Presidents Report
There’s a bit to cover this week, but hopefully people at the moment have time to read it, as we are all restricted in our other activities.
Firstly thank you to John, for Chairing last week’s meeting, providing the Art Show Report, and facilitating the discussion about what to do with our meetings over the next few weeks. And thank you to Brian who is right on top of the communication!
The members decision last week to defer meetings and activities until the end of April, was consistent with the Board consensus, and my own opinion. The District Conference was cancelled, as you know. In hindsight with the overnight government announcements it was clearly the appropriate one.
I am aware that Mt.Martha, Dromana, Hastings-Westernport, and Somerville-Tyabb Rotary Clubs had taken similar decisions, and Mt.Eliza was seeking another venue, as Toorak College is not available. Rosebud - Rye were discussing it at their meeting this week.
Our planned train trip and lunch on the Mornington-Moorooduc Train on Sunday March 29 is postponed until later in the year. Our Welcome Back Dinner, for all past Mornington Rotarians, scheduled for April 29 is also postponed.
We agreed to review this on April 22, but it is hard to see any change to our current situation then. Given we have postponed the April 29 meeting it will be at least May before we resume.
What does this mean and what options do we have?
Our weekly Bulletin is going to be a very important part of our communication. The recommendation from last week’s meeting, that we use it, rather than individual emails on each item, is very sensible. So if you have something to communicate please get it to Brian by Sunday night. I already looked forward to receiving the Bulletin …but more so now!
We can all consider other on line communications …
- We have a much improved website, that you might want to spend some time browsing on, or learning more about. www.rotaryclubomornington.org.au
- Whilst we have only a few members who use Facebook, we do have and use a page. I am happy to spend some time helping anyone with an interest in this.
- Some other clubs are using on line tools to conduct meetings. There are a few different businesses providing this service but the Rotary endorsed one is “Zoom”. Simply, you participate in a meeting using your computer screen, camera, microphone and speakers.
- There is a local Rotary Club that only meets on line, using Zoom. See more about it at http://eclublatitude38.org
So if you are interested in any of these give me a call or email and we can progress it.
The Big Question is Projects and how do we serve the Community?
Whilst we may be constrained in face-to-face meetings there are still opportunities.
The projects we were talking about can all be progressed by phone and on line, as they are all in the planning & preparation stage.
- Further Bushfire Relief
- The Lid (roof) on the Long Table
- The Homeless Temporary Housing Project
- Gateway Park
Richard has already started work on next year’s Art Show, and there is a lot of planning and a timeline to be set up.
We can connect with, and remit funds to the several other projects we have agreed on such as Foundation, Australian Rotary Health and Disaster Aid (Sky Hydrant)
Several other Rotary Clubs are out asking their communities and health authorities how we might be able to help? Any ideas?
It is also a time we can help members with both an interest and time available to get more involved in the club, through our Committees and administration. Examples of administration projects include getting our Volunteer Skills Register up to date, helping members with their Working With Children checks, using our IT platform Club Runner, and our Club Risk Management assessment. Again if interested please call out? No need to get bored!
Ride for Australian Rotary Health
Hopefully you received my apologies for being away last week, on a pre-arranged trip. On Monday the 16th of Match 2020, I was one of eight bike riders who set off from Wodonga along the Great Alpine Road. We all successfully arrived in Bairnsdale, via Falls Creek and Metung, on Thursday the 19th, having completed roughly 350klm, climbed 3700 metres, burnt 12000 calories, and consumed a lot more. We successfully invested over $5000 in the local economies of fire ravaged Victoria, staying overnight in Mt.Beauty, Omeo and Bruthen. We have raised (so far) nearly $1500 for mental health research – Lift the Lid on Mental Health- Australian Rotary Health. If you would like to contribute please remit your money to John Parkinson, either by cheque, cash or bank deposit, (Rotary Club of Mornington, BSB 633-000 A/C 146806344 simply noting “Bike Ride”). It would be great to get to $2500. And yes it was fun!
Club President, Ross Kilborn "putting in the hard yards" on a hilly ascent, well done legs !!
Thanks Ross
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