Joan Firkins
Victoria B.C. Canada
(250) 477-7554 Home
(250) 472-7502 Fax
governor2005-06@rotary5020.org
District 5020
www.rotary5020.org
Zone 22/23 – 84 clubs – 5200+ members

Joan Firkins is a native British Columbian and has been resident in Victoria B.C. Canada since 1978. Invited to join Rotary in 1992 as a member of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay, Joan was Club President in 1996-97 and has held various club positions including Club Service Director, Treasurer, Program Chair and Sergeant at Arms.

At the District level, Joan has served for 3 years as the Chair of the Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships, as a member of the District Policy Review Committee, as Assistant Governor for 3 years, as co-Chair of the 2002 District Conference, as District Council Chair, as CWIP Coordinator for the Canadian region of the District, as a presenter at PETS and the DLTA, as Convener of the 2003 Rotary International Presidential Luncheon for President Bhichai Rattakul in Victoria B.C., as a Coordinator for the Polio Eradication Fundraising Campaign in 2002-2003 and assisted with the 2003 Rotary International Presidential Celebration held in Vancouver B.C. for President Jonathan Majiyagbe.

Joan has twice received the Rotary Foundation District Service Award and has also received the Four Avenues of Service Citation for Individual Rotarians. She has attended 4 Rotary International Conventions and credits her passion and commitment to Rotary from having attended the 1993 Convention in Melbourne, Australia. It was at this convention that she witnessed the immunization of the 500 millionth child with the polio vaccine – a defining moment in her short Rotary life and one that epitomized the year’s theme of Real Happiness is Helping Others. Joan, along with other members of District 5020, 5030 and 5040, travelled to Ethiopia in October 2003 to take part in National Immunization Days in the race to ensure every last child is immunized and the country is certified polio-free.

In her professional life, Joan was a Bank Manager and in 2001 retired from the Bank of Montreal after 40 years of service. She previously was a Board Member of Crimestoppers for 2 years and for 6 years was a Board Member, Finance Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors for St. Margaret’s School, an independent girls school in Victoria B.C.

Joan and her partner of 27 years, Donna Blackstock, are both committed to Rotary and its ideals and, while Donna is not a Rotarian, she is fully involved in the activities of the Oak Bay club and is a hands-on worker for the community. Donna is a Paul Harris Fellow and Joan is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor, and a member of the Bequest Society. Donna is a high school teacher and Athletic Director at Victoria High School, is active in physical fitness and is an outstanding role model for her students. In 2003, she was the recipient of the 2003 Sports Leader of the Year Community Award.

Both Joan and Donna look forward to Joan’s District Governor year in 2005-06 and in particular to visiting all 84 clubs in the District and meeting so many of the Rotarians of District 5020 who constantly strive to provide Service above Self by lending a hand to our communities at home and abroad.

Rotarian Fellowship for Fighting AIDS
African AIDS Angels