President Cathy Skene opened the meeting with the club's land acknowledgement and the singing of O'Canada led by Dave Morris.

Chair Announcements from President Cathy:

President-elect David and I joined the Cosways and a few other Rotarians for the Pride parade yesterday. Once again, it was a lot of fun and the smoke hanging over the city kept us from getting sunburnt. Glenn and President-Elect David are not here today. They are representing our club at the Bear Clan Golf Tournament at Kingswood. They will also be promoting our Green Spaces golf tournament while they are there.

I have lobster tickets here tonight, and online registration is live. People can pay with cash or cheque if they buy paper tickets, and by credit card if they buy online. Preparations are proceeding well and prices are the same as last year, $65 for lobster and $50 for chicken. As well as the protein choice, buyers will receive a small wine, coleslaw, baked potato, roll and butter and dessert. Taking into account that there is no tax or gratuity tacked onto the price, it’s a very good deal. Many people gather with friends to enjoy their dinner, while others toss it into a cooler and take it to the lake.

June 8th is the final day for ticket sales. Please do not sell tickets after that day because the food orders will be finalized and we won’t have dinners for people.

I am going to be away for a few days for a celebration of life, but I’ll be back Sunday, the 8th. If you haven’t already reported your final tally of sales, expect a phone call from me. It is absolutely critical that we have a final tally by Sunday. If you think you might need more tickets, get them today.

A note: On June 23rd, due to a number of our members being at the RI conference in Calgary, we have decided not to meet here at Breezy. But, there have been suggestions that another meeting in the Forest would be of interest. So if you’re interested in being a part of that, please let Jack know. No commitment yet, but to gauge interest.

Sarge Mike introduced our Guests:- Samatha Fast, Avril and Audrey Inglis

Jack Wilson provided an update on the upcoming Forest information sessions.

Promoting the Forest

Three community groups have already signed up to participate. Jack expressed appreciation for everyone’s involvement so far. Throughout June, Jack and Joyce have organized informal gatherings in the forest every few days. During these sessions, volunteers will hand out brochures and engage with the public to raise awareness about forest activities and gather feedback from visitors.

Volunteer Opportunities

A schedule has been prepared with two-hour shifts, requiring two volunteers per shift at a designated standing table. This familiar format includes playing short audio clips (under three minutes) followed by discussion questions. A signup sheet will be circulated shortly, and Jack and Joyce will coordinate the volunteers.

Community Engagement

Jack also thanked everyone for the excellent turnout from St. Paul’s School. The students enjoyed their time in the forest, and their participation was greatly appreciated. As always, donuts were a welcome addition to the event.

This evening's speaker comes highly recommended by the South Eastman Club. Samantha Fast is a respected keynote speaker, consultant, and executive coach, dedicated to helping individuals and teams unlock their full potential. Although the incoming leader is away today—sent off to enjoy a round of golf—Samantha has graciously permitted the recording of her presentation so it can be shared with him later.

Introduction: A Unique Take on Leadership

Samantha Fast began her presentation by expressing gratitude for the invitation and noting her unfamiliarity with using a microphone—a humorous moment that immediately connected her with the audience. Though she humbly insisted she wasn't a singer, she clarified her role as a DJ and dance instructor. Her purpose that day, however, was not to entertain through music or movement, but to challenge the audience’s understanding of leadership. Samantha introduced the core of her message: leadership is not about control, but rather about collaboration and connection.

The World Salsa Summit: A Lesson in Adaptation

To illustrate her point, Samantha launched into a personal story from 2023, when she and her then-dance partner competed in the World Salsa Summit, a renowned Latin dance competition in Miami that draws performers from around the world. They chose to compete at the professional level with a “cabaret” routine—a style known for its dramatic lifts and acrobatic tricks.

Preparing for the two-minute routine took nearly a year—about 360 days of dedicated practice. By the time they arrived in Miami, Samantha knew the choreography by heart, from the movement of her body to the timing of every beat. Standing backstage, adrenaline coursing through her, she prepared to give what she believed would be their best performance. The first 60 seconds were magical. Everything flowed exactly as it should. Then came the moment for one of the major lifts. Samantha initiated the move, feeling herself rise—and then abruptly fall. Something had gone wrong. In that moment, her stomach dropped. Fortunately, they were able to recover and finish the routine without injury, but the routine no longer qualified for a placement.

From Setback to Insight

Despite the disappointment, the experience was full of insights. It became a real-time lesson in adaptation, resilience, and—most relevant to her theme—leadership. She emphasized that the experience taught her more about adjusting to challenges and responding in real-time than any traditional leadership training ever had. To give the audience a clearer sense of the mishap, Samantha shared visual examples: first, of how the lift was intended to look, and then a still image of what actually occurred on stage. This shift from ideal to reality provided a striking metaphor for the demands of leadership when things don't go as planned.

Wearing Many Hats: Dance and Business

Samantha then shared that dance is only one part of her professional life. Alongside her roles as a dance instructor, international DJ, and music producer, she has also worked in commercial real estate for over 15 years. With these dual careers in both creative and corporate realms, she has observed contrasting views on leadership.

In the corporate world, leadership is often seen as a top-down structure where the "boss" delegates tasks with minimal input from others. In contrast, the dance world—particularly partner dance—requires a dynamic, interactive form of leadership. Surprisingly, she found the leadership lessons from dance more profound and impactful than those learned in boardrooms or university lectures.

Leadership on the Dance Floor

To shift the audience’s perspective, Samantha introduced an interactive portion by asking who had participated in partner dancing before. As several hands went up—ballroom, salsa—she engaged participants in recalling what they enjoyed about the experience. Common responses included comments on the dynamic of leading and following, and the emotional impact of giving over control to another.

This set the stage for one of her key concepts. In partner dance, there are three central elements:

1. The Lead – traditionally male, the person who initiates the movement.

2. The Follow – traditionally female, the dancer who responds to the lead’s direction.

3. The Music – the guiding rhythm that inspires and drives both roles.

Samantha emphasized that in an effective dance partnership, the lead listens to the music for cues, then transmits that intent to the follow. Meanwhile, the follow must stay attuned not only to the lead’s signals but also to the music itself. In this sense, the follow carries a dual responsibility, arguably making their role even more complex.

Achieving Flow: The Essence of Collaborative Leadership

When the lead, the follow, and the music work in harmony, dancers enter what’s known as a flow state. Samantha described this state as a transcendent experience, where time seems to dissolve and actions become effortless. It’s a familiar feeling to anyone immersed in an activity they love—whether it’s dance, art, problem-solving, or leadership. By highlighting this analogy, Samantha proposed a shift in the conventional understanding of leadership. Rather than issuing commands from above, great leadership resembles the dance floor: a conversation, a collaboration, a shared rhythm. And when done well, it results in something far greater than the sum of its parts.

Finding Flow in Dance and Leadership

In both dance and leadership, the ultimate goal is achieving a state of flow—flow with one’s lead, one’s follow, and with the music itself. Samantha Fast emphasized this shared goal, drawing from her experience not only as a DJ but also as a dance instructor with over 14 years in the field. Through her time as both student and teacher, she observed that many beginners believe success in dance is about memorizing steps. They focus on sequences like “1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7” and often assume that the more complicated the steps, the better the dancer.

However, Fast has come to understand that it’s not the complexity of steps that makes a dancer exceptional—it’s the mindset. Advancing from beginner to intermediate or from intermediate to advanced hinges less on technical choreography and more on how one thinks about the dance. According to her, five core principles support this mindset shift: accountability, confidence, trust/safety, communication, and adaptability.

Accountability: Owning Your Role

The first principle Fast highlighted is accountability. A successful dance demands that both partners are fully accountable for their respective roles. A lead must be 100% responsible for leading, and a follow must be equally responsible for following. If two individuals try to lead, a power struggle ensues; if both try to follow, the dance stalls with no direction. For the partnership to function, one person must lead and the other must follow. Without this mutual clarity of roles, progress halts.

Confidence: A Cornerstone for Both Roles

Fast’s second principle is confidence, which she considers foundational, especially for follows. While confidence is vital for all dancers, she noted that follows often struggle more in this area, potentially due to the perceived power imbalance in dance roles. Follows may feel responsible when a move goes wrong, assuming it was their mistake—even when the issue may stem from the lead.

For leads, confidence means delivering a clear indication and following through. If the lead isn’t decisive, the follow won’t know what to do. For follows, confidence involves trusting one’s ability to interpret cues and to execute movements with clarity. This mutual confidence not only strengthens individual execution but also supports trust in the partner—setting the stage for the next principle: trust and safety.

Trust and Safety: Creating Secure Space for Connection

Trust and safety form the third essential pillar. Fast explained that, due to the structure of partner dancing, there’s an inherent power imbalance where leads hold more control. As such, it is especially important for leads to establish both physical and emotional safety for their follows.

This is done through the dance "frame"—the physical connection through which leads communicate with their follows. The frame is not just a method of physical containment; it provides an energetic sense of protection and guidance. Fast shared that when a lead disconnects unexpectedly, it can be deeply unsettling for a follow, especially those with less experience. Feeling abandoned in that moment creates confusion and fear.

She emphasized that leads must cultivate a space where follows feel held—both literally and figuratively. At the same time, follows must also contribute to the environment of trust by offering their leads grace and understanding. Leadership can feel vulnerable and demanding, as it involves responsibility for the wellbeing of others. When follows create a space of emotional support, it empowers leads to take creative risks—leading to spontaneous, magical moments of dance that often can't be replicated.

With accountability, confidence, and trust/safety in place, Fast transitioned into the fourth principle:

Communication: The Fourth Key Element

Samantha Fast emphasized that communication is a crucial element in a successful dance. When people think of communication, they often imagine talking or having a conversation. Interestingly, dance itself is frequently described as a conversation between the lead and the follow. However, newer dancers—especially new leads—sometimes misunderstand this dynamic. Some leads assume that leading means the follow must listen and do exactly everything they say, turning the interaction into a one-way command rather than a dialogue.

This one-sided approach rarely works well. Leads who expect to dictate every move often find themselves with fewer dance opportunities because follows do not enjoy being controlled or manhandled. Instead, follows want space for self-expression and their own voice within the dance.

To balance this, leads must understand their role as accountable leaders, but also foster a feedback loop. About 70 to 75 percent of the time, the lead is giving instructions, and the follow is listening and executing. The other 25 to 30 percent, however, is when the follow provides feedback—communicating what works or what needs more clarity. During this time, the lead listens and adjusts accordingly. This ongoing exchange creates a feedback loop that helps both partners grow the dance together, resulting in a smoother and more successful experience.

Adaptability: The Final Essential Element

Adaptability is the last key factor Samantha highlighted for successful dancing. There are three main ways dancers must adapt:

1. Adapting to Different Partners: At social dances, individuals rarely dance with the same partner all night. Each partner is unique, and their style, frame, and connection differ. Leads might need to give more or less indication depending on how the follow holds their weight—not necessarily physical size, but how well they maintain their own balance. Follows, on the other hand, must learn to interpret different leads’ styles and adjust their movements accordingly.

2. Adapting to Mistakes: Mistakes happen frequently on the dance floor because dance is a 50-50 collaboration. Both lead and follow share responsibility for executing moves correctly. When errors occur, adaptability allows dancers to recover gracefully and continue without losing the flow.

3. Adapting to Music: The music itself is the ultimate driver of the dance. Dancers will encounter various styles and genres—salsa, bachata, swing, and more. Being able to shift the dance to fit different rhythms and moods is crucial.

Applying the Elements: A Real-Life Example

Samantha shared a personal story to illustrate how all five key elements come together during a challenging moment on the dance floor:

● Accountability: Her partner took full responsibility for leading her safely out of a difficult trick, while she was fully accountable as a follow, allowing herself to be led.

● Confidence: Both had confidence and trust in each other’s abilities. Without this, panic could have worsened the situation.

● Trust and Safety: In midair, Samantha had to trust her partner not to drop her, while he trusted her to use proper techniques for safety.

● Communication: Though she was slightly panicked and “blacked out” momentarily, her partner communicated reassurance through body language, telling her non-verbally, “I’ve got you.”

● Adaptation: Since the trick could not be executed as planned, they adapted on the fly to synchronize back with the music and finish the routine smoothly.

Leadership as Partnership

Samantha challenged the traditional idea of leadership as a one-way, top-down dynamic. Instead, she advocated for leadership as a partnership—a 50-50 collaboration between lead and follow. Only when the lead, follow, and music work together as one, in sync and flow, can they truly reach their goals on the dance floor.

Additional Notes and Audience Interaction

At the end of her presentation, Samantha invited attendees to provide feedback via a QR code and encouraged connections for future speaking opportunities. She also answered audience questions about her teaching background, explaining that she primarily teaches adults and specializes in Kizomba—a dance genre originating in Angola, now evolved into urban styles with choreographed elements. Samantha mentioned she had shifted focus to music production and was not currently teaching.

Charleswood Rotary expresses its thanks to Samatha

We sincerely thank Samantha Fast for taking the time to present to the members of Charleswood Rotary. Her insightful discussion on the dynamics of dance and leadership truly enriched our understanding and inspired meaningful reflection. We are always grateful to our speakers, whose generosity in sharing their knowledge and experiences is what makes our club vibrant and engaging. It is through these valuable presentations that we continue to grow both personally and as a community. Samantha’s contribution exemplifies the spirit of learning and connection that defines Charleswood Rotary, and we appreciate her for being part of that tradition.

Happy Bucks

• Mandy recently returned from a week in Waterloo for work, describing the trip as both insightful and excellent. In addition to taking on a new professional role, Mandy has also returned to school. She is now enrolled at Harvard Business School, where she is teaching Organizational Leadership—an exciting step forward in her career journey.
• Jagdish was glad to see some much-needed rain finally arrive—and so was everyone else! The brief rainfall was a welcome change, and now the sunshine has returned.
• Paul noted his appreciation for the efforts of firefighters and other workers currently active in the northern and eastern regions. He shared that he’s thankful for the work being done and is glad to see it recognized.
• Chuck shared that he was happy to get out to the cabin over the weekend and was relieved to find everything in good shape—nothing had shut off or gone wrong. He was preparing to mow the grass but quickly realized there wasn’t much to mow, as the dry weather had slowed growth, except for a few patches here and there. “I’m really glad,” he said. “Just happy to be here.”
• Sharon shared her gratitude, saying she’s truly thrilled to see so many people still actively involved. She applauded the work being done by this group, especially noting the contributions of many seniors. Now living in a building with other seniors, Sharon observed that while some may spend their time golfing, she sees firsthand what people can accomplish when they’re truly motivated. “We need to talk more about that,” she added. “We were happy about it.”
• Ed Thompson shared with a smile that he had just finished his yard work. “I’m getting slower every 20 years,” he joked.
• Cathy attended the Pride Parade this year and was pleased to report she didn’t get sunburned. She recalled that last year, despite using sunblock, she returned with a red face. Cathy wondered aloud if the smoke from the wildfires might have helped block the sun this time around.
• Nick recently completed planting his garden on the balcony and expressed happiness about the recent rain. “We’re happy about it,” he shared.
• Ed Toews joked about his helpful neighbour, saying, “I’m asking my neighbor to retire because he fertilized my lawn and cut it—he lives right next to me. I just cut their lawn, and now I’m going to fertilize mine.”
• Mike joked about his recent trip, saying, “I’ve been in the Mediterranean for three weeks and just got back. I know, it’s a tough life.”
• Alan mentioned his garden has been growing and that brush had accumulated over several years in his garden. When his neighbour went away, he asked Alan to help with a few tasks. The neighbour loaned Alan a brush cutter and allowed him to use his larger trailer to remove the brush.

Sarge Mike held the draw.

Caroline won the ticket draw, however did not draw the winning marble.

Next week we will hear from Dale Kornelson. Dale is a Registered Dietician and he will be sharing some advice to keep us all healthy. I chatted with him on the phone, and he was very warm and friendly. He is knowledgeable about diabetes, heart health, weight management, food sensitivities and allergies. Come with your diet questions. The meeting following that…handover!