Last week’s meeting at Avondale with Patricia Garcia AO, Rotary Peace Fellow, was an educational night with a great meal and good company.
Patricia explained how measuring peace at the global and national level allows us to assess the social, political and economic factors that create peace. Each year the Institute for Economics and Peace produces the Global Peace Index, the world’s leading measure of national peacefulness, ranking 163 countries according to their levels of peace. I found it interesting that Australia was only #13.

The Positive Peace Report 2019 explained how the ‘Positive Peace Index’ (PPI) shows much more than the absence of violence. Positive Peace describes the attitudes, structures and institutions that underpin and sustain peaceful societies. The Institute has developed a conceptual framework, known as the Pillars of Peace that outlines a system of eight factors that work together to build positive peace. Those countries with a high or improving PPI have better environmental outcomes, a stronger resilience to disasters and political shocks and higher measures of wellbeing. Thank you to our 16 guests who attended and we hope you enjoyed the night. 

“Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears” – A very good Aussie film!
Dinah and I were fortunate enough to meet with Essie Davis and Nathan Page yesterday, the stars of the new Phryne Fisher film opening this Wednesday 26^th Feb, and then watch their film.
It is a very good film in the style of Indiana Jones, filmed in Morocco, the Sahara and Melbourne.
We really enjoyed it and can recommend it. If you do think you will go and see it, try to go on the weekend as that will influence the ‘backers’ to finance another film and/or series! We need more good Aussie films!

Board Meeting 5.30pm this week prior to our general membership guest speaker meeting.  Board Directors are reminded to please send monthly reports through day prior.

Next Wednesday 26^th Feb [6:30PM for 7PM] we welcome back our fantastical Prof Bhuvan Unhelkar to Avondale GC from the US of A where he will entertain and inform us with Bhuvan’s Experiences in the USA (and elsewhere) and his main subject, The Role of Rotary in Society. Bhuvan is a speaker much in demand throughout the world and we are delighted and thankful that he is back at his old Club to keep us up to date on what is happening.
We also have a Board Meeting from 5:30PM at AGC.

On Wednesday 4^th March at Canisius our own Frank Dobosi will speak on The History of Mosaics. Not only will Frank describe the evolution of mosaics from Mesopotamian times to the history of mosaics in Australia. Frank is well known for his skill in creating mosaic art so we look forward to his exposition.
Please bring some guests!

Membership
We have two potential members of our Club with a third in preliminary discussions. Over the next few weeks we will be introducing these potential members to you at meetings. Get to know them as well as enjoying the meeting. Our Club needs new members so we can enjoy Rotary and spread the volunteering.

The BOBBO is ‘on’ 29^th March
This event is a major charity fund raiser and publicity event for our four Rotary Clubs, namely St Ives, Wahroonga, Turramurra and Ku-ring-gai. Please volunteer or arrange volunteers by contacting John Waterhouse. We still need more so that volunteers can get a break after a few hours marshalling, guiding, feeding or administering this event. Our St Ives Club volunteer briefing is on 18March at 7pm at the St Ives Club as part of our normal weekly meeting. Volunteers who just require the briefing can meet at Lifeline at 7pm on 23 March. The committee met last Thursday and all preparations are ‘on track’.

St Ives Food & Wine Festival has been confirmed for 13^th September 2020. 
We have had our regular F&W committee meeting last week and we request members to look for sponsors and participants for this, our major Club fundraising event.

New Rotary Collaboration with Toastmasters
“Rotary is proud to be working with Toastmasters International, a leading international educational organization that helps its members become more effective speakers, communicators, and leaders.

This new collaboration is designed to enhance your membership experience, as well as help you expand your network, develop your leadership and communication skills, and make an even bigger impact in your community. There are many ways your club can get involved with the Toastmasters collaboration. To start, find a Toastmasters club and arrange a visit, or invite a Toastmasters member to one of your club service activities or social events.  

We  look forward to building on our existing relationship with the St Ives Toastmasters.

Drought Recovery Donations
Our Club will continue to support those affected by the drought and bushfires. We invite members and friends to make tax deductible donations through our Trust account. We will let the experts and those on the ground select where to donate. However, rest assured that we will donate wherever we are advised support is needed.
“St Ives Rotary Charitable Trust” BSB: 633 000 - Account: 161 181 482
We will issue a receipt for all donations greater than $2 and forward 100% to either the Rotary Clubs of Australia Drought Appeal or the Bushfire Disaster Appeal.
Both these appeals are administered through Bendigo Bank and we selected them as 100% of the funds we contribute “go directly to the communities in need”. 
Please advise Treasurer John Steel on jlsteel@optusnet.com.au which appeal you select.

LATE BREAKING NEWS
The National Rotary Bushfire Appeal has this week EXCEEDED $1,000,000 in donations and pledges!
This is a fabulous achievement and reflection of the faith put in Rotary for its ability to return these donations to the communities so very much in need.
 

Have a great week!

Russell Crofts
President