[President Paul is stuck up in Townsville, without a laptop... (No laptop? These days about equivalent to the old saying of being up the creek without a paddle... ☺) So he asked me to "ghostwrite" the President's message for him. Ed.]
”Rotary is the golden strand in the cable of International Friendship”.This quote goes all the way back to 1918: it is attributed to the famous Scottish entertainer Harry Lauder, a “bona fide member of the Rotary Club of Glasgow”. Glasgow? Haven’t we heard a lot about that illustrious town in the past week? But that is another story, and that one certainly wasn’t entertaining, nor promoting international friendship. So, instead, let us look at one of the threads of gold in that cable Harry Lauder talked about…
November is ‘Rotary Foundation Month’. This year marks the 104th anniversary of its formation. If we picture Rotary as a strong cable, then the most lustrous and resilient threads in this cable must surely be the dedicated activities of The Rotary Foundation. Charity Navigator gives it the coveted 4-star rating: 99.4 out of 100 for Financial; 100 out of 100 for Accountability and Transparency. For gold, that is 24 Karat.
Over the years, our club has received support for our projects via various District and Global Grants. (Thank you, Mario Fairlie, for the hours, (nay, days) spent slaving over a hot computer in pursuit of the paperwork!) But TRF goes way beyond this: Peace Building, Disease Prevention, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Maternal & Child Health, Basic Education & Literacy, Environment… … and of course, that Mount Everest of a goal: Polio Plus, the eradication of the Polio virus. From some 350,000 diagnosed Polio cases annually in 1985, to just a handful, and those in regions almost impossible to access in Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, take a moment and bask in the sunshine. Then, let’s get on with it – there’s work to do.
Bill Edgar is a licensed private detective, specialising in... funerals. Funerals? Yes, if you would like somebody to reveal the truth at your funeral instead of somebody reading a eulogy full of lies, Bill is the man. He is also an internationally published author - his book 'The Coffin Confessor' is a bestseller, with a TV series to follow.
This is a must attend event - I assure you, you won't be disappointed.
"Supporting Act": Ellen Wark, who is in charge of Administration of RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award), will visit us to give us a brief outline of what RYLA is all about. Over the years, we have supported dozens of RYLA awardees. The most recent: Kristen 'KJ' Jewson and Sasha Kimber back in January this year.
Last Wednesday, even though it was "officially" a social rather than a formal club meeting, we were joined by several young people from 180Degrees Consulting: Bella Harris, Emily Barnard, Samantha Sutherland and Ayden Cousins. In addition, Project Manager Georgia Farmer joined us via Zoom. They are based at the local Bond University. 180Degrees is the world's largest consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises (as stated on their website). [Yes, I can visualise your thinking already: inch thick tomes of consultants' reports costing thousands, nay, millions... Far from it: we are getting their services free of charge! Ed.]
Last week, Larry Murray presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Flossy Porter, General ManagerofD'Arcy Arms, Larry's favorite Irish Pub. Over the years, we have received many very nice gift certificates from them in support of our various projects. Thank you! Much appreciated.
Mario Fairlie is again coordinating the purchase of the Rotary Christmas cakes. They are yummy, beautifully fruity, moist. Note, contrary to previous advice we accept orders for either of those packed in a tin @$17.50 or in a carton @$16.50. Please order with Mario directly; payment required in cash on delivery. Click here to send him an email, or call him on his mobile. NOTE: absolute deadline for orders is COB Wednesday 17th November 2021.
This year's Christmas Breakfast will again be at the Edgewater Restaurant (where we had it last year).
Shop 3 G7, Capri on Via Roma,
Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Starting at 07:00 am for 07:30 start. Ian Mayberry will again collect Christmas presents for St John's Crisis Centre. Please DO NOT WRAP. Value $10 - $20.
A Trybooking site has been set up - please book and pre-pay, thank you (we need to advise final numbers by Sunday 12th December 2021).
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
Think about it: If you rip a hole in a net, there would actually be fewer holes than before...
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary. H.L. Mencken, American Journalist, satirist and author.
Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of habit.
W. Somerset Maugham, English novelist and playwright.
This quote goes all the way back to 1918: it is attributed to the famous Scottish entertainer Harry Lauder, a “bona fide member of the Rotary Club of Glasgow”. Glasgow? Haven’t we heard a lot about that illustrious town in the past week? But that is another story, and that one certainly wasn’t entertaining, nor promoting international friendship. So, instead, let us look at one of the threads of gold in that cable Harry Lauder talked about…
Last week, Larry Murray presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Flossy Porter, General Managerof 
Mario Fairlie is again coordinating the purchase of the Rotary Christmas cakes. They are yummy, beautifully fruity, moist. Note, contrary to previous advice we accept orders for either of those packed in a tin @$17.50 or in a carton @$16.50. Please order with Mario directly; payment required in cash on delivery.
This year's Christmas Breakfast will again be at the Edgewater Restaurant (where we had it last year).
