May 28, 2024 -CLUB DAY Mary Anne Velayo, District 5040 Assistant Governor
Come and join us for one of our last club days of the year as we close out the month of May. Mary Anne will be visiting, one of her last visits as our ADG. We look forward to seeing you!
This year the IRL Group (Donnellans) is hosting a Celtic Picnic, a one day, family-friendly music and dance festival located at 80 Pacific Blvd. We would love for you to join the team and be a part of something exciting! If you are interested in getting involved, please fill out our volunteer form. By volunteering, you will receive a free ticket to enjoy some unreal acts when not on shift and you will be working with an amazing team!
We would also like to invite you to our launch party on Wednesday, May 29th at Donnellan’s Irish Pub from 7pm, where you can meet your fellow volunteers, hear some great music and be in with the chance to win some great prizes! It’ll be a great evening so definitely come along if you can.
We hope to see you at the launch party and look forward to working with you at Celtic Picnic!
* come in person to celebrate your birthday with Purdy's chocolates!!
Last Meeting May 21, 2024
Jason Boudreau, President, chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Catherine Darley, Secretary, hosted ZOOM
Jim Evans, Sergeant at Arms, introduced guests
Chair’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.
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Members' moments and special presentations:
Franz Gehriger promoted the Ride for Hearing. Get out, spread the news, sign up to ride of volunteer. The list of options for promoting the Ride that the members came up with last week was great. If you need some inspiration, contact rideforhearing@rotaryvancouver.org and they can provide you with some ideas.
The goal this year is to raise $300,000. We need every one of you to help in whatever way you can so we can achieve that goal. Hearing has long been one of our club's most important areas of focus. Remember it was our club that brought about hearing testing on newborns, something that is now done for every child born here. Amazing!! Our work continues through the Ride.
Joan Posivy let us know about an upcoming volunteer opportunity working with the IRL Group (our own club members) at their Celtic Picnic family event. See above for more info. To volunteer, click on the provided link.
Paul Martin & John Hayto promoted the 2024 President’s Back to Black Gala for the last time before the event on Friday May 24th. The doors open at 6:00 at the Terminal City Club. So happy to let everyone know that we sold 82 tickets! It will be a really fun event. Thanks very much to those Rotarians who have stepped up with sponsorships to help cover some of the event's expenses, including (in no particular order) Mindy Tulsi-Ingram, Cindy Hayto (member by extension), Franz & Nadja Gehriger, Chris Motion, Ryan Crean, Peter Clarke, Shoshanah Webber, and Bill Davidson.
Program - SPEAKER SERIES
Franco Gallo introduced Tanya Hall, the current President of the RC Sunshine Coast spoke about 100 Days of Service.
The story began with the passing of her beloved partner, Dave Hamilton. Dave was the District Governor when he passed in March 2021.
Dave’s resolve through his battle with cancer was incredible. Tanya asked him why he wasn’t angry, why was he always so calm. His response was that cancer was going to take his life so along the way he certainly wasn’t going to give it any more of his energy and zest for life than was absolutely necessary.
When Dave passed, Tanya filled her time with anything she could to avoid the overwhelming feelings of grief. She travelled and found humour through her friends and ultimately decided upon sharing her talents as a professional painter abroad. Tanya did a lot of fundraising to support her 100 Days of Service trip that went from Mexico to Columbia.
The trip itinerary:
Mexico, Puerto Vallarta – musical instruments and dance equipment.
Mexico, Colima she worked with Project Amigo supporting youth education.
Mexico, Puebla – past exchange student connection & Rotar Peace Fellows & painting the community hall
Mexico, Merida – painted the courtyard
Belize Central Prison – created a training program before she left on the trip, trained 12 ladies in the trade of painting. Only prison in Belize that is run by Rotary (what?!) The governor of the country years back approached the RC President with the issues they need help with. 12 spots on their board, 9 held by Rotary. Everything that is done now is run against the 4-way test. Ground rule is to treat everyone humanely. Having only one prison, they have youth, women, men, minimum & maximum sentences. Tanya worked with the women there, taught them how to paint as a trade. Painted the whole cell block and common room.
Belize Rotary Club
Costa Rica, San Jose & Jaco – all painting, daycare in a refugee camp run by the Salvation Army. Police station in Jaco.
Panama, Boquete
This, however, is not the end of Tanya’s journey. She carried on to Columbia. The seeds for her next trip started here. Tanya’s upcoming 100 Days of Service this summer is from Canada to Columbia for the Kids, include Cartegena, Santa Marta, Medellin, Bogota, and Cali.
Through her journey so far, Tanya has come to believe in a few specific things in life.
Everything that happens provides an opportunity for growth.
You never know who someone is going to be in your future.
Together we can all win.
You get a lot more done if you don’t worry who knows what you did. BUT…
If you don’t tell people, you won’t inspire them and they won’t know to be there to support you when you need it. Balance the ‘Rah Rah’ with humility.
What is it that makes us GIVE?
Happiness, it is both personal and is provided to others.
Purpose, we are all here for a reason, what is yours?
Belonging to something bigger, thinking beyond yourself.
Now more than ever the world needs individuals to step up and take action.
Be the change you want to see in the world. Taking from Nike’s slogan, Just Do It! Make a plan. Don’t get bogged down by the small stuff, find a way to be accountable, and do it. Rotary can possibly help you financially or with ideas. They can work with you on your project(s).
Follow the 5 “I”s – Initiate, Identity, Imagine, Innovate, Implement. Make sure you have smart goals – specific, manageable, achievable, relevant, time-bound.
In closing, Tanya reminded all that your journey won’t be the same as anyone else’s, so don’t let the world tell you what it’s supposed to look like. You are only limited by your own limitations. And finally, don’t sit around waiting for someone to make the first move, it may never come. Make plans and to achieve them.
Tanya welcomed all to participate. You are welcome to join her for parts of the trip. Or if you want to contribute without travelling there is a need for $3,500-$5,000 to complete all planned projects. If interested, contact Tanya.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to the power of Rotary.
