Vol. 102 No. 21
Bill Davidson, President
Parisa Adrangi, Secretary
Next meeting: Tuesday November 26, 2019
Nabil Sabet, Group Director, M Moser Associates Rethinking the Open Office -- Is the workplace ever finished when business is always changing around it
As the office goes through different trends, what was once a very cellular and enclosed group of offices has become open seas of workstations. The pendulum has swung fromone side to the other, but neither iteration adequately supports the activities and ideation that needs to happen within companies. For almost 40 years, M Moser has explored the behaviors necessary to promote key objectives within the work environment. We've used this approach to develop environments that support the culture and goals of the business, while enhancing the experience and well-being of its employees.
Nabil has worked with clients and industries around the world on millions of square feet of projects from Shanghai to San Francisco. His focus is centered on the rapid change in how people work and the opportunity this presents to raise workplace performance to a new level through environments that connect physical space with social interaction and digital integration. In this session, we will explore how a behavioural-based design approach can best align business objectives with tangible environments that drive the interactions and focus necessary to help people do their best work.
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday December 3, 2019
RCoV AGM
Next meeting: Tuesday December 10, 2019 CHANGED LOCATION TO Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel
A message of hope: Rumana Monzur, whose husband tried to kill her, tells victims of abuse they have options
Her story, Untying the Knot, will be told by the Documentary Channel on Nov. 24.
Untying the Knot tells the powerful story of Rumana Monzur, a Bangladeshi-Canadian woman who was viciously assaulted by her husband in Bangladesh, leaving her totally blind. From the aftermath of the attack to Rumana’s present life in Vancouver, the film traces Rumana’s journey and her courageous pursuit of a challenging goal: to become a practicing lawyer in Canada.
Interwoven with Rumana’s story are the unfolding journeys of three women in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, whose relationships mirror aspects of Rumana’s own abusive marriage. Tradition, family pressure and social stigma all play a role in controlling women’s lives in a patriarchal society. Untying the Knot lays bare the unspoken sacrifices women must make in the name of marital expectation. With remarkable access to the subjects’ lives, the film is an intimate portrait of how women are surviving, and fighting to change, the social codes that bind them.
ANNUAL ROTARY CLUB OF VANCOUVER
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 7:30 P.M. AT THE HOME OF
BILL & WENDY DAUPHINEE,
444 VIENNA CRESCENT, NORTH VANCOUVER
Join us for an evening of warm fellowship, in cozy surroundings,
singing many of the favourite Carols and Christmas songs.
Please join us with your musical talents and Eric, at the piano, will keep us in tune.
We would appreciate it if each couple would bring a small plate with their favourite hors d’oeuvres or a plate of Christmas baking with them for the festive table.
Your hosts will supply the wine.
Please phone Wendy Dauphinee at 604.985.9693, or email wendy@dauphinee.ca.
SUPPORT THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE
WHAT: Collecting coats, sweaters, blankets, hats & socks for those in need. Donations will be delivered to the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) for dispursement.
WHEN: December 10th, 2019
Bring your donations to the meeting at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel (not at Terminal City Club that day) for collection.
If you cannot come to the member meeting, contact Justin Emilio, Mark Zhou, or Scott Stroshin prior to Dec. 10th to arrange pick up/drop off of donated items.
Stephanie Lawton accompanied us on the piano for the singing of O Canada.
Peter Clarke, Sergeant-at-Arms, introduced visitors and guests.
Chair's Announcements:
Reminder of the New Member Reception for members who hoined 2 years ago or less. The event will be at the Trev Deeley on Boundary Rd. on Wednesday November 27th, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Please RSVP to the Eventbrite invitation that was sent last week or call/email Carolyn. So far we’ve had only 7 people respond out of 55 invitees!
Reminder from the Young Professionals Division that they will be here next week to collect any coats, hats, gloves, socks, blankets you have to donate for their coat drive; all going to the Union Gospel Mission for disbursement to those in need.
December 5th will be the date for the annual Xmas sing-a-long evening at the Dauphinee’s home. (See above for more info.) Let Bill Dauphinee know if you (& your guests) will attend.
Secretary's announcements provided by Parisa Adrangi:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays:no birthdays this week
member anniversaries:Mass Abedi, Angus Campbell & Joe Lopushinsky all celebrate 11 years in Rotary
wedding anniversaries:no wedding anniversaries this week
Special announcements and members' moments:
Saarika (pronounced “Sawrika”) Varma was interviewed by Franco Gallo. Some highlights:
Saarika’s business is management consulting. She specializes in start-ups at the founder’s level.
What drives Saarika is her passion for fixing problems.
A current challenge she is facing is working on her own company, an EV (Electric Vehicle) charging company. She, with her partners, are working on setting up an infrastructure nationally. She is realizing the reality that everything takes so much longer to do than initially anticipated. As Saarika said, it is a very humbling experience. It is definitely challenging bringing all the parties together – governments, land owners, etc.
Her next steps for her company are to speak on a panel in Whistler and the launching of their customer facing portion of their website.
John Bathurst, as co-chair of the youth committee spoke about the work the committee does. Some of the activities are: youth leadership & development; support of Interact & Rotaract clubs; RYLA; youth awards; and youth exchange.
Joan Posivy spoke about RYLA which is a global youth initiative. RYLA = Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. It is Rotary’s leadership training and personal development program for young people. There are three held in District 5040: (1) RYLA Lakesle for 14 & 15 yr olds, (2) RYLA South for 16-18 yr olds, and (3) RYLA North for 19-30 yr olds. It is not necessarily just for Rotarians, indeed this makes up the minority of those who attend. If you know of any youth who would benefit from attending, let the committee know.
Joan also spoke about PACE (Pacific Canada Experience), another Rotaract global initiative. This program is a cultural exchange that provides an authentic experience of Canada’s multiculturalism. Six international Rotaractors come together in Vancouver and tour around the province over 10-days.
Awards, such as the Bill Richwa Award are given annually to a Rotaractor who demonstrate the ideals of Rotaract and Rotary. Our Rotaract Club, the Vancouver Young Professionals has recently been awarded a Distinguished Citation. They will be presented this award on December 2nd – please attend to make the event special.
Joan encouraged all younger & newer members (< 3yrs membership) to be courageous and call up a more seasoned member to meet up for a coffee and a chat. It has been shown that this connection helps with member longevity as understanding of the why people join, and more importantly why do they stay for the long term. Conversely, more seasoned members are encouraged to reach out to a newer member to connect and share.
Kendall Jessiman, co-chair of the youth committee, and John Hayto, let us know that we are looking for a student for the next year, 2020-2021. The candidate should be 15-18 years old. If you know of anyone who would be worthy of considering, please contact John or Kendall. We are also looking for families who can host. The requirement is that if the student is a female, then an adult female must be resident in the home; all need to get their criminal record check done. There is a bit of financial help to help offset costs by way of a $350 stipend per month.
Phil Webber spoke about the programs we have at Norquay School. The students are hungry – hungry for knowledge, and just flat out hungry. There was an article he came across on Nov. 15th that states there are thousands of kids who go to school hungry. Norquay School is a 3rd tier support school per the VSB.
Two years ago the VSB changed their food program to a bagged breakfast and lunch program. Our club continues support by funding a SOS pantry. This is vital support that will continue.
Literacy funding is a continued need. The school is wanting to get a supply of textbooks which are not provided by the VSB (seriously they are not). Our club will help with some funding for this (approx. $2,000); this will be matched by the school’s parent committee.
Volunteers are needed to read with students on a weekly basis. Let Phil know if you are interested and want more information.
John Bathurst let us know that our Club is blessed with a Foundation that funds a lot of the programs just discussed. However, fundraisers are needed to fund programs and projects that are not charity-based.
Jennifer Brousseau spoke about her ImagiNations’ Collective project, Beneath the Surface. It is progressing with a National Launch of the program next year from Bella Bella. She expressed extreme thankfulness for all the support from our Club and other sponsors of this very important suicide prevention program.
Michael Woolnough shared a brief synopsis of what the International Service Committee is working on. He appealed to the group to have someone step forward to take on the Co-Chair position, working with Ian Storrs. Thanks to the tremendous commitment of the committee members – they are amazing. Below is a list of some of the current projects:
A consortium of 5040 clubs to support the ‘keep girls in school’ project in Kampala.
Kathmandu school project in partnership with sister club in Tokyo
Red Cross donation for reconstruction in Bahamas after hurricane Dorian
Support Global Grant for paediatric hospital supplies in Buenos Aires
Support Ontario Rotary Clubs’ Global Grant project in the Dominican Republic.
Support Vancouver Mountainview club RWH container to Philippines
DRCongo Projects ongoing
Donation to support Philippine working community in South Korea
Phil Webber reminded the group (new information for some) that 5 years ago the club donated $5,000 to UVic to support their indigenous reconciliation program. Phil has been receiving a t-shirt annually, this year’s he passed on to Bill Davidson.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to people helping people.
explored the behaviors necessary to promote key objectives within the work environment. We've used this approach to develop environments that support the culture and goals of the business, while enhancing the experience and well-being of its employees.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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