Tonight's toast…………Was proposed by Pauline Armstrong. A toast to Rotary E-clubs of Australia was a fitting introduction to the meeting with to-nights guest speakers from the E-club Next Gen Qld.
President Bruce……..Acknowledged the 20 attendees to the meeting with guest Rotarians Ingrid Jewson and Bruce Rogers as our guest speakers for the night. There were no other guests or Honorary members present.
President Bruce further announced that at this time there is 10 travellers to our sister club Kasaoka 75th birthday………A reminder to diary the District conference to be held in Ballina in May, group accommodation can be arranged and the conference promises to be outstanding…………..Keith Hawton is recovering from his recent illness, while still in hospital looks forward to visitors and expects to be home soon.
Directors report from Neil Jones……..Bill Rex and Neil Jones will represent Broadbeach Rotary club attending the Pacific Hope project in Tauranga. A joint project of the three sister clubs Broadbeach, Tauranga and Kasaoka.
Rotary clubs in our District in conjunction with Griffith University have commenced a Malaria Vaccine Project. Object is to raise $500K..To date $38K has been raised. Project launch will be in March by the Govenor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
Pauline Armstrong and Noel Hodges are the club’s latest members of this years centurian donors ($100 donation this year)…..To date $2226.50 has been donated by half club members.
Hidden Figures is the next fund raising movie to be held at the Arts Centre on 2nd Feb…. $20 a head, monies to Polio Plus and this can be a member’s contribution to the foundation.
Sergeant Kevin aided by the two Neil’s did the usual cleanup of members gold coins………David O’Dwyer after spilling his beer won Heads & Tails while our guest Ingrdd drew the sergeant's number in the raffle.
Guest Speaker Bruce Rogers….Originally from Sydney Bruce’s last employment in Sydney was as franchisee of the Cheesecake Shop – Baulkham Hills but after operating that business with his wife for seven and a half years, they decided that they had had enough of 7 days a week, ten hours a day and sold up. Being technically unemployed (or as it turns out between businesses) they embarked on their first interstate holidays and enjoyed time on the Sunshine Coast. Probably enjoyed it too much because they decided on the way home that they should sell up and move north although they did end up on the Gold Coast. Cashed up but with no idea where they were going and what they were going to do, they set off with two cars packed to the hilt and three kids and made their way up to the coast. Turned out to the best move ever.
Bruce and his wife have been working together for about seven years now with a home based Mortgage broking business . Three children from 19 – 24 and two grandchildren so life is not dull. Service clubs have always been a part of Bruce’s life – Rotaract and two Apex Clubs in Sydney and Parkwood Rotary here and now the E-Club.
Interests are reading, playing golf to varying standards and enjoying life with family and friends.
Tonight’s Guest speaker Bruce Rogers.
Helping GC Kids Project – a project that the members of the Rotary E-Club of NextGen took on at short notice with the challenge of finding close to 800 Christmas presents for children in foster care on the Gold Coast.
Starting with nothing but a group of four club members who wanted to see this happen but without any real idea of how to make it work. Meant to get the project underway in early September but couldn’t achieve this for a number of reasons and didn’t really start until mid-October so it is really satisfying to see that on handover on the afternoon of 15 December, the club delivered all but 15 presents
The highlight was definitely delivering the presents to the staff at the Department of Communities, Child Safety & Disability Services. They were so delighted to come down and helps unload three cars with presents collected from various sources but they were overwhelmed when they were told that there was a truck still to come with a further 500 presents. Their joy was unbelievable and it made it all so worthwhile.
The assistance from the staff at these centres was great and contributed to the success of the project. Also collected gifts at the Healthy choices Lifestyle Club at Bundall.
The following e-mail received from Kristie at Department of Communities Services that reads in part “The kids have all been ecstatic with the presents provided (some couldn’t wait until Christmas
to open them) and I am yet to hear of any young person who has not totally loved their gift.
THE MEETING IN PICTURES
Andrew & Bill enjoying door duty President Bruce gets things underway
A Presenter's eye view of the meeting Pauline & Noel Join our "Centurion" group
Ingrid drew sergeant Kevin's number and received a hug and the task of presenting the prize
Heads & Tails Winner David gets a hug Guest Speaker Rotarian Bruce Rogers
E Club Double Act Bruce & Ingrid Mementos for our guest speakers
