President Neil Martin welcomed our new year District Governor, Melodie Kevan and Past District Governor, John Kevan to our club meeting. At this meeting for the first time the Club Board of Directors are to meet with our DG to review our plans for the coming 12 months.

The District Governor was please Collie was the first club to complete and submit their Rotary District 9465 2015 - 2016 Club Checklist and the meeting centred on a discussion and suggestions for improvements where applicable. A copy of our checklist can be found here.

 

 

• Register our Club goals into Rotary Central
• Obtaining and reviewing the membership retention manual as a club
• Conducting exit interviews if possible
• Involvement in literacy programs, such as the Rotary supported "Better Beginnings"
• Separating the $100 per club member in the annual fund contribution to allow Every Rotarian Every Year recognition
• Allowing two persons access to edit Facebook
• Support GSE if possible for exchanges with Malaysia (more information coming)

Past District Governor, John Kevan gave a presentation on the importance of supporting a Global Grant application to provide equipment for early detection of disease and training for hospitals in Sri Lanka.

  The Applecross Club were the host for this project and the project needs approximately $240,000 to be successful.  The submission is well advanced and pledges of support have been received by many Australian and International Clubs including Collie Rotary.

 President Neil hands Past District Governor John a cheque from the club towards the Sri Lanka project. Details on the Sri Lanka medical aid project can be found here.

 

 

 

District Governor, Melodie Kevan has presented a Rotary International, Presidential Citation to the Rotary Club of Collie. The Presidential Citation is for conformance to a number of criteria specified by 2014-2015 RI President across a number of areas of service.

 

In accepting the award to Past President, Bob Greig said this was an award for the efforts of the club as a whole and a significant achievement and a great honour.

President Neil thanked those who attended today's official reopening of the Tourist Mine and paid special tribute to Doug Gulvin who worked on the original Tourist Mine construction in 1972, and Collie Rotary has had significant input into the development and maintenance of that and the new Tourist mine over the years.  A little known fact is Rotary also funded the first Tourist Centre.

Neil thanked the project leaders of Geoff Blackford, Mark Sanders and their teams for the enormous work that had been completed on this Collie tourist icon.

Mark Sander later asked for volunteers for this Saturdays public opening to assist with the BBQ and drinks to let him know.

As Keith Martin was on a cruise holiday at the time of the Changeover meeting on June 25th, Past President Bob gave thanks to the work of Keith Martin as our Registrar. This role is a key to making sure our members are accounted for attendance, payment of weekly fees, maintaining the books as well as running the wheel and cards.

 

For his exemplary service and dedication Pst President Bob awarded Keith Martin a Certificate of Appreciation.

As Mark was not able to attend the Changover meeting of 25th June, Past President Bob took the opportunity to explain to the meeting the significance of one of Rotary's highest awards, the Paul Harris Fellow.  A PHF is awarded for meritorious service and upholding the ideals of Rotary. Over the years Mark has given the club great leadership and shown a willingness and adeptness to carry out and complete whatever task he is put to, and this year has been no exception with Mark's management of the Keep Collie Clean project.  It is for these reasons Past President Bob has awarded Mark his second PHF.

 

District Governor Melodie handed mark his award and PHF first sapphire pin. 

District Governor, Melodie Kevan addressed the Collie club with an overview of activities and direction the District was taking for the year ahead. Amongst other things, some of the key points of her address were;