Another beautiful, perfect day in Vancouver! We had to finish today's Rotary meeting early so everyone could go to the beach. Don't we wish!

President Ann-Shirley Goodell, just back from 10 days with the grandkids in California and needing a rest, welcomed 15 members this morning, plus Iain Campbell, a visiting Rotarian from Philadelphia, and frequent-guest Steve McGrandle. Surprisingly, perhaps, our two biggest travellers (that would be Sonya Orr and Cam Scott) were both in town today. No wonder the airlines are having trouble making a profit.

Rotary moment

 Ann-Shirley reminded everyone to volunteer for the committee(s) you'd like to be on, or else...  Do it this week if you want to avoid being assigned to your least-favourite.

Club news

Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) will be offering a day of information and training on September 28 in Burnaby. A good idea for newer members. More info at www.rotary5040.org.

Our Youth Exchange students are coming and going. Georgina Hargreaves flew to Sweden last weekend and commented on how many people she met en route who struck up conversations with her when they saw her Rotary blazer. Luisa Fiori de Godoy will arrive in Vancouver next Thursday from Brazil. 

Rotary Day at the Races is planned for September 8 but sign-ups have been slow. Unless Julie Mantle hears from you this week, she may have to cancel.

News, rumours and lies about our members

Larry Belsito is just back from his hometown, Sault Ste. Marie, where he attended his brother's wedding. Ann-Shirley and Rob are just back from Lake Tahoe where the swimming, kayaking and water-skiing were great, except during a very dramatic thunder-and-lightning storm.

All those who were missing in action today -- John Haley, Abigail Turner, Matthew Lynam, Carlos Obregon, and several others -- were reported to be at some beach somewhere sipping from glasses with little paper umbrellas. At breakfast time!

Just look at the upcoming travel plans: Lawrence Bicknell goes to England, Diana Theman will go to some obscure place north of Clayquot Sound and then to Nova Scotia, Cam will soon be off to Zambia on a copper-mining excursion. Work, he says. Sure.

Today's program

Our speaker this morning was Wendy Terriff and her talk was entitled "Step Into Power and Activate Your Wisdom." After 30 years as a teacher, she now calls herself a dream coach, working primarily with women in transition, especially Baby Boomers who face mid-life challenges. Wendy claims that humans are programmed to be caregivers, as our DNA gives us a need to be of service to others. She commented on how neatly our "Service Above Self" motto fits this concept.

But, Wendy observes, our ability to be of service is often compromised by our inability to empower ourselves, which needs to be addressed first. She talked about "power drains" such as our fears and excuses, which can get in the way and cause us to be "stuck in a rut." She spoke of "power blockers" which can be our tendency to blame others or fall into abuse of alcohol, gambling or other addictions, instead of facing the problems and/or getting expert help. Finally, she urges people to tap what she calls "intrinsic power sources" for the power that comes from gratitude, forgiveness and choice.

Wendy closed with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, who said we need to "remake ourselves."