As submitted by Rudi Atkinson. 
Recently I found myself in Portland, Oregon with James for the wedding of our host daughter from India."
"I’ve been a Rotarian now for nearly 18 years having been introduced to Rotary by my daughter who applied for and was accepted into the Youth Exchange Program where she spent a year in Hungary. Attending my first meeting with her I felt so at home and that I was in the company of such like minded people I wondered how I could join. I knew nothing about Rotary. A colleague of mine offered to sponsor me and that was it! I became a Rotarian.
Becoming a Rotarian is a misleading characterization. It’s more like I’ve always been a Rotarian without knowing it and now I had a formal channel of expression of ‘Service Above Sell.’ I was formalized into this worldwide organization known as Rotary International. Thankfully.
In my nearly 18 years of service I have chaired the Public Image and Youth Services Committees, been President, host mom to three inbound exchange students, counsellor to inbound and outbound exchange students, recruited youth for leadership programs and exchanges, chaired a committee for an adult visit of Rotarians from Welshpool, Wales to our community, chaperoned students to Wales for our former youth reciprocal exchange programs, chaperoned a 31 day cross USA bus trip with 108 foreign exchange students, Youth and Exchange Officer for my club, spearheaded an environmental project to plant over 14K daffodil bulbs on our trail, am working with a subcommittee to develop an art mural gallery below a newly designed and constructed bridge on our trail, participated in a number of club activities and fundraisers, and have sponsored new members. To say I have been enriched by my time in Rotary is an understatement. The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise is also family, friends, colleagues, like minded people who strive to make the world a better place. I am blessed to be a cog in the wheel of Rotary.
Recently I found myself in Portland, Oregon with James for the wedding of our host daughter from India."Click on "Read More" for the continuation of Rudi's report
"Yet another enriching experience thanks to Rotary. Kriti was our first Rotary daughter and we were blessed to be invited to her wedding. The pre wedding and wedding ceremonies were filled with family, friends, color, symbolism, fire and water for cleansing and purity, support from all who were there, vegetarian food, much joy and love. I was a very emotional Rotary mom and grateful to be witness to the joining of these two souls in marriage. The support surrounding this couple was palpable and they are off to the best beginning a couple can have in sharing their lives together in marriage.
The Haldi ceremony, pre wedding dinner, and wedding day ceremonies were rich in culture and symbolism. Kriti was princess-like. The picture on the left is with Kriti and Trevor, Kriti’s parents, and us as her Canadian Rotary parents. What a blessing to be with them and still connected after all of these years.
Congratulations to Kriti and Trevor. May you live in harmony and love for and with each other. Namaste. "
