Vol. 101 No. 36
Brian Street, President
Joan Posivy, Secretary
Next meeting: Tuesday March 26, 2019
"Poo Bear" and "Bulldog", members of B.A.C.A. (Bikers Against Child Abuse) Introduction to B.A.C.A.
Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. (B.A.C.A.) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children.
We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse.
We do not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner, however, if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle. (Source: http://bacaworld.org/mission/)
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday April 2, 2019
Mark Haden, Executive Director, Psychedelic Stress Disorder, UBC School of Social Work Healing with Psychedelics - A Research Prospective
Mark Haden works with the BCCSU (British Columbia Centre on Substance Use) as a Supervisor in the Spiral Program – Studying Psychedelic Interventions Research Advancement Lab. He plays a leadership role in the PRIME study (Psilocybin Research Investigating Medical Efficacy) which explores psilocybin as a adjunct in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Mark Haden worked for Vancouver Coastal Health Addiction Services as a Supervisor at the Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre for 28 years. He continues to work with the Health Officer Council on the issue of drug policy and publishes and lectures on the subject of “A Public Health approach to the regulation of currently illegal drugs”.
Mark is also the Chair of the Board of MAPS Canada (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for drug policy reform work in 2013.
Upcoming meeting: Tuesday April 9, 2019
Rabbi Rokie Bernstein Exodus then and now... The journey called life
President, Brian Street chaired the meeting and gave the invocation.
Tom Crean led the singing of O Canada.
John Hayto, acting Sergeant-at-Arms, introduced visitors and guests.
President's Announcements:
Michael Woolnough, Joan Posivy, and others who attended the Rotary Foundation seminar in Richmond last weekend all say it was a good session. Well worth attending.
We need to record our volunteer hours for submission to R.I. There is a column beside your name on the sign-in sheets for you to jot down your weekly hours. Please do so.
Thanks to Min Kuang who helped organize a prosperous 41st annual S.U.C.C.E.S.S. gala. They surpassed their goal of $500,000 by raising $530,000 in support of essential S.U.C.C.E.S.S. programs and services with a focus on early childhood development and youth leadership programs in particular this year.
On April 30th we will be hosting R.I. Director Jeffry Cadorette at our lunch meeting. The event will be open to all of the lower mainland Rotary Clubs with seating on a first-come first-serve basis. An Eventbrite site will be set up shortly for registrations. Our members can register at no additional fee so it is suggested that you register as soon as the site is open to secure your seat.
Note that if you'd like an opportunity for some extra face-time with RI Director Jeffry Cadorette, the Rotaractors are hosting an evening event on April 30th. More info to come regarding details and registration.
Joan Posivy provided the Secretary's announcements:
reminders of upcoming events/meetings (see above)
birthdays:Wolfgang Degemann Mar21, Mark Zhou Mar23
member anniversaries:Charlene McDonald 19 years
wedding anniversaries:Aldo & Rosa Brussoni 54 years Mar20
Special announcements and members' moments:
Joan Posivy shared the good news that the Vancouver Young Professional Rotaractors' EndPolio fundraiser last week raised $1,250 for the cause.
Joan also relayed that the Rotaractors really do appreciate the participation of Rotarians at any and all of their events and meetings. It is an opportunity for them to forge relationships, in not just a friendly way but in an important mentoring way. Share your knowledge with them - they want to soak it up.
Joan is looking for someone to either partner with her as co-liaison for the Rotaractors or to take on the role altogether. Please contact Joan if you are interested.
Jenifer Brousseau provided some updated information about Imagi'NATION and the work they are doing. She sincerely thanked the Club for their ongoing support and apologized for not being able to attend our lunch meetings more regularly. It's easy to see why not, Jenifer is very busy.
Starting from a call to action by a Mom of a young woman who, while attending Brittania Secondary, committed suicide, Jenifer wrote a play, Beneath the Surface, to help youth in crisis. She has spend 8 years touring the country with her play and is now in a new phase whereby she with her team are building the Beneath the Surface: Youth Outreach Program.
It is important to note that though the Beneath the Surface: Youth Outreach Program is based in First Nations methods and teachings, including innovative methods of teachings of the Medicine Wheel and the Seven Grandfathers to create supports, promote cultural reconnection and emphasize reconciliation through arts and education, it is truly cross-cultural. It creates important discussions with youth around healing and reconciliation, regardless of their cultural background and affiliations, shifting the narrative to educate through self-awareness and empowerment.
The development of the Beneath the Surface: Youth Outreach Program will be available to communities throughout Canada, beginning in B.C., by September 2019.
As part of the program, recordings of the play will be included in the package. You, as Rotarians, will have an opportunity to see the action during a taping on April 12th. There have been 20 VIP seats reserved for our Club members. RSVP must be received by Friday March 22nd or the seats will be released to other youth/student groups. Seating is limited and the theatre is already almost at capacity.
If interested in attending, email bridget.f.reilly@gmail.com.
Also for more information about imagi'NATION, CLICK HERE
To view promotional videos, CLICK HERE
Jack Zaleski promoted this year's bike-a-thon. It's just under four months away, on July 14th. There are already 10 riders registered; the doors are open! The target is 175 riders.
This is a 120 km ride from Burnaby (Brentwood Mall) to Harrison Hot Springs. It can take many forms: single rider, relay team, bicycles, motorcycles, running. Whatever mode gets you to the finish line and raises the money for our Hearing Foundation and all the good works it supports in Vancouver. Even electric bikes are okay.
It takes approximately 6 hours to complete the entire ride, with most starting about 6 a.m. and landing in Harrison around noon. There to enjoy a lunch, a dip in the Hot Springs Resort pools, followed by a banquet dinner at 4:30. A bus will be ready to bring everyone back to Burnaby where you can pick up your bikes that arrived in a separate truck.
This year's goal is to raise $175,000. Each rider is expected to bring a minimum of $300. There are prizes for the highest funds raised both for individuals and for corporate teams.
Lots of volunteers are needed (approximately 65). If you don't want to ride but are able to help, please contact any of: Jack Zaleski, Sandra Lowe, Pierre Adjoury or Mark Startup.
Joan Posivy provided some information about a new Club initiative that responds to the needs of our younger members who are faced with some barriers to joining or participating fully in our Rotary Club. Namely: the timing of the lunch meetings requiring at least 2 hours out of the work day weekly; the frequency that we meet - every week; and the cost of those weekly lunches.
A committee has been working on this -- Joan, Brian Street, Phil Webber, Thomas Miller (President, Young Professionals Rotaractors), and Scott Stroshin.
It is a prime concern of the Rotary Club that we do not lose younger members, but rather encourage them to be involved so when approached to support the creation of a Club that deals with those membership barriers noted above, it was decided to create a Young Professionals Division (YPD) of the RC of Vancouver (RCV) for members under 40 years of age.
The members of the YPD will be full members of RCV but they will run their club independently. Yes, there is a risk that RCV will lose some members to YPD but the relationship between the two will be close. It is proposed that 1-2 YPD members will be on the Board (depending on their membership numbers), as well as running joint committees.
The official launch of the YPD will be at the RCV meeting June 18th. All questions will be addressed then, so come ready.
Meeting adjourned with a toast to an engaging and productive club.
