Mark's ReMarks 23

Posted by David Ling 
 

Marks Remarks

I have decided this week not to comment on the speakers last week as I am sure I will be biased.
In listening to the report form our Rylarians I couldn't help but think how fortunate we are to have a program like RYLA. I'm sure for most of us in the club there was simply no training of that type available at all. This year again the course only got sufficient numbers at the last minute. I hope next year we can put the date on our calendar early and make sure we have at least one candidate in place early .

I have mentioned before how impressed I have been with the standard of speakers at our weekly meetings Only two weeks ago we had one of the most interesting speakers I have heard in Steven Mayne. I thought Steve Briffa also did a great job as chairman. It is one day I will certainly remember from my presidential year, especially on the day of 106th anniversary of the first Rotary meeting . Steven did not ask for any remuneration and in fact donated $100 to polio plus and thanks to the generosity of Ron Myerscough,  was made  a Paul Harris Fellow.

On the subject of meetings, our meeting on Wednesday 16 March is listed for club information and planning. I am particularly keen to lead a discussion on membership as I believe it is the main issue for our club and for that matter all service clubs.

I am happy to discuss all and any ideas and a few areas that cross my mind for discussion are :

-        Can we change our meetings to make them more appealing?

-        Are our annual fees at the correct level?  Note some clubs in the district subsidise their annual fees by fundraising activities.

-        In 2011 what are people in their 40 s looking for in a club like rotary?

-        What steps can we take right now to attract new members and retain our existing ones?

I had the privilege of taking part in the Relay for life last weekend and Ray Davies was correct. Once you have experienced it you want to go back the next year.
I have just learned that the relay raised over $102,000. Well done especially to Martyn Thompson who put in so much work and also attended the whole event and only had a few hours sleep on Saturday night (and looked like it on Sunday morning !Sorry Martyn)

Finally, we have the opportunity to do a BBQ at Eltham Bunnings. Thats the good news . The bad news is the date is Easter Sunday 10 April. If there are enough people around on the date we will do it. Please let Mark Sefton know ASAP if you are interested. 

Cheers for now