Sergeant Bill opened the meeting at 6:30pm and introduced President Les who welcomed members (no Honorary Members were present tonight), President Les went on to welcome our Guests; District Governor Andy Rajapakse, Asst. Governor Sheila Ponting and Cliff Harmsworth (President of Mermaid Beach Rotary).
Toast
Andrew McTaggart proposed a toast to all the hardworking and dedicated workers in the front line against Covid 19.
In his address President Les advised the following:
We have had no confirmation at this point of a Bunnings sausage sizzle date in October.
The President thanked Members Robyn Brown and Peter Dimond for their excellent organisation of last week’s Barefoot Bowls evening.
President Les had visited the Surfers Sunrise Men’s Shed last week to find P.P. Graham Sivyer and Hon. Members Uwe Seifert & Kevin O'Brien busy putting the 2nd coat of paint on the parts for the extension x-ray facility for the Pentecost Island Project.
On 14th November Surfers Sunrise Club will be celebrating their 10,000th wheelchair, a celebration will be held and Broadbeach Club members are invited and we will be organising a raffle. This celebration will take place at the men’s shed from 9am to 1pm and the Pentecost Island x-ray building will be erected for us to view.
Surfers Sunrise club now have a covid safe plan in place for their shed and we have used a slightly modified version to submit in order for us to resume using the Hub for our monthly meetings.
The Vocational visit planned to the Surfers Paradise Police HQ has had to be cancelled due to Covid 19 restrictions.
It is planned to hold regular Zoom meetings of Club Presidents in our cluster to encourage greater cooperation.
President Les was very happy to announce that Yong is to take on the role of Social Media organiser for our club.
Andrew McTaggart on Silver Circle
Andrew advised that next week will be the first draw for a $50 prize, with the big bucks reserved for the draw at the Christmas Party. There are a few spots left for members to join prior to next week’s draw.
Sergeant at Arms
Sergeant Bill appointed Nasser and Nayer as his Bunyips and went on in his cheerful way to empty the pockets of embarrassed members and guests for the most trivial of misdemeanours.
Raffle and H & T
Winners were Grahame Werrell and Andrew McTaggart
Address by District Governor Andy Rajapakse
We are accustomed to District Governors preaching the gospel of increased membership and tonight’s address by Governor Andy was no exception with a target of achieving 1,400 members in District 9640 by 2022, however his enthusiasm for the task was inspiring. He is a member of Burleigh Heads club and holder of 6 Paul Harris Fellowships. He was born in Sri Lanka but has been a member of Rotary in several different countries. Andy moved to Australia only 7 years ago and had no family, no contacts and no friends when he arrived – Rotary was his salvation with a huge circle of friends he could depend on. He stressed the District Governor is a member of all the clubs in the District and that friendship is the glue that binds us all together.
Broadbeach Rotary Club was Chartered in 1982 and in August 2022 our Club will celebrate our 50th anniversary.
Rotary International will record another major milestone next year when we induct the first female International President since Rotary began.
Next year Rotary in Australia will be 100 years old and in terms of new clubs (if not membership) we continue to grow and diversify. Recently 70 new clubs have been chartered and the challenge facing us is how to manage new clubs. We need to consider innovative ways of attracting and preserving younger members for the next generation of Rotary’s history. Some new clubs are already moving to this end of making Rotary more attractive such as: meeting only once per month, charging only $10 per attendance, responding very quickly to new applicants and ensuring potential new members are treated with the great friendship by the members of the welcoming club. The best thing Rotary offers is friendship.
In response to our Sergeants efforts DG Andy told of the way the Sergeant works in Burleigh Heads club asking members what makes them happy and their “happy” fines are all in notes – no coins allowed. Proceeds all go to the End Polio Now Campaign.
In conclusion DG Andy left us with this thought “The future of Rotary is ours to win or lose”.
President Les Toast to COVID workers DG Andy Rajapakse
Enjoying Fellowship & Dinner Sergeant Bill & Bunyips Nasser & Nayer
Grahame won the raffle Andrew won Heads & Tails
AG Sheila with our most attractive members Les presents Andy with our Club glass
The Board preparing for its meeting following the Club Dinner Meeting
