Meet the TQ Spirit Team

Phoenix Hawkins – General Manager

Phoenix is the General Manager of the TQSpirit and has been managing all the behind the scenes business since it started in 2008. Whether it is accounting, schedules, special events, new technologies, helping with setting up, tearing down, student relations and administration, or end-of-year party plans, Phoenix helps to get all the jobs done so that it is as seamless as possible for all our students. 

Louise Wunderlich – TQ Spirit Administration Manager

After starting her study and practice of Tai Chi and Qigong at the North Shore Neighbourhood House, Louise Wunderlich volunteered her administrative and organizational skills to help Instructors Josie Loehrich and (the late) Lynne Cove manage their classes at this location. Louise went on to also assist at Highlands United Church in a similar capacity.

When Covid hit, and since, Louise’s responsibilities expanded to the job of Organizational Assistant for both Zoom and In-Person classes at all locations. Louise has become an invaluable part of North Shore Tai Chi Spirit’s weekly, year-round internal and external operations.

Louise has become a keen practitioner of Tai Chi and Qigong believing this practice improves health, physical balance, flexibility and strength, happiness, and longevity. Her love of Tai Chi and Qigong has led her to be an occasional substitute instructor, conducting group and private training when needed, as well as administrating registrations and attendance and being one of the key organizers of special events.

VOLUNTEERS OF THE TQ SPIRIT

This organization is thriving because of its Student Members and the dedication they put into coming to class each week. As a result, we have remained a thriving community despite the challenges that Covid brought in 2020.

Many of the students participate with TQSpirit in a variety of other ways throughout the year. Their assistance makes these classes possible. Many help us set-up and take-down the equipment that is required for our Zoom and In-Person classes. The help of our Student Volunteers has allowed us to come together in the safest way possible. Thanks to all who participated in making it happen every week.

TQSpirit helps to also raise awareness for a number of non-profit organizations. As a result, many of our students provide their great spirit, expertise and help by volunteering their time and energy to a variety of Charities, including the Saturday Lunch Program and the Shelter to Home Organization. 

ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS

Every TQ Spirit class requires the assistance of many to make it happen. We have volunteers to help load-in and loud-out our audio-visual-computer equipment. We have volunteers to help set up tables and chairs when and where required. Volunteers take attendance for us.

In particular, I would like to thank the following Volunteer Leaders at each of these locations:

At Lions Bay Community Hall:

Founding Organizational Leaders of the LBSSC: Pippa and John Phillips and Carole Conlin and Louis Peterson, and Tony Cox. They have been overseeing the community classes out at Lions Bay since its inception in 2016! Each and every week Pippa, John and Carole arrive to meet and greet the students, handle all the administrative work, and, most importantly, pour the (free) tea for those who love to come early to chit chat and catch up. There are also a number of students who help with putting away the tables, chairs, wash up the tea cups, and assist the Instructor when it comes to demonstrating tai chi moves. It is a true community coming together, since 2016.

At North Lonsdale United Church in Upper Lonsdale:

Organizational Assistant: Laurel Whatley. Laurel doesn’t just help with all the administrative duties of the NLUC group. Laurel is there to help out every step of the way, and in every way possible. Laurel is a key advisor to the Instructor, helps with course planning, website editing and content creation, student management, and is a key participant on TQSpirit’s annual fund-raising committee. Laurel is always asking: “What can I do to help,” and is the first one to put up her hand and say “I can do that!…and that…and that!

Laurel is also joined by our Set Up and Tear Down heavy lifters: Bob Gribling, Kathryn Mochizuki, Cydney Cammack, Suzanne Krebs, and many other volunteers who help out each week with a wide variety of tasks needed. Each week they meet early with the Instructor to set up for the class, and then help with tear down. It is really appreciated.

At North Shore Neighbourhood House:

At the North Shore Neighbourhood House the Program Coordinator is Christine Poole, who has been with the organization for over 35+ years. Christine has been an amazing administrator and support for all the Tai Chi & Qigong programs that have been operating at this location. We have a number of long-time students at the NSNH who are instrumental in helping to make the early evening class welcoming to all newbies.

At Highlands United Church:

Organizational Assistant: Louise Wunderlich. Many thanks to the team of Louise, Phoenix, Phyllis, and Kathleen who arrive early to help with set-up, administration and welcoming duties on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays. They are all instrumental in the complex set up of the gym:  the 3 Computers/TV/Zoom/Bose Speaker system that runs the hybrid classes, as well as the tables and chairs, and sweeping the floors. There’s alot to do! Then there is the 15 minute tear down crew that can only be accomplished with a host of students, too many to name all of them! Thank you!

We couldn’t produce and manage all our tai chi and qigong classes, both in-person and on zoom, without all our volunteers!  Thank you. 

ADDITIONAL LIVE-ON-ZOOM ASSISTANCE

While our Instructor is teaching, to make it all happen seemlessly on Zoom, TQSpirit relies on a team of  additional support. Louise has become very skilled at juggling many things at once: Ensuring all our Zoom classes start on-time, recordings are in-play, the music isn’t too loud, letting in students who are a wee bit late…all the while dealing with her in-person administrative duties.

We have recently brought in an Online Team who participate in “letting in” Zoom students while the Set-Up crew are still working to get organized for the In-Person students. Many thanks to our 48-er helper: Liz, our Saturday Qigong helpers: Sandra and Inge. Sandra S. and David H also help out with our Tuesday morning Live-On-Zoom only classes.

We pay special thanks to our friend Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, who patiently taught Sifu Josie all about Zoom back in 2020. It was the start of a brand new world and Jessica helped us all learn how to deal with Zoom’s many upgrades, acted as a back-up host to all the Zoomers, keeping them engaged prior to the start of the Zoom classes on Saturdays. Since 2020, we’ve added in Tuesday Zoom, Wednesday night Zoom and Saturday morning Zoom.

After years of being On-Zoom our TQSpirit students are becoming more and more comfortable with this platform. The learning curve continues to be a little steep for some but our On-Line Zoom hosts are very patient and willing to help all Zoomer Newbies navigate being online. Without this Zoomer Technical Team guidance many Newbies would certainly have given up out of frustration! 

Zoom is always updating their technology and so we have to “go with the Zoom flow” as it happens. We have to also adapt to wifi issues, weak signals, and more! We appreciate the patience that our students have when we have to deal with the changes or “issues” that sometimes come with Zoom’s upgrades!

END-OF-SEASON PARTY & FUNDRAISER – COMMITTEE PLANNERS

Every year we have an end-of-year party. Our Party is a way to celebrate how much effort, determination, and fun it takes to attend Tai Chi and Qigong classes each week, 11 months out of the year, by coming together in December. This party has also become a fund-raiser for the Saturday Lunch Program, an organization that we have been supporting since 2009.

Unfortunately, our 2022 was cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, but the Saturday Lunch Program didn’t suffer as our TQ Spirit raised a lot of money for the Outreach organization that feeds over 100 people every week of the year. Pre-Covid, in 2019, our End-of-Year Party was huge, with up to 200 people attending and sharing coffee, tea, treats, and enjoying tai chi and qigong demonstrations. We hope we will be able to rise up again with an exciting event in the future. Our most recent parties in the years following have been just as fun as all the others.

Our Team consists of a wonderfully dedicated group of Party Planners: Christine M, Faye M, Laurel W., Linda R.(our Friendship Party Accountant), Lorraine L, Louise W, Glennys P, Wayne H, Phoenix H, Ken P. (Professional photographer), Ana Padrero (Professional photographer) and quite a large group of dedicated volunteers who help us out every year!

Well over 40 people would volunteer their time to help set up, decorate, register, sell tickets, close down and clean up. Set-up usually takes many hours of planning and coordinating, and an evening of “getting it done” Tear down is a breeze because of all the help we get, and then “poof”, it all disappears within an hour after the event is over.

For the event, all participants bring yummy treats to share with the crowd as well as bringing family and friends. Many students dare to perform, sometimes for the first time ever, in front of the large supportive crowd! We look forward to celebrating again next year!

Thanks to you all – your efforts are always hugely appreciated. You enhanced the SPIRIT in our North Shore Tai Chi Qigong Community which is why we are all still here and thriving despite Covid obstacles.