UPCOMING MEETING APR 26, 2022
Cindy Morrison & Marley Stevens, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland The impact Big Sisters Programs have on young women
With a Vision that all young people realize their full potential, combined with a Mission of enabling life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people, Big Sisters use a mentoring program to support "Little Sisters" and has done so for 62 years.
Cindy and Marley will speak via Zoom about the Big Sisters programs and the impact they have on the lives of young women, who for the most part come from lower income families where they may not be shown their true potential in the world. Big Sisters, through example and leadership, show there is possibility for limitless potential and individual strengths. This is done for an incredible number of young people; in 2020 they helped 595 youth, with their volunteers giving 45,000 hours a year helping to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth and their families.
IMAGINEwhat you can do with a district or global grant from the Rotary Foundation.
IMAGINE the impact you can have on your communities here and abroad.
This year's district grant training sessions will show some of our past projects and maybe give you ideas for your own.
Applications are now open for district grant applications for the 2022-23 Rotary year. Please register below to attend this important, informative and hopefully fun training session.
We encourage more than one club member to attend this course, so if you are interested in your club's service projects and how a grant may help with funding, you are invited to register.
Year Ahead is your opportunity to learn more about ways our District can serve you and your club in the coming year. It's a chance to speak up about what your club needs from our District and to learn how other clubs are serving their communities and the world in fellowship and friendship
You are invited to join fellow members of our 48 clubs as well as club and District leaders on one of two optional occasions, for 90 minutes via Zoom: A. Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7:00 PM;
B. Saturday, April 30, 2022, 9:00 AM.
AGENDA
• District strategic plan, to support you as club leaders and members
• How the District can support you and your club
• Why Diversity Equity Inclusion is an important strategy for Rotary
• Learning and Development needs of club leaders and members
• Criminal Record Check, purpose and process
• Rotary Club Central, valuable features for your club
• Open discussion: please send me your topics in advance or bring them with you
OPTION A:
Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7:00 PM, Zoom Meeting, CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 885 2793 5260; Passcode: 105333
OPTION B:
Saturday, April 30, 2022, 9:00 AM, Join Zoom Meeting, CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 882 4818 0131; Passcode: 254985
If you have any questions, contact John Berry, District Governor Elect (theberrys@shaw.ca or
* come in person to celebrate with Purdy's chocolates!!
Last Meeting Apr 19, 2022
Wayne Fraser, President, chaired the meeting
Nadja Gehriger, Secretary, hosted the ZOOM meeting
Jill Pennefather, Sergeant at Arms, introduced our guests
Miya Otake played O Canada on the harp via video
President’s Announcements:
Thank you to all of you who came to Tuesday’s meeting. It is wonderful to see you all, both those in person and those attending virtually.
The RC of Nanaimo is holding its second annual virtual journey, starting this last weekend, April 15th, ending the first day of the RI convention, June 4th. It is a fundraiser supporting Ukraine this year. The idea is to log kilometers travelled – walking, running, biking, boating, etc. – raising money along the way. Contact Carolyn for information about signing up.
Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays, member club anniversaries, wedding anniversaries (see above)
Special announcements and members' moments:
The 2022 Foundation Dinner will be on Saturday April 23rd. The host club is RC Vancouver Mountainview. Tickets are $100 per person. Our club would like to put together a table or two (8 people per table). Are you able to join? If so, let Wayne, Kendall, or Carolyn know. See above for more info.
The next Membership Committee's Business Networking Event has been scheduled: Wednesday April 27th. See above for more details.
Joan Posivy – provided an update from the youth FUNdraiser auction held on April 12th. The net proceeds show as approximately $16.5K. A sincere thank you to all participants – donors and bidders alike.
At the last youth committee meeting, it was decided that our club will support the Vancouver Young Professionals Rotaract Club’s UNYA fundraiser with a donation of $2,000.
Eric Peach, the VP of the VYP Rotaract Club talked about another upcoming fundraiser, this one supporting Ukraine through the Come Back Alive. Come Back Alive is a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that emerged to help the Ukrainian military during the War in Donbas on the basis of crowdfunding, and continued to help the Ukrainian military during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has been recognized as one of the most effective and transparent Ukrainian charitable and volunteer initiatives.
See above for more details about the event that will be on Sunday April 24th.
Stephanie Lawton co-chair of the Ride for Hearing committee is looking for prizes for the event. Please contact Stephanie if you can offer anything or have ideas.
Jim Evans shared that past Rotarian, Ed Bird, has passed away.
Program:
Jim Evans introduced guest speakers, Janet Walmsley and Jenny Story who spoke about their journey as mother and daughter navigating the challenges of autism. They work to show, by sharing, the positiveness of autism. They want to give hope and provide the rainbow for the journey. Autistic individuals are such a force – Jenny is a role model and inspiration for everyone with autism.
When Janet wrote about Jenny’s life, Jenny gave her blessing knowing that her story may help others realize their dreams. Janet’s book helps enlighten, educate and inspire. When autism was shared with them 26 years ago it was brand new concept for them. When Jenny was diagnosed as autistic, Janet remembers experiencing fear and not knowing how to help or support Jenny. After a number of failed starts with the medical community, they eventually moved from Yellowknife to the Okanagan to seek the support they needed.
They finally connected with a pediatrician who recognized the seriousness of the situation. She worked to support Jenny & Janet in getting them the help they needed. The Head of Community Childcare Options programs put Jenny into regular daycare setting. They hit a goldmine – the ECE people running the daycare went above and beyond to learn how to support Jenny. Play therapy taught Jenny how to play and communicate appropriately.
Speech and language pathologist taught Mom and daughter about how an autistic person communicates. They truly had a dream team of support people that help Janet be the best parent she could be and Jenny to develop the skills to succeed in our society.
Growing up for Jenny as autistic was very hard. She was thought to be useless because her communication skills were not the same as other children. Though she faced a lot of bullying, thankfully some children accepted her as she was and became her friends. Her teachers were supported. Her family was supportive. She continued with her schooling post-secondary attending the Vancouver Film School. She is now a freelance animator, and author of a fantasy sci-fi novels, Dysnomia: Outcasts On a Distant Moon & Dysnomia: Home Lies in Your Heart. In 2020 Jenny was the winner for Autism Awards Self-Advocate of the Year. She is often asked: If she had the opportunity to take the autism away, would she? Maybe when she was younger and facing the difficulties she did through those years, but not now that she has been as successful as she has been. Her autism has been a gift.
With a Vision that all young people realize their full potential, combined with a Mission of enabling life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people, Big Sisters use a mentoring program to support "Lit
tle Sisters" and has done so for 62 years. 
