Our Motto

Our motto is Service Above Self, and this permeates everything we do! We are focused on living our club motto in real and tangible ways.

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Our Mission

  • Ensuring youth in the greater Vernon area have the best chance for life-long success
  • Enhancing and Preserving the greater Vernon and North Okanagan environment in which we live
  • Supporting those in need of everything from food & shelter to camaraderie

Our Community Events and Projects (some are on hold due to COVID-19)

  • Youth Scholarships for post-secondary education
  • Back to School BBQ's in Sep 2022 at Harwood & Mission Hill
  • Funding Breakfast & Lunch programs for K-9 & Venture Training schools
  • Father Daughter Ball
  • Heart and Stroke Big Bike Ride (on hold due to covid-19)
  • StarFish Pack to provide supplies for children & families in need
  • Vernon Vipers Hockey Games 50/50 - fundraising
  • Annual Garage Sale - fundraising
  • Okanagan Rail Trail
  • RCMP Volunteer of the Year
  • Summer Solstice BBQ @ Allan Brookes (on hold due to covid-19)
  • Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) (on hold due to covid-19)
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Organizations We Routinely Support

These are but a few of the organizations we routinely support through direct activity as well as financial donations.

Use these forms to apply for a donation from our club:

SS Rotary Donation Application 500 or Less

SS Rotary Donation Application Over 500


Beneficiary Logos

Scholarship Program

Since its inception, the Vernon Silver Star Rotary Club has run a scholarship programme with School District #22 to award financial support to deserving high-school graduates attending post-secondary institutions. These scholarships are given annually on the basis of three criteria:

  • financial need,
  • academic excellence, and
  • community and/or school involvement

The scholarship winners are chosen by a committee of club members who meet to go over applications submitted by the students.

In 1993, the club - in cooperation with the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan – went one step further and created the Silver Star Rotary Club Education Endowment Fund with an initial investment of $30,000. This money provides the annual distributions that fund the scholarship programme. Each year the club contributes money to increase the Education Endowment Fund from routine fund-raising efforts such as the Vernon Vipers’ 50/50 proceeds and with individual members being encouraged to personally donate as well.

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Scholarship Endowment Fund Balance: $141,000 (as of Sept 2021)

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Current Year’s Scholarship Distribution

For the current year the programme will award the following:

  • Total Distribution Target: $10,250 based on:
    • 6 scholarships of $1500, one for each of the 5 secondary schools in the North Okanagan plus a district wide scholarship of $1500 for a graduating trade/technology student.
    • 5 $250 school awards for graduating special needs students as chosen by the school administrations. Club members are also assigned the task of handing out the scholarships and special needs awards personally by attending the graduation ceremonies of each school in May and June.

It is with great pride that the Vernon Silver Star Rotary Club provides its scholarships and awards to the community, and that club members remain involved so personally in awarding them. We hope to continue to expand both the size and # of scholarships we aware each year based on our success in fund-raising.

Scholarship

Mentorship Program

VSSRotary believes that community is stronger when each individual is reaching their personal capacity. To that end, we are pleased to offer our Mentorship Program to members of the North Okanagan and greater Vernon areas.

mentorship
noun; the activity of giving a younger or less experienced person help and advice over a period of time, especially at work or school.
[Cambridge Dictionary]

VSSRotary Club Members have decades of both professional and personal experience to share with you, and they welcome doing so. Whether you're a student looking for guidance as to what's next for you, a career professional looking for help in your career or running your business, or even a hobbyist looking for guidance as to how to take your passion to the next level, we may be able to help.

To learn more about the skills and passions of VSSRotary Club Members, click here.

If you are interested in our Mentorship Program, please complete a Mentorship Request Form.

Club Supporters

Tim Schmaltz, owner of ATS Electric & Technical Service Ltd, has kindly donated parts & labour to help maintain our commercial-grade propane griddle, which is used at “Back to School” barbeques, pancake breakfasts, & other events.

Wade & Julia Cantalope, owners of Elephant Services, including their Okanagan Ave Storage Centre, have graciously donated our use of a storage shed for over a decade. As our club doesn’t own any property, we need somewhere to keep a variety of supplies for our events & fundraisers. Without this storage shed, we’d have our supplies spread out among a lot of members’ overflowing garages!

Get to know us: Member Profiles

Club Directors

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Michael Wardlow is a Yorkshireman who landed in Canada with his Family in 1954. They settled in North Delta and grew to love Canada. In 1966 Michael graduated from UBC and married his wife Marilyn. They have three grown children and three grandchildren, scattered around the world. In 1973 the family moved to Vernon where Michael gained a partnership in several retail fabric stores. In 1977 that business began changing and became Far West Industries, a successful manufacturer of Gore-Tex Outerwear. Michael's interests are many and varied. As a pilot he flew 2,200 business hours, has volunteered as coach and treasurer with minor soccer, one of four founders of Vernon's annual Funtastic Slowpitch Tournament, Director/Treasurer of Vernon Arts Council, and for many years a member of the Vernon Community Singers as well as performing onstage with the Music School's Glee Club. Michael has been a dedicated Rotarian for 30 years and in retirement enjoys skiing, golfing, senior slowpitch and traveling.

Eric has been a Rotarian since 2010. A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Eric's career focus has been in the health & wellness technology areas in the US, Canada, Europe, and other markets around the world. His area of focus has been sales, marketing, and business development as well as executive leadership. Eric is married to Elaine, and they have a daughter and son, as well as a dog and cat. Eric is passionate about helping the next generations succeed, largely through educational support. Eric's interests are family & friends, great food & drink, golf, and travel to the few places he has yet to visit.

Of all the possible places to live in Canada, Don Miller chose to live in Vernon and has found it an amazing place to live since 2000. Don and his wife Anne lived on a sailboat for 20 years prior to 2000 and sailed to Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean. They home schooled their three children who were born while
traveling. They are now grown and the Millers have one grandson.

Don has been a Real Estate Agent with Century 21 since 2001 and enjoys helping people finding their perfect home. He has owned five successful businesses in the past in Edmonton and the Caribbean. He and his wife Anne, also run a small market garden on 5 acres in Vernon. Don is passionate about supporting The Food Bank, Easter Seals, Century 21 and Rotary Fund Raising Events & Charities, and the community at large. He grows Orchids as a hobby and enjoys canoeing, travel, family time, reads extensively, their market garden and enjoys holding several large parties annually for clients and friends. Don has been a member of Silver Star Rotary since 2003.

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Dave Weatherill is a born and raised Vernonite! He is technically trained in many agricultural based operations. Dave’s professional interests include Chemistry, Physics and Biology. With his wife Joanne, they own and operate several businesses based in Vernon. They are parents to 3 grown children, and 2 grandkids. Many “ings” are enjoyed including sailing, golfing, skiing, gardening, reading, walking, traveling, camping, kayaking, cycling, and fishing! A special passion is hosting so far over 100 international exchange students and staying connected with them through the years. Dave has been a member of Rotary since 1987.