Contact: Joan Posivy, RCoV President
Phone: 250-551-5626
Email: rotary.joan@gmail.com
New at Rotary
Inclusion Labs are interactive sessions designed to help club members build digital and technology skills—closing the gap in tech literacy across the club.
These labs, like the upcoming one focused on Otter.ai, provide hands-on guidance and support so everyone can confidently use new tools and resources, promoting inclusion and participation for all members.
Organized by Ally Potel, led by our Young Professionals!
Come in person to celebrate your birthday with Purdy's chocolates!!
Let us know what you think about our last meeting.
Scan the QR code below and fill out the short survey.
International Service Committee Meeting
Please note the next ISC (International Service Committee) Meeting will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6 pm at the office of Sandra Lowe in the Nelson Square Building at 9th Floor - 808 Nelson Street.
Contact Adriana Zylmans or Dr. Michael Woolnough for further information or to RSVP.
This Rotary year, we’re adding a dose of humour to our Secretary announcements. Have a good clean joke? Send it to jokes@rotaryvancouver.org — yours might be featured at an upcoming meeting!
Who do you know that is remarkable?Someone whose story or expertise would captivate a room full of experienced business and community leaders?
Do you know of a remarkable headliner speaker to invite to our upcoming Rotary Club of Vancouver meetings?
Think thought leaders, change makers, or trailblazers in business, sports, innovation, public service, or philanthropy.
Take a quick scroll through your LinkedIn connections. You might spot someone you haven’t thought about in a while who would be perfect.
If someone comes to mind, please connect with Bill Davidson at billd@davidson-co.com
New Membership Application
We are pleased to let you know that the new Membership Application submitted by Lisa Chen.
has been approved.
Sponsor: Sean Chan
Seconder: Min Kuang
Mentor: Franz Gehriger
Classification: Investment
Lisa's Induction Date will be Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Save the Date - Whistler - February 6-8, 2026 - VERY Last Call!
Fellow Rotarian John Hayto highlighted plans for the Annual Whistler Ski Weekend, one of RCoV’s most anticipated fun fellowship events. Members were reminded that the weekend offers:
A full schedule of optional activities, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, village walks, and relaxed social gatherings.
Group dinners and informal meet-ups, providing time for members, families, partners, and guests to strengthen connections outside regular meetings.
Flexible attendance options so members may join for the full weekend or individual events depending on availability.
A continued focus on fellowship, with the weekend serving as an opportunity for both long-time members and newer members—to build relationships in a relaxed setting.
Change Further details regarding accommodation options, registration timelines, and meal arrangements will be circulated in the coming weeks.
Interested? Email Johnhayto@gmail.com
The Rotary Foundation
Have you ever wondered how to make donations to "The Rotary Foundation (Canada)"?
Rotarian William Donnellan, a member of our club, has been prominently featured in Vancouver Is Awesome for his ambitious plans to grow his Vancouver-based Irish pub chain to more than 250 locations over the next five years.
His achievements to date, along with his bold vision and future expansion plans, are a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and community-minded leadership.
Please join us in congratulating William on this remarkable milestone and wishing him every success as his plans move forward.
Read the full article in "Vancouver Is Awesome" here
Recognition of Philanthropy: Honouring Past President Bill Davidson
At this week’s meeting, we took a special moment to celebrate the power of giving through the Rotary Foundation and to recognize one of our own for his outstanding generosity.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is awarded to Rotarians and friends of Rotary whose contributions help the Foundation create lasting change in communities around the world. Reaching the level of Paul Harris +7 is a remarkable achievement, reflecting many years of sustained, significant support for Rotary’s work.
Joan reminded members and guests that the Rotary Foundation is consistently ranked among the very best charities globally. It has earned a 4‑star rating from Charity Navigator for 16 consecutive years, placing it in the top 1% of charities evaluated, with over 90% of every dollar donated going directly to programs.
With that context, it was a proud moment for our club to recognize Past President Bill Davidson with the Paul Harris +7 pin. In presenting the pin, Joan Posivy thanked Bill for his ongoing generosity, his strong support of the Rotary Foundation, and the way he truly embodies “Service Above Self.”
Bill’s commitment is an inspiration to our entire club and a wonderful reminder of the impact we can have—together—when we support the Rotary Foundation year after year.
PROGRAM THIS WEEK
This week. guest speaker Janice Porter discussed leveraging LinkedIn for business relationships, emphasizing profile optimization, strategic outreach, and consistent content.
She highlighted the significance of personalized messages, video and voice messaging, and the use of QR codes for easy connection. The meeting also covered the benefits of LinkedIn Premium, the effectiveness of company pages, and the importance of analytics for measuring engagement.
Here are five simple tweaks you can make to strengthen your profiles and online presence
1. Refresh Your Photo & Banner
Photo
Use a current, professional-looking headshot (no cropped group photos or sunglasses).
Aim for a clear background, good lighting, and a friendly expression.
Banner
Replace the default blue banner with something that reflects you.
Ideas:
A short professional value statement
A subtle Rotary image plus your profession
Your company logo (but not so large that it takes over your personal profile)
2. Upgrade Your Headline (More Than a Job Title)
Instead of just “Manager at X” or “Realtor at Y,” try a headline that explains who you help and how.
A simple formula:
“I help [who] achieve [result] through [how] | [Key expertise/keywords]”
You can also add “Rotary member, Rotary Club of Vancouver” to showcase your service and community involvement.
3. Make Your About Section Client-Focused
Turn your About section from a mini-resumé into a short, friendly story about how you help people.
Start with who you help and what problems you solve.
Add a brief story or ‘why’ behind your work (Rotary values can fit nicely here).
End with a simple call-to-action, such as:
“If you’d like to talk about [topic], feel free to message me here on LinkedIn.”
4. Add Social Proof: Recommendations & Featured
Recommendations
Ask 1–2 happy clients or colleagues to write you a LinkedIn recommendation.
Offer to write one for them first—it often encourages them to reciprocate.
Featured Section
Use the Featured area on your profile to pin 2–3 key items, for example:
A post about your Rotary involvement
Your company website or key service
An article, podcast, or presentation you’re proud of
5. Reconnect with 3–5 People This Week
Strengthening relationships is at the heart of both Rotary and LinkedIn.
Look through your connections and choose:
Former colleagues
Past clients
Fellow Rotarians or partner organizations
Send a short, friendly message such as:
“Hi [Name], it’s been a while! I’d love to hear what you’re working on this year. Would you be up for a quick coffee or Zoom sometime?”
These small steps can make your LinkedIn profile more welcoming, more effective—and more reflective of your Rotary values.
Thank you again to everyone who joined me for Maximize LinkedIn: Build Relationships, Business & Results. I loved the energy, the questions, and the genuine curiosity in the room.
As I shared, LinkedIn works best when it’s approached as a relationship platform, not a sales one. Often, a few small tweaks, to your profile, your messaging, or how you show up, can make a meaningful difference in how others perceive you and engage with you.
If you’d like a second set of eyes on your LinkedIn presence, I’m happy to offer Rotary members a complimentary 30-minute LinkedIn conversation.
No pressure, just a practical, personalized look at what’s working well and where you might make a few easy improvements.
Many people use this time as a light profile audit or to ask questions specific to their goals.
Whether or not we connect further, I hope you continue to approach LinkedIn with curiosity, intention, and a focus on relationships... because that’s where the real opportunities tend to appear.
