CELEBRATING ‘A GOOD GUY’
 From previous newsletters, you know that the first Rix Center Engaged Community Citizenship Award went to the Kielburgers and Free the Children. This year the award was given to Jimmy Pattison at the annual Governors’ Banquet. Vancouver Board of Trade chair, Sue Paish, had this to say about Jimmy: “His philanthropic projects aren’t gestures – they’re real projects with real outcomes that positively impact all British Columbians. He’s known as a quiet philanthropist so we can’t give you ‘the big list’ of donations he makes, nor would he want us to do that… but perhaps the reason he is most respected is because of the contributions he’s made throughout his life that are not in the public show case. We all seem to know a ‘good guy’ when we see one.”
Check out The Jimmy Factor, a very cool video that got a lot of buzz.
 BIG AND SMALL GESTURES
At the Governors’ Banquet, Laurie Rix Macrae, chair of the Rix Family Foundation, gave a moving speech about her father Dr. Don Rix. Laurie told a story of how, when her father and mother went out to dinner, they would often see a young couple having a special night out. They remembered when they were young and an evening out would cut into their budget, so the Rix’s would ask the waiter to give the couple’s bill to them without the couple knowing. They felt it was a small gesture that may have made their night even better. It was a great story and if we think about it, we don’t have to be a Don Rix to do that kind of gesture. Next time you are in a restaurant or coffee shop, look around and see if there’s someone sitting there where a gesture like that might make their day. It’s not only the big philanthropic gifts that matter, it’s also the small, anonymous ones. Good lessons from these two good guys, Jimmy and Don.
FIRESIDE CHAT OF THE YEAR
 Is this worth going to? Yes! It will be a very unique event: Carole Taylor talking with Bill Clinton on Thursday, May 20, Carole is a worthy partner on stage. Before her roles in government, Carole was a well-known broadcaster. She has the skills of a journalist, as well as experience in public policy, finance and global issues. Larry King watch out! Let’s face it, Bill Clinton―on his own–is one of the most engaging and brilliant speakers, but this will be one of the must-see events of the year.
Make this an evening. Go with a group of friends and acquaintances. If you were at the ALL ACCESS event, why not see if the people at your table want to go as a group. Organize a dinner before the event; be the connector.
EARN FREE TICKETS TO SEE PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: Do you know someone who should be a member? (Maybe you?) New corporate members who join The Vancouver Board of Trade by April 30, 2010 will receive a complimentary ticket to see President Bill Clinton on May 20. (While tickets last).
And if you refer a new corporate member to us and they join by April 30, we will thank you with a $100 credit to your Board of Trade account. (Refer just two members and you earn enough credits for a ticket to see President Clinton!) Do something nice for a friend or acquaintance who may be thinking about joining The Board. This is the time to do it! These tickets won’t last.
ALL ACCESS™ UPDATE
If you attended the last All Access event, you’ll know that the question Gayle Hallgren-Rezac and Judy Thomson put to the audience was “what is your biggest business challenge?” Lisa Martin of Lisa Martin International and a WLC Advisory Council Member (pictured right with Jill Earthy, executive director of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs) was master of ceremonies at the Terminal City Club. What was interesting about the various business challenges shared was that they weren’t primarily about finding the time (we figured that would be a biggie!), but more about building your brand, establishing what’s unique, and how you define what you do as different from competitors. Roy Osing’s book, Be Different or Be Dead, provides a good place to start. He says, fill in the blank: we are the only ones who ______. This gets you thinking about what is unique about your business. Why would customers choose you, stay with you and tell others about you? To put it another way: what’s your secret sauce?
Finding ways to build your business was another theme and it tied in nicely to the idea of finding a support network. Networking works. Get out there and build your personal brand. Become known. Business is simple: people do business with those they know, trust and like. People recommend people they know, trust and like. As stated in How Remarkable Women Lead, “Whatever the reason, many women do not allocate the time it takes to build professional networks. Let’s be clear: This part is not optional.”
WHAT’S THE NEXT BURNING QUESTION?
The next ALL ACCESS event is Thursday, June 3, and the question is this: “If you had a chance to have one ‘re-do’ in your life, what would it be?” Was there a crossroad in your life and would you have chosen the other path? Was there an opportunity missed, that now you would have said, “Heck, yes!” Was there a relationship you would like a “re-do” – okay, now it’s getting exciting. Remember, you get to share your ideas in a friendly pond. Think about it like Las Vegas: what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas…
THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH
Research by Accenture shows that men make networking a higher priority than women, and McKinsey’s research finds that a typical male executive has a network many times the size of a woman’s at the same level. What to do about this inequity? If you are a male leader, then you know there’s an opportunity to mentor women in your organization and create a ‘permission to network’ ethos. And, if you are a woman, this is a heads-up. Are you at your desk doing stuff that needs to get done while men are out connecting with their network? Give yourself permission! To keep networking top of mind, sign up for a free weekly Positive Networking® tip, written by Darcy Rezac, Judy Thomson and Gayle Hallgren-Rezac. To find out more about the research go to www.shepablog.com.
MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT, YES!
 The BC Government’s Workplace Training for Innovation Program for small organizations and not-for-profits was launched in November 2009, but it seems not too many people know about it. The application form is simple (yes, really!), it is processed quickly, typically within a week or so and you receive the funds in advance of the training you want your employees to attend. $15 million in funding is available and only $1 million has been spent to date so we strongly encourage you to see if your employees can benefit from this terrific program.
It is designed to provide eligible employers with funding for employee training in order to:
- Improve productivity;
- Support the introduction of new technology, machinery/equipment or work processes;
- Enhance international competitiveness;
- Introduce innovative training and workplace strategies to increase the long-term competiveness of the organization and its workforce.
The program offers up to $1,500 per employee to a maximum of $5,000 per employer. The beauty is that multiple organizations can pool their funding and share the cost of a training program that might be cost restrictive if they were to do it on their own. (The FAQ section provides more details.)
Eligible employers must be:
- Small organizations (less than 50 employees)
- In good standing with the BC Corporate Registry
- In existence for one year or more
Complete eligibility criteria is contained in the application form and program guidelines. You have until January, 2011 to apply but why wait? Go to: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/workplace_training_program/welcome.htm
BE ALERT TO CRIME
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has launched a Crime Alert Service which sends an email to your account to keep you up-to-date on crime in your neighbourhood. Made possible through the generous assistance of the Vancouver Police Foundation, registration is free and no personal information other than your email is required. If you are wondering if you should do this, here’s a success story from their website:
The VPD sent out its first Crime Alert on January 29, 2010. One of the Alerts was for a break and enter problem to businesses on Denman Street. The break-ins were occurring during the night and residents were asked to keep a sharp eye out for suspicious activity both on the ground and on roof tops. Three days later a resident who had just read his crime alert, got up in the early morning hours for a glass of water. He later told investigators that he was being extra vigilant because he knew that break-ins had been happening in the area. He looked out his window, and immediately saw a suspicious person committing what he thought was a break-and-enter to a business. He called 9-1-1. Police responded and arrested a suspect a short distance away who has since been charged.
Please invite your neighbours and fellow Vancouverites to sign up at: https://www.vpdcrimealerts.ca/
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Vision without execution is hallucination.” Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Health & Wellness Centre
YOUR FEEDBACK
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments, ideas for this newsletter, for speakers, for content to: info@wlcircle.com
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