Allan Holender, veteran broadcaster, author & innovator The Ten and Zen Theory
What did you love to do when you were ten years old? Allan Holender, author, innovator, broadcaster, and zentrepreneur, will invite you to revisit your life at the age of about ten years old. Your goal at his presentation is to recreate your life since then, comparing the highlights with what you liked to do when you were ten. You will discover where your ultimate purpose and your true gifts are expressed, even when you weren't aware of them then. And most important, you will find the forks in the road of your life where you went in the wrong direction, so you can start creating your Ten and Zen Life Map from this point forward!
WHAT: Plated lunch, followed by the live auction with auctioneer Paul Martin.
Let's get together with friends and family, have some fun, lots of laughs, and raise money to support our club's youth initiatives. Giving our community's kids a hand up for a bright future.
Nadja Gehriger, 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.
An update for the support for Ukraine Disaster Relief Fund donations was provided. There has been an incredible outpouring of support with over $100,000 donated so far. The discussions are continuing with club Presidents of those clubs involved with the chartering and support for Kiev Rotary with another meeting this week, including reps from Kiev and Poland.
The membership committee, business networking event is scheduled for Thursday March 31st. Tickets are selling nicely at about ½ full so far. Please purchase your tickets quickly so the organizing committee knows what to expect. See below for more details.
It is worth restating that this event is particularly good at attracting new, potentially younger members. With that in mind invite your friends and colleagues along. For $25 per person it’s a great deal.
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, update re Youth FUNdraiser auction. If not already done, mark down April 12th to attend at TCC. Over 30 items with a fantastic range thanks to the generosity of our members. The link will be published next week. Paul Martin will be our auctioneer. Silent auction will be on-line with about 20 items. The remaining 10-12 items will transition to live, available on-line until Apr 12th, then live only. If you’ve donated something and you have not connected with Joan, please reach out to Joan as it may be that she doesn’t have your item(s). Proxy votes are allowed for live auction.
Nathan Hesketh commented on the last Rotary World Help container loading, one sent to Tanzania that was sponsored by our club. Nathan was very grateful for the support for an area of Tanzania, in the southern highlands, where he lived for a while and observed 1st hand the incredible lack of medical services and supplies. He will be going over to Tanzania to see how the supplies provided are deployed and will report back.
Mekdes Gete, received a cheque from our club via the International Service Committee to support the finishing of a school library project at the Debre-Seit Hibret Primary School in Ethiopia. This is a school Mekdes' father built about 60 years ago. It was initially a very small private school serving preschool to grade 8 students. About 30 years ago, the government changed a lot and the school became a public school. There are now 3000 kids attending on a shift based schedule. In addition, there are about 600 young adults (18-20 somethings) who attend evening classes, working to improve themselves. All of these students will benefit from the library we are funding -- not just a few but almost 4000 students!
Franz Gehriger, just returned from a trip to Switzerland where he participated in a cross-country ski race. As he says, "Can you imaging training for 10 days of bright sunlight in the most beautiful alpenwelt, the Engadine 1,800 meters above Vancouver? In minus 10 degrees C, surrounded by the most spectacular mountains?" The race was on Sunday March 13 with 15,000 cross country skiers gliding over 4 lakes, up to the forests of St. Moritz. Thru the Olympic ski jumping area and crossing the finish line 4 hours later in Schanf with 44km behind him, Franz finished the race. He ranked #32 in his age category. "It was a very unique and wonderful experience." Franz completed the race for the 7th time in the past 8 years. Truly an inspiration, congratulations Franz! The dedication required for all of these racers reminded him of Rotary.
Program:
Wayne Fraser introduced Gary Chomyn from the RC of Vancouver Sunrise who spoke about the Strathcona Rotary Youth Leadership Hoop-a-thon, and specifically the 2022 event. Shooting to make a difference for kids on and off the court!
Save the date: April 23, 2022
For 2022, there 9 Rotary Clubs participating and supporting the event, including one international club from Germany.
Since 2006, they’ve raised $460,000+ and are growing each year. Why is the partnership growing? The district 5040 strongly supports the vision for growth. Youth Leadership is one of Rotary’s pillars for service worldwide. The hoop-a-thon offers a turn-key model that can be used anywhere. All clubs benefit from the TV coverage with Global BC. There are no overhead costs for the event and participating clubs’ involvement. It easy!
Rotary is unrecognized – so much potential but not enough publicity. People just don’t know what Rotary does, even though most people have heard of Rotary as an organization. This event creates more awareness for our youth leadership initiatives.
Clubs can designate where their funds go. This year hoping to step beyond the east van area for scholarships.
The hoop-a-thon supports kids at risk by by showcasing the importance of teamwork, citizenship, and education. The money raised helps fund scholarships, RYLA, youth leadership programs, and the Strathcona Community Centre (SCC) basketball program.
The proceeds of the 2021 event, $44,197, Rotary awarded $32,000 in scholarships to 10 students, $7,697 to the Strathcona basketball program, and $4,500 Girls Who LEAP (Lead, Empower, Act with Purpose). We have seen from the educational results of scholarship recipients that it really does make a difference to the youth and by extension their families.
They programs work with kids in East Vancouver many of whom are in single parent families, working part-time jobs, volunteering with younger children, and working hard at their own studies.
This year’s goal is to raise $50,000, in celebration of SCC’s 50th anniversary. The hope is to provide $35,000 in scholarships, $7,500 for SCC basketball, and $7,500 for youth leadership. Already have received $21K!, with an $8,000 district grant, some corporate donations, club donations, and HoopLaw tournament (trivia this year). They will also receive 50/50 proceeds from the Foundation dinner to be held on a date after the hoop-a-thon event.
What is the process for the Rotary scholarships:
Schools identify potential students
Students complete a scholarship application
Applications are reviewed by schools
List of candidates are recommended to Rotary
Rotary committee reviews and finalizes recipients
Students/scholarship amounts are determined
Presentations after the hoop-a-thon event
Very grateful for the Global BC media promotions and coverage that will run from April 8th through to April 23rd. The value of this is $20,000+, though it’s actually priceless.
Players are challenged to sink as many free throws in one minute. For each basket money is earned based on pledges. Last year the reps from Global TV earned an amazing $400 per basket! The event is vibrant, fun event, getting everyone present energized early on the Saturday morning.
How can you help?
Sponsor a Strathcona player (pledge per basket)
make a personal donation
shoot hoops yourself
spread the word
provide a corporate donation(s)
Remember the date, April 23rd, for the live event. Kids will shoot hoops at SCC gym. Health & safety protocols will be in place, including vaccination passports. in attendance will be VIPS, Rotarians, and special guests, exactly whom is to be determined as they get closer to the date.
Nathan Hesketh, is our club’s liaison for the event.
Website: hoopathon.ca
Meeting adjourned with a toast to those that help our youth.
