• A major challenge of each new city council is that they inherit a 4-year budget from the previous council.
• Affordable housing is very much on everyone's mind, and the City is always negotiating with developers to strike a balance between density and public amenities, including provisions for affordable housing.
• The City also works closely with BC Housing to develop affordable housing where BC Housing provides the initiatives and the City controls zoning. 
• Public opinions vary widely between higher density and neighborhood preservation as many Vancouverites resist densification.
• Living in Vancouver has become so expensive that only about 20% of Vancouver Police Officers actually live in Vancouver, so in the case of a major emergency, officers living in neighbouring cities such as Burnaby, Richmond, or Coquitlam might have difficulty coming into Vancouver to help with response.  Thus, planning is underway to facilitate better priorities in assisting first responders to settle within Vancouver boundaries.  Same issue exists with Vancouver retailers and businesses trying to hire people who actually live in Vancouver. 

• On February 23 we celebrate the 117^th World Understanding and Peace Day. Quite a Milestone!
• She also noted that our International President asks us to lead by example, to be a good tenant in the world, and to support women’s needs.
• He also presented us with a challenge: for each member to bring one person to Rotary. That does not have to be our club but it would be nice.

• President Grant reminded people to let Mary know if you have made your Rotary Foundation or Polio Plus donation directly to RI. That way she and Sam can make sure that everyone’ donation is ascribed to our club. Just a little note to Mary will do. She’ll take it from there.

• Co-President Dianna is working hard on our constitution and several members, including Leigh, are reviewing it. The work is in good hands.

• Speaking of Dianna, she has taken over the task of finding speakers for us, so direct any ideas you have to her. She is working on March since the speakers for February were already booked.

• And speaking of speakers, Mary has found Shail!!  He is being cared for at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Contact Mary if you want to send a letter or card. Lydia has already sent both to him, but we are sure he would appreciate all good wishes.

• Your in-coming Presidents, Jean and Lydia have been doing President-elect pre-training to prepare for the intensive PETS courses in February. They also met this week to talk about potential Club Goals. If you have some ideas, please contact them directly.

• Michael and Grant report that the Christmas decorations have been taken down at Abbeyfield Senior’s Home. Well done, guys!

• Another 100 brand new baby books were delivered to the VSB Early Learning program. They were very gratefully received. Make sure to attend the meeting on February 25^th when Colleen, the head of the School Board’s Early Learning division will speak about their many programs to help children as they enter School for the first time.

• And the club has embarked on a social media, family-and-friends donation drive to find gently used books for 3 to 5 year olds. This age group needs books too and we need to acquire them by other means until we can access schools (which are currently off-limits to all but teachers and students) and parents for our book drives. Lydia has sent info and letter templates out to all members to help them with their approaches to their social circle.

1. We recently made a sizeable donation of $10,000 to Honour Ranch near Ashcroft. It is a respite facility where all first responders, military personnel, and their families can rest and recuperate from traumas related to their difficult work.

2. In other project news, Ron, Yoonhi and Lydia met recently to discuss the next preparatory steps as we launch the 1000 Books by Age Five book recycling project. Ron has been busy making arrangements with publishers of books for babies and keeping in touch with our Victoria Rotary mentors. Lydia has been working on letters, flyers and agreements, and Yoonhi has been keeping everything documented and on course. Our next meeting with our Vancouver School District partners is scheduled for early October once the dust has settled on school-restarts.

Thank you to Mary for the intervention with . They are keeping aside some books for babies on our behalf.

3. And still on the subject of projects, today we had Chris Loat give us the details of the joint Uganda project we are involved in with other District 5040 clubs. Our very capable Scribe, Michael, has all the details.

• With the success of our picnic-in-the-(Fraser River) park-social recently, we are going to have another outdoor gathering, this time it’s Happy Hour at Memorial West Park on Dunbar. Bring your own beverage and snacks this Friday September 24 and get ready to share many conversations with your Rotary friends. You KNOW how happy we all are to talk. No worries about possible rain. We are Vancouverites, after all! (Plus, Lana will bring her rain shelters if needed)

• Speaking of fun, everyone thoroughly enjoyed lunch at Seasons in the Park. There may be another chance for others to try it out at our next in-person lunch meeting. Stay tuned.

Checking out Seasons in the Park for Rotary Lunches

It was a great pleasure to have a Rotary Social/meeting at Seasons’ Restaurant at Queen Elizabeth Park. There were 15 attendees, including visiting Rotarian Tim Koepke, and his wife Jan, from Whitehorse, Yukon, Connie and newly arrived Rotarian settling into Vancouver (from Edmonton) Michael’s wife, Teddie’s son, and Lydia’s husband.  

A very informative classification talk by new member Elena Marguci was enjoyed by all.  Our scribe Michael’s review of her interesting and extensive career appears later in this bulletin.

Lydia hosted the meeting as Co-presidents Dianna and Grant were both busy working at the federal election offices. Lydia reports that there are two private rooms, both with expansive views, at Season’s and we were in the smaller one – a very cozy room with a fireplace.  It would suit us quite nicely for our usual luncheon numbers.  The service and food were excellent, with everything arriving promptly (including a couple of libations).  We used 3 large round tables.

Our next meeting is via Zoom on Friday September 17

Our Next Social Meeting: September 24

• As everyone enjoyed the picnic in the Park so much another outdoor social is planned. Everyone particularly liked being able to join different groups for chats.  Oh, the joys of wandering and mixing it up!  Discussions centred on doing another while the autumn weather is still fine.  

• In case of rain, Lana has offered two pop up rain shelters.  

On Friday the 10th we at last attended a meeting of the members who were available for a more normal lunch format, and, further, the room was specially available for just the Club members who were able to find their way to a location that necessitates a car-ride: it was almost a welcome return to normality. We were also able to enjoy an erudite classification speech by Elena. 

In the view of your learned correspondent, the Classification speech is a feature of Rotary life that is almost going the way off the dodo, but is a feature that should be utilized far more frequently. With few exceptions, membership of Rotary more or less implies the ability to ‘get a message across’; certainly our founding fathers had that fact in mind when the principles of Rotary were first enunciated. And to have a speech once upon entry (mine was presented in 1982) would seem to be rather too little of a good thing: on this day we enjoyed something not heard for almost 2 years!

We therefore heard from an august member, who has actually been a Rotarian for 6 years. As a first generation Canadian, with experience at the Sorbonne and the Université de Tours, she graduated from the University of Western Ontario and for the last 30 years has been able to study and work in 5 other countries. She has enjoyed a progressive career pattern in the hospitality, educational and non-profit sectors and is pleased to operate under the rubric “Lead by Example”. Notably, she has enthusiastically embraced leadership roles in a number of institutions, including the Ladner Rotary Board, though she characterizes herself as an Entrepreneur at Heart, and is presently engaged in working with a "start-up” in the aviation industry. 

The closing words of Elena’s address are instructive. Though penned by Steve Jobs, they are a signal entrée into Rotary and a fruitful life: “ … Great things in business are never done by one person, they are done by a team of people."

1. August 13 we have a luncheon meeting at Shaughnessy Restaurant at Van Dusen Gardens. Arrive at 11:30 am. Partners, friends and neighbours are invited. We are scoping this location out as a possible future meeting place. Please advise Dianna and Grant if you are attending and whether you have guests.
2. Picnic: August 25, 5 – 8 pm Fraser River Park; everyone bring something, it’s pot luck! Hans will provide a small BBQ and some wieners, if anyone has another BBQ they could provide, please bring it!
3. Picnic (Rainy Day plan B) - if it happens to be raining on August 25, we will adjourn to the Milltown Pub at the Marina. Don’t bring Barbecues 

• District 5040 Governor Dave’s health is poor these days and messages of encouragement would be welcome. 
• In other District news … apparently, and counter-intuitively, given the lock-downs, 5040 has had a high membership increase this year.
• Rotarian of the Year nominations are being taken.  If you have someone in mind, contact President Grant.
• The District’s Rotary Foundation Gala will be on May 12 and will be a virtual affair.  Stay tuned for details.
• The District Conference, also virtual, happens on June 4 and 5 with lots of good speakers so register for only $79.  Attend from the comfort of your home.  You will meet great people from all over the Province.  Clubrunner has all the information, so check it out! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/399xMNK
• And finally, the District AGM takes place on April 3rd.  There are always lively and important discussions to take part in … or just listen and get better informed.

1. On the first day the house is cleaned and rangoli (intricate designs made of colored rice, sand, or flowers) are created on the floor of the home.
2. On the second day special sweets, called mithaiare prepared or bought.   As well, prayer for the spirits of ancestors in the afterlife are conducted.
3. On the third day, the main day of Diwali, families gather and celebrate by lighting lanterns and candles in their homes and in the streets, and by shooting off fireworks! 
4. Traditions of the fourth day vary, but a common theme is the bond between husband and wife, so husbands will often buy their spouses gifts to celebrate.
5. The fifth day focuses on the bond between siblings, specifically between brother and sister. 

      

• Diwali celebrations this year took place under restrictive measures, including mask wearing and physical distancing.
• Many temples streamed prayer sessions online to avoid large gatherings.
• Around the world, worried residents opted for low-key celebrations.  Many stayed home and did not visit friends or relatives.  

• Scholarships: $35,000
• Strathcona Basketball Program: $8,190
• Rotary Youth Leadership Training (RYLA): $4,000
• Girls who LEAP: (Lead, Empower, Act with Purpose): $5,000

• Friday June 19 was the last meeting chaired under President Lydia’s “gavel”. One of her last duties was to consider how the club should prepare for eventual in-person meetings.  A short survey to hear your thoughts will be distributed on July 03 at Carlos O’Bryan’s and, for those not attending that day, via email.  It will ask you about your preferences for meetings, dates, types, and your post-lock-down feelings.  Please return these to Lydia.  The Membership Committee and the Executive will use your feedback to consider how to proceed.

• Congratulations to Leigh Higinbotham.  He has been appointed District Policy Chair.  Leigh will work with the District Governor Team and District Committee Chairs to establish their policies and procedures.  We are very proud of you Leigh.

• Joy, Michael C. and Lydia have been working on an article for the Rotarian Magazine about the El Salvador Project.  Lydia has finished the writing and Michael is working on photos.  Joy is the accuracy editor.  Fingers crossed, but there is no guarantee it will be published.

• Dues notices are out.  Please make your payments to Lana well before June 30 so we can pay our International dues invoice in a timely manner.

• A special commendation to our new member Jean Gardner, who joined our Zoom meeting from her car while she and her husband were travelling through Whistler on their way back to their cabin at Anderson Lake.  What dedication to attendance!

• Several members joined the Burnaby Club’s meeting at 1:00 to hear speaker Dr. Choi on the subject of Fear during COVID-19.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been very hard on women and children that experience high levels of violence and homelessness.  The Downtown Eastside Women’s Center has, since 1978, been one of the only safe spaces within the downtown eastside specifically and exclusively for all women and their children.  
 
We provided them $3500 to remove existing shelving in the kitchen and put up a prep table with shelving on the wall above that would carry the existing items stored on the shelves.    This change to the kitchen will assist with social distancing while people are working in the kitchen.
 

BEFORE RENOVATION

1. Grant, Leigh, Madhu,Ilan and Dianna attended session 1 of the Year Ahead Seminars and met (virtually) to discuss a case study.

2. Dianna and Madhu heard an RI webinar on Driving Club Success during Covid 19.

3. Mary, Lana and Lydia helped with a 4 year financial review for the club.

4. Dianna and Yoonhi took a Clubrunner webinar.

5. Madhu took a District Grant Management Course and Dianna plans to take one too.

6. Shail has been contacting schools about our bursary awards program.

7. Grant, Mary, Lydia and  Leigh read all the District AGM documents and financials, and provided input for Lydia to ask for more information.  Lydia and Hans then attended the preparatory webinar for District AGM participants.

8. Lydia met with Joy to get all the details with which to prepare the nomination for the District’s Person of Action Awards.

9. The Board members had a meeting on Zoom.

10. Grant and Lydia worked on filling executive positions for the year starting in July.

11. Grant, Lydia, Madhu, Mary, Dianna, Joy, Yoonhi, Shail and Lana met for a Zoom Projects Committee meeting.

12. Yoonhi has been busy organising the Kits Neighbourhood House (Covid) Relief Grocery Shopping volunteer project.  More shoppers are still needed, so please sign up with Yoonhi.

Buddies

  

Members-to-be Debora and Jeff visited (with appropriate social distancing) Lydia and Chris (Lydia is Deb’s ‘buddy’) to have tea in the garden and to bring a bag of organic flour, some apples and some farm fresh eggs.  They are well and assure us all that you can take a drive and shop safely at many farms in the valley.  The farms have put really good measures in place to keep everyone safe.  Deb also says that Farmers Markets are operating and using super good social distancing measures.  Support our Small Farmers!

 

 

Signs of the times

school playgrounds closed

 

We miss you - at Lord Kitchener Elementary

 

social distancing photos near Central Park by Michael Cowhig

 

covid chic, for grocery shopping

 

 

• Ken Pepper and his wife Sheila are still in Vancouver, having decided in March that neither a drive across Canada nor a flight was a good idea. (Lydia is Ken’s ‘buddy’ so they keep in touch) 

• Jeff and Debra are also doing well and they are keeping in touch with the Peppers.

• Jag and his wife are reportedly fine and are still comfortably in India.

• Donna is working hard at Granville Gardens, helping in many  capacities there.

• Teddie is home from the hospital, having recovered from a gallbladder attack.  She was well taken care of at VGH and is happy to be home.  She sends greetings to everyone

• Lawrie called and is as cheerful as ever.  He zoomed with us at our recent trial of the system.

1. Suspend all in person regular weekly and club committee meetings. Until regulatory orders and advisories permit, Rotary clubs should not be organizing any in person gatherings.  Unfortunately, this will also have to apply to all community events that you have planned.
2. Look for means to conduct your weekly Rotary and club committee meetings using on line formats such as “Zoom” or other platforms such as GoTo Meetings.
3. The default starting position is that Rotarians should stay at home until permitted by regulatory authorities.

1. The default starting position: say no to a community service project unless it is absolutely clear that all regulatory orders and advisories intended to protect service providers are in place.  
2. When informing the club membership of a community service project opportunity that has been determined to be acceptable, there has to be complete transparency in the description of what any volunteers would be expected to do and how they would be protected.
3. There can be absolutely no implied pressure on or expectation that club members should volunteer.

1. COVID 19 and the Meeting Schedule: it has been decided that the Club will suspend meetings until April 17 10.  
2. On April 17 10, unless further health issues arise, we will hold a special meeting at Season’s in the Park for the initiation ceremony of Jean Gardner and Ron Fulton. We apologise to them for this delay but it seems reasonable.  We would prefer that the induction be a joyful event.
3. The Arbutus Club Renovations are scheduled to complete on or about April 01. 
4. The survey of members about the location for our regularly scheduled meetings has shown 14 “votes” (out of 16 for returned) in favor of the Arbutus Club for regular meetings in the future. We have been at this private members’ Club for our meetings for 43 years and the tradition is strong. 
5. Club members Shail Mahanti, Lexie Martin, Sam Wong and President Lydia will meet with Arbutus Management in early April, if conditions allow, to discuss our return there on a permanent basis, based on 3 meetings per month. 
6. Further information will be provided as conditions change.

• Fort Saint John,
• Langley-Central,
• Burnaby Hastings: president 1988-89
• Vancouver Quadra: charter president 1992-93, president 2005-06
• District membership chair 2007-10
• Assistant District Governor 2008-10
• District Governor 2011-12 

Please note change of venue for February 21^st & 24^th.  

February 21: 12:14 pm 
     Our regular meeting time but at Granville Gardens - not at Amica Arbutus Manor.   

February 24: 7:00 pm Fireside and Social 
     Wear a hat and bring finger food to share.

On Friday, Feb 07 our meeting will be held at the “Springs at Langara” Condo Leisure Centre.  It is located between Columbia and Manitoba  on Rockpool Dr. 

Directions: travel south on Cambie and then go east on 59^th Ave.  Continue past Winonoa Park and some construction until you get to Rockpool Dr. The Leisure centre is about 200 yards down Rockpool on your left.  The Centre is pale Blue. There is additional parking on 59^th.  

Someone will be at the door to greet you and give you access. 

Our meeting will start at 12:14 as usual and the board meeting will take place after the members’ meeting.  

There is no meeting on February 14 and we expect to be back at Amica for the meeting on February 21. 

The Arbutus Club had a full house of members as well as many guests to the January 24^thmeeting.  They came to welcome our newest member Madhu Toshniwal and to participate in her induction.

Guests included District Governor Bala Naidoo, Assistant District Governor John Bathurst, President Karen from the Yaletown Club, President Bridget from the Ladner Club and Jayne Dewar from Rotary Revelstoke.  Happily, our two incoming members, Jeff and Debra were also there to see their first member induction ceremony.

DG Bala Naidoo and Membership Chair Hans Doge did the honours providing some wise words about the importance of new members and the energy they bring.  There were pins and certificates, T-shirts and hugs.  And after the induction, Madhu graciously circled the room, and every person in it gave a personal handshake and words of encouragement.  She spoke of her long association with Rotary which began when she was only 5 years old.  Her whole extended family were Rotarians.

• Two pieces of identification, one of which should be a photo id.
• A Volunteer Confirmation Letter (Download Sample) from your Club identifying you as a volunteer.  This letter should waive the fee.(please note that waiving of the fee is at the discretion of the municipality and is not a decision of the police).

Members’ semi-annual Dues are payable this month.  For those who have not yet paid, please get in touch with Lana.

January is Vocational Service Month in which Rotarians focus on “The worthiness of all useful work and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society.”  It is a reminder that we carry our Rotary values everywhere.

Note that guests of Rotarians and new or prospective members may register for single day attendance at the district conference being held in Vancouver from April 24-26.  It is a great way to meet active Rotarians and learn more about the organization.

Those wishing to register for The “Year Ahead” seminar please let Dianna Know.  The seminar date is March 14^th.

The Club discussed and passed an updated set of bylaws at the meeting of January 03.