Gary Chomyn, an active member of the RC Vancouver Sunrise, has been the chair of the annual hoop-a-thon fundraiser since 2012. The event has grown to become a partnership of Rotarians from eight Rotary Clubs, Rotoractors, and Interactors.
The project supports kids in East Vancouver by awarding scholarships for post secondary education. Money raised also supports Strathcona’s Youth Leadership Programs and the Strathcona Community Centre's Basketball Program. Since its inception in 2007 the Hoop-A-Thon has raised over $460,000 for kids at risk.
UPCOMING MEETING MAR 22, 2022
Allan Holender, veteran broadcaster ALS the ignored disease
Allan Holender has been a serial entrepreneur for the well over 20 years and has written a book on the new world of business, called Zentrepreneurism, where it's the blended bottom line that is important. His daily mantra is passion, purpose and profits with integrity. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters Studies is in Sociology. He was a leadership and team-building trainer; has developed and delivered programs to colleges, universities, hospitals, and the corporate world. He has mentored entrepreneurs, CEOs, and senior management from some of North America’s top-ranked companies. He was also a business commentator in Canada and the United States, having hosted a nationally syndicated business radio show on the Talk America radio network.
He will be addressing the issue of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease), the fatal neurodegenerative disease where patients typically become unable to move, speak, swallow and breathe as the condition progresses. Approximately 400 British Columbians live with ALS and the dim prognosis. Allan, at 80 years old, is now the voice for his life partner, Roxanne, who is 70 and can no longer speak due to ALS.
have moved. Check your ClubRunner member roster for the updated location. Their phone number remains the same.
Narv Gill Mar 16
Wolfgang DegemannMar 21
at our Club
Charles Flavelle 58 years!
wedding
Ian & Pear Storrs 8 years Mar 15
Aldo & Rosa Brussoni
57 years Mar 20
Last Meeting Mar 15, 2022
Kendall Jessiman, President Elect, chaired the meeting
Gabby Dickert, acting Secretary, hosted the ZOOM meeting
Jill Pennefather, Sergeant at Arms, introduced our guests
Miya Otake played O Canada on the harp via video
President’s Announcements:
Thank you to all of you who came to today’s meeting. It is wonderful to see you all, both those in person and those attending virtually.
Regarding providing support for Ukraine, Wayne met with other RC leaders last Thursday evening, including from representatives from Ukraine and Poland, to discuss what was needed and how best to implement any aid. Everyone should have received an email with the outcome of those discussions. In short, the unanimous recommendation was that the best way to support them would be through RI’s Disaster Response Fund. All money donated to the fund through to April 30th will be earmarked for Ukraine support. All funds are to be distributed to clubs in Ukraine and surrounding countries starting immediately after April 30th with the entirety of the funds being given by the end of June, to RC clubs in the Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Unfortunately our club does not have a lot of recorded history about our involvement, but one of the 6 clubs, Shrewsbury in Massachusetts, also instrumental in starting up Rotary in Ukraine recently put together a presentation talking about the history of the start of the Rotary Club of Kiev. The presentation is ½ hour long so will not show during our meeting; you can CLICK HERE to view it. It is very interesting how Rotarians worked at various levels in Ukraine. Not only in getting the club off the ground but also from providing business expertise to start up business enterprises, to government advice such as with writing the country’s 1st Constitution.
As an aside, and not that anyone would donate for the purpose of receiving a pat on the back, but donations will go towards Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
Also, our Board has agreed to match all funds donated up to a maximum of CDN$20,000 as well as District 5040 matching up to CDN$25,000. Please consider donating whatever you can to help, every dollar adds up.
An email has been sent out with the information and link to donate. Everyone is asked to share this information far and wide.
The membership committee's next business networking event is scheduled for Thursday March 31st. There will be a wonderful meal, gourmet chocolates and wine tasting, all for the nominal cost of $25 per person. There is limited seating of 35 so I highly recommend that as soon as you receive the Eventbrite invitation in your inbox you book your tickets.
The event will highlight 4 short talks (5 mins each) about the post pandemic state of real estate in BC from our own expert members. See above for more info.
This event has proven to be key in marketing our club to potential Rotarians. To that end I encourage you to attend and bring along someone in your circle who may be a candidate for our club. We want to show the depth and breadth of our business experience and contacts.
As Ian Storrs recently eloquently put it: The core of Rotary has always been philanthropy, but the strength of Rotary has always been in the network of professionals that utilize their expertise and influence to enact positive change in the world.
I’m pleased to let you know that with the relaxation of the provincial health orders, the 2022 District 5040 conference will be in-person. It will be in Prince George on Friday May 20th to Sunday May 22nd. The theme is Celebrate the 7 Wonders of Rotary. The cost is $380 + GST for Rotarians until the end of March after which the cost will go up. If you need more info, contact Carolyn.
Lastly, Rotary World Help is looking for volunteers to help this coming Saturday, March 19th, with the Tanzania container loading. Please contact Bridget Jacob, RWH Secretary, at secretary@rotaryworldhelp.com, if you can help asap.
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Special announcements and members' moments:
Joan Posivy, the youth committee's auction will be in two distinct sections silent auction available on-line starting the end of March, and live auction in person at Terminal City Club Tuesday April 12th. Consider bringing guests. The more, the merrier. The list of items being auctioned is nothing less than superb!
Julia Halbert, President of the Vancouver Young Professional Rotaract Club, will talk about their upcoming fundraiser supporting Urban Native Youth Association. The Vancouver Young Professionals Rotaract Club has doubled in size this year making a fundraiser of this large undertaking possible. The goal is to raise $10K with 200 people in attendance at the event. The date of the event is June 2, 6:00 p.m. (Thursday) at the Bill Reid Gallery. The two most important things our club can provide is funding (need to raise $5K to cover the cost of the event), and attendance. The tickets are very reasonably priced at $50 per person. Perhaps consider a table? Sponsorships and donations are accepted via e-transfers to email, vancouveryoungprofessionals@gmail.com.
Note from Joan Posivy: please seriously consider supporting this fundraiser in any way you can. The VYP Rotaractors are consistent supporters of ours, by volunteering at Food on the Corner, helping with RWH container loadings, and being members of our own youth committee. They are our future Rotarians and this event will be a wonderful one to attend. We will keep you posted once tickets are available.
Join in on a Rotaract meeting, held 1st Monday of every month at the Robert Lee YMCA, 955 Burrard St. For more info about Rotaract or this event either call 250-231-3294, or email vancouveryoungprofessionals@gmail.com.
About UNYA
UNYA's focus since its inception in 1988 has been to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth (Aboriginal, Metis, Inuit, First Nations, Status, Non-Status) in the urban setting. Their goal is to be a safe place for Indigenous youth to come and find out about programs and services at UNYA and in the broader community. UNYA strives to support Indigenous youth by providing a diverse continuum of advocacy, preventative and support services that respond to their immediate and long-term needs. Today, UNYA delivers 20+ programs, with 175+ volunteers, 100 staff, and more than 300 community partners.
The funding raised will provide though UNYA:
Bus passes, tutoring lessons, school supplies, educational programmes and courses, a sense of community and belonging, work and learning experiences and counselling.
Event highlights:
A live and silent auction featuring Indigenous art, adventure packages, getaways and more.
The event features Indigenous musician's, Indigenous businesses and community activists. This event will also provide learning opportunities for the UNYA Youth and local Interactors.
Celebrates Indigenous youth and gives them the spotlight. We will also have a full bar and catering
An opportunity to build connections between Rotarians and Rotaractors, many of whom are aging out of Rotaract and will be considering joining Rotary.
Parisa Adrangi updated on her Remax office's contributions to the Ukraine Disaster Relief -- they've collected $1100 which Parisa herself matched.
Also Parisa wanted to publicly thank Charles Flavelle and Purdy's for their Persian New Year chocolate boxes. What a nice way to acknowledge and celebrate this special time of the year.
Mukhtar Latif was able to connect with Gerry Glazier who in turn connected him with Dan Gallant at Rotary World Help in order to get supplies from a building to be torn down. All supplies were picked up/delivered to RWH, including approximately 5000 face visors, 2000 bottles of hand sanitizer, 1500 personal protection gowns, 500 catheters, and a collection of crutches, bandage trays, & syringes.
Program:
Michael Woolnough, co-chair of our International Service committee, introduced Chris Loat. Chris has been a Rotarian for over 20 years, and is currently with RC West Vancouver Sunrise. He is a very active member on many committees at club and District level. He's best known for his work with Shelterbox. However, today he will be talking about the work done in east Africa.
As an aside, Chris did let us know that Shelterbox is working in Poland right now providing equipment most needed at this time.
Chris' talk was one which was the first talk of the Speakers Series which are being arranged by the Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited designed to help lift the myths and taboos around menstrual hygiene and to share with you how Rotary Clubs in District 5040 of which the Vancouver Club was a major contributor and the Rotary Club of Kampala Nsambya are working to ensure that Girls can complete their education safely. It is also an opportunity to tell you how this Global Grant came about. Chris was very privileged to be joined for the talk by District Governor for District 9214 2021-2022, Rotarian Young Kimaro from the Rotary Club of Miwika in Tanzania, and President of the Rotary Club of Kampala Nsambya Uganda, Stieve Alusa Kafuna.
The goals of our RI President Mehta and our President Elect Jones include empowering girls and ensuring their access to education.
The Rotary Club of Kampala Nsambya, The Rotary Club of Vancouver and other clubs in District 5040 and The Candle Light Foundation the Global Grants cooperating organization have dreamed big and established a social enterprise to help girls build self esteem and confidence and complete their education. It is well recognized that education for all has great benefit for any country.
Some myths are old wives tails but other can have a very serious and long lasting effect on girls and women.
Hoonah was in school when she first menstruated. She recalls that she bled through her uniform, and the boys and girls laughed at her, so she ran out of class. She did not want to go back the next day, but she was in boarding school, and there was “nowhere else to go”. Neither her parents nor her teachers had told her about menstruation, or what to do once it happened. She says that underneath her embarrassment there was also confusion and fear.
In one part of the country there’s a belief that if a girl on her period, or a woman on her period, walks through your garden when you’re growing vegetables, that everything in your garden will die.
There is a myth that anyone who experiences pain during menstruation should have sex to take the pain away. This is a particularly sad misconception which result in young girls, adolescent girls, engaging in sex far earlier than they would have, because they think it’s a way of actually addressing the pain that they feel.
And there are many more.
The Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited provides menstrual hygiene management training in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to both boys and girls in order that everyone understands how a girls body develops. To create safe space for girls in school, gender equality and respect for all.
Rotary Global Grant project are required to fall within one of Rotary International seven areas of focus. This project is:
Helping girls understand how their bodies develop;
Helping girls build self esteem and confidence;
Helping girls to stay in school to completed their educations
These goals most certainly fall within at least three of rotary’s areas of focus:
Water Sanitation and Hygiene,
Maternal and Child Health, and
Basic Education.
But this project also falls within in Rotary’s seventh and newest area of focus the Environment due to the materials used for the pads.
UK-based charity Fields of Life reminds people that thousands of girls are still missing school in parts of the world because of menstruation. This is especially true for girls in Uganda, who frequently miss school – or drop out completely – because they are bullied, don’t have access to sanitary items and are brought up thinking menstruation is something deeply embarrassing or even shameful. Many schools also lack adequate washroom facilities, adding to the stress and anxiety caused. 86% of girls in Uganda miss school because of menstruation.
This issue resonated with all concerned and it was decided to apply for a Rotary Global Grant to address this issue. A needs assessment was carried out involving the leaders and a cross section of the community all of whom fully endorse the grant application.
Rotary Global Grant GG2097864, Girls Helping Girls Stay in School - Supporting Schools in Uganda was approved. This grant funded the setting up of the Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited (ROHSSEL) which has a mandate to produce sanitary pads and provide menstrual hygiene management training. The Candle Light Foundation Uganda is as mentioned earlier is a cooperating organization for this grant.
The Rotary Hygiene and Social Enterprise Limited (ROHSSEL) was registered in Kamapal Uganda in November 2020 to help girls understand how their bodies develop and build self confidence so that girls will stay in school and complete their education.
The Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited is located on the premises Candle Light High School in Mukono District Uganda. The school is run by the Candle Light Foundation Uganda the cooperating organization.
Candle Light Foundation Uganda, is a Not-for-Profit Organization, with a mission to empower vulnerable girls and women to live their dreams and reach their full potential through education, skills training and entrepreneurship. We believe women are born with incredible gifts to share with the world and make our communities a better place. Our goal is to provide the tools, educational opportunities, support and encouragement to empower women to become all that they dream to be. With the dedication of our volunteers, staff members, and partners, we strive to improve the lives of vulnerable women and girls.
Teachers at Candle Light High School have been trained to deliver menstrual hygiene management training and will be contracted by the Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited to provided training in schools as required. Former girls of the Candle Light High School with sewing skills are trained how to sew sanitary pads and will make pads for the social enterprise and get paid wages. They will produce pads that are affordable. Ninety precent of the net proceeds will go towards providing pads for girls who otherwise may not be able to afford them and 10% towards building capacity.
EnviroPADS is the brand name for the Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Ltd.'s sanitary pads and is on the way to being recognized as a reliable quality product. The sanitary pads are affordable, washable, reusable, comfortable, confidence building, environmentally friendly, and fully compostable. The pads use fleece linings as opposed to microfiber as fleece has been found to be much more absorbent. Water proofed material is used instead of plastic and the outer casing is a high grade cotton.
We are proud to report that The Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise has the full confidence and support of the Ministry of Education.
Even though the pricing of the product is very reasonable there are still many young girls who live in rural areas of Uganda still unable to purchase sanitary pads. There are also 1.8 million refugees in Uganda who also can not afford to purchase pads. The Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited’s goal is to end period poverty in Uganda.
If you believe that a girl’s education is important, that the myths and taboos around menstruation need to be dispelled, and that all girls should understand how their bodies develop please consider becoming a “Girls Helping Girls Stay in School” Ambassador and raise awareness of the work we are undertaking, and raising funds. 100% of all donations raised will go to providing pads and menstrual hygiene management training for girls and schools that otherwise can not afford the program. The cost of 12 pads is US$15 which will help a girls stay in school and complete their education.
Chris ended his talk with a brief congratulations for our involvement with a different, also successful, initiative -- GG2122967 WASH Nambogo Primary School and Communities in Uganda. The project provides access to safe water and sanitation facilities in Nambogo Primary School and Communities, serving population of 437 students.
Rotary is an amazing organization. As Rotary members, we contribute our skills, expertise, and resources to solve some of the world’s most serious problems. From providing clean water in local communities to promoting peace worldwide, Rotary grants can bring your project ideas to life.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to the girls helping girls stay in school with the support of Rotary.
Gary Chomyn, an active member of the RC Vancouver Sunrise, has been the chair of the annual hoop-a-thon fundraiser since 2012. The event has grown to become a partnership of Rotarians from eight Rotary Clubs, Rotoractors, and Interactors.
