Vancouver business network marks anniversary with Feb. 24 fund-raiser

By Toshio Suzuki

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The Jewish Business Network in Vancouver is fast approaching a first birthday and its participants have organized a Feb. 24 fund-raising event to celebrate.
Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg of Chabad of Clark County said the JBN was founded for the improvement of community life.
"The idea was that people like to get together and do something good," he said. "The goal is tikkun olam."
Not all business professionals consider it their responsibility to heal the world but in Vancouver, the opportunity has presented itself for those interested.
Every month since January, business professionals meet near Fort Vancouver for a power breakfast at 7:30 a.m. JBN member Norman Barnett said the gatherings include budgetary chitchat and the assignment of responsibilities, but is really an opportunity to assess the needs of the Jewish community.

"The purpose of the JBN is to facilitate and encourage a Jewish community in the Vancouver area," said Barnett.
"Rabbi Greenberg has been extremely successful in attracting support from Jews who live elsewhere, including members of Kol Ami, Shaarie Torah, Neveh Shalom," said Barnett.
JBN members are quick to point out that it is open for participation from all Vancouver business people, not just the Jewish ones. Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard attended a JBN meeting and so have local tourist officials and representatives of Congressman Brian Baird, said Barnett.
"I think (JBN) could make a huge difference," said member Deborah Both-Chedester. "It's really exciting to see the JBN grow as large as the synagogue."
"Vancouver is not a small community," said
Both-Chedester, adding that the population in Clark County is about 160,000 residents.
Three years ago, Greenberg moved to Vancouver with his family, intent on creating a more stable and visible Jewish existence in the burgeoning area. With its Feb. 24 fund-raiser at the Vancouver Hilton, the JBN is helping make that happen. The auction will feature entertainment and countless goods or services for bidding, including children's art from an orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine, where Greenberg once lived and studied.
The JBN does provide a chance for inter-business mingling but more often, according to Barnett, the meetings are about things like summer camps for kids, meals for Passover and warm winter clothes.
For more information about the JBN or its fund-raiser, visit www.chabadclarkcounty.com.