Welcome to this week’s meeting and a special welcome to Bob C who has joined us recently.

 

This week's material gave us an introduction to the new Rotary International President, K.R. Ravi Ravindran who has a very impressive CV, a look at Rotary Radio which is a clever idea then a look at The Rotary Foundation and an initiative to promote peace.  The inspirational video about AJ Jacob’s experiment into healthy living should have us all thinking twice about what we do - imagine all that sunscreen, going almost everywhere with a stack hat on and I wonder how out of date his knowledge was when he got to the final book of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. It was a funny take on an otherwise serious subject.

 

 

We are another step closer to charter with Bob C’s application and I am starting to wonder how we might celebrate. Traditional clubs would have a dinner or breakfast so I’m looking for some suggestions please.

 

Ian is working on our Constitution and Bylaws with the help of eClub Melbourne and will participate in a teleconference to help us and other eclubs navigate the legislation which is coming into effect shortly.

 

In light of our number and in anticipation of charter I am again looking for nominations for Board positions please. We also need to start forming committees. Both are necessary for our charter and our ability to operate. The positions as I understand we need to fill are:

 

1. President

2. Vice President

3. Secretary

4. Treasurer

5. Service Avenues

6. Foundation

7. Membership

8. Public Relations

9. Club Administration

 

Under this structure the Service Avenues person would lead and coordinate and represent the chairs of the different service avenues committees on the Board. That’s not to say that the Chairs are not welcome at Board meetings – you certainly would be – but the structure is designed to help people manage their Rotary commitment.

 

Committees are – youth, international, community and vocational.

 

I have received the following nominations for the Board so far:

 

Ian S – The Rotary Foundation

Brian N – Community Service or Service Avenues

 

As I see it, the projects we have on the table would fit under these committees as follows: Kits for kids (youth), Disaster Aid Australia (international), micro loans (community) but I’m happy to be corrected on this division.

 

Action required:  Please let me know which of these committees you would like to be on and put forward other ideas for club members to become involved in.

 

 

I flagged a few meetings ago the need for us to start introducing ourselves on paper at least and thought I’d lead the way. I’m Kerrie Schmidt, a former member of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise and a current members of Sale Central. I’ve held various Rotary positions in my 22 years, love working with people and fill my days doing some consulting work (own business), studying (legal studies and HR), waiting on 3 cats (Rumpole, Fuzzy and Mickey), SES and of course Rotary. I live in Sale Victoria but spend a bit of time in Canberra (home). I love to cook, love to travel and love being with my family and friends.  

 

 

Brian and I were in Canberra recently and took the opportunity to catch up with Ian S and Peter S. Both are well and busy with work and Rotary.

Heather has just bought a new home in Bendigo and will be moving in this week (congratulations Heather – happy packing and unpacking),

Phil sent a note of apology for his silence – he’s been flat out at work and travelling but is otherwise well

Russ sent a note from Thailand in an effort to describe his new environment – “No words can describe the 'energies' & lifestyle of Thailand; Look for the negative, & you can find it.

Look for the positive, & you will find it. Look for the beauty & what you can be grateful for...& you will drown”.

Bob is in hospital in Bangkok and we wish him a speedy recovery.

 

Please let me know about member activity so that I can share the news with others.

 

 

Following are the links to District Newsletters for areas where members are located:

 

Rotary District 9820 (our District): http://www.district9820.org/

 

Rotary District 9710 (Canberra / southern NSW http://www.rotaryd9710.org.au/

 

Rotary District 9800 (Bendigo / parts of Melbourne and south west Victoria): http://www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au/

 

Rotary District 3350 (Thailand / Cambodia):   http://www.rotary3350.org/rotary/en/content/news-and-features

 

Please read at your leisure.

 

Have a good week everyone.

It’s taken parts of a couple of days but I’ve finally completed this week’s meeting.  I must admit that I didn’t quite understand what this year’s theme was all about, but now think I know why the RI President chose it, having read the items on his website.  It was very useful.  I watched and listened to the item on Rotary Club Radio and found it moderately interesting.  I finished up going to the radio’s website and found a couple of items there much more interesting.  There was an item on Shelter Box that was very interesting and informative.  I thought I knew a bit about Shelter Box but the scale of its operations are quite staggering.  It’s possibly time to have a look at the Australian equivalent – Disaster Aid Australia.