Harry and Jan have returned from their holiday cruising from Budapest in Hungary to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. And now its time to get back into continuing the work at the BMX track.  The beam and battens have arrived and ready to go in.  We need four persons to help install these and Harry circulated a list with Robyn, Norm and Neil able to make next Tuesday.  If anyone else is available, please let Harry know.

On Saturday 19th September we are organising a bus trip to Bridgetown to visit a winery and make our own wine.  Here is an opportunity to invite friends, family and potential members.  President Neil has spoken to the Vigneron and he is expecting us at 10AM as they have a fully booked day. It takes 1 hour to bottle the wine, and 1/2 hour to drink. We'll take a picnic lunch and they will provide a barbeque. There will be guitarist for entertainment and for those pressing wine, their product will be available for $75 per case.  Next week we hope to firm up numbers. A show of hands indicated four Rotarians, so we need as many members, friends and family to make this a worthwhil and enjoyable day.

Following on from last week, Community Mark has contacted the Pinaroo managers and the Chapel committee is to organise a date to travel and meet with them regarding issues and guidance on building Collie's Chapel.  There will be a meeting of the project group after this meeting.

To everyone - what was the Question of the Week? And what is the Answer?

John Vlasich responded the question of the week was "What is the minimum attendance requirement?, and the answer is each member is expected to attend more than 60% of weekly meetings.

The Leadership WA evening will be a normal meeting to be held at the Comfort Inn - Salle a manger restaurant on Thursday 17th September.  We are expecting around 80 persons, comprising 44 Leadership WA group; 10 invited guests and all Collie Rotarians.  It will be a 5:45PM start with panel discussions up to dinner at 7:30PM, then presentations by community leaders.  This is a high-powered and influencal group of WA business leaders who's aim is to provide their leadership and expertise for the benefit of WA communities.  All Rotarians are expected to attend as we are the hosts to facilitate this meeting.

Attendance -  83.33% with a five apologies absences and three makeups.

Cards - Damien had first pick which led to Guest Georgena given the chance to pick the Joker, but was not found.

Wheel - Georgina won the first spin, led to Peter, led to Neil with nil winnings.

 

Welcome back - Martin, Harry and Bernie

No birthdays nor anniversaries,

Inductions - Keith Martin was inducted to Collie Rotary 40 years ago and congratulated by the club

Misplaced club badges - Donna

Guests - Ken and Georgena Jenkyn; David and Sharon Moulden; Janine Bylund

Late - Terry

Early - Bernie and Harry, a surprise for everyone as we all had to pay

In the paper - Neil for Eric with a Fire Truck; Peter for his grandson

Two reports - Robyn

Handballing speaker duties - Eric

Haircut - Rod

Too fast in a school zone and on a mobile phone - Rod pleaded not guilty but was fined anyway

Bought the box - Terry for Neil and a length of bought chain; Martin for John Bylund who queue-jumped to get his spuds at the Medieval Fair.

Joke - giving a wife a compliment on her good eyesight

 

Youth Director, John Bylund introduced Ken Jenkyn who is the District RYE Placement Officer for Italy and Japan. Ken and wife Georgena are currently touring the south-west.

Ken outlined his role as part of the District RYE Committee. In this presentation, on behalf of District RYE Director, Ross Grafton, and as his delegate, will be giving much the same talk as he would to the gathering of inbound students at Woodman Point in three weeks time, except reduced to a much shorter time for tonight's meeting.

 

Ken would have liked to have met our incoming RYE student Alice, but was unable to meet her at the airport nor tonight.  However reports so far is she has settled in well and is an excellent RYE ambassador for Italy. 

 

Ken and Georgena have hosted 10 RYE students over 30 years in Rotary, 12 of which were in Darwin. They have moved to Esperance in 2012 to be closer to their daughter.  Whilst in Darwin Ken was responsible for the District Zone 1 RYE, comprising of clubs in the Northern territory and Timor Leste no less.

 

The role of the District 9465 RYE Committee is in the final stages and placement of RYE's; the preparation of outgoing RYE's and orientation of incoming RYE's.  Georgena has come on-board as the committees Compliance Officer, an important role to make sure the ETI and kept advised of student details and movements.

 

One aspect of hosting an RYE student is "Inbound Syndrome" where differences in culture and expectations affect the RYE.  Most students experience anxiety and mood swings during the first three months due to the differences in what they are used to compared to their new society experience. They undergo a steep learning curve and sometimes get frustrated at seemingly small things. This is where the Woodman Point gathering is useful in rejuvenating and normalising their concerns. They develop a "web of friendship" by meeting others who are going through the same feelings as they and are able to learn how to cope from other RYE's.

 

To reduce inbound syndrome, host families should keep their RYE's active and involved, bring them to club meetings and have them experience as many aspects of our society as possible. Hosts must make sure the RYE adapts to our society and not the other way around and there would be no point in the RYE program. To assist Host Families are given a first night 60 questions list, and the student has the same list in their language.  The helps allay any concerns and sets up rules and expectations for both parties. There are the cardinal 4-D's, no drinking, no driving, no dating and no drugs. There may be cultural exceptions to having a drink of wine with a meal if that is normal for their culture and the host family, but not permitted in any other circumstance.  The RYE must not break the law, and they are automatically returned to their country if that occurs.

 

Georgena pointed out that although RYE is a great experience for the RYE, it is not a holiday and it must be remembered they are ambassadors for their country and club. On the whole the vast majority of RYE's are well-behaved and good ambassadors, but there have been a few who have had to return home early.  There is an absolute obligation on the hosts to ensure supervisor and care of their charge as the process sees the student mature approximately four years in their year of RYE.

 

Ken spoke of the joy of seeing RYE's develop into confident young people and gave a few examples. In one case a young timid girl called Maria from Timor Leste is now a United Nations ambassador and travels the world. That is what makes RYE worthwhile.

There are many student who would like to experience RYE placement. With 5000 RYE in placement around the world, there could be more and the only thing holding back more being involved is the number of available and suitable host families. 

 

There were a few questions of Ken and Georgena regarding Working with Children cards, debriefing of RYE's at the country of origin and the need for district to be kept advised of RYE movements.

 

On behalf of the club, Rod Cross gave a vote a thanks for a most enlightening and interesting aspect of Rotary life.