Gord became a member of the Rotary Club of Kelowna in March of 1995. He is grateful to Ian Greenwood for being his proposer. Prior to serving on the Board in the various officer positions leading up to the Club President, Gord was the Club's Treasurer from 1998 to 2002. Gord's father, Bill Milsom, was also a President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna (1997 - 98). Gord is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Benefactor. His commitment and dedication to Rotary was recognized in 2002 when Gord was presented with the Hass Houssian Award. Gord moved to Kelowna in 1992. He is married to Laurel and he has two children. He operates a financial planning practice and is active within the community.
2005 - 06 Rotary Themes
R.I. President Carl Wilhelm Stenhammar's Theme: Service Above Self
Club President Gord Milsom's Theme: People Helping People
Accomplishments
The collective effort of our membership in all four avenues of service was recognized by District 5060 as our Club was presented the Most Outstanding Club Award.
Our weekly programs included interesting speakers and entertaining sheriffs. Extra time was allocated during most meetings for informal table discussion and fellowship. Our newsletter, The Spur, was recognized by the District as our Club received the Best Club Bulletin Award.
Our Annual Rotary Pro-Am Charity Golf Tournament was held at the Harvest Golf Club and was a tremendous success. More than $43,000 was raised. Our Club donated $12,500 to Kelowna General Hospital (to purchase cardiac equipment) and $12,500 was donated to the Kelowna Community Food Bank.
Our Club was very active in youth projects and we strengthened our partnership with Kelowna Senior Secondary. We sponsored an outbound youth exchange student, Kate Elliott, to Thailand and an inbound student from Thailand, Thiti Jamkajornkeiat.
Community Service projects included collecting winter clothes for the homeless and food for the Food Bank, a "hands - on" community service project to build sidewalks and repair doors at the Well-Come Inn Society, singing Christmas carols at Pleasantvale Homes, purchasing a new furnace for the Now Canada Women's and Children's shelter home, plus many other financial donations.
Our Pleasantvale Long-Term Planning Committee chaired by Doug Gossoo worked countless hours in support of an in-depth proposal presented by a local healthcare contractor (Pacific Sun) to the Interior Health Authority for the redevelopment of the Pleasantvale Homes property into a multi-purpose housing and health care facility. This development was to include affordable housing, residential care units, assisted and supportive units. Although the contractor and IHA were not able to come to terms on this proposal, the process was very positive in educating our membership about the current status of Pleasantvale Homes and in confirming our commitment to rejuvenating the property so that it continues to provide much needed low cost housing for decades to come.
Our Club contributed US $23,054 to the R.I. Foundation Annual Program Fund. This represented 177% of our goal. We donated additional financial support towards a matching grant for the Ethiopian water-well project.
Finally, under the leadership of Rhonda Lindsay (Director of our Club), the Rotary Clubs in Area 4 sponsored a one-day mass CPR training program. Over 600 Kelowna citizens attended and learned how CPR can help save lives.
Rotary Club of Kelowna Awards
Harold Henderson Award - Howie Morgan
Vocational Excellence Service Award - Major Les Burrows
Ray Corner Award - Rhonda Lindsay
Hass Houssian Award - Doug Gossoo
President's Award - Pro-Am Golf Committee: Chair Bill Redmont.
