were filled during the sale, with club members providing about half of those shifts.
The club has also secured a five-year lease for our book warehouse, providing important stability for our year-round book sorting and twice-yearly sales. Attention now turns to the next Book Sale in April, when we expect to have more than 50,000 books available. We will also continue looking at ways to broaden our promotion and introduce the sale to even more people throughout the community.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered, promoted the sale, donated books or came out to shop. Members who still have Book Sale lawn signs are asked to return them so they can be used again for our next sale.
Supporting Our Community
White Rock Rotary continues to respond to needs both locally and beyond our immediate community. An anonymous $2,000 donation was made to the Guru Nanak Temple to help provide clothing for families affected by the 2026 British Columbia forest fires.
The club is also exploring the possibility of supporting the development of CART Canada, extending Rotary's support for Alzheimer's research. Members interested in additional volunteer opportunities, including helping with the collection of recyclables from a local restaurant, are encouraged to get involved.
Dates to Remember
September 15 – District Governor Kathleen Olson visits White Rock Rotary at St. John’s Presbyterian Church
September 18 – Newcomers' Potluck, 5:00–7:00 PM at the Avra building
September 18 – New member onboarding
September 20 – Terry Fox Run
November 7 – District 5050 Foundation Dinner, White Rock Community Centre