Vol. 101 No. 22
Brian Street, President
Joan Posivy, Secretary
Next meeting: Tuesday December 4, 2018 Dr. Julio Montaner, OC, OBC, MD, Advisor to UN Aides Program, Director of BC's Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Treatment as Prevention: The B.C. experience and future directions
As Dr. Julio Montaner says, he never chose to go into AIDS prevention and research. It chose him.
In 1981, he came to Vancouver to do post-doctoral work at the University of B.C. He did that to earn the credentials so he could work alongside his father, Dr. Julio Gonzalez Montaner, a pulmonary specialist and tuberculosis expert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Montaner wanted to work with him in public health.
He arrived in Vancouver just as the AIDS crisis was beginning.
“The No. 1 complication of HIV in the early days was a very serious pneumonia that was killing people right, left and centre," Montaner told The Vancouver Sun in 2015.
“My boss made me a trade. If I worked on AIDS for a year, he would give me a job in respiratory. He tricked me into it. He never gave me that job, and I never asked for it.”
Thanks to that “trick”, Montaner stayed in B.C. and became one of the world’s top AIDS researchers. He is now director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul’s Hospital. During his career, Montaner has authored more than 850 scientific publications on HIV/AIDS. He has focused his research in the development of antiretroviral therapies and management strategies and is the pioneer of Treatment as Prevention® (TasP®) strategy, the cornerstone of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Target.
Dr. Montaner is a founding co-Director of the Canadian HIV Trials Network. He has held the Endowed Chair on AIDS Research at SPH/UBC since 1996. He was the Global Advisor on HIV Therapeutics to the Executive Director of the United Nations AIDS Programme.
Dr. Montaner has received numerous awards for his research work, including the Knowledge Translation Award from CIHR and The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to the field of HIV/AIDS.
He is a Member of the Order of British Columbia and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He has been inducted into the Royal Society of Canada and into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
(Sources: UBC, Faculty of Medicine, School of Population and Public Health, http://www.spph.ubc.ca/person/julio-montaner/; and
Vancouver Sun, "Canada 150: Dr. Julio Montaner's AIDS research helped save lives around the world", https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/canada-150/canada-150-dr-julio-montaners-aids-research-helped-save-lives-around-the-world)
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday December 11, 2018 Rotary Club of Vancouver AGM
Elections for the incoming 2019-20 Board. Committee reports: what are we doing, how are we doing and what is in the pipeline. The slate, as recommended by the Nominations Committee, for 2019-2020 will be:
Gerry Glazier, Vice-President January 1, 2019, President Elect July 1, 2019
Kayo Otake, Director
Mark Startup, Director
Min Kuang, Director
Milton Kiang, Sergeant at Arms Elect
The following will carry over as noted:
Jack Zaleski, Franco Gallo, and Angus Campbell, their second year of office
Kaz Kadono, as Treasurer
Bill Davidson, as President
Brian Street, as Immediate Past President
Bill Davidson will announce his Secretary
John Richardson, as Sergeant-at-Arms (not yet a Board position)
Bill Davidson has chose Parisa Adrangi as his Secretary.
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday December 18, 2018 Rotary Club of Vancouver End of Year Holiday Social
Our regular meeting at the Terminal City Club will be more relaxed, without a formal program. It will be a time for celebration and camaraderie. Come one, come all and share in the laughter, singing and Rotary hospitality. As we do normally have lots of guests for this week, if you are planning on bringing any, please let Carolyn know asap so that we can be sure there is plenty for all to enjoy.
For other holiday season celebrations, see the events below.
CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER & CAROLING Thursday December 13, 2018 7:30 p.m. Annual Club Family Get-Together
Join us for an evening of warm fellowship, in cozy surroundings, singing many of our favourite Carols and Christmas songs. Don Evans will be playing the piano. If you play an instrument, please bring it along and accompany Don or do a solo. We do not require any particular musical skills, just members who enjoy singing.
We would appreciate it if each couple would bring a small plate with their favourite hors d’oeuvres or a plate of Christmas baking with them for the festive table. Your hosts will supply wine and soft drinks.
WHO:
Everyone - family and friends welcome
WHERE:
444 Vienna Crescent, North Vancouver
WHEN:
Thursday December 13, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to Wendy, wendy@dauphinee.ca or 604-985-9693
ROTARY CHRISTMAS PUB NIGHT Thursday December 20, 2018 7:00 p.m. @ The Sylvia Hotel
Back by popular demand, we are having another Rotary pub night. Wear you favourite Christmas sweater, come thirsty and hungry, and we will celebrate the holiday season with great conversation, laughter and good cheer! The iconic Sylvia Hotel has a fabulous menu of appies and entrees, and has a cozy dining room perfect for our gathering!
WHEN:
Thursday Dec 20th 7:00 p.m.
WHAT:
Drinks & Dinner
WHO:
Everyone (partners/guests welcome)
WHERE:
Sylvia Hotel, English Bay area
(1154 Gilford and Beach Ave.)
Free underground parking!
Please RSVP with Milton so he can book seats.
At this time of the year, tables are going quickly, so do let him know early.
Phone: 604-838-1222
BAH HUMBUG! December 6 - December 22, 2018
An Eastside Christmas Carol celebrating the spirit and humanity of Charles Dickens.
Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol is beautifully retold in this contemporary adaptation cleverly set within Vancouver's Downtown East Side whilst ever echoing the harsh social and economic themes of a Dickensian London.
This poignant yet ever humourous musical is directed by award winning Renae Morriseau featuring a stellar cast lead by Jim Byrnes, Tom Pickett, Kevin McNulty, our own Jenifer Brousseau and Sam Bob. St James Academy choir and Governor General community award recipient, Stephen Lytton, add their rich voices to this unique adaptation.
“At the darkest hour of a winter’s night, Scrooge confronts spirits of the past, present and future. Emerging from Coast Salish land buried under city sidewalks, they bring the old pawn broker face to face with memories he cannot bear and relationships he cannot heal,” says Savannah Walling, Artistic Director of Vancouver Moving Theatre, “Dickens’ haunting ghost story is filled with social satire, heartbreak and compassion. We hope that our music filled adaptation shines the light of truth on this old tale and today’s Downtown Eastside.”
WHERE:
Fei & Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts,
149 W. Hastings St.
President Brian Street chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Don Evans accompanied us on the piano for the singing of O Canada.
Joe Lopushinsky, Sergeant-at-Arms, introduced visitors and guests.
President's announcements:
Welcome to our DG, Darcy Long.
There are lots of seasonal festivities coming up. As noted in last week's Rotor (and above). If you are interested in participating please RSVP asap to help the organizers.
Joan Posivy provided the Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays:Min Kuang Nov27th
member anniversaries:Jason Boudreau 7 years
wedding anniversaries: None this week
Special announcements and member's moments:
Rene Abi-Rached told us of the CKNW Telethon is on December 4th this year. It will be between 3:00-5:00 p.m. Both the Community Service Committee and the RC Foundation are donating $5,000 each. President, Brian Street, will be interviewed at approximately 4:45. Thanks to all who have volunteered man the phones!
Phil Webber confirmed the slate for the 2019-20 Board (see above in upcoming events). The make-up of the Board with these nominees will more correctly reflect the diversity of the Club with three women joining.
NOTE: Any 10 members in good standing may nominate an eligible individual for any position requiring election at the Annual General Meeting which is to be held December 11, 2018. Any such nominations must be delivered to the Club Secretary, Joan Posivy, prior to the December 4, 2018 meeting of the Rotary Club of Vancouver so that they can be announced at that meeting.
Wolfang Degemann has donated funds to vaccinate 500 children against polio, in remembrance of his long time employee, Arnie Voth, whose mother who passed away. It is the 5th time this year Wolfgang has donated to the EndPolio program.
Program:
Assistant District Governor, John Bathurst introduced our District Governor, Darcy Long.
Darcy has looked forward to her visit with our Club, being the oldest club, the largest club and the 2017-18 Club of the Year in the District. She brought greetings from Rotary International's President, Barry Rassin. She talked about the symbolism behind this year's Be the Inspirationlogo and his focus on (1) the environment and (2) youth.
Only 5% of Rotaractors carry on into Rotary. Barry and Darcy would like it to be the focus of all Rotarians to build relationships strong enough to make the move to Rotary a natural flow.
Darcy then led the group through sharing why they are passionate about Rotary. Great & inspiring stories ensued (small snippets):
Darcy & her husband, Doug, came to Rotary after going to help following the devastating tsunami in one their favourite vacation spots. They saw the work being done by local Rotary Clubs, brought the news home, shared it with the Rotary Club in their neighbourhood and never looked back.
Doug Kellough - Rotary has the capability of really making a difference in the world due to its shear mass.
Kim Lepp - Rotary is like a family.
Paul McCrae - joined in 1967 because he was required to for his job; quickly realized that you won't experience the total value of Rotary from the sidelines. You need to jump in and get involved, you'll never look back.
Bill Shulz - Rotary is a service club but it you can also have a lot of fun socially with the group.
Kendall Jessiman - It is such a great service that we do for young people.
Rene Abi-Rached - shared a quote: I would love to have your bad day. Stay grateful.
Verona Edelstein - shared a quote: Volunteers are not paid, not because they're worthless but because they are priceless!She joined Rotary in Africa once they decided women were welcome.
Nick Blom - It always struck him as a good thing that Rotary is an organization that is run from the bottom up, thereby allowing an incredible variety of ways to serve communities.
Stu Bird - shared how the EndPolio program REALLY started. He and Wilf were attending the RI convention in 1986 in L.A. when the President of RI asked their opinion about making 3-year financial commitments to projects versus the stand 1-year. Things changed after that. During the next 3 years more than $250M was raised to EndPolio, and now we are "this close" to the end.
Wolfgang Degemann - We are "this close", and so grateful. Thank you all for helping to save lives.
Michael Woolnough - Encouraged all to travel and volunteer with Rotary globally. He told us (reminder for some, news for others) that Stu Bird, Mary Laing, and others went to Africa to immunize children for polio. Another great cause started by Rotarians is the Project Amigo in Mexico who always welcome Rotarian volunteers. For more info CLICK HERE.
In closing, Darcy thanked everyone for sharing. There were plenty more stories but time had run out. All the inspiration needed can be found in our room, around our table, at our Club. Doug & Darcy had four hands to help after a disaster, Rotary has many, many hands.
As for building membership, share what you've gained from Rotary; the joy that it brings to your life and those around you. Rotarians are all truly people of action.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to people of action.
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