From the Editor
Good afternoon to all my fellow Mornington Rotary Club Members and Partners, I hope all is going along OK with everyone and you all had an enjoyable Easter with family and friends and celebrated / acknowledged this special time of the year with kind thoughts, deed's and well wishes.
Club Assembly - Wed 05th April 23
Last fortnight we held our Club Assembly Meeting, which was co-chaired by our President Elect, Pam Hall and our Community Chair Ross Kilborn. Since our Clubs last Board Meeting some four weeks ago, in which there were quite a few important items Projects and Financial Pledges proposed we have now seen these items presented to the members and as a result of a very professional report accompanied with extensive background information and presentation it was fantastic to see so many items of Business items being ratified in the affirmative by the members present, to mention some of the "big ticket" items, that being: 
The Bays Hospital
It was proposed and the members agreed to the establishment of the Mornington Rotary – The Bays Hospital Nurse Education Fund.
Mornington Community Support Centre
The Video production we previously is underway and will be complete towards year end
The Peninsula Trail
Whilst a lot of activity may not be visible there is a lot happening behind the scenes
The Moondah Auction
The Moondah Auction is in full swing with Grays Auctions to conduct it in May. The details are:
Please note - Important item of this Club Bulletin - Due to the size limit imposed by Club Runner the full Club Assembly Report cannot be presented in its entirety within this Bulletin Issue, and to ensure all members have full visibility and view all the keys points of the Club Assembly a seperate e-mail will be sent out to each Club Member, keep an eye out in your "in tray" later this evening !
Club Meeting - Guest Speaker
Last week we had the pleasure to invite Sharon Boffa as our Guest Speaker. Sharon is a very proactive and passionate Manager of our own Peninsula U3A. Many of us are aware of this very informative, helpful and community educational and socially based organisation. The University of the Third Age (U3A) is an international movement whose aims are the education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community—those in their third 'age' of life. There is no universally accepted model for the U3A. Its original conception in France as an extramural university activity was significantly modified in the United Kingdom where it was recognized that most people of retirement age have something to contribute and the emphasis has been on sharing, without formal educational links. Many English-speaking countries have followed this geragogic model, whereas continental European countries have mostly followed the French model. For historical reasons, lifelong learning institute is the term used in the United States for organizations that are similar to U3A groups.A British U3A website reports this about "The Third Age" membership eligibility: "The 'third age' is defined by a time in your life (not necessarily chronological) where you have the opportunity to undertake learning for its own sake. There is no minimum age, but a focus on people who are no longer in full-time employment or raising a family."
Sharon Boffa with accompanied by her Host Jo Siragusa
Weekly Club Meeting - Welcome Desk:
a. 19th April - Club Meeting - Judy Benholz
b. 26th April - Club Meeting - Ken Bilham
c. 03rd May - Club Meeting - Eileen Prudden
d. 10th May - Club Meeting - Pam Hall
e. 17th May - Board Meeting - Nil Required
f. 24th May - Club Meeting - Jo Davie
ANZAC Day - Volunteers to Sell Badges
Time certainly does tend to go at a faster rate these days, and once again its time to "get out there" and help out by being a RSL Volunteer by selling the ANZAC Day Badges. Our own Leigh Power has been on the forefront and has secured a number of our Club Members to help out and very importantly to be a presence in our local area by joining in and supporting our RSL. There is still plenty of vacancies and a number of locations that are available if you haven't already put your hand up. If you can help out please give our local Mornington RSL a call and contact: Mr James Faquharson on Mob 0439-431 247
Club Meeting - This week - 19th April 23
At our Club Meeting this coming Wednesday evening we will formally welcome a new member into our ranks with the Induction of Julia Bickers, its always a very special occasion when we have a new Member join us, so for all Members and also all the Partners it would be great if we could get 'a full house" to attend and give Julia a very warm welcome into Mornington Rotary. See you there !!
Club Meeting - Guest Speaker
As well as a new Member Induction, this week our Guest Speaker will be Mr Nick Wootton from Croft Wootton Constructions Pty Ltd . Based on the Mornington Peninsula, Croft Wootton Construction has provided quality residential and commercial building solutions for over 35 years. Registered for domestic and commercial building works Croft Wootton Construction is also Green Living accredited. We incorporate industry best practices for sustainable solutions in the living environment for all our projects.
Presidents Report - 17th April 2023
Club Business
It is with great pleasure that I wish to announce that we will be welcoming via a formal induction ceremony, this coming Wednesday evening our new Club Member Julia Bickers. Julia has been attending the Club Meetings for some four weeks, or so, and has taken the “leap“ by formally applying to become a Rotarian. After the submission of her application and the obligatory Notice and timeframe on Intention to Join Mornington Rotary has now passed, we can induct Julia into the fold on Wednesday evening.
With my absence, last fortnight, it was great to have our President Elect, young Pam H accompanied by Ross K ,co- Chair the Club Asembly Meeting. A very big thanks to Ross for his very professional and extremely though Community Report and the presentation of a number of very important items of business that were tabled and passed by the members present in the affirmative for action. Well done to both Ross and Pam.
Up Coming Community Event
With the ongoing priority that all Rotary Clubs are dealing with in regard to Membership we have a fantastic opportunity that has been afforded to us along with a host of fellow Community Base Non-For-Profit Charitable Organisation’s within the Mornington area to present “who we are and what we do“ to the community, towards the end of May 23. Bunnings has invited us as one of many presenters to attend their Community Networking Evening, as shown below:
We are excited to be hosting our next ‘Community Networking Event’!
An opportunity for local not for profit Community groups to come together and network in a supportive space while also recognising and discovering the wonderful work that each group does for our wider Community.
Bunnings Mornington recognises that 2022-2023 has been challenging for our community groups and would like to provide you with an opportunity to reconnect.
Please join us at this special event:
Wednesday 24th May 2023 from 5.30pm – 8.30pm
1100 Nepean Hwy, Mornington
Our Community Networking event is focussed on providing our local community groups the chance to re-establish relationships, discuss how they have managed to get through the challenges of the past year and what plans they have for the future.
I have recently communicated with our Community Chair Ross K and even though this invitation falls on a Wednesday evening we both see this opportunity as “one not to passed by “.
District News
With things now on the move in regards to “ being out their in the Community . it is great to see that RYLA is back on and as detailed below, ready for action.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) will be held between 26th June and 1st July 2023 and applications are now open!
RYLA is one of the outstanding district youth programs! We have been busy planning this RYLA since before the last camp and it’s on track to be one of the best yet.
We now need Rotary Clubs to find participants and provide sponsorship for them to attend.
Click on this link to access the flyer aimed at prospective participants https://bit.ly/ryla2023flyer
This link takes you to an FAQ sheet with information for sponsoring Rotary clubs https://bit.ly/ryla2023faq
The Bays Hospital
• Several meetings with the Bays over the last 18 months have considered a number of projects, including various equipment
• The immediate alternative to this NEF is the purchase of ward beds – 20 are needed so we could contribute as many as we like.
• We could do a combination of both but the NEF would benefit from serious foundation funding.
• Nurse education in specialist areas is something that both the hospital and the nurses struggle to afford and yet is important with increasing medical specialisation.
• Two immediate training needs as examples of how the money would be used
• Stoma Training - (A stoma is a small opening in the abdomen which is used to remove body waste, such as faeces and urine, into a collection bag)
• Lymphedema Training - including some equipment (Lymphedema is swelling due to build-up of lymph fluid in the body.). There may be another party willing to contribute to this too.
• The Fund would be established by the Bays with appropriate criteria for fund allocation and a selection committee. MRC can be consulted on allocations.
• Once established the fund can solicit donations from other sources and can become sustainable
• Mornington Rotary can have naming rights. It will be recognised as the Founder of the fund.
• The establishment of the NEF will consolidate our relationship with the Bays and we can work with their PR team on promoting the fund.
In addition to this the Members agreed to fund one ward bed - $4100, subject to applying for and being successful with a District Grant towards this
The Community Support Centre
• Pam and Ross met with Ben on Monday and talked about the two options currently on the table
• New furniture for refurbished Centre - as requested by Ben. It was agreed that prior to progressing this Ben would inspect the furniture at Moondah
• Funds to be allocated for emergency relief – (Geoff C Proposal) . Ben explained they already receive $70k for this from State Govt and spend approx. $5k pm
• Ben explained at the meeting with Ross & Pam
• The real issue is the Centre’s operating costs including salaries vs helping clients
• The desirability of a sustainable social enterprise – to fund the centre
• He is looking at a food and packaging offer
• The Club Assembly discussion was along the lines
• If we are to help with the sustainable social enterprise we need to see much more business detail including projected numbers
• We would much rather see a sustainable investment than just issuing money for emergency relief. This could be to support people with skills training, education, playing sport, setting up their own small business etc . Again identification as a Rotary fund project like the Bays is desirable
• It will be split into 3 Auctions
• Auction opens Thurs – first will be Thurs May 4
• On Line bidding only until the following Tues
• Collection the following Thurs & Friday
• The project is being run in partnership with Mt.Eliza Rotary Club with support from Mt.Martha.
• April 24 – a week of cataloguing with Grays. The club is providing a handful of support staff.
• Mondays May 8 , 15, 22 – Inspections will happen between 10am and 2pm – open to all . Club volunteers will be called for closer to the time.
• Thurs & Fridays May 11, 12 , 18, 19, 25, 26, and Mon 29 and Tues 30 – Collections by buyers . Club volunteers will be called for closer to the time.
• A Community Open Day in the future is still on the table but after the Auction is complete.