Last Tuesday's Meeting

Our Sergeant was in full control last Tuesday!
 
Visitors were welcomed from Brisbane, Melbourne & France!  Yes our Governor hails from Brisbane (High-Rise in fact!), Snowbird Ken McMeeken was visiting again from Melbourne, and we welcomed Chloé, our Rotary Youth Exchange Student to our meeting for the first time.
We were treated to another invocation to try:
In the Spirit of Rotary
With good food, friendship and goodwill
Let us serve
By upholding the Truth and being fair to all concerned
By serving our Community, Country and the world
By promoting Peace and helping Humanity
Chloé brought with her a friendship banner from her sponsoring Rotary Club of de Lorien, France in District 1650 and presented it to President Bernie.  In turn, she was presented with a 'Canned Koala'!
President Bernie reminded us about RYDA, and the BBQ and told us about the invite from Meriden College and the proposal for joint advertising of our cluster clubs in the Sunshine Coast Daily's proposed Service Club Directory.
 
The opportunity was also taken to present a cheque for $500 to the Happy Community Network which is presenting the Sunshine Coast Japanese Festival in August.  Yuka La Selva received the cheque and told us about the Drawing Competition being promoted in association with the Festival.  Details of both are available later in this edition of The Reel.
 
District Governor, Wendy Protheroe gave a relaxed and informative talk to the club and later met with the Board.
 
DG Wendy told us about the Rotary network being able to arrange things very quickly by instancing the forthcoming Polio eradication visit to Papua New Guinea.  She was able to put everything in place through the Rotary Clubs of Port Moresby and Lae which are of course member clubs of our Rotary District 9600.
 
Relaying the story of a Pink Shoelace, Wendy encouraged us to look for Pink Shoelace Moments and remember to take an image for display at the District Conference.
 
You can read more about pink shoelaces and other newsworthy items in her July District Governor's newsletter available here and in this 'Reel'.
 
Past Governor, Alan Still reminded us of the relatively recent launch of the support group PALZ - Professionals with Alzheimer's, a non-profit organisation designed to enhance the lives of high-achievers suffering from early onset Alzheimer's. Those attending the last District Conference heard a little of its progress.  Learn more from their website and this video.
 
PALZ is looking to expand by establishing more local PALZ groups which will meet every two months in a conference-based environment to hear one or two high calibre speakers presenting to peers.  The vision - to ensure all high-achievers with dementia are able to maintain dignity and respect through active participation within a social and intellectually stimulating environment.  Interested?  More information
 
There were a number of announcements:
  • More volunteers are needed to man RYDA on 31 July (set-up) and 1 August.
  • The BBQ is set to fire
  • Roger wants more tree planters - details here
  • Darryl wants us to RSVP for next Tuesday's meeting at the Chamber of Commerce - register here
  • Pam gave us an update on Lyn and Lexley Roberts' health; for Lexley's 80th, flowers were presented for which Lexley was quite touched.
  • Ann encouraged us all to find out about next weekend's French Festival at Kings Beach and was able to direct us to this website
  • RYPEN this year has been postponed as there were insufficient applicants