President Neil welcomed members and especially our Honorary Member, Joe Italiano to whom the club are very grateful for Joe's efforts in designing and printing the 2016 Collie Rotary Wall Calendar.  Tonight we are here to bind all 4000 calendars. Members here tonight will be fluidly refreshed and later satiated with large helpings of pizza.

Vocational Graeme has arranged a Perth Transit Bus to leave the PCYC car park at 6:30 PM next Thursday 3rd December, then off to somewhere special. On the way we'll pick up Mike Booth, Keith Martin, and anyone else who wish to be collected, please let Graeme know, otherwise meet at the PCYC car park.

 

Dinner is at 7:00 PM at a premises where smoking and drinking are not permitted.  However there will be refreshments on the bus, plus there will be sufficient room to also hold our meeting on the bus. Let Keith know of numbers early so catering can be finalised.

The Collie Scouts have sent an invite for a representative to attend their end of year function at the Scout Hall on Saturday 5th December between 11:00AM and 3:00PM. Eric volunteered to attend and RSVP to Scout Leader, Tania Marsden on 97343370.

The Shire of Collie has invited a representative and guest to their Christmas Dinner function to be held here on Friday 11th December. As President Neil is not available to attend Secretary Donna volunteered. Donna to RSVP to the attached invite.

We have received an invite for a representative to attend the Collie Senior High School Annual Awards at 9:30 AM on Tuesday 15th December. The representative will be expected to present the Herbert Rowe Memorial Award of a certificate and $300 cheque to a top year 10 student.  Donna volunteered to perform this duty and RSVP the school. 

Attendance - Tonight we had 26 members, 1 honorary member and no guests. With 4 absences the attendance figure is 87.1%

Christmas Dinner at the Harris River Winery - Keith needs the numbers of members, partners, guests who will be attending our Christmas dinner on the 17th December.

Bowling Night Challenge - Fellowship Mike has issued Lions a challenge at night bowls on Thursday 25th February.

Members were informed and saddened of news from Barbara Jones that she is closing down Collie Travel and Cruise after many years of operation. Current economics make it difficult to remain open. Other businesses in Collie are finding current trading difficult and Barbara's message is locals must support local businesses as they provide a personalised and competitive service and once gone may not be replaced. Members gave their solemn appreciation to Barbara and her building of, and running Collie's sole travel business, wishing her well for the future. Collie is much the poorer for the loss of this service. Everyone, please please support our local businesses.

An item for carryover from last week was to gauge members opinion on the weekly meeting meal. Some concerns have been raised over the variations in quality and quantity from week to week and this may be a function of cost. Feedback had been given previously and the standard improved for a period. Recent feedback has not been given.

 

It has been noted that the cost of meal for members hasn't increased in 10 years. During this time it has gone from three courses, then two, now one. The breakdown of costs are for the $22, $15 goes to the caterers who also pay the golf club $50. Of the remaining $7, $3 goes to the Golf Club for use of the facility, cleaning, washing, etc., $2 goes to Rotary Foundation as part of our $100 per member per year commitment, $1 to cover any guest visitor costs and $1 for transport when visiting other clubs or fellowship visits.

 

Options previously explored are to increase the cost of the meal in hope of better quality, change venue to the Ridge to reduce meal facilitation costs, provide the caterer with a list of standard meals that will suit the club expectations within the costs provided, give immediate feedback after each weekly meeting to the caterer. There were various discussions on the relative importance of the meal, raising the overall weekly price to $25, etc.

 

President Neil asked the meeting if there were objections to this item being discussed at the Directors meeting of the 9th December. No objections were raised.

 

Rotarians were busy at their weekly club meeting, collating the 2016 annual Collie Rotary Wall Calendar to ready for distribution. Our honorary member, Joe Italiano has helped with the design and printing of the 2016 year calendar and local Rotarians spent an evening collating and binding each calendar they will deliver to Collie households over the next few weeks.

 

Collie businesses and town need your support. So when you receive your calendar, please place it in a prominent place as a ready reference for local goods, trades and services. Keeping your purchases local helps the Collie economy stay healthy, and local people employed. Every dollar counts when spent in our community, and Rotary are grateful for Collie's sponsorship by businesses and individuals to produce the 2016 calendar.