Bulletin 33 RCOBS (Jun 08, 2017)

President George’s Notes

So far, we’re enjoying The Bridge Hotel of a Wednesday morning. The next housekeeping step achieved is that the staff have found us a nook to store some of our stuff, twixt meetings.

Thanks to Jim for bringing PGA Professional Erik Hendrix to the podium as our guest speaker:

We learned that there are two principal streams for golfers:

Touring, in a cut throat competitive world trying to get on the evening news sinking one of those incredible putt shots, or, completing, an apprenticeship with Griffiths University and achieving the pinnacle triumvirate of Golf Coach; Retail Golf Shop Manager [or owner]; and Manager of the whole golf course.

Erik dipped into the mathematics of the permutations and combinations of various competitions, and slipped into that special golfers’ vocabulary we mere mortals hear in the sports round up at the end of the evening news.

Unofficially Erik does take on the role of mentor and life coach for the up and coming “young guns”, who may be sleeping in their cars and botting a buck for a hot shower.

He’s no slouch, on site up to seventy hours a week in Summer and cruises at about fifty in Winter.

Gerard House awarded Erik: “Being part of the glue of our community”:

Hard yards; running a small business, employing, and contributing.

On the Goldfields Clusters Front:

I reckon I’ve found seven ways we clubs can work together:

1. Sharing electronic communications skills and knowledge

a. GPW to engage District

i. Initial Goal: Workshop in Bendigo

2. Proposed Joint Goldfields Clusters social and tree-planting weekend event for Rotarians and families and friends at Camp Getaway

a. First step: Research availability of Noel Trevaskis as guest

3. Welsh Choir Event September 10 2017 .. see below:

4. Support Lifeline as an annual, single, combined all-clubs Film Night.

5. Establish one electronic “cloud” calendar for all clubs to enter activities, to facilitate inter-club support and assistance.

6. Foundation Members from each club get together and organise the “Foundation Dinner” in November.

a. An Information event, not a fund-raising event

b. Engage “that excellent Foundation speaker from Parramatta”

Yes, astute readers will note that there’s only six. Watch this space and think diabetic kids for number seven.

Coming in at number three is:

The Bendigo South and Ulumbarra combined effort:

The Victoria Welsh Choir Sunday September 10 at Ulumbarra Theatre.

The event is a fundraiser to support the provision of additional theatre facilities, as well as providing bursaries for talented local musical artists.

The Victoria Welsh choir will be accompanied by principal guest artist Silvie Paladino as well as Bendigo Senior Secondary College Musician of the Year award winners Aidan Purdy and Deanna Jerman, and Aidan Purdy, a classical tuba player, and vocalist Deanna Jarman.

Buying “in bulk” club by club we reduce the price to $45 per ticket.

Highlights from yet another efficient, fun, vibrant, Board Meeting Monday evening June 5 2017 at Pat’s Pub:

Members’ dues remain the same, courtesy of a minor subsidy.

[Paul Henderson is contacting our at-arms-length members for their 2017/18 intentions].

Groovin’ The Moo catering netted about $4,400, thanks to enthusiastic members and friends, and thousands of well-behaved revellers.

MUNA catering tireless devotees, Friday to Sunday brought home the bacon, well, about $2,000.

Coffee Project: We’re learning about retailing and marketing … our goal is Timor-Leste coffee into every Rotarian’s home coffee machine, across Australia.

Youth Services:

President’s vision is care at three levels:

Providing books via Imagination Library pre-school; targeting a primary school, in the future; refreshing our alignment with Weeroona College; anticipating a board paper about DOXA; and, not forgetting our funding scholarships Timor Leste..

Martin agrees to review our ambition to assist Weeroona College provide breakfasts five days a week during terms with College administration.

The Shed for the Timor-Leste Knitting Project “should be completed by COB Friday June 9”. Peter Elliott and Patti have been shopping for shelving in the big green shed. Grand Opening Day is October 26 2017.

Finance: Peter Treasurer elect and his team have the tiger by the tail.

July 1 we go “live” with ‘QuickBooks’, approved by our generous supporters AFS Accountants.

Our Board has received communication from District Secretary re the Changes to Child Safety Standards Victoria. This is a weighty issue, delegated to our Protection officer Judy Miatke and Youth Services Director.

Board Paper:

The board received a paper re proposed donation to Interchange, directed to the “PlayGroup” for vulnerable children:

This board paper reflects a new standard of excellence:

A member, Jim Rolfe, agreed to prepare the paper; he engaged other members in his detailed research and brought a mature, robust recommendation to the meeting. Bottom line: He continues to communicate with Interchange pro tem.

We are reminded that our system for disbursement of pecuniary resources [funds] is as follows:

All of our members are encouraged to “put up” board papers, reflecting their idea[s], often prompted by a guest speaker, under the auspices of a Board Director:

That paper or proposal is considered with respect to the board paper template; current theme and goals for our club; our historically recurrent commitments, and, of course, the budget estimates.

Historical precedent is no guarantee of funding.

Presidents and board members have no privileges or advantages.

It’s all down to the quality of the individual board paper.

[Confident President George failed to “get up” earlier this year, with his paper]

We agreed on a Board Structure for 2017/18:

The next step is opening up “committees” membership opportunities for all:

Just as we have done for Finance and Audit Risk & Governance we “look to” several members “acting as one” to provide continuum and succession for each board director position/discipline..

Watch this space.

Friends of Rotary: On board is the RYLA graduate Rachel Matheson-Murphy.

Mark Weragoda and team have our ChangeOver evening in hand:

Friday night, July 7, 2017 will be a lively informal event, respecting the formalities of Rotary, championed by Mark as MC and Peter Fruhe DG elect.

The invitation is about to “hit the streets”.

Our man Pat Sheehan attended the Centennial Foundation “do” at Docklands;

Impressive “takeaways” were:

Acute Polio cases worldwide down from 1,000 per day to 5 per year, and, some five million promised to Foundation by way of bequests.

Well done Dennis !!!!

Cycling devotees will be pleased to hear that my new “Kalkoff” e-bike is so convenient ‘round town. I’m the cautious one, often walking out of the traffic, lit up like blinking Luna Park in the “snow on steroids” reflective jacket.

Wishing Echuca Moama a very successful Steam Rally, Castlemaine a loud Jazz Festival and you a safe holiday this long weekend.

I’m off to BBEA Friday night; stick a SOLD vinyl across a Block For Sale board in Woodend Saturday, for son Tim and family, before RC Bendigo ChangeOver and Sunday, help brother Geoff clean up his back yard.