Please check the roster for the next few weeks and advise Vicki Kersey and David Ungar if you will be away that week. Meeting jobs will be allocated via email before the meeting.
Last week's fellowship meeting covered a lot of information, with club updates, upcoming events, and project progress. President Jo noted it had been a busy year, flagged the final board meeting and pending board update, and outlined plans to distribute duck race funds to about eight local charities. Members were reminded about the subsidised changeover dinner on 26 June at the RSL, the district changeover on 28 June, and ongoing efforts to improve transparency and member input into annual awards. Richard reported on barbecues and trialling a new esky-based serving system to reduce staffing needs, while also seeking volunteers for the Kokoda parking fundraiser. Other information included organising teams and tickets for the Miami High Interact trivia night, collecting and transporting school furniture for reuse, and promoting the district Model United Nations. The club is applying for grants for a Peace Pole and Wellbeing/Peace Garden at Rotary Park. Anthony Zirilli gave us a report on the Youth Exchange safari (we were told later that Anthony was the MVP of the trip!). Tony Heading also presented us with information on the Rotary Foundation.
THIS WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER
Robyn Luke from Walk with Us will be our guest speaker this week.
Walk With Us was established in 2015 when the first event was a Christmas lunch for 200 homeless, domestic violence families and people doing it tough. This was an amazing event and it went on for a couple of years until Covid struck. Nikki, their fearless leader wanted to do more. She was herself coping with being a single mum with 2 kids and had episodes of anxiety. She said as she had a lot of support from family and friends, she was going OK. She knew many others were not getting support so decided to do something about it. Walk With Us has now grown into a group of wonderful volunteers who just want to make a difference in this world.
We received an email from Perry Cross after Nick's visit to the club.
"Thank you so much for welcoming our Cure Crusader Ambassador Nick Dempsey to speak at your recent meeting.
We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness about spinal cord injury (SCI) and to share the exciting advancements in SCI research currently taking place at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. Support from community organizations like yours plays an important role in helping us educate, inspire, and build momentum for this life-changing research.
We also host laboratory tours at Griffith University on the first Wednesday of each month. If any of your members would like to attend and get a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking work taking place, we would love to welcome you.
Thank you again for your support and interest in our mission."
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Club runner information
If you do not have your Club Runner login information, you can go to the Club Runner website, scroll down a little and click on “Send me a Magic Link”. Enter the email address you gave to the club, and you will receive an email. Click on the login button and then select the club website. Go to ‘My Clubrunner’ and then ‘My Profile’. The ‘Edit’ button is at the top right and you can add/change any information on your profile. Click ‘Save’ and you’re done!
If you’re really feeling techy, you can download the Club Runner app.
If you would like any help resetting your password, or downloading the app to your phone, please let us know. There are a few members who can assist you.
We are looking to use Club Runner more for information and rosters, so it would be great if everyone is able to log in.
Busy Bunnings BBQ on Saturday - lines were 10 deep at all times!
Sunday night, Andy Rajapakse, Mike Shambrook, Ross Smith, Vicki Kersey and John Campbell attended the Multicultural Social Network Eid Dinner at Arundel. Andy was honoured by MSN with a certificate of appreciation.
Rob Haines and Ross Smith judged the MUNA competition at Tweed Heads on Saturday.
By John Laramore, Rotary Club of South Ocean, Nassau, The Bahamas
Over the years, Rotary has taught me many things. But one lesson continues to stand out: when we give to The Rotary Foundation, we are not just supporting an institution. We are creating the possibility for real, visible, life-saving change in our communities.
I saw that truth clearly through our Rotary Club of South Ocean’s project in Nassau, The Bahamas. Read more here.
Rotary Down Under
Toys Not Tears
A stock of toys is helping children during difficult times in their lives.
The Greenmeadows Rotary Community Group, located on the eastern coast of North Island New Zealand, is collaborating with Napier Police for a pilot program at the local Family Harm Unit (FHU).
The program aims to help de-escalate the collateral stress experienced by tamariki (children) as family harm events are managed, in their homes, by specialist officers.
Through Rotary, a police officer expands her worldview
By JP Swenson
In her early days of policing, Joanne Serkeyn had to confront a barrage of distressing events. The 9/11 attacks had just happened. And after returning to work from maternity leave, she endured multiple months with a lot of calls for homicides and other tragedies. “I felt like I was the Grim Reaper.”
She was starting to become cynical when her commander suggested she join Rotary.
