July 5, 2011

I am excited about the upcoming Rotary Bike-a-thon, a fund raiser to benefit the hearing impaired. Many think that hearing impairment only occurs in one’s senior years. Infectious diseases such as meningitis, measles and mumps, as well as common causes like exposure to excessive noise, head & ear injury and chronic ear infections are some of the causes of hearing impairment. Only a small percentage is actually caused by ageing. The good news is that half of all cases of deafness and hearing impairment are avoidable through prevention, early diagnoses and management.

What really got me passionate about this cause were stories of Janella Milne (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uooglW0sbT8). Profoundly deaf, 10-year old Janelle can only hear with a cochlear implant and is completely dependent on it for communication. With the newly upgraded processor tucked behind her ear, Janella can play sports and participate in everyday activities without having to worry about cords, wires or a large machine getting in her way. It is also waterproof so she can wear it in the rain, run through sprinklers, take a bath – all without worrying about damaging the new implant. The implant has really changed the way she experiences the world.

If you would like to make a difference to someone’s life, join our team, ‘Go Dog Go’, and be a part of this fantastic cause. Last year we had two riders on our team who met on the ride and got married this year. Congratulations to Judith and Larry! For more details on how to participate: www.rotaryvancouver.org/BikeAThon.

Make a difference this summer and enjoy the time with your friends and family. Here’s to a fantastic summer before it disappears!

Sincerely,

Mindy

P.S.

Be sure to check our Facebook page for our contests where you can win fantastic gifts.

Five Ways to Have a Memorable Summer

Summer is a great time to relax and enjoy new experiences. Take some time off for yourself and make this summer one of your more memorable ones.

1) Host a neighborhood yard sale: Need to get rid of things that you don’t need any more? Perhaps your neighbors need to do so as well. Organize a joint garage sale with one or more neighbors. You can make some money from stuff you don’t need any more while having lots of fun!

2) Get cooking: Whether you’re a nervous beginner or an experienced cook wanting to expand your repertoire, there’ll be the right cooking class for you. Some classes focus on certain cuisines or cooking techniques, while others center on topics like desserts or holidays. Learn to cook and wow your family and friends.

3) Learn a new language: Fire up those neurons! Sign up for a class at the community center, get yourself one of those interactive CDs, or make friends with that Italian guy who just moved in downstairs. A whole new world will open up to you.

4) Get some retail therapy: Studies have shown that folks who spend on their friends are happier than those who don’t. So if you have the means, go ahead and spoil your friends. For some of us, bargain hunting often produces a thrill greater than earning a promotion at work, or even eating chocolate. So go ahead and stimulate the local economy with some retail therapy!

5) Get into shape: There is no big secret method about getting into shape. Despite what those TV infomercials tell us, there really is no magic pill to get us thin quickly and easily. Exercise regularly, eat healthy, cut down your salt intake and drink lots of water. Be patient; you will see results and feel better in no time.

You’ve worked hard all year so give yourself a break this summer. Take a breather to smell the roses; pick up a new skill or hobby; enjoy the company of your friends. Just be!