UPCOMING MEETING AUG 17, 2021
Terra Paredes, Manager, Community Events & Engagement, Vancouver Food Bank
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) was set up as a temporary relief to the hunger crisis in 1983 and has grown significantly in the three decades since then. Today the GVFB provides assistance to approximately 8,500 individuals monthly across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore.
We also provide food support to 115 Community Agency Partners (CAPs) throughout these communities, such as housing agencies, women and children’s shelters and after-school programs, who in turn provide hot meals and snacks to thousands of people each week including those struggling with homelessness. We reach and support a broad spectrum of people in need through our CAPs.
The GVFB's mission: Providing healthy food to those in need. Their vision: Healthy communities through fair and effective food systems. Their values: Respect – We treat people with dignity and compassion; Integrity – We act with honesty; Accountability – We are responsible and transparent; and Stewardship – We take care of our relationships and resources.
IN SEARCH OF GUEST SPEAKERS
We are looking for guest speakers who will be enjoyable and entertaining for the group.
As we still are able to host guest speakers via ZOOM, geography is no object. Time differences may be however.
If you have any suggestions/recommendations kindly forward to
speakers@rotaryvancouver.org
Upcoming Events
CONTACT COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR UPCOMING DATES
please click on the titles for more info for specific events
Nadja Gehriger, Secretary, hosted the meeting in-person & via ZOOM
Jill Pennefather, Sergeant At Arms, introduced the guests
Miya Otake played O Canada on the harp
President’s Announcements:
Welcome to our guests, new and returning, as well as our own members who have taken the time out of their busy lives to be with us today. Thank you for joining us.
Board update from the August 5th meeting.
we reviewed the strategic plan goals for the club, drilling down to committee responsibilities. We will have updates from all the committees to see how it's going during our October club day meeting.
We discussed when the best time would be to host a "homecoming" for the club where we encourage everyone to attend in person. We anticipate it will be later September or even into October depending on the Provincial Health Orders and when they recommend a full opening.
We have a Finance Committee, headed up by our Treasurer, Kaz, whose mandate it is to evaluate our finances and how we move forward to ensure our club is financially healthy. Quarterly billing of pre-paid meals will most likely start in Q2 (October-December). The exact amount charged for meals and club dues will be determined by the Board based on recommendations from the Finance Committee.
The current $52 pay as you go fee for lunch may seem high to some. It was $50 pre-covid and the new rate of $52 reflects the increase we are being charged now. Also, it is worthy to note that we are not being charged for the AV we use to host the Zoom participants (all other venues charge a good sum for this), we are not charged for storage of our meeting supplies, e.g., flags, etc., for the setup and takedown of said flags, etc. We are also not charged for the room whether it be for lunch, or extended use for committee meetings held immediately prior or after lunch, as well as be accommodated at no fee for other meeting rooms based on availability. And finally, though TCC encourages us to provide numbers ahead of time, they allow us to be somewhat flexible. We'd be hard pressed to find a better deal anywhere else downtown and we appreciate the hospitality TCC offers us.
You will be receiving a short questionnaire prior to next week's meeting looking for your feedback about returning to "normal". Please take a few minutes it will require to fill it out.
The funding requests we approved were:
Decoda PACE Community Access Fund, $3,500. Through the Decoda Literacy Foundation, this fund povides financial support to students in community-based adult learning programs with short-term needs such as transportation, childcare, books, etc. The funds we are providing will help approximately 70 adult learners.
Boys Who Leap Program, $5,000. The leader for this is RC Vancouver Sunrise who will be applying for a District Grant. The program is meant to build life and leadership skills in at-risk youth on the Vancouver eastside. It will help approximately 24 young men.
Also approved was funding for an upcoming RWH container shipment to Montevideo, Uruguay. The date of the shipment is still to be determined.
Parisa Adrangi, who is away now helping her daughter settle in on campus at university, will be organizing a new member reception in the fall once we have opened up fully.
We have had some great speakers and will be continuing to offer this as a highlight of our weekly meetings. If you have any ideas for speakers, as noted above, kindly contact speakers@rotaryvancouver.org with your thoughts.
Point of interest (thanks to Nadja Gehriger) - Rotary Magazine
The Canadian Rotary Magazine had an interesting article highlighting an initiative of the RC White Rock, Food and Fellowship in White Rock. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, there was a destructive impact on the White Rock and South Surrey communities. Businesses were suffering, employees lost their jobs. The demand for free meals being offered weekly by a local church was overwhelming. The RC White Rock stepped in to help. They started a program called Feed My City, that distributes hot meals 7 days a week. Estimates are that 12,000 meals were served in the first 10 months of the program, costing approximately $5,000 per month.
The program now has many supporters, including the city of White Rock, the Peninsula United Church, the Peace Portal Alliance, Premium Fence, Poco Building Supplies, and numerous local restaurants. They have received donations of more than $50,000 with should ensure that the program continues for a long time, feeding anyone in need.
The International Rotary Magazine relayed a message from the President, Shekhar Mehta, from the July 2021 edition. In it is written:, "... the Each One, Bring One initiative is so important. During this year, I urge you to dream of new ways in which Rotary can expand its reach into your community and therefore the world. If each member introduces one person to Rotary, our membership can increase to 1.3 million by July 2022."
Membership has sat at 1.2 million for approximately 20 years. By growing our membership we can have a greater positive impact on the world, there will be more people to Serve to Change Lives. More and bigger service projects will be possible. Grow more, do more.
All of our members are challenged to bring a new member to our club over the next year. Will you be able to meet the challenge, be a changemaker?
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Program:
Jim Evans introduced speaker, SportMedBC co-founder Dr. Jack Taunton.
Dr. Taunton spoke about the various medical issues that are seen because of COVID-19 infections, and the treatments used to combat them.
Exercise is great at improving immune system. Return to exercise after covid-19, a very unique virus, must be done carefully. The effects from covid-19 are very serious. One needs to rest for 10 days after recovering from Covid. If symptom free for 7 days then one can do a graduated return to sports activity. If symptoms emerge again then need to back down and start again. Its important to go slow and gradual. Toughing through may result in very unfortunate issues.
Helpful and effective exercise post-covid includes Ti Chi, yoga, boxing drills, working on an elliptical unit. Need to identify what intensity and complexity will work best for the individual. Using large muscles increases blood vessels lost because of covid and will increase the development of new neural pathways.
This condition is like nothing we have ever seen before, it’s incredibly severe. Do not hesitate to be evaluated if you display symptoms, at St. Paul’s, VGH, Surrey Memorial. If not already, get vaccinated.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to the medical experts worldwide who are helping us deal with Covid.
er Food Bank (GVFB) was set up as a temporary relief to the hunger crisis in 1983 and has grown significantly in the three decades since then. Today the GVFB provides assistance to approximately 8,500 individuals monthly across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore.
