Our Guest Speaker next week will be Sherry Johnstone who will be talking to us about the local indigenous early learning program.
Next week will be a cooked breakfast and the cost will be $20.00
Remember to send your apology through to Steve on 0457 926 657 by Midday on Tuesday if you won’t be at the next meeting.
Please also notify Steve if you will be attending the meeting but not having breakfast, as the Mid City require seating as well as breakfast numbers.
Rotary - Making a Difference
Cheers,
Jan
DISTRICT BOARD MEETING 25TH NOVEMBER
NOTES
AGM HELD
Passed D Stephen Lamont thanked all Clubs and members for their support during his year as DG. His report has previously been sent to all Clubs.
Financial report showing a strong position as at 309th June. Reports have been previously circulated to Clubs.
District Office bearers confirmed for the nest Rotary year.
Normal AGM process completed.
Board Meeting;
Training session co ordinated by Howard Randall on the use of Office 365 which is the working platform for District committee. A great tool once I get my head around it.
Re Districting will not happen in Victoria. Threshold of a District is 1,100 members.
Youth program audit being undertaken by the responsible authority.
4 Clubs yet to pay Dues.
RI very supportive of Scholarships.
Government Grants available for Youth Science Forum and the like.
The 2 Hamilton Clubs are to amalgamate.
Encouraging Clubs to collaborate with smaller Clubs, especially those that have small membership and located in small rural towns.
Membership seminar to be held in Warrnambool 3rd & 4th March 2018. Requesting that each Club have representative attend, most likely the Club Membership Director.
DGE Anthony Olsen will hold if Change Over Dinner 27th May 2018 with the District Conference to be held 22nd- 24th March 2019.
Foundation;
Peter Simmons Rotary Club of Portland happy to be guest speaker if needed.
Numerous Clubs sitting on Foundation points that could be used to recognise a Paul Harris fellow recipient. Please give this some thought for either a Rotarian of member of your community. Foundation have funds available for Grants. Try to have a representative at the District Assembly to attend Foundation Training.
Youth Exchange
Chair Phil Quirk has resigned due to relocation back to Queensland with his work.
Graham Cox will be interim Chair with Christine Duffy as Secretary.
Due to lack of succession plans over past years the committee is being revamp. If you have any member interested in being a committee member please contact Christine Duffy, Youth exchange Committee.
Child Safe Standards
I report that numerous Rotarians are not willing to sign the Form 3 known as the Rotary Youth Volunteer Information and Declaration Form. I advised that as a Group we are having a member who is also a Solicitor to look at the form and provide advice. I spoke with Pam Capstick AG Youth Services and have since received the following commentary around this issue. I think it will be for each Rotarian to make their personal call on this issue, however I suggest that we wait until we have the legal advice
“Hi John,
I have done some follow up work after the meeting today.
I understood, and have had it confirmed, that the volunteer declaration form has been written in that way to meet insurance requirements.
It is strongly advised that all Rotarians and clubs who are involved with youth follow the procedures outlined in the District Youth Procedures and Policy Guidelines.
Of course, we cannot enforce this.
However, if clubs participate in youth programs and don’t follow the guidelines, or the policy and procedures that we have put into place as a district, then the onus or fault is with them, should an incident occur.
The advice from our National Insurance adviser PDG Peter Kaye is that if a Rotarian is involved in any incident, once the Governor of the day has been informed, and the Rotarian put in touch with our legal adviser, if there is not a signed Form 3 on record, then there will be no support from Rotary.
I know this sounds very officious, but it is important that we are clear and concise with the facts.
Apparently, it is incredibly difficult for all bodies that run youth programs to obtain insurance, and to do so we have to jump through some hoops. There is no doubt it is tiresome, inconvenient, and we wonder if it is all worth it. I have no doubt that it is.”
All Club reports presented with each AG providing short overview of activities.
All Clubs undertaking similar projects and events.
Ballarat Clubs combining for their annual Swap Meet. Of the 2,500 sites available 93% have been sold and paid for with the remainder expected to sell within the coming weeks. If your Club would like to earn some extra funds the organizers are offering $15 per hour per person. Contact the Ballarat South Rotary Club.
Warrnambool Central Club collaborated with the Warracknabeal Club to sponsor a youth form Brim to attend the Defying the Drift program.
I made mention of our Training day on December 9th 2pm – 4pm.
Ballarat South Clubs have several young members taking up positions within the Club. There has been some push back from some “Older Members” that they are to young. District Board members supported the Clubs stance to encourage younger members not only to join Rotary but also take on responsibility.
Ride the Bellarine to be held 15th April 2018, this is a Polio Plus fund raiser. Challenge put out for each District Group to enter a team.
That’s about it, meeting finished around 3.15pm.
John Clue
9780 Grp5 AG
.jpg "President Ian Mc Kay & wife Sherril")
.jpg)
.jpg)
