Vancouverites have waved more than our fair share of flags over the past couple of weeks.

John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, (the group that trademarked the phrase “With glowing hearts”) suggested he was stunned at the level of patriotic outpouring that has emerged, to the point he believes it will alter the way Canadians behave.

“I think people are being left behind with something very powerful and human and uplifting and I hope that people will look back and say the people of this country took this to a different place. This is all new for us, but it is a pretty cool kind of patriotism that’s going on.”

How’s it worked for you? Has hosting the Olympics changed your perception of Canada, Canadians, and the value of patriotism? 

Do you think that our culture is best represented by Montréaler Nikki Yanofsky’s version of the CTV Olympic Anthem I Believe, or by the Vancouver Sun’s choice for peoples’ anthem (actually the theme song for the FIFA 2010 World Cup) Wavin’ Flag by Somali Canadian performer K’naan?

To see Nikki Yanofsky performing I Believe go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmURDjt7Ex8&NR=1

To see K’naan performing Wavin’ Flag go to:
http://knaanmusic.ning.com/video/waving-flag-by-knaan?xg_source=activity

Or are we just too culturally complex to be represented by a song or changed by one event? After all, according to Molson, we are Canadian - as they define Canadian.
 
“Hey
I’m not a lumber jack or a fur trader.
And I don’t live in an igloo, or eat blubber, or own a dog sled.
And I don’t know Jimmy, Harry or Suzie from Canada.
Although I’m sure they’re really, really nice.
I have a prime minister not a president.
I speak English and French not American.
And I pronounce it about not “a-boot”.
I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack.
I believe in peacekeeping not policing, diversity not assimilation.
And that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch.
And it is pronounced “zed” not “zee” “zed”!
Canada is the 2nd largest landmass, the 1st nation in hockey.
And the best part of North America.
My name is Joe and I am Canadian.”

I look forward to hearing your thoughts about what Canadians are on March 4.

Questions to keep in mind for the meeting:

What is the most difficult thing about male/female communication?

What is the best thing about male/female communication?

What is your best piece of advice for good male/female communication?

January 31, 2010

Intrepid NightVisioners storm Mount Seymour before the Olympic rush

‘Thinking out of the box’ is not as easy to do as it is easy to say. Therefore, let’s take one step at a time.

This week, we will have a reversed meeting. After the meeting is called to order by the Sergeant at Arms, the Toastmaster will be introduced to ‘conclude’ the meeting. The reversed meeting format proceeds as outlined below:

- The meeting sequence will be completely reversed. The greatest reversal is that evaluators evaluate before speakers speak.
- Evaluators will give 1-2 positive comments for what the speaker “will be doing” well and 1 suggestion for what the speaker “will be doing” differently.
- Speakers who have been pre-evaluated will have to take notes for what they are supposed to do well when they speak, and act on that one suggestion or challenge their evaluators have given them.

This meeting format is as interesting as it is challenging. I look forward to hearing from you all there.

 Jenny

“The best demonstration of body language and vocal variety, I have ever seen” Jenny Qian

In an earlier meeting at the end of 2009, we spoke about beer, wine, and spirits. This Thursday we’ll talk about coffee, tea, and cola.

Although coffee originated in the Arab world, it stoked revolutionary thought in Europe during the Age of Reason, when coffeehouses became centers of intellectual exchange. And thousands of years after the Chinese began drinking tea it became especially popular in Britain, with far-reaching effects on British foreign policy. Finally, although carbonated drinks were invented in 18th-century Europe they became a 20th-century phenomenon, and Coca-Cola in particular is the leading
symbol of globalization.

As you can tell, each drink is a kind of technology, a catalyst for changing culture by which one can demonstrate the intricate interplay of different civilizations. After Thursday’s meeting, you may never look at your favorite drink the same way again.

You will also have the chance to enjoy one of the most amazing types of tea at our meeting.

乾杯! [干杯!] (gān bēi)

Ying

In the movies, “2010″ was the sequel to “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and the year that a joint American-Soviet space mission travels to Jupiter, to examine the growing number of black monoliths in orbit around it.

On the news, “2010″ is the year of the 21st Olympic Winter Games, and the year “the world is coming to Vancouver”.

And now for each of us, “2010″ is a brand new year, and a brand new decade.

Which leads me to ask you one question…  “Got plans?”

For your intros, let me know:  What do you think the year will bring?  What do you want to achieve over the next 12 months?  When you look back at 2010 many years from now, what do you think you’ll remember as the highlight?

Cheers,
Peter

President - Peter
VP Education - Sinisa
VP Membership - Sharon
VP Public Relations - Jenny
Treasurer - Robby
Secretary - Garrett
Sergeant at Arms - Ieda
Past President - Carmen

Webmaster - Joachim

So close to Christmas, I am picking a merry topic that is dear to all our hearts: Santa Claus.

That said, Santa Claus is not the same for everyone. The Dutch Sint Nicolaas (obviously the real one), arrives on December 5th with his Zwarte Pieten and brings gifts to the good kids and collects the naughty ones to bring them back with him to Spain.

I’d like to invite you to mull over your Santa Claus experiences, and share them with us. Given our cultural diversity this may turn out to be more interesting than one would think….

Let’s make this an extra festive meeting!

Thanks,
Marian