Category Archives: Vancouver

Shebeen Club Jump Start Tuesday, May 27

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Whee! We're back!

Whee! We’re back!

That’s right, we’re back, bitches! For ONE NIGHT ONLY, the Shebeen Club returns to the back corner of the Shebeen at 7pm Tuesday, May 27 for drinks and eats and catching up on what we’ve all been doing in the what, six? eight? months since last we met.

Heading into our ninth year of existence, I’m sure we have a lot to share and boast and bitch about. I, personally, have some SOOPER EXCITING news that I am saving for the night. There’s no point emailing and asking; I won’t tell you. You gots to put your butt in a chair at the actual event.

Here’s the Facebook post.

It’s high time we Shebeened again! I hereby invite you and your literary homies to the May 2014 meeting of the Shebeen Club, one of Vancouver’s longest-lived literary gatherings. Bring your latest work, your attitude, and your ravenous thirst (for knowledge, of course!) to the Shebeen at 7pm on Tuesday, May 27.

Who knows, you might end up reading some lovely poetry, like Rik Mayall here and his highly supportive audience!

Workshop: Write So Your Soul Smiles by Melba Burns

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Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you

Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you

Melba Burns has been a leader among writing teachers in the Lower Mainland for many years, so we’re very happy to feature her new writing workshop announcement. And no, we’re not getting paid for this!

Hello, and Happy Spring,
It’s been 5 months since I offered a writing workshop, but because it’s a time of renewal and rejuvenation, I decided to create one on the weekend of May 3rd and 4th. It’s also because I will have my book in paperback by then, and because I have also been reading another fabulous book (check out the flyer). And I realized that I love doing these workshops, and I so enjoy everyone who attends.
So, there you have it!
Me again — 5 months later.
There is a discount of $30 off the workshop if paid by next Wed, April 16th. This also includes a FREE copy of my book, Write a Journal So Your Soul Smiles.  Check the flyer for times, etc.
Please let me know as soon as you can because space is limited in my home. It will be a wonderful workshop and I’m excited about doing this one — it’s brand new.
I hope you are doing well, and smiling even more with our beautiful weather.
May I hear from you soon…
Sincerely,
Melba
You can contact Melba and register at soulwrites @ telus . com

 

Job: External Communications Specialist at VanCity

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Vancity. Make GOOD money.

Vancity. Make GOOD money.

Found this on LinkedIn, I think. Anyway, if I were sticking around I might apply for it but as I’m going to be traveling for the next year or so, it’s all yours. May the best External Communications Specialist win!

Job Details

Requisition Number 13-1251
Post Date 10/17/2013
Close Date 11/1/2013
Title External Communications Specialist
Employee Type Contract
Employee Schedule Full-Time
Job Category Communications
City Vancouver
Province BC
Description External Communications Specialist

With exceptional listening and compassion skills, and the ability to translate Vancity’s Good Money™ brand promise to our members, you will have excellent writing skills and a solid understanding of content strategies.  This will be complemented by three years of related experience and a specialized post-secondary diploma or degree in communications or a related field.

The External Communications Specialistreports directly into the Manager Communications (external).

Key areas of accountability for this role are:

  • Research, write, edit, and provide recommendations to publish materials to enable the execution of communications plans.
  • Assist the communications team in creating and maintaining content in internal and external Vancity channels.
  • Plan and coordinate logistics for organization wide events and meetings.
  • Assist in media monitoring, gathering and analyzing data to measure effectiveness of media plan and other communications plans.

Here at Vancity, we have a consistent set of expectations for all employees:

  • Work effectively and with full commitment on the tasks assigned by your manager.
  • Give your manager your best advice.
  • Stay within policy.
Qualifications Competencies:

  • Solid business acumen in the context of the financial industry.
  • Solid analytical skills to review information, detect anomalies, and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
  • Solid problem solving and decision making skills to apply specific standards and guidelines to the work; escalating unresolved issues to senior staff
  • Solid knowledge of the concepts, practices and techniques of the related field.
  • Solid knowledge of Vancity strategies, functions and programs.
  • Solid communication and interpersonal skills to act as a resource for the specialized area, providing specialized advice, guidance, explanations, and related support; and also to participate development of program content.

Education:

The competencies for this position would typically be acquired through a specialized post-secondary diploma in a communications discipline or general undergraduate degree.

Experience:

2 to 3 years related experience.
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We commit to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace and to working with people and communities to help them thrive and prosper. Diversity is integral to this commitment. Our diversity allows us to fully understand, connect to, and respond to the needs of our members and communities.

Sound like a good fit? Put your outstanding skills to use with an organization that promotes work-life-balance, accountability-based leadership and member-led innovation that creates community impact. Apply online today!

Selah.

Shebeen Spirited September Meeting: this THURSDAY!

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Gaze into the Void

Gaze into the Void: image by Zbigniew M. Bielak

Come gaze into the void, or at least a warming glass of whisk(e)y with the scintillating members of the Shebeen Club this Thursday at six o’clock. Where else but the Shebeen? Don’t come early, because they won’t be open. And I PROMISE this time I won’t be two hours late. Jeremy Hammond could break out of MCC and kidnap Sabu on behalf of the Syrian Electronic Army and call me to interview them all live and I will still walk away from the keyboard instead of writing it up, I vow it.

All are welcome to our little literary gathering, and anyone with a freshly-written ghost or noir story will be accorded pride of place.

No cost to attend, pay for what you order, the kitchen is excellent and the bar is stunning. This week we’re in the Irish Heather’s snug instead of the Shebeen due to a double-booking issue.

For the facebook-inclined, there is an event, for easy calendar-addification.

If you’ve published a book, gotten a gig, or any other good news lately, by all means come out and boast. If you’ve got books or CDs, bring some along for signing and selling.

Shebeen Club Reunion Party: Thursday, August 22

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Typical Shebeen scene

Typical Shebeen scene

We’re BACK, BITCHES!

That’s right, Vangroover’s classiest literary gathering returns for One Night Only. Or will commit to One Night Only. You know how that goes.

This upcoming Thursday, August 22nd at 6pm, let’s meet up in the Shebeen and talk about old times and new times and, as ever, bitch about getting paid on time. If you’ve published a book since the last time we got together, bring some and we’ll let you show off. If you’ve gotten a new writing/editing/publishing gig since we last met, boast and we will applaud you.  If you’ve created an entire spoken word opera based on the Kardashians, please, in the name of Wagner, keep it to yourself.

Who’s welcome? Everyone except hostile drunks. If you’ve never been to the Shebeen Club before, well, it’s a group for practicing literati, whether they’re making a living at it or not. Writers, editors, publishers, book illustrators, printers, journalists, bloggers, poets, and not a few reprobates. They add a certain style to the mix.

Dress code: Dress writerly. Nobody knows what that means so you can’t get it wrong!

Pay for what you order, and don’t forget to tip nicely. We don’t want them getting annoyed with us after eight years, do we?

For the Facebook-dependent, the event is listed, and I quite frankly got so excited I blew $50 on Facebook ads. What can I say, it’s been a couple of years since our last get-together, and I lost my head.

Directions: the Shebeen is a “secret” pub, so it’s not going to have a giant neon sign out front. Go to the Irish Heather, 210 Carrall Street at the foot of Gastown in Maple Tree Square almost kitty-corner to Chill Winston. Go into the Irish Heather and straight through and out the back door. Turn right, because if you don’t you will walk smack into a brick wall. The door to the Shebeen is just a little ways on, on your left.

The Menu: no dinner special this time, but the menu is constantly changing and always high-quality. Don’t show up early, because they won’t be open yet!