Vol. 102 No. 33
Bill Davidson, President
Parisa Adrangi, Secretary
Next meeting: Tuesday March 3, 2020
David Pike, Editor-in-Chief and Head of Americas at Energy Intelligence Revolution in the Energy Industry
David Pike is responsible for overseeing and setting the strategic direction of content across the Energy Intelligence company. He has been with the firm for over 20 years. He has held many roles, most recently working as Editorial Director responsible for coordinating and reinvigorating editorial coverage. He launched and edited the new Energy Intelligence Premium service. Previous responsibilities include the relaunch of Energy Compass and Energy Intelligence Finance as weekly information services, conceiving and launching International Oil Daily and redesigning the content of Petroleum Intelligence Weekly. He led the expansion of Energy Intelligence into renewable energy and carbon markets as Editor of EI New Energy. He served as London bureau chief in the late 1990s.
Mr. Pike has covered a wide range of international energy issues, working as an editor and reporter covering the Middle East and global energy business for over 30 years. He previously worked for Argus Media and the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), covering Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
Mr. Pike has a BA in Politics and History from the University of Manchester and an MA in Middle East Politics from the University of Exeter. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Next meeting: Tuesday March 10, 2020
Commander Bryan Price, Commanding Officer, HMCS DISCOVERY Naval Reserve Division, Vancouver
HMCS Discovery is a Royal Canadian Navy Reserve division and shore facility based in Vancouver. Created during World War II from the Vancouver Half Company of the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve, Discovery was used for recruitment and training, and provided almost 8,000 personnel during the war. Discovery continued in its training role following the war, and also serves as headquarters for several Reserve and Cadet units.
The name was taken from HMS Discovery, the ship used by George Vancouver to chart most of North America's north-western coast. Originally based at the Stanley Park Barracks, in 1944 Discovery moved to its current location on Deadman's Island, in Coal Harbour. (from Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Discovery)
Next meeting: Tuesday March 17, 2020
Dr. Kris Magnusson, former Dean of Education, SFU Success of the Canadian education system relative to OECD countries
Our first ever Rotary/Rotaract bowling social
with the Young Professionals & UBC Rotaract Clubs and Rotary Club of Vancouver
Be sure to join in on this super-fun, joint event! The idea was born out of our recent joint meeting and the collective desire to create a joint event/project. The #1 choice of the group was...bowling!!!
Never bowled before? Or maybe you're a seasoned champ? Regardless of your past bowling experience (or non-experience), you're encouraged to attend for what is sure to be an entertaining evening!
Your ticket price INCLUDES 1-hour of bowling AND shoe rental.
Our lanes are reserved from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. so plan on arriving a few minutes early to get settled, grab your shoes and be ready to bowl!!! Who knows, maybe you'll even walk away with a prize.
Bowling lane food, beer, wine, ciders, etc are available for purchase at Grandview Lanes.
Tuesday March 10th is the deadline to register and the maximum number of bowlers is 24 so don't miss out. Register today!
An optional add-on is to gather for a bite to eat and drink at St. Augustine's at 2360 Commercial Drive, next to Commercial and Broadway Station. You'll just pay for what you order. If you'll be joining us, please be there for 5:30 p.m.
If you can't stay for the bowling but would like to be part of the St. Augustine's food and drink, yes, please come. Simply contact Alysa Huppler-Poliak at alysa.hp@gmail.com call/text 778-628-6987 to let her know. She can also answer any questions you have about the evening.
Bill Davidson, President, chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Kaz Kadono accompanied us on the piano for the singing of O Canada.
Peter Clarke, Sergeant-at-Arms, introduced visitors and guests.
President’s Announcements:
More news from Kayo - all good. "Good news!! My cancer in the gallbladder shrunk from 5cm to 3cm!! All other cancers in the lung, kidney etc that was spreading everywhere are almost gone!! Keep believing in the miracles and power of prayers... Thank you very much." Kayo Otake
Adriana Zylmans would like to invite us all to a special event celebrating the 75th anniversary of Dutch liberation. The event will be a Kingdom of the Netherlands Reception at the Seaforth Armoury on Monday, April 27th, 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event is free but does require an invitation. Kindly contact Adrian if you are interested.
Parisa Adrangi, provided the Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays:Franz Gehriger Feb 25th, Pam Stewart Feb 27th
member anniversaries:John Bathurst 25 years, John Hayto 26 years, Rene Abi-Rached 28 years, John Richardson 33 years, John Wiggins 33 years, Bill Schulz 37 years
wedding anniversaries:Franco Gallo & Candice Claassen 5 years Feb 25th
Special announcements and members' moments:
Welcome to new members with their formal induction:
Ivona Zegrean, classification: Law Practice - Securities
Mentor: Peter Clarke
Marcus Xu, classification: Investment Management
Mentor: Alvin Zhao
Rose Wang, classification: Real Estate - Commercial Appraisal
Mentor: Alvin Zhao
William Brunke, classification: Consulting - Child Development
Mentor: Peter Clarke
John Hayto:
Passed on a message from Bill Schulz saying that all is fine, sending best wishes. Bill is currently on a cruise that was intended to go on a tour to Cambodia, Vietnam and other nearby countries. Due to the health crisis, the cruise has been re-routed to Dubai. Well, a lesson in being accepting and going with the flow.
Joan Posivy:
Following up on the decision of the group who attended the joint Rotaract-Rotary meeting to hold a Rotary-Bowlary. Invitations will be going out this week. There is limited space so please register asap. If there is more demand than we are expecting, there is a waitlist. If there is enough demand we’ll look into booking more lanes.
Program:
Mass Abedi introduced our speaker, Dr. Klaus-Otto Schmidt, Consul General of Germany in Vancouver.
Born in a town along Germany’s romantic road – a very popular holiday route that starts in Munich and passes through Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen, and Füssen. A place that is famous for white wines, and baroque.
Germany is currently doing very well financially. They have a shortage of skilled workers in the booming major cities. Did you know that students get free university education, including international students?
The area that Dr. Schmidt’s consular office covers is huge: east west from Saskatchewan to British Columbia and north through the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
There are many reasons why Vancouver, and British Columbia, are so important for Germans. 10% of the BC population are of German descent (30% in Saskatoon, 20% in Alberta). There are approximately 15,000 pass holders, people who can travel and work without a visa.
Team Canada, with representatives from Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, help support projects promoting research in enviro-technologies, ecology, and economic growth. UBC is a strong partner. There are approximately 100 professors on staff from Germany. The UBC-Germany partnership in their most important international partnership. Their scientific cooperation is very close.
The consul’s role is to support the needs of German citizens. Whenever a train, plane or ship arrives, the staff knows that things will get busy taking care of a multitude of issues including lost passports, illnesses, etc.
The Yukon has become a very desirable destination for Germans wishing to experience the open, wild north. There is now a direct flight available from Frankfurt to Whitehorse that provides approximately 10,000 tourists annually.
Germany does not have much in the way of their own natural resources. They need to compensate to ensure that the trade of goods is unimpeded through open borders. Dr. Schmidt is looking forward to the ratification of CITA; increased trade of goods with lower costs.
There are many German companies have their North American head offices in Toronto. Some companies are looking into moving west; hopeful for BC and other western provinces. German companies are well positioned in new green technologies. For example, the German standard for construction is zero energy houses. We can learn from them; and vice-versa.
Dr. Schmidt spoke about a number of very successful companies working here in British Columbia with German roots.
In closing, Germany has a great, successful presence here in BC, and Canada, to be celebrated.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to the ongoing strong Canadian-German relationship.
David Pike is 
