International President Visits

GYRO CHIEFS GIVE WARM WELCOME. – Were Honor Guests at Dinner in Victoria Café. – Also Shown Sullivan Mine and Concentrator at Kimberley. – Enjoyed Visit to Kootenay.

            What was probably the most successful function in the history of Gyro in this district was held here last week in honor of the visit of International President Gordon Stovel, of Winnipeg, and District Governor Alf. Williams, of Calgary.  The hosts were the Kimberley and Cranbrook clubs, who entertained the distinguished visitors at dinner in the private dining room of the Victoria Café.

            Gyro Stovel in his after dinner address, spoke of his visiting fifteen clubs in his nineteen day tour of the west, and took occasion  to remark on his attending a joint meeting for the first time during his tour.  He presented greetings from other officers of the international executive, E. Cagy, of Cleveland, international secretary, and J. Northy of Toronto, international vice-president.

            Going into the history of Gyro, Mr. Stovel spoke of the founding of the organization by  P. Swan, H. Anderson and E. Cagy in the city of Cleveland in 1912 and the winning of favor of the idea of a friendship club until now there are 73 branches in the international with every promise of greater growth.  New clubs are being formed at Portland, Oregon, Atlanta, Georgia and Oakland, California, the speaker said.

            Mr. Stovel also drew attention to the organization’s system of financing, which is excellent, and touched on its always placing community interests before the interests of individual members.  He strongly urged attendance at district and international conventions and mentioned the international convention at Tacoma in July when a special train will leave Winnipeg for the Washington coast.  He informed the meeting that Calgary has asked delegates to spend a half day in that city when they will be entertained and of Vancouver’s desire to have the delegates spend a day there.  Victoria, Seattle, Olympia and Portland have also issued similar invitations.

            The speaker concluded with encouragement to publication of a Gyro bulletin and an appeal for perpetuation of Gyro friendship which is dependant on the devotion of members to their God and fellow-men.

            Mr. Alf. Williams, governor of district eight, had a word to speak of the pleasure he had experienced when he visited Cranbrook and Kimberley clubs last January.  He hoped to again visit these clubs on his return from the Tacoma convention and of his inducing E. Cagy, one of the organization’s founders, to be with him on that occasion.

            W. Cleave, president of the Kimberley club, heartily congratulated his Cranbrook brothers on the swimming pool here, and stated his pride in that achievement.

            Gyro R.E. Crerar, president of the Nelson club, wired regrets at his inability to attend the dinner, stating however, although delayed for a day, he would be on the train to accompany the visitors as far as Fernie on their return journey.

            Bert Sang of the local club gave a brief talk on club activity.  He was followed by George Dalgren, who spoke on mining and stressed the commercial importance of a new product, cadmium, which has been recovered from the waste of the district mines to a value of $786,000.

            The balance of the evening was devoted to community singing led by Gyro Lorne Watson, of Cranbrook, and Gyro J. Booth of Kimberley, and adjournment to the parish Hall where the Gyros and Gyrettes attended the regular Friday dance, with young people of the city.

            On the day following the visitors, in company with Dr. C.A. Mittun and Doug. Gray, were taken to Kimberley where they were shown through the mine and concentrator.