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 announced shortly - make sure to welcome Lisa to our Rotary Family!
Save the Date - Whistler - February 6-8, 2026 - 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)"?
President Joan opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and smoothly transitioning from the member interview segment to the announcement portion of the event. She introduced Ally to deliver club announcements, shared appreciation for the speakers and participants, and then started the Member Spotlight.
Member Spotlight - Dr. Paul Mick
Dr. Paul Mick, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) at St. Paul’s and BC Children’s Hospital, discussed his expertise in diseases of the ear and his work with both children and adults. His research, notably his thesis at the Harvard School of Public Health, focused on age-related hearing loss and its link to social isolation among seniors—a significant public health concern due to its high prevalence. Dr. Mick shared that interventions can help mitigate these effects.
He recounted his career path, citing mentors like Dr. Brian Westerberg and the influences of living in various places across Canada and the U.S. When asked about his job’s challenges, Dr. Mick remarked that dealing with people is often harder than the medical or surgical aspects. Outside work, he enjoys family time, especially his son’s soccer games, and shared playful family anecdotes.
His advice to his younger self: don’t be too hard on yourself—striving for perfection can be both positive and negative, and it’s important to learn from setbacks.
Program Portion
"The Future of Business: Smart Money, Smart Media, Smart Leadership"
The business panel discussion, moderated by Laura Donnellan and themed "The Future of Business: Smart Money, Smart Media, Smart Leadership," featured insights from Paul Sullivan (property tax expert), Elton (digital storytelling/media specialist), and Aaron Lacey (leadership/organizational growth specialist):
Paul Sullivan discussed the significant impact of demand-based taxes on BC's housing affordability, explaining how a series of government interventions—such as the foreign buyers tax, vacancy tax, and flipping taxes—have driven up costs, discouraged investment, and made home ownership less accessible. He emphasized that government taxes and fees now comprise over 30% of a typical home's price and argued for policy reform and deregulation to address affordability.
Elton Hubner spoke on effective content and marketing. He highlighted that content best connects with audiences when it focuses on the audience’s needs, not just the company or product. Elton stressed the growing influence of AI in content creation, encouraged early adoption, and the value of both long-form and short-form video for sustained engagement. He recommended consistent branding, leveraging YouTube, and utilizing testimonials for service businesses.
Aaron Lacey shared on modern leadership. He identified adaptability, transparency, internal promotions, and genuine care for employees as core leadership qualities. Aaron emphasized hiring passionate people, supporting their growth, and promoting from within. He also discussed building confidence in younger team members and the importance of open dialogue for upward mobility.
Audience questions led to further insights on government policy, best content for non-profits, platform recommendations (YouTube as top choice), the role of AI in marketing, social media branding essentials, and maximizing charity impact with before-and-after project visuals.
The panel concluded with remarks about adapting to digital evolution and leveraging diverse skills in business for competitiveness and resilience.
At the close of the meeting, President Joan addressed the recent tragic events in Iran, noting that friends and family members of some Rotary members had died as a result. She expressed heartfelt sympathy and support for those affected, acknowledged the pain of being far from loved ones.
The meeting concluded with a Toast from President Joan Posivy:
