Incoming President's Report

Greetings to our members and friends
Welcome to the beginning of a new Rotary Year 2020/21
This is the first time I’ve put pen to paper as your President and wondering where to start!
The highlight of my week was our club Change Over meeting, Monday 29 June.
A special highlight was hosting guests from overseas and Clubs around Melbourne.
We welcomed Dale Hoy now District Governor Elect 2021/22,  Rosemary Waghorne our outgoing Assistant Governor and Lili Teichman incoming Assistant Governor 2020/21. Lili gave an inspirational toast quoting incoming RI President:

Holger Knaack R I President 2020/21
“We believe that our acts of service, big and small, create opportunities for people who need our help. Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere,” said Knaack.
 
For more information on Holger follow this link:
 
 
 
 
 
As a Club we acknowledged the outstanding representation of Service above Self in 3 of our Club members with the presentation of Paul Harris Awards. President John Wall was awarded a double sapphire pin presented by DGE Dale Hoy who commented on the large number of Community and Youth projects and programs that John has been involved and initiated and so deserving of such an Award.
Sue Foley was awarded a triple sapphire pin for her tireless endeavours to help raise funds for the Rotary Health initiative Lift the Lid on Mental Health and to provide ongoing assistance to communities devastated by both the drought and subsequent Bushfires. Sue’s skill has been recognised at District level with her appointment as District Chair of Community Services.
 
Julia Topliss received her award a  triple sapphire pin from John for her ongoing commitment to Community and the marathon effort over 5 years to get CoPP to retain the name Rotary Park at Catani Gardens, St Kilda when the Park was ear-tagged for redevelopment.
 
Presidents Overview of the past year.
John spoke with passion of the many projects undertaken by our club, noting that for a small club we have achieved a lot.. punching well above our weight.
Many of the earlier initiatives had to be put on hold due to Covid 19 lockdown. The conversation with Wesley College in March about starting up an Interact Club will resume when face to face meetings are permitted. As some projects were put on hold others required immediate attention. Assistance with a Community Pantry run by the Empower Charity needed help in securing enough food for the increasing demand, 6 times the need pre-Covid. John is a strong believer in the power of engaging Cluster and Cross Cluster clubs and community partners. Writing a splendid Business plan on the Empower Charity to present to Cross Cluster Clubs, two more clubs came on Board with resources and donations.
Reaching out via Facebook for beanies to go into Care Packs for Seafarers stuck at sea, mobilised  knitting groups from Mornington Peninsula to Brisbane to knit beanies.
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
As incoming President I presented a slide show, recounting my journey to Rotary via a group trip to Egypt with Robyn Buccheri and a subsequent conversation with Robyn 10 years ago about Rotary. Robyn invited me to attend a meeting…the rest is history.
My thoughts in February in terms of projects and fundraising events was thrown on its head by mid March. It appeared that the Rotary Park project may be on hold while CoPP had to divert funding and resources to other areas of community care.  We received welcome news on Friday that the budget for the Park was retained and following community consultation through the month of July, work should start in September.
We were able to continue with The Alfred Mental Health Unit Care Packs, applying for and being approved for a District matching Grant, a huge endorsement of the merit of the project. And our thanks go to the 4 other Rotary Clubs that became known as the MHU consortium, Albert Park, Hawthorne, Malvern and Port Melbourne. Other partners included Rotary Donations in Kind and Boomerang Bags. Along with a very generous donation of Note Books from online inspirational stationery company MiGOALS
We will continue with Zoom Club meetings until we are advised that it is safe to meet in person. I’d like to use the breakout room facility on Zoom to create groups of smaller numbers so club members can discuss ideas and map out new projects. I will also be inviting each club member to indicate an area of focus they’d like to be involved in and partner them with the appropriate Service Chair.
Our members are a wonderful group of people, motivated, energetic and keen. Add to that their sense of fun and fellowship, navigating the next 12 months with 18 wingmen and women at my side will not only be productive but exciting and fun. That’s why I am a member of the Rotary Club of Melbourne South!
It is my pleasure to introduce the New Board members of The Rotary Club of Melbourne South 2020/21
Pam Dittmer, President, Club Service Chair
John Wall, Immediate Past President, Youth Chair and Vocational Chair
Bronwyn Stephens, Treasurer and International Chair
Ron Adams, Foundation, Membership and Protection
Warwick Lloyd, Community Chair, Website Master and Bulletin Editor
Dennis Tarrant, Club Director of Fundraising
Sue Foley, Club Director and District Community Chair