March 12, 2024 - CLUB DAY Membership Networking - KEEPING OUR PROMISE
In keeping with the RCoV Board's commitment to our members, the focus for this meeting will be another networking opportunity - a voiced priority for many of our members. We are hoping to have a stellar attendance so that we can make the most of our time together, revitalizing established connections and sowing the seeds for new ones. Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can ensure you have a seat at the table.
We all understand that some of the key benefits of membership networking is the opportunity for individuals to exchange ideas, information, and resources with others who have similar backgrounds or experiences. By actively participating in these networks, individuals can strengthen their professional relationships, broaden their horizons, and create opportunities for growth and success, both personally and professionally.
Membership networking also offers a sense of belonging and community, providing members with a support system of like-minded individuals who understand their challenges and aspirations. This sense of camaraderie can be especially beneficial in supporting our members, and thus ensuring the ongoing success of our club.
Mar 19, 2024 SPEAKER SERIES
Speaker: Christina de Castell, Chief Librarian & CEO of Vancouver Public Library Topic: Libraries in the Age of the Internet
Mar 26, 2024 REGULAR SPEAKER MEETING
Speaker: Andrea Tang, CEO, Variety - The Children's Charity
Have you registered yet?
The 2024 District Conference is fast approaching
April 26-28, 2024
@ Terrace, BC
HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET?
April 26-28, 2024
Terrace, BC
Imagine a journey into the heart of northwestern British Columbia, where the world within is magnificent mountains with teeming inlets, dense forests, and sleeping volcanoes. As you view this breathtaking landscape you connect with your Rotary family to celebrate, open your heart to diverse ways of being.
Experience these ways of being with the peoples of this land in the territories of the Tsimshian, of the Haisla, and of the Nisga'a. Create inspiring memories and adventures into a world within a world, of culture(s) since time immemorial, and of stories as together we Plant Seeds of Peace and Hope.
Come join us in beautiful northwest British Columbia!
The ClubRunner Mobile App is your key to connect
to your club and district on the go!
The ClubRunner mobile app is compatible with all versions of the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch sets that have iOS 8.0 or later and with versions of Anrdoids that are 4.0.3 or better. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play; simply type in 'ClubRunner' in the search bar.
What does the ClubRunner App offer you? Quick access to:
member directory
Immediately view the most up to date member directory, upon login. You can browse your member profiles which give you the necessary contact information you need to connect with just one click. Make a call or text, email them directly from your device, or even add them to your contacts list.
explore upcoming events and speakers
Access all of your upcoming events and calendar items, and view event details, including associated links, download files and venue map. View who the latest speakers are and learn more about their presentation topic.
view our website
With a click access the club's website.
club & district executive and director listing
View and contact your club/district executives and directors from current, past and future years. You can browse their profiles and connect with one tap.
mobile message broadcasts
Connect with your members and keep them informed of updates, event reminders and more instantly. Compose and send broadcast messages to your members' mobile phones through the ClubRunner mobile app. Through push notifications, members are notified immediately.
club details
View your meeting day, time and venue, complete with a Google map for directions through the new Club Info page right from your phone. Even get quick access to contact your club President, Area Governor and District Governor.
keep track of your own attendance
Keep track of your attendance stats and banked makeups. Easily view which meetings you attended, missed and made up and get a quick glance at your attendance percentage for the year. Switch to the Makeups tab and view a list of your banked makeups.
Jason Boudreau, President, chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Catherine Darley, Secretary, hosted ZOOM
Jim Evans, Sergeant at Arms, introduced guests
President’s Announcements:
Welcome to our guests, new and returning, as well as our own members who have taken time out of busy schedules to attend. We are grateful to see new faces, remember guests are ALWAYS welcome at our meetings.
The 2024 Ride for Hearing is coming up in July and will be here before we know it. A reminder that this fundraiser is a club event, not just a committee event. Our hope, and expectation, is that every single member who is able will participate at one level or another. Ride, fundraise, or volunteer. You can register to ride as an individual or team, or pledge a rider via our website. Link is on the home page. Contact Ally Potel or Stephanie Lawton if you can volunteer. There is a lot of need and we have enough members to fill those needs. Please sign up at your earliest convenience.
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Members' moments and special presentations:
William Donnellan, Laura Donnellan, and Aaron Lacey from IRL Group were formally welcomed into the club as our newest members. Each of them gave us a brief introduction and all expressed a passion for giving back to the communities they live in. They've found the right place! Welcome to our Rotary family William, Laura, and Aaron. We look forward to getting to know you better.
Gerry Glazier wanted us to know, on behalf of the Youth Service Committee, that the Britannia boys basketball team has made provincial finals, as have the girls team. If you can make any of the games to cheer them on, you'd be most welcome. If you need more info, give Gerry a call.
John Hayto - volunteers are still needed for this weekend's NAYEN (North American Youth Exchange Network) conference. If you can help, give John a call.
John Bathurst promoted the District 5040 Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) training in March-April 2024 as part of a Pre-District Conference Training Session. The training session is open to all Rotarians and Rotaractors in District 5040. If you are interested in taking part in this unique training opportunity, contact johnlanderson@telus.net as soon as possible - space is limited.
Rene Abi-Rached provided an update from the Community Service Committee (CSC) regarding the projects they've supported to date.
Franco Gallo as our President Elect gave us some insights into the Pacific Northwest PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) he recently attended in Seattle. His overall reaction: it was fantastic! He had four areas of great impressions: (1) the trainings were fantastic with an updated curriculum. They were in training each of the 3 days from 8-5, taking 12 courses. (2) The connections made were great. He got to meet people from all over the pacific northwest, a very valuable Rotary network. (3) He was able to glean some insights from a large range of Rotarians. Of course other President Elects, but also past Presidents, District Governors, and Past RI President Jennifer Jones. (4) After the 3 days of learning, he was firmly in the mindset of, not only knowing what needs to be done while in his role as President, but also that he can do it and add value to our club and our members.
Another take away: not every Rotary Club is the same. Not every club has the history our club has. Not every club has the track record of our club. He is, and we all should be, really, really proud of being a member of this club. Moving forward, we will make our club better and better for the future.
Program - SPEAKER:
Rohan Aurora introduced speaker, Camilla Moioli who is a UBC Ph.D. Candidate in the ERDE (Energy Resources, Development, and Environment) Lab and Forest Action Lab.
Camilla is conducting multidisciplinary research on forest policies for climate change mitigation. Utilizing various methods including household surveys, integrated assessment models, and the environmental justice framework, she investigates the empirical and conceptual socio-economic implications of forestry-related initiatives. Particularly, her focus lies on understanding how economic benefits from forest interventions are distributed at the micro (within communities) and the macro (across countries) levels. Beyond her research, she co-teaches Forest Economics and assists in teaching other courses related to carbon and energy economics and policy. She holds a BSc in Business from the University of Milano-Bicocca and an MSc in Economics from the Catholic University of Milan. A consistent thread throughout her research is an emphasis on equity and justice issues.
There is a big value of forests globally, both environmentally and socially. Areas affected positively include:
water quality and cycle
biodiversity
climate regulation
carbon storage
soil erosion control
livelihood support
agricultural productivity
local governance
cultural value enhancement
gender equality issues
We need to harness these values. There are forest projects intended to support development and mitigate climate change know as forest restoration, afforestation, reforestation, REDD++.
'REDD' stands for 'Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. The '+' stands for additional forest-related activities that protect the climate, namely sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
Interesting to know that Rotary International, through global grants, has provided $18.4M for reforestation and environmental projects. The challenge is to do the work well. Not every tree is equal! Simply planting trees is not always the best solution.
Some of the environmental challenges for these projects is ensuring:
ecosystem consistency
adhering to a planting plan and monitoring the progress over time
ongoing forest management
balancing carbon vs ecosystem goals
attention to appropriate habitat development and biodiversity.
Some of the socioeconomic challenges are:
awareness of livelihood impacts
use of compensation alone is not sustainable, need to provide long-lasting alternatives
affects to land ownership
community participation and inclusion
impact of power relationships
effects of colonization, appropriation and land-grabbing
fair distribution of costs and benefits
simple transfer of carbon budgets
We need to pay attention to whether local communities truly benefit from the projects or is it a matter where the rich foreigners, who are benefitting, are causing problems for the locals in the long-term.
The related issues of forest restoration, afforestation, reforestation and REDD++ are anything but simple. The effects are far reaching and long lasting. It is not a matter of simply planting trees to mitigate climate change. Effective management and global understanding of the various work that can be done to provide the most positive results for all - environmentally, socially and economically speaking, must be a priority.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to sustaining the world's forests.
