July is a big month on the Rotary calendar with all clubs saying farewell to their board and installing a fresh board for the new year. It is Leadership Month. Our club went through a process last month to see who was interested in supporting our club by taking on a board role. We had a few volunteers and asked new members to complete the My Rotary training to learn how to do their jobs and how to be an effective board member in Rotary.
As we saw following our charter not everyone sees the value in training and quickly feel overwhelmed by the responsibility. There is no easy way to lead. To be a good leader you need to learn what is required for your organisation, you need to understand the governance and be prepared to work within the team. For a small not for profit organisation our club like so many others has faced these challenges. We are a project driven club and as such we need to understand the requirements for grants, firstly to receive them and then to acquit them. Both processes are complex, time bound and essential for us to achieve our goals. It isn't for everyone but the question I have to our members is: How do you expect us to reach our goals? Who do you think is doing the work to get us there?
I regularly receive ideas from members suggesting we do a project or contribute to work that others are doing. The first question I have is: Who is on your committee to do the work to get you there and who is going to be on the ground to maintain the governance of the project? Many times I don't hear from people again.
The message is, the buck stops here. We are responsible people with the capacity to reduce the drowning statistics but it won't happen if we do nothing. We all have a part to play to contribute to zero drowning 2075.
With our district grant applications yet to be determined, July is a waiting game. We have received advice that funds are available (AUD4,100) from the Sunshine Coast Council and the RC Alexandra Headlands have advised we will receive a minimum of $5,000 towards the Rotary Water Safety Campaign. We now need to put together and deliver a world class learn to swim program on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia for disadvantaged youth. Anyone interested in starting a similar project in their region should step up to be part of this committee to learn how the system operates.
Rotary is the most significant organisation in the world. Operating in every corner of the globe for the sole purpose of supporting those who need us, when they need us in a way that is meaningful to them. Rotary delivers billions of dollars in projects every year. However, it relies on its members to raise awareness and deliver on those needs.
The day we chartered we put our hands up to help in water safety and drowning prevention projects. We identified that training teachers was our first priority and funding school swimming programs followed fast behind. We remain steadfast in delivering on our promise.
In August Rotary International will release a story on our club that will be shared throughout the world. The energy this article will generate tells me we need to do more. There are still too many people drowning.
If you have 30 minutes a week then please put your hand up to be on a committee and do just one task. If everyone does one thing we will be able to do so much more.
With all that behind us we finished this month with an incredible birthday bash on 25th July. A huge thank you to Alina, Rhiannon and Michelle for all you contributed to put this event together at the last minute.
As a final note I want to remind everyone to follow our new Facebook page so we can start posting our projects and work that can be shared with family and friends.
We will continue to send our birthday and in house messages on the Global Water Safety Group but the limitations of this community group means we have now outgrown its borders and matured to a more global page to share what we do.
Eve Fraser
Charter President
