Sylvan Lake’s Rotary Club has stepped forward to spearhead efforts to build a new lighthouse in the community after it was announced last week the old landmark is coming down.
Trevor Sigfusson has agreed to head a committee of Rotarians who will work with other organizations to bring the community project to fruition. He’s planning a meeting of all those interested in the near future.
Rotary members, at their meeting last Friday, voted unanimously to undertake the work of leading the efforts after it was discussed at an executive meeting earlier in the day with District Governor Fran Leggett.
The district governor’s annual visit gave her a chance to meet with executive members, learn about club projects and plans for the future year and speak to members about Rotary.
During the weekly meeting, which was held on the Miss Mermaid while cruising Sylvan Lake, Leggett said when she joined Rotary about 15 years ago she was asked to be involved with the Polio Plus program.
She had a passion for that since she’d gone to school with a girl who had polio.
Leggett proudly reported that as of January, India has been polio free for almost two years. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are the only endemic countries and in those three there were only about 200 cases in the past year. In all of the rest of the non-endemic countries of the world there were only five cases.
Another passion of Leggett’s became the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Association which involves Rotarians from both sides of the border who promote international goodwill through annual assemblies and host a hands across the border ceremony.
“It got me interested in peace,” said Leggett of her involvement in the Rotary organization.
“In Rotary we all need to find our passion,” she said. “Each one of us goes on the Rotary journey looking for our passion.”
Leggett also talked about membership which is increasing in Asia while decreasing in North America. One of the organization’s goals is to reverse the decreases and get more people interested in the aims of Rotary and the fellowship that comes with membership.
Following Leggett’s presentation, President Cynthia Giguere presented the Rotarian of the Year award. “He has a can-do attitude, is in there in every project — sometimes his children are there with him. It’s a privilege to see the attitude of this person,” she said before presenting the award to Trevor Sigfusson.
“Thanks for allowing me into the Rotary family,” said Sigfusson. “I’ve made some really good friends.” He also expressed enthusiasm about the lighthouse project.