Vol. 101 No. 38
Brian Street, President
Joan Posivy, Secretary
Next meeting: Tuesday April 9, 2019
Rabbi Rokie Bernstein Exodus then and now... The journey called life
Rabbi Rokie has 40 Years of extensive world travel under her belt that has provided the opportunity to experience and gain an understanding of many cultures, traditions, languages and myths, which has contributed to a global outlook and a synthesizing and interdisciplinary frame of mind.
From Primitive cultures in undeveloped countries to the most sophisticated cultures in technically advance countries; the similarity of human experience is as striking as the differences. This apparent unity which underlies the diversity of life has developed an ongoing appreciation for, and interest in, further research and study in the growth and development of human potential.
Rokie’s expertise is motivating people to explore the far corners of their lives. Her enthusiasm and passion for the very gift of life itself she shares with everyone she meets. Her profound ability to teach extremely difficult concepts in simple yet understandable ways has made her a very valued speaker and counselor. Many people seek Rokie’s advice and are eternally grateful for the guidance and wisdom she so readily shares. Her ability to read and understand pattern allows her to be a visionary in both her own world and the world at large. Rokie particularily likes to speak about the world of business and how to be good at it, human behavior - how to be true to ourselves, and the world of dreams and how they reflect the core of our being.
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday April 16, 2019
Club Day! Our members have been busy...
Club committees, such as the International Service, Community Service, Youth Service, Networking & Vocational Service, and Tech, have all been busy. We will have a chance to hear exactly what some of them have been working on. That and more...
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday April 23, 2019
Sam Sullivan, MLA, former Mayor of Vancouver Training of Candidates for Political Office
The Public Office Project (POP) encourages people to consider elected office in local government and also community groups. It was started by two opponents, Bradley Shende of the BC Green Party and Sam Sullivan of the BC Liberal Party who came together and agreed that promoting elected office to the general public was not a partisan activity.
The first 10 week Semester has been completed with guest speakers from across the political spectrum. 30 interested, mostly younger citizens and 14 former elected people and community leaders have participated. Sam Sullivan will describe the experience and indicate the future of the Project.
Sam Sullivan was a Vancouver City Councillor from 1993 to 2005, Mayor from 2006 to 2009, MLA from 2013 to present and Cabinet Minister in 2017. He is currently the Opposition Critic for Housing. He was made a Paul Harris Fellow by the Vancouver Rotary Club in 2006.
Leadership skills in a voluntary organization are often different from business and professional leadership skills. It is important that club leaders have every opportunity for education because the success or failure of our clubs depends on the quality of their leaders. This is an outstanding opportunity for you to improve your Rotary knowledge. Just the interaction with other Rotarians makes the courses worthwhile.
R.L.I. is a series of leadership courses offered in three full-day parts (Parts I, II, III). Those completing each part are eligible for the next part. The courses are designed to provide Rotary knowledge and to develop leadership skills for voluntary organizations. RLI is fun, interactive, participatory and uses skilled faculty and facilitation techniques to make the experience valuable and enjoyable.
UPCOMING DATES:
Part I & Part II
Saturday April 13th at the Accent Inn, Burnaby
You're invited to the Rotaract event of the year: the 2019-2020 Rotaract District 5040 Installation Dinner. Come connect with Rotaractors and Rotarians from all over the district.
This year's theme: masquerade ... and there will be a dance party! So don your favourite mask on the dance floor!
It's also awards night! Both the "Rotaract Club of the Year" and the "Rotaractor of the Year" awards will be presented by the Rotary District Governor team. Incoming Rotaract Presidents will be inducted as will the 2019/20 co-District Rotaract Representatives (DDR's) and new District Committee. You'll also get a glimpse at past, present and future club projects.
You won't want to miss this evening of dinner, dancing and fun!
Need a ride to or from a nearby Skytrain station? Let us know as pick up locations can be arranged.
President, Brian Street chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Don Evans accompanied us on the piano for the singing of O Canada.
Joe Lopushinsky, Sergeant-at-Arms, introduced visitors and guests.
President's Announcements:
Weekly reminder to all attending the lunch meeting to record your volunteer hours for the past week beside your name on the sign-in sheets.
On April 30th, RI Director, Jeffry Cadorette, will be the guest speaker at our lunch meeting. All members of our Club have received an Eventbrite invitation to attend. There is no additional cost to us (pay-as-you-go & guest meal fees will apply), however, registration is important to ensure you have a seat should you wish. The event will be open to all clubs of District 5040 and seating is limited.
SAVE THE DATES - everyone is invited to all:
May 10th, 2019-2020 Rotaract District 5040 Installation Dinner at the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course Clubhouse (info above)
May 13th, to be confirmed, a history tour and reception at the Seaforth Armoury
May 18th, Rotary World Help container loading. The Network's 400th container, this one heading to the Ukraine and sponsored by our Club. It will be a special celebration, with video and refreshments for all. Everyone is encouraged to come out to participate in the celebration.
May 25th, Youth Gala fundraising barbeque, around noon at the Trev Deeley dealership
June 20th, RCV annual strategy planning session
The Vancouver Opera is holding its annual fundraiser, the Vancouver Opera Gala, on April 26th. For those interested contact Mass Abedi for more information.
Joan Posivy provided the Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays:Bill Davidson Apr02, Myron Kuzych Apr06
member anniversaries:Mark Venier 3 years, Adrian Mastracci 17 years, Tim Ikavalko 37 years, Paul McCrea 52 years
wedding anniversaries:Bill & Wendy Dauphinee 53 years Apr07
Special announcements and members' moments:
The Rotary Women's Association attended to request support for their annual daffodil fundraiser. Tricia Quirk, President, provided some info and members were encouraged to take the daffodils for a donation that would help support women and children's charities in Vancouver.
Last week India celebrated 5 years polio free!
Program:
Milton Kiang introduced this weeks speaker, Mark Haden, Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)m /////ubc School of Social Work.
Mark Haden's presentation, titled "Psychedelic Therapy", spoke to the current trends in the use of psychedelics to treat mental disorders and issues, such as PTSD. The research is supported and being pursued by numerous institutions including, Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Imperial College of London, McMaster, Purdue, University of Bristol, Department of Veterans Affairs.
There has been a psychedelic renaissance, where psychedelic drugs have moved from recreation to research. There has been an evolution in the language used with reference to psychedelics -- psychomimetic, hallucinogen, psychedelic, empathogen, and entheogen. The first three having negative connotations, the last two positive. The now preferred is the last one, entheogen (manifesting the spirit).
In the 1970s, for the 1st time in history, psychedelics were labelled as being anti-social. Propoganda ensured the public received a very negative view of its use. Research was banned. It was only in the early 2000s that doctors started work in the field again. Research reimerged.
An article, The Trip Treatment, (February 9, 2015) written by Michael Pollan for the New Yorker went unchallenged. The publication requested that he search out alternate viewpoints but there were none.
Classical psychedelics are used to treat or affect spirituality, disorientation of ego, unconscious amplifier, portal affect, substance use disorder treatment, depression treatment, and end of life anxiety.
Empathogens or Entactogens (MDA, MDMA, 3-MMC) are used to treat or affect connection with others, reflection of self, reduction of fear, and PTSD.
Other psychedelics such as ibogaine, ketamine, 2-CB, or slavia divinorum are used to treat or help with detoxification, substance use disorder, and depression.
Mark's area of special interest is in MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The studies have been very positive. Michael Mithoefer published results from a study that claimed 83% effectiveness in treating PTSD with MDMA. This claim first appeared to be unbelievable. How do you prove it was not false data? They mimicked the study and in Phase II with over 100 subjects showed that those using a placebo had 23% therapy effectiveness; while those who were in the main group had 55% that grew to 61% and ultimately had about 68%. This is extremely exciting!
The FDA are now looking at using MDMA as support for treatment with break-through status (meaning rush). The U.S. is ahead of us as they have fast-tracked the approval processes to have the treatment available within a year or so. It will be another 4 years or so in Canada.
Why does it work? There is an increased permeability in both the conscious and unconscious ming. There is resolution of unconscious conflict/distress. There is a reduction in fear. There is a detoxification/substance abuse disorder treatment. There are spiritual experiences. There is connection to others which is crucial in therapy.
There have been fantastic positive results that appear to be long-lasting with the controlled use of psychedelics.
The key is to control the harms:
Dependency - virtually zero with psychedelics
Toxicity - psychedelics have the least of all drugs being used
Lack of supervision - must have trained medical personnel to administer and control the use of the treatments
So far they are seeing that complex trauma is being treated successfully (at least it appears so at this time). Addictions such as tobacco cessation programs look promising with a 10-25% success rate (of 15 people treated, 12 remained abstinent).
In closing, psychedelics are back! They will undoubtedly forever change the course of psychiatric treatments.
For more information, check out the following links
A Public-Health-Based Vision for the Management and Regulation of Psychedelics, Journal of Psychoative Drugs, 2016, CLICK HERE
Vancouver forges new paths in revival of psychedelic research, The Georgia Straight, by Travis Lupick on January 31st, 2018, CLICK HERE
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials to begin final phase in Vancouver, Globe and Mail, by Geordon Omand on January 21, 2018, CLICK HERE
Meeting adjourned with a toast to verified better living through psychedelics.
tensive world travel under her belt that has provided the opportunity to experience and gain an understanding of many cultures, traditions, languages and myths, which has contributed to a global outlook and a synthesizing and interdisciplinary frame of mind.
