Walking Club 26 Mar

We walked down to Powell street from the centre and caught the No. 4 bus to UBC. We had our lunch and walked around the UBC campus.
There were 7 persons,  Linda, Jean, Marilyn, Ken, Elsa , Susan, Odette.
walked lead by Marilyn

Hi everyone!
How do you know it's time to welcome Spring?
It's bike time!~

Yup, time to drag those bikes out from behind the clutter, out from the dust and dirt and time to start ridin'! Ok, if you've been riding all season long, excellent! :)
Our 2nd series of workshops "Workshops for Volunteers by Volunteers" starts this April!
You voted and we provided! Our first bicycle maintenance workshop takes place on:
APRIL 10, SUNDAY from 1-3pm at Britannia, Rink Mezzanine Room
Registration Deadline: April 8, 2011 4pm
 or first 10 registrants, whichever comes first! :)

Topics covered will include:
Overall inspection
Safety & security
Wheels and tires
Fit and comfort
Brakes
Steering
Chain and gears
Please bring your own bicycles to work on as this will be a good learning and fixing opportunity for you to get your bicycles in shape and ready for the road!
Minor adjustments and repairs will be conducted. Bicycle replacement parts and supplies can be purchased from our instructor (bicycle guru and mechanic, Erik, from VanCycle Mobile Bicycle Shop) on-site so please bring your money! :)
Please note that because this workshop only has spots open for 10 individuals and 10 bicycles, we will take the first 10 people who respond by email with:
Your full name, contact number and email address.
The workshop is FREE for active BRIT VOLUNTEERS and a minimal fee of $10/person* will be charged for anyone who wants to come (accompanied by a Brit volunteer) who would like to attend the workshop. E.g. Brit volunteer's friend or family member. These workshops can generally run from $50-80 per session, so grab this amazing learning opportunity while you can!
*The fee for guests does not include bicycle parts and supplies.
For more information about this workshop or to suggest others in the future, please email me directly.
Thanks!
Charlene Wee, CAVR
Coordinator, Volunteer Program
Britannia Community Services Centre
1661 Napier St. Vancouver BC V5L 4X4
T: 604-718-5860 F: 604-718-5858
E: charlene.wee@vancouver.ca
www.britanniacentre.org

Crime ALert

VPD Crime Alert
TELEPHONE FRAUD TARGETING SENIOR CITIZENS

The Vancouver Police are reminding local seniors of a phone scam that prompted a public warning early last year after an elderly woman was defrauded of $10,000. While the number of cases have been drastically reduced since then, education about the scam and how it’s perpetrated is critical in reducing the numbers even more.

In all cases, the elderly victim is contacted by telephone. The suspect engages the person in a conversation, pretending to be a relative—often a “favourite grandchild”—needing money to get out of jail or, having been in an accident, needing to pay for damages of some kind. The senior is then emotionally pressured into sending $5,000 - $10,000 through a wire transfer to another location, often another city. The scammer often pleads with the grandparent not to tell anyone else and promises to repay the money as soon as they return home. Scammers may also involve other techniques such as having another scammer pose as a lawyer to add credibility to their stories.

Investigators believe that this scam is being operated by a group in Eastern Canada and the suspects may be obtaining personal information through Internet searches before calling.

This type of fraud is particularly disturbing as many seniors are on fixed incomes and are left financially crippled.

Prevention Tips:

Be cautious when giving out personal information over the phone;
Call a family member who can help you verify information, even if time seems to be of the essence;
If the "grandchild" claims to be in jail, find out which jail it is and verify the information with that jail;
Ask for a phone number to call the person back;
Be wary of a request to send money via money transfer.
Talk to elderly relatives about telephone scams and how they can protect themselves;
Report suspicious circumstances to your local police and PhoneBusters at www.phonebusters.com.
If you believe you, or someone you know, have been victimized by a scam like the one described above, contact your local police department.


Crime Alert Tip

Did you know that you can report some Vancouver crimes via the Internet? Visit https://vancouver.ca/citizenreport_wa/.

About growing older

Walk with me by the water, worth the read...

A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE ABOUT GROWING OLDER:

Darn it
I forgot the words....

Walking Group 19 Mar

On March 19 we took the #20 bus to Richards/Dunsmuir and walked up to Granville/Georgia to see the Celtic Festival which was on Granville from Georgia to Smithe.  March 19 & 20 were the dates for the Celtic Village and Street Market, centrally relocated back on Granville Street, downtown. There’s Celtic concerts, dance, storytelling, Celtic swordplay, Gaelic Football, Celtic Market & more
 http://www.celticfestvancouver.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VJ9XMKIsw2o#at=11
There was 7 persons ( Linda, Susan, Julianna , Elsa, Jean, Marilyn, Ken)

walked lead by Marilyn

Hi Britannia Volunteers

Hi Britannia Volunteers!*


You are a valued member at Britannia and we want to know what you think!

As we launch our 2nd workshop of our "Workshops for Volunteers" series, we hope you'll take the time to let us know what types of workshops would be of interest to you!

We aim to make these workshops either FREE or discounted for active Brit Volunteers!

Some of you might remember our recent Taiko Drumming workshop offered in February by local musicians, Leslie Komori and Eileen Kage!

Volunteers that attended said it was "fun and engaging…".

Your feedback is important as it assists with our planning so we can bring workshops that make a difference to you!
You volunteer throughout the year at Britannia and our program continues to grow with your help!

Please take a minute (yes, that's all it takes!) to give us opinion by taking the very short survey located at this link:

http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/britbicycleworkshops/  

Thanks!
Have a wonderful March weekend!

Charlene Wee, CAVR
Coordinator, Volunteer Program
Britannia Community Services Centre
1661 Napier St. Vancouver BC V5L 4X4
T: 604-718-5860 F: 604-718-5858
E: charlene.wee@vancouver.ca
http://www.britanniacentre.org/  (see our website for information and to download an application form)
  .
The 2011 Green Zebra coupon book for sustainable living choices is now available for sale. $20 each -50% of sale proceeds go to the Grandview Woodland Food Connection

St Patrick Luncheon CANCELLED

Where: Al Mattison

Time: 12:30

 $7.50
Reservation required

joined the 55+ & celebrate

In Memory of Tyron

Mr Tyron Dziurznski  01 Dec 1930 - 08 Mar 2011  (79)
Lion's Den has lost one of their residents this week.  He will be missed by all.  He was a resident for the last 10 years or so.
Tyron took some getting used to until you got to know him.  He was loud, abrasive but that was his way, self defensive.  He had a heart of gold & was an old softie once you got to know him.  He was an intelligent man in lot of things.
One lady told me at her on birthday he was generous. 
He was into numerology and would do you a reading.
When he able to he loved to play carpet bowling on Tuesday morning and harass his friends.
So please take the time raise your glass to Tyron not Tyrone, he made sure you said his name properly, lol.
Now I found out he was registered as Ted Dziurznski in the Lion's books.
So Tyron make sure St Peter gets it right at the gate when you arrive ;o)

Walking Group 05 March

On Mar 5 we took the #20 bus to Richards/Hastings and walked down to Canada Place to see this below. Just one of many. It was incredible and for a good cause.
http://canstructionvancouver.com/

Canstruction is a creative recycling project that really does have a purpose. Not only does the charity create astonishing works of art, but also, more importantly, it is a global anti-hunger initiative. The concept is simple: Build a structure of your choice from cans of food, wait for a winner to be chosen from all the entries, exhibit the structures to the public for a week, then donate the food to local food banks. Simple? Yes, and very successful as well.

We had a free coffee at McDonald's in the Waterfront food fair and then walked to sea bus and went to Lonsdale Quay.

We walked to park near the Quay and walked a North shore historical trail (Kayacth) It was very peaceful and enjoyable walk.

there were 7 ( Linda, Ken, Susan, Julianna, Marisa, Jean, Marilyn)

walk lead by Marilyn

Get your volunteering shoes ready because READY, SET, GO! We’re on our way!

April and May are months filled with volunteering opportunities at Britannia. From giving the precious gift of blood to those in need to outdoor events like a community clean-up and painting etc. there’s chances galore to get out there and have fun with lots of amazing people!

Don’t wait, be that special someone and make a difference now!

In May, we will also be having 2 outdoor events with more than 150 volunteers! You don’t want to miss this… Stay tuned for more info on these upcoming exciting opportunities!

1 in 2 Canadians will need blood in their lifetime

Roll up your sleeves to donate blood during

Britannia Community Centre's blood donor clinic!

Thursday April 7th, 2011

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Britannia Community Centre

Gym D

Please call 1.888.2DONATE (1.888.236.6283)

to make an appointment to donate

Community Clean-Up

Saturday, April 30th - 9:00 am to Noon

Be part of the Keep Vancouver Spectacular 2011 kick-off!

Come join volunteers from the Grandview-Woodland Community Policing Centre and the Britannia Community Services Centre who will conduct a neighbourhood litter clean up on

Saturday April 30th.

There’ll be breakfast, door prizes, entertainment and you’ll get a chance to meet Mayor Gregor Robertson! Help tidy our streets and other public spaces and keep our community spaces clean.

Registration takes place at:

Britannia Community Centre

Canuck Family Room, 1655 William Street

Breakfast 9:00 to 10:00 AM

Community Clean Up: 10:00 to Noon

For more information and to sign up to volunteer, please call Cathy at:

Grandview-Woodland CPC 604 717-2932 or cathycpc@shaw.ca

Pre-registration is encouraged if you intend to be there for breakfast so as to allow for accurate amounts of food to be catered. Thank you.

Please contact the individuals listed below to be involved in these two April events.
Warmly,
Charlene Wee, CAVR
Coordinator, Volunteer Program