1. President Elect Learning and Development (PELD) 2021
This course was held on the recent torrential rain weekend. It was well attended, although a number of Presidents Elect were unable to attend due to the severe weather conditions. For this reason, the sessions were all recorded. The PowerPoints used throughout the day, have been temporarily uploaded to the District website, and will soon be moved to the Learning and Development site. The videos are still being edited and will soon be uploaded as well. To access the PowerPoints from PELD, click HERE.
 
2. District Assembly for 2021-2022 Boards
The District Assembly this year will be held over 4 Sundays in April and May. It is the responsibility of each of the Club Chairs to attend the appropriate sessions of the Assembly. Registrations will open very soon. Each session will have a separate registration so that you can register for each event in which you wish to participate. The Zoom / YouTube link will be sent to those registered for a session two days before the session. The program is as follows:
 
Sunday, 18th April            8.30 am to 10.15 am            General Session (all Board Members)
Sunday, 18th April           10.45 am to 1.00 pm             Session for Presidents/Secretaries/
                                                                                      Treasurers
 
Sunday, 16th May            8.45 am to 10.15 am             Session for Foundation Chairs
Sunday, 16th May           10.45 am to 12.20 pm            Session for International Service Chairs
 
Sunday, 23rd May            8.45 am to 10.00 am             Session for Community Chairs
Sunday, 23rd May           10.30 am to 11.45.pm            Session for Vocational Service Chairs
Sunday, 23rd May           12.15 pm to 1.25.pm              Session for Youth Service Chairs
 
 
Sunday, 30th May            8.45 am to 10.00 am             Session for Membership Chairs
Sunday, 30th May           10.30 am to 12.00 pm            Session for Public Image Chairs
 
3. International Convention 2021
 
The Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 12-16 June 2021, in Taipei, Taiwan, will now be a virtual event in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
We are sorry that we will not see you in Taipei this year, but this decision, made by the Rotary Board of Directors, is necessary to protect the health of everyone involved. We will share more details about the 2021 Rotary International Virtual Convention soon. Here’s what you need to know now:
 
The Virtual Convention will be open to all Rotary members and participants. Event registration will open in mid-April and will include a promotional fee of $49 for 21 days, with an increase afterward to $65. The cost of each preconvention event is $20. Both the convention and preconvention events include access to the House of Friendship. Please continue to check back for more details and updates.
 
4.  Renaming Our District
You will be aware that Zone 8 is working towards regionalisation and autonomy within Rotary International. As part of this process, the renaming of Districts is being considered. It has been suggested that we name Districts after the District Governor. For example, this year the District would be called District Clark, and next year, it would be called District May. We are seeking your responses about this suggestion. It will be important to apply today's date to your responses to clarify to which survey you are responding. You can send your responses to either DG David Clark, or DGE Lindsay May by clicking HERE
 
5. District Conference 2021
 
If you  missed this virtual Conference, there are still ways to see the Conference and House of Friendship videos. Go to:
  • Rotary District 9685 website (https://www.rotarydistrict9685.org.au)
  • District
  • District Conference
  • Prior Conferences
  • Scroll down below the Conference logo to find the Conference and House of Friendship videos
 
 
6. Conference 2021 Review
It is important in preparing for future events within Rotary, that we all contribute information and ideas to inform improvements in the events taking place, particularly virtual events such as the recent District Conference 2021. A survey was recently sent to you for completion. If you have not yet done so, the link is here for you to undertake the review.
 
7. District Changeover 2021 - Save the Date
Recently, an email was sent to all Rotarians informing everyone that the date for the District Changeover this year will be Sunday, 4th July at Castle Hill RSL. This is a lunch gathering and we are meeting from 12.00 pm for a 12.30pm start. As costings have still not been finalised, registration for this event have not yet opened. Keep the date free in your diaries and more information will follow.
 
8. District Directory 2021-2022
This book is being currently prepared. This is a call for everyone to check their details on ClubRunner through either your Club's website, or the District website. Go to Member detail and check your address, email and phone number(s). The Boards for next year have been mostly entered, but some Clubs still have to complete this task. Your urgent attention to these tasks will make the book as accurate as we can possibly make it, barring unexpected changes to data in June when the book has gone to the printers.
 
9. Rotaract Club Charter Function
(From Spokes 31.3.21 Rotary Club of Pennant Hills)
About 30 Rotarians and Rotaractors assembled on Saturday at the Glenhaven Community Centre for this official recognition of the chartering of the new Rotaract Club of Pennant Hills- Cherrybrook. The Rotary District was represented by District Governor David Clark, District Governor Elect Lindsay May and his wife Tania, and Assistant Governor Robert Erskine. There were about 5 from sponsoring club West Pennant Hills/ Cherrybrook including President Rosemary Clark and Youth Director Janelle Craig, and a similar number from our club – John Ellis, Theo Glockemann, Kaye Carter, Jim Fraser and myself.
There were also a number of representatives from the Hills Rotaract Club.
President Jason Terry and his members had done an excellent job with the organizing of the venue and the catering so that we were invited to enjoy some food to begin and then the formalities followed. DG David made the formal presentation of the charter certificate, supported by AG Robert, and then the members of the club who were present were with their members pins and certificates. The formalities concluded with the cutting of the cake! All in all, an encouraging result to have a Rotaract Club operating locally again. We have invested in setting up the club jointly with West Pennant Hills/Cherrybrook Rotary so that they can have a good foundation from the beginning. We wish them well.     
Pres.David Firth