Rob Rakochey
Presidents Message 2023-2024
The Rotary International Presidential Theme for 2023/24 is “Create Hope in the World”. What a fantastic theme and message.
I have been called a “cradle Rotarian”. My father, Ernie Rakochey was a charter member of the Northeast Rotary Club. He not only started that club, but was a Board member for many years, past present, was an Honorary Member, and he was always active in Rotary. Why? Because he had Hope that being present and active in the community would create a better world. I miss you Dad and you inspired me to be a Rotarian as well and create a better place too.
I joined Rotary in 1991, at 26 years of age and joined the Rotary Club of Calgary West in 2020. Our Club is vibrant, active, diverse, and gives me great Hope that we will make our World a better place too. From our local projects, our fundraising efforts, our volunteer programs and our international projects. We are very involved in our Youth program’s and they are our future and with our help can strive and how to reach their potential. Our Hope is actually becoming a reality.
My personal project this year is to raise a minimum of $75,000 for the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation. When successful, this raise will take our Club to over $1,000,000 in the Foundation, which is an endowment providing us with funds into perpetuity to do the good work that we do. As a fun way to do that, I am seeking pledges of donations, per pound, and I have pledged myself to lose a minimum of 75 pounds over this next Rotary year. The addition to the Foundation and the transformation of me is what I Hope to (will) achieve, and both will create a change in our World. I will be watching my intake, but also taking every opportunity to have fellowship, and exercise, with my fellow Rotarians and get to know each of our members better though these activities.
Rotary has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to be the President of our Club this year and work with all our members to Create Hope in the World.
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