Our Last Meeting

Our speaker was Yolanda Dasgupta, a Rotary Peace Fellow Alumna who graduated from Science Po in Paris in 2005.

Bernie chaired the meeting, and welcomed guests ADG Wendy, Yolanda and "soon to be a member" Stewart

Gerry proposed the International Toast to RC Carlton, of Greater Nottingham, England.
According to the linked history page on their website:
 
Nottinghamshire is an often unappreciated English county, most unfairly dismissed by that renowned wit and scholar, Jeremy Clarkson,
as "a non-county, like Staffordshire - just there to fill the gaps."
 
For those who missed it,

News from Carlton is A BIG THANK YOU to Lowdhams Caravans and Motorhomes for servicing Santa’s Sleigh and helping Santa to prepare for his trips this year.

They Meet at Mapperley Golf Club, Mapperley, Nottingham 6.15pm, were chartered 1977, have 28 members and it seems like they have speakers, then committee & business meetings, then dine out at a different place - varied, with no discernible pattern. Activities include: bringing Santa to a school, purchasing a BLOOD BIKE ($7000 motorbike) for delivering blood for NHS, sponsoring an Under 16 Football (Soccer) team to Barcelona in return for players & parents helping with the Christmas Santa collection, clothing collection for disadvantaged people, a fundraiser at their Golf Club- raised 460 pounds, and they have collected old phones and tablets for Oxfam. (thanks for the info Gerry)

Bernie delivered the President's Address to a somewhat depleted membership

(Apparently, some have difficulty leaving their homes due to their doors being blocked by mountains of toilet paper)

  • NYSF is now open to year 12's in Jan 2021
  • RI updating us on the Covid 19
  • BBQ Roster needs filling today or we'll have to cancel
  • ROMAC Trivia Night - we came "in the middle" (half smart of half dumb?)
  • Sensory Playground is unfortunately off the agenda due to increase in costs - hopefully Chris will follow up with the new Club
Gordon reported on the Golf Day preparations - It's still on, with 140 players, but two cancellations.  The new owners of the Golf Club are going "all out". Special thanks to Gerry and Sue.  A $799 golf bag and clubs has been donated.
Originally from Mackay, Yolanda has been living on the Sunshine Coast for two years with Husband Raja, from the UK and two children ages 3 and 9 months, after living in various countries on the African continent for the previous 6 years. Yolanda is an emergency management and coordination specialist, and this has seen her work on responding to over 30 disasters, both local and international (2006 Cyclone Larry, 2010 Haiti, 2011 Qld Floods, Cyclone Yasi and Christchurch earthquake), but has most recently worked for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs assisting countries in Eastern and Southern Africa prepare for and respond to disasters. She is currently volunteering for Australian Parents for Climate Action. (thanks for the copy/paste Deborah!)
 
The news at the moment is all about Covid 19, and it was Yolanda's work with Queensland Health around Swine Flu and the Queensland floods which gave us the systems in place today to handle the emergency.
 
But back to the beginning, when her Dad died, it was Rotary who stepped in.  She was President of the Interact Club, and second to graduate the Rotary Peace Fellowship.  The program is able to reinterpret the typical "diplomat" mold, and put peace orientated people into pivotal positions.  Since 2002, 100 Fellow have graduated and are a "powerful force" in international affairs.
 
Yolanda has been a UN Human Affairs Officer in 15 countries in southern Africa, and she has worked with everything from Ebola and Plague, to earthquakes and floods.
 
She is now on the Sunshine coast, and facing her "biggest challenge" - raising her children.  Looking to the future she sees teaching and software development as possibilities.
 
And finally, a thank you to Rotary for being a force for peace, but on a sadder note, the climate change trajectory looming as eroding the gains made.
A slightly (and badly) photoshopped Bernie thanked Yolanda for the talk.
Darryl gave us a travel update - quite challenging without a travel agent to help
 
ADG Wendy had the final words:
  • RYDA is currently "still on" but await developments
  • Similarly with the Combined Meeting at USC 27 May - Caloundra doing the raffle
STOP PRESS in light of the edict from the Federal Government that meetings held indoors of more than 100 people are not permitted, it has been decided to postpone/cancel the Combined Meeting on the 27th May 2020.