Dear Fello
w Rotarians:
One of the joys of being the Immediate Past President of Rotary Club of Vancouver (“RCoV”) is that I am given the honour and responsibility of chairing the Nominating Committee as we planned for the renewal of our club July 1, 2019. The work of that committee culminated in our recent Annual General Meeting when the new officers and directors, elected by acclamation, were announced.
It is so inspiring to learn more about our fellow members, the nominees and the new officers and directors who will take office next year, through the nominating process. I have learned something of what they have done, and still do, in their business, professional and community lives, and have learned or been reminded of how they have been engaged in Rotary humanitarian service. The summaries below describe some of what was brought to my mind and I think will be enjoyed by my fellow club members.
In closing, I wish to emphasize that it is important that our nomination process be perceived as open and welcoming. To that end, I hope that members of the RCoV who would be interested in serving on the Board of Directors of the club in the future will speak to me so that I can ensure they are considered.
The following is a summary of the nominees for the next Rotary year, July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019 which you have recently elected.
Vice President January 1, 2019; ascending to Pres-Elect July 1, 2019
Gerry Glazier
Summary of work experience:
Gerry worked for the Federal Government for 9 years from 1968 to 1977with:
- Canadian Department of Fisheries in Winnipeg and Yellowknife;
- Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Yellowknife.
He was Petro Canada Environmental Manager for another 9 years from 1977-1986.
He served as President Nature Conservancy of Canada for 3 years from 1986-89.
Next, he was employed by Dalhousie University, Halifax for nine years from 1989-1994 in the course of which he was:
- Team Leader – in Jakarta, Indonesia; and
- International Project Director in Halifax.
He then became an Environmental Consultant and Team leader for 14 years in SE Asia from 1994-2008. During that time, Gerry worked in Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia on environmental and urban development projects for the Canadian International Development Agency, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the UN.
Rotary Experience: Approximately 35 years
- Rotary Club of Yellowknife NWT – 1975/76
- Rotary Club of Aurora Ont. 1986/89
- Chair Youth Services Committee
- Club Director 1 year
- Rotary Club of Jakarta Gambir Indonesia 1989-92 and 1995-2000
- Club Director
- President Elect
- Left because of unrest during the overthrowing of Soharto
- Organized and managed a large water and sanitation project funded by RC Jakarta Gambir, RC Aurora, RI and Canadian Embassy Indonesia
- Rotary Club of Halifax Harbourside NS 1992-1994
- Rotary Club of Port Moody 2005- 2008
- Rotary Club of Vancouver 2013 – Present
- Member and Co-chair Community Service Committee
- Director 2017-Present
As your President, and before that, Gerry impressed Phil Webber with how completely dependable he was in contributing to our club by:
- co-leading the Community Service Committee with Rene Abi-Rached, including hands on organization of the “Food on the Corner” monthly service teams;
- in his service on the Board and dedication of the time required to contribute as such;
- and last but not least, on his hands on involvement with Rotary World help Network
Directors as of July 1, 2019 commencing a two year term
Mark Startup
Mark is currently Vice President of the Retail Council of Canada. His career in retail and public policy advocacy began with Eaton’s and Canadian Federation of Independent Business in Vancouver. In 1982, Mark joined Retail BC as President. Through a couple of mergers from 2008 until 2012, Retail BC merged into the Retail Council of Canada and Mark assumed the role of Vice-President, working from its Vancouver office.
The Retail Council of Canada represents all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, and independent retailers in addition to on-line merchants. Its members operate in every community across the country and together they generate more than two-thirds of Canadian retail sales.
Mark is a member of the BC Small Business Round Table and serves as a director of the Employers’ Forum on WorkSafe BC. He has served on numerous industry boards including: Tourism Vancouver; Immigrant Employment Council of BC; Canadian Society of Association Executives; Coalition of BC Businesses; and, BC Industry Training Authority.
Mark is an active volunteer and fund-raiser with the Rotary Club of Vancouver and The Callanish Society.
His RCoV experience includes:
- Joining RCoV in 1986;
- RCoV Ice Capades, (Chair - late 80s, committee member);
- RCoV Youth Committee (Chair, late 80s, committee member - 90s;
- RCoV Bike-a-thon Committee, (Co-Chair - early 90s, rider of almost every ride); and
- Loyal attendee of Wun Day Ranch and RCoV Annual Ski weekends.
Kayo Otake
Kayo became a member of RCoV in 2004 and has been a very active member of the International Community Service committee ever since. In 2010 Kayo was awarded a Paul Harris Award by RCoV for taking an active role in the development of our sister club relationship with Rotary Club of Tokyo Setagaya and for so many other contributions.
Kayo, as we all know stood in for Past District Governor Don Evans, as our pianist, during Don’s year as District Governor and was a key organizer of our Club’s April 2018 delegation to Japan to renew our Sister Club relationship with Rotary Club of Tokyo Setagaya for another five years. As members know, that Sister Club relationship along with our Sister Club relationship with Rotary Club of Kinshasa Kingabwa has been key to the effectiveness of our programs in Africa.
Kayo Otake has been President of Aoyama Harp of Canada Ltd. and has been importing harps from Japan and distributing them across North America for almost 3 decades.
Min Kuang
Business experience:
Min Kuang, based in Vancouver, has over 20 years of experience in international finance, including structuring capital investments and mergers and acquisitions in the Consumer, Fintech and Healthcare industries. Min also has significant operational management experience with Fintech and asset management companies in Asia and in North America.
She is the founder of Blockchain Impact Institute and iBank Digital Corp. which she describes as one of the world's foremost leaders in the facilitation and underwriting of crypto lending, and the first open decentralized global lending network connecting financial institutions in Canada.
Min serves as a director of Urban Select Capital Corp. Machool Technology Inc., and Asia Select Asset Management Inc. She also serves as the co-chair of the Membership Committee of the Rotary Club of Vancouver and as a committee member of Splash and Arts Umbrella.
Rotary Club of Vancouver experience:
Min is relatively new to Rotary when one compares her three years as a Rotarian to Mark’s 32 years and Kayo’s 14 years. However, since November 2017, she has been a Co-Chair of Rotary Club of Vancouver Membership Committee.
Min first came to our attention when she assumed the co-chair position for the Organization of the 2017 District Foundation Dinner, a responsibility of RCoV during PDG Don Evan’s Year as District Governor. Her stellar job in that role, backed up by John Bathurst, Franco Gallo and many others, set a new standard for District RI Foundation Fundraising Dinners.
Min also followed through with recruiting new members and organizing two Rotary Club of Vancouver new Member receptions, one in November 2017 and another held December 12, 2018. In addition to being Co-Chair of the District 5040 Rotary Foundation Dinner for 2017, Min and Franco Gallo participated in the celebration of "World Polio Day" in Seattle in 2017.
Sergeant-at-Arms elect, taking such office July 1, 2019 and
becoming Sergeant-at-Arms July 1, 2020
Milton Kiang
Milton Kiang needs no introduction, having recently served as Club Secretary (2016/2017 under Past President John Bathurst) and also serving as the self-appointed chair/organizer of our RCoV Pub Nights.
Milton has served the RCoV with grace and humour and will be following in John Richardson’s footsteps in 2020/2021. He has always been willing to do whatever has been asked of him in regards to strengthening our Club and indeed, does not wait to be asked.
Having imparted these inspiring backgrounds of our new officers and directors to you, it is my wish that each and every one of you has the happiest of holidays and the New Year!
Phil Webber
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