Acting President Judy Ross opened the meeting and welcomed everyone, including Youth Exchange Student, Axelle Berthoumiel, who was our guest speaker for the evening.
Judy mentioned that it is 87 years since our Club was chartered on the 20th November 1929.
Judy thanked (and named) the many members who helped with the very successful Youth Exchange Program at the weekend, preparing and providing food for the students and hosting them. The support was great!
Judy asked members to keep in mind the Peace Concert on March 9th 2017. Karina is on the committee.
Judy had a message from Brian saying that information in the Bulletin about a District Conference in 2018 was incorrect. It is District 9800, not ours.
Also a warning! There has been an Email hoax circulating, using Rotary International leaders names, asking for member details. If you receive such an email DO NOT OPEN IT!
DIK are seeking second-hand books for children from Kinder to Year 9 for school reading and texts. It may be worth contacting schools to see if they have old books that are no longer need. Any Rotarian who has a school contact is asked to inquire if the school has any old books they may like to donate to this cause.
Board Member Nominations
Trevor Williams is seeking nominations for new Board Members. Secretary and Treasurer roles have been filled. Please contact him if you can help.
Youth Exchange Weekend
Louise Brennan, on behalf of the District 9780 Youth Exchange Committee, thanked the many members who helped with the Youth Exchange Program at the weekend. Louise thanked the organisers Louise, Jules and Judy and crew. She said there were so many wonderful helpers she did not mention, in case she left someone out. To everyone who chopped, baked, cleaned and carted, thank you. Thank you, too, to the host families. It is hoped they all enjoyed having the students for the night. On Saturday night Louise said that MC Judy did a superb job, as did fines- masters Terry and Paul, and reception crew Bunny, Rachel and Tony. And on Sunday she said Andrea Sampson was speaker extraordinaire!
Raffle Tickets
Louise Brennan also asked for help to sell the CAR raffle tickets this weekend. Time slots, as on previous weekends are: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 1pm, 1pm to 3pm and 3pm to 5pm each day. If you can help, please contact Louise.
Youth Exchange Student Axelle Berthoumiell (with the help of photos projected on to a screen) told us about herself and her background.
Axelle said she is 17 years old. She is from France and finished year 11 in June. She intends to do Year 12 next year when she returns home. Photography, drawing, Spanish dancing, canoeing and skiing (especially in the Alps) are some of her favourite activities.
Nerac, the little town Axelle comes from, is so small (population 7,000) Axelle said it is possible to walk everywhere and the buildings are very old. Axelle said school life is also very different. She said in Nerac, there are no uniforms, no assembly and no graduation. Students don’t speak with teachers. She said she likes the school uniform we have here because it saves thinking about what to wear.
She included some photos of well known buildings and monuments – the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph, and Notre Dame. She said she chose to come here because she wanted to learn to speak English.
My name is Axelle, I'm 17 years old and I am an exchange student in Warrnambool for a year.
I arrived in Warrnambool the 20th of July, almost four months ago then.
I went in king's college during nearly two months and I am now in Brauer where I am very happy. I find Australian school so interesting with lots of things to do compare to my school.
I stayed with Jenny and Serge Bacchetti for my first three months, and I'm now staying with Louise Brennan and Steve Giddens.
I already went in few different places such as Queenscliff, Lakes Entrance, Bemm river, Melbourne, Puffing Billy or again Nelson. I also saw lots of Kangaroo, whales and very nice birds.
I went sailing as well with my school and we will do different other activities like surfing, snorkeling or paddle.
My english improved since I'm arrive which is really helpful.
I really like the fact to be with other exchange student from Rotary with me in Warrnambool.
I enjoyed so far and i look forward for my next few months and of course the bus trips.
Ian Cairns, Terry O’Neill, Steve Giddens, Ian Sadler, Michael Boyd & Trevor Williams have formed a Rotary team for the Corporate Bowls Competition. Its not the winning that counts but the fun and fellowship of playing, apparently.
Wanda's dishwasher quit working so she called in a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, "I'll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a check. Oh, by the way don't worry about my dog Spike. He won't bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot! "I MUST STRESS TO YOU: DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!!!"
When the repairman arrived at Wanda's apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog he has ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work. The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name calling.
Finally the repairman couldn't contain himself any longer and yelled, "Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!"
Judy chairing the dinner meeting on Saturday evening.
