Meet the TQ Spirit Team

Phoenix Hawkins – General Manager

Phoenix has been part of TQSpirit since its beginning in 2008, serving as General Manager and helping to guide much of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the organization running.

His steady presence, practical support, and deep commitment have been woven into TQSpirit from the very start. At this time, Phoenix’s work with TQSpirit is on hiatus due to health-related issues.

His presence is greatly missed, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the Flock as soon as he is able.

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 TQSpirit class requires the assistance of many helping hands to make it happen.

We have volunteers who help with the load-in and load-out of our audio-visual and computer equipment. We have volunteers who help set up tables, chairs, and class materials when and where required. We also have volunteers who help welcome students and take attendance. Others do an amazing job as Greeters! What a group!

In particular, I would like to thank the following Volunteer Leaders and support teams at each of our locations:

At Highlands United Church:

Organizational Manager and Team Leader: Louise Wunderlich. Our Wednesday and Saturday volunteer teams are coordinated and managed by Louise Wunderlich, who has been a Team Leader for many years. Louise helps oversee the many practical details required to support our in-person and hybrid classes, including set-up, administration, student support, and smooth transitions between classes.

Many thanks also to Phyllis, Laurel, Kathryn, and Kathleen, who arrive early to help with set-up, administration, and welcoming duties on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays.

Our Highlands team is instrumental in setting up the gym for both in-person students and Zoom students joining us online. There is a lot to do before class begins, and on Wednesdays there is also a very quick 15-minute tear-down that requires a large, coordinated group of Tai Chi friends working together. A team of about 8 people work together to get all the equipment safely back into the car that transports it every week. It is a big job and the team knows who to tear down in 10-12 minutes what takes 45 minutes to set up! Wow… that is quick Tai Chi Stepping!

There are too many helpers to name individually, but every helping hand is deeply appreciated. On Saturdays, we are also grateful to the many volunteers from our Health Qigong class who help put away chairs and tables after class. You know who you are… and thank you!

At North Lonsdale United Church in Upper Lonsdale:

Our North Lonsdale Advance Teams are amazing!

As TQSpirit has grown at North Lonsdale United Church, so has the team of people helping behind the scenes.

We currently have two classes at NLUC, and beginning in September, this will expand to five classes over Tuesdays and Thursdays. With that growth comes a great deal of organizing, set-up, student support, and behind-the-scenes administration.

On Thursday mornings, Laurel Whatley is the key advisor to Sifu Josie. Laurel assists with many aspects of the Thursday morning class, including administration, course planning, student support, website editing, content creation, and ongoing class organization. She is also an important participant on TQSpirit’s annual fundraising committee.

Arriving early each Thursday morning to help Laurel is Kathryn Mochizuki, a long-time Tai Chi student who has been practising since the early 2000s. Together, Laurel and Kathryn form the Thursday morning Advance Team. They arrive 15–20 minutes before Sifu Josie and begin the important work of setting up tables, chairs, lights, and class materials, helping prepare the room before everyone arrives.

On Tuesday mornings, we are also grateful to the Advance Team of David and Anne-Marie, who have been key advisors for the Tuesday 9:00am class. They help guide the smooth running of the morning class and assist with the many practical details needed behind the scenes.

Sandra S. also helps the Tuesday morning class both in person and as one of our Zoom Managers on Saturdays. Sandra is experienced with supporting students in the room as well as those joining us online.

Of course, both Advance Teams are supported by the many students who graciously volunteer after class to help put away chairs and reset the room for later events.

As we add three more classes in September to our Tai Chi Qigong Fusion offerings at North Lonsdale, there will be even more people to thank. Our key advisors and volunteers do so much more than help ensure attendance is taken. They support a wide variety of tasks that make the classes feel organized, welcoming, and ready to begin.

We could not produce and manage all our Tai Chi and Qigong classes — in person and on Zoom — without our wonderful volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who helps keep TQSpirit moving, organized, welcoming, and strong.

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 Sifu Josie is teaching, there is a great deal happening behind the scenes to help our Live-On-Zoom classes run as smoothly as possible.

TQSpirit relies on additional support to welcome Zoom students, manage class transitions, support recordings, monitor sound levels, assist with late arrivals, and respond when technology does what technology sometimes does.

Louise has become very skilled at juggling many things at once. In addition to her in-person administrative duties, she helps ensure our Zoom classes start on time, recordings are in play, students are admitted into the Zoom room, and the music and sound levels are working as well as possible.

We also have an Online Zoom-Qi Team who help admit Zoom students during the short transition time between classes. It may sound simple, but it is not always just a matter of pressing “Admit.” There are Zoom students arriving online, in-person students being welcomed and organized in the room, equipment being adjusted, and class transitions happening very quickly.

The team also helps with Zoom “emergencies,” such as Wi-Fi interruptions, sound issues, and the occasional online mystery. It can be a complex job.

Special thanks go to our Saturday Qigong Zoom Team of Inge and Sandra.

Inge and Sandra help welcome our Zoomers while the in-person room is being prepared. They are wonderful at helping us respond to Wi-Fi and Zoom issues when they arise. Just as importantly, they help create a warm and friendly online atmosphere before class begins. Their conversation, questions, humour, and outgoing personalities help our Zoom students feel included, connected, and part of the TQSpirit community.

We also give special thanks to our good friend Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, who patiently taught Sifu Josie all about Zoom back in 2020. It was the beginning of a brand-new world for many of us, and Jessica helped us learn how to manage Zoom’s many changes and upgrades. Jessica also acts as a back-up host for our Zoom students, helping keep them engaged and welcomed before our Saturday classes began.

After several years of being Live-On-Zoom, many TQSpirit students have become much more comfortable with this platform. Even so, the learning curve can still feel steep for some, especially for students who are new to online classes. Our Zoom hosts are patient, kind, and willing to help Zoom Newbies navigate the process. Without this guidance, many new online students might have given up out of frustration.

Zoom continues to update its technology, and we continue to “go with the Zoom flow.” We also adapt as best we can to Wi-Fi issues, weak signals, sound challenges, and the occasional mystery that comes with teaching both in person and online.

We deeply appreciate the patience of our students when these issues arise. Most of all, we are grateful to our Zoom-Qi Team for helping make our online classes feel welcoming, connected, and alive.

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.