MEETING REPORT  TUESDAY 24th APRIL

Posted by Roger Thornton

Acting President: Tom Callander.

Chairman: Stuart Ellis

Visiting Rotarians & Guests

  • Gabriel del Rio Clavija, Rotary Club of Santafe de Bogota, with interpreter Catalina Novoa.
  • Stuart Cardell, Rotary Club of Southbank.
  • Meghan Bergamin.
  • Trang Du, from Two Square Pegs, representing Cities of Yarra and Morelands’ Youth Entrepreneur Program.

Announcements

  • Stuart Ellis: Flavia Minikus is currently on safari and will be back to talk to us again soon.  The Melbourne Star visit was a success even though the cabin windows steamed up!!
  • Russell Rolls: Bob Glindemann has been overwhelmed by more than 60 people responding to his call for DIK volunteers on Saturday, April 28, so needs only those who can attend for the whole day.
  • Peter Duras: Sue and he assisted RC Albert Park last Saturday with a sausage sizzle at Bunnings Port Melbourne.  RCM has now been offered four more dates, including Sunday, April 29.  Peter will send an email with dates, seeking volunteers.
  • Tom Callander exchanged banners with Gabriel del Rio Cavijo.  Gabriel, who will be AG in his District (4281) next year, talked about his club, Santafe de Bogota, and two of its main projects -
  • - the provision of prosthetics to Colombian landmine victims through a Foundation Global Grant.           
  • - treatment and rehabilitation of cleft pallet sufferers.
  • President’s Announcements
    • The next vocational visit will be to the College of Anaesthetists on May 23.  If you wish to attend, either contact Kevin Love or book through our website.
    • Two new member applications have been received, from Dominic Varrasso and Malcolm Fielden, both of whom have visited the club a number of times.
    • Rotary Youth Volunteer Information and Declaration Form.  Everyone needs to complete one of these forms, either in hard copy or on line.
    • Last weekend, Anne and Tom visited Deniliquin, location of the WWII 7th Flying Training School, and discovered a war grave cemetery there with graves of 27 young trainee pilots, who never even made it to the theatre of war.

Member Talk – Rohan Williams

Rohan talked about the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF), which his daughter Kate attended two years ago.  The NYSF runs three times a year, either at ANU or the University of Queensland.  Rotary has been involved since the program’s inception 34 years ago.  Its role is to select and support Year 12 school students interested in STEM subjects, who have been accepted onto the program.

Students attending NYSF attend lectures, participate in experiments and interact with scientists, engineers and researchers in an environment that simulates Years 1 & 2 university activities.  Potential benefits from the program:
            - it provides excellent information for selecting a university course.
            - it helps to improve interpersonal skills.
            - it motivates students to excel through school, university and life.

Closing

Once again, the joker escaped discovery in the swindle pack.  Tom Callander closed the meeting at 8:45am.