Sunrise bulletin for the week of December 4, 2013
On a chilly December morning, 13 Sunrise members were at the Coast Coal Harbour for breakfast today, along with guests Josh Green and Iozsef Miskolczi. Sadly, Larry Belsito was not among this morning's attendees, as Tania had a bad fall during the night and is in hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Rotary moment
John Haley outlined the 6 areas of focus for the international work of The Rotary Foundation. They are peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, economic and community development.
Club news
No breakfast meeting next Wednesday, December 11. Instead, we'll see everyone at the club Christmas party this Saturday. Today's the last day to RSVP to Abigail.
Matthew Lynam has everything lined up for the Seniors' event on December 15 (see details below). Some Rotarians will be needed at 9:30 that day to help set up. The rest of us should arrive by 10:30 and the high school students begin singing at 11 o'clock.
President Ann-Shirley Goodell reported that she has been in touch with the Rotary Club of Zaphorizhia, Ukraine, which our club co-sponsored as a new club a few years ago. They are doing well, in spite of the political struggles going on in that country. Their club's service projects are aimed at helping children, especially their current Coats for Kids campaign.
Today's program
Vera Sun works for a Chinese-language TV company and volunteers to help promote the Shen Yun performances of traditional Chinese music and dance. This colourful show will be coming to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on January 23-25 and will showcase the "Renaissance of Traditional Chinese Culture."
The 5,000 years of Chinese culture date from 2698 BC and the rule of the Yellow Emperor who emphasized the cultivation of moral practices. Taoism (returning to one's true nature and following the course of heaven), Confusianism (with its 5 cardinal values) and Buddhism (emphasizing meditation) were all part of this tradition as it developed in China.
In 1949, everything changed with the rise of the Communist government which stressed materialism and suppressed traditional religions and culture, even destroying many cultural sites and traditional antiques during Mao's Cultural Revolution. In 1992 an organization known as Falun Gong started reconnecting some Chinese people to their traditions by teaching Chi-gong and its health-improving group exercises.
Shen Yun began in New York in 2006 as a performing arts company dedicated to reviving the traditional Chinese arts and culture. Its spectacular show of music and dance now travels to many cities in North America, including Vancouver. More information at www.shenyunperformingarts.org/vancouver.
Our next meeting, on December 18, will feature Luisa Godoy, our Exchange Student, who will share some photos and stories about Brazil, her home country. Also that day will be the Annual General Meeting and election of Officers and Directors for 2014-2015. Be there or you might be elected in absentia.
Rob