Meeting Notes 11th February 2019 - Club Forum (Feb 12, 2019)

President David opened the meeting at 6.30pm on 11^th February.

With the encouragement of John Thornton, members sang the National Anthem at an increased tempo.

President David advised that tonight’s meeting would be a Club Forum, providing an opportunity for all members to raise matters of interest or concern regarding the operation of the Club.

Despite be a Forum, President David welcomed a former Guest Speaker, Robert Epstone, who will update us on‘Helping the Disadvantaged in Bali – Solemen’. Peter Panek will formally introduce Ian later.

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VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS:

Cadu (our RYE student).

Agata Biskupska (our inbound RYE student 2016) who is visiting from Poland. Agata spoke briefly on her visit to Perth.

Agata

Cadu

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

After several re-draws of cards, John Saleeba correctly answered the question, winning the wine for the ‘usual’ table. The United Nations announced 2019 as the year of ‘The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements’.

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BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:

Birthdays of Ken Ilett, Margaret McCoubrie and Barbara Ranshaw. Pek and Denise Goh celebrating 45 years of marriage.

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FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

Peter Panek advised that his youngest daughter Grace had graduated from Curtin University the previous evening.

As a counter, Peter Robertson advised that his eldest son had just started kindergarten.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Charitable Trust:

Nil report.

Secretary:

Craig James discussed the posing of the Question of the Week.

Treasurer:

Anthony McGrath asked all members attending the International Dinner to deposit the required funds ASAP.

Attendance:

37 members and 3 guests.

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President David interrupted the Reports to facilitate our Guest Speaker.

GUEST SPEAKER:

Robert Epstone

Robert was introduced by Peter Panek, who explained that he had visited Robert whilst leading a RCD visit to Bali last July.

Robert showed two videos, the second being on the cultivation of Moringa, which is a ‘superfood’. This cropping not only helps support the farmers but also supports the work of Solemen. Robert advised that his original intention was to remain barefoot until he raised $1 million, but having achieved this target he was remaining shoeless until $2 million was reached.

Some members purchased some fund raising items from Robert.

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Club Service:

Nil report, however, a scribe is required to produce meeting notes in the absence of Tom Kendall and John Murdoch.

Community Service

Reminders of future events:

-Nedlands Golf Day on 29^th March

-wine tasting on 3^rd May at Claremont Yacht Club.

Vocational Service

Peter Marfleet advised members attending the vocational visit to Aurora 3D Printing on Monday 18^th February of start time 3.00PM and reminded members of the Duyfken river cruise on 7^th March.

Rotary Foundation and International Service

Ken Ilett advised members of the Cocktail Party held on Saturday 9^th February at Anita’s residence, to support an equipment project for the Nokor Tep Women’s Hospital in Cambodia. 70 tickets were sold, and Anita provided estimates of the funds raised, which will be in excess of $35,000. She thanked Cadu for his assistance. The founder of the hospital, Janne Ritskes, was in Perth and attended 10 functions over 3 days. Anita will be attending the opening of the hospital on 18^th March.

Public Relations

Nil report.

Membership and New Members

Peter Panek asked all members to seek applicants for membership. He still has 3 sites available for the Club to provide counters for the Super Tuesday Bike Count on Tuesday 5^th March.

Youth

Kim Smith briefed members on the National Youth Science and Engineering Challenge to be hosted by the Club 1^st – 5^th April.

Lindsay Dry briefed the Club on the Rotary Global Citizen Award program, which has partnered with Study Perth. It is hoped to attract more international students to Perth. Mentors are required for students, both life and career mentoring. Refer to Kim Smith’s email for details, in particular, the attachment.

Lindsay and Neil Wilkie are engaged with Dalkeith Primary School to introduce EarlyACT.

Men’s Shed

No report in Trevor’s absence.

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SERGEANT:

Acting Sergeant Ray House enforced the usual fines for the wine table, and Pek Goh’s anniversary.

Neil Wilkie for neglecting to place cards on the head table.

Peter Panek for his daughter’s graduation.

Peter Robertson for visually polluting the Western Suburbs.

Graeme Sansom for catching the green Mercedes to the city.

‘Returning tax’ for David Smith and Laurie Hegvold.

Tony Chien for leaving his Rotary name badge at home.

Richard Ranshaw for paying his weekly fee with loose change.

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CLUB FORUM:

President David opened the Forum and asked members to raise any issues or queries they had.

Craig James expanded on several of the Club’s goals for the year, as advised last week. These goals have been lodged with Rotary International as a pre-requisite for a Presidential Citation.

In particular:

- the number of members who will partake in one Rotary Action Group

- Club membership of 66 members

- a goal of 23 Club members attending the Rotary Conference on 5^th/6^th April (same number as last year in Geraldton).

Ray House queried the goal of 66 members, whereas previously this number was lower.

Lindsay Dry said there was a need to recruit due to the District demographic. ‘We’re not getting younger’.

Peter Panek explained that more members would create more avenues for fundraising, citing the current shortage of volunteers for the Bike Count.

Bob Davis asked re the availability of financial reports of budget/actual.

Anthony McGrath responded that all the reports are available on the Club Runner website, but he is prepared to provide these in different media if a member so requests.

Craig James requested how many members were still receiving hard copies of Rotary Downunder magazine by post. Our target is 100% by email.

President David thanked members for their participation.

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CLOSE:

President David thanked our guests Agata and Cadu, the NGC staff Denise and Chris, and Bunch Caterers.

He reminded members of upcoming events:

Vocational visit on Monday 18^th February
International dinner at Chopsticks Restaurant on 25^th February.

He acknowledged sponsors Lizzie Bee Florists, Butler Settineri (Club Auditors), Paragon Consultants (Charitable Trust Auditors) and PSZ Accounting (Charitable Trust software).

He called on members to recognise RI President Barry Rossin’s Presidential theme for the year, Be the Inspiration. Members were asked to acknowledge the Flag.

Meeting closed at 19:45.

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Photographer: Craig James

Author: John Murdoch

Webmaster: Tom Langley