We are back! It feels like a lifetime ago since I last wrote a report and we had an official meeting. I must firstly congratulate all of you who volunteered and contributed to the success of arguably the best Commonwealth Games ever. It is very interesting to hear the tales from those who worked as ‘house-keepers’ at the Games Village. From all accounts a never to be forgotten experience.
A couple of instances that warrant mention and were not so good however. The first was the totally unacceptable behaviour of the professional unwashed protesters who disrupted the Queens Baton Relay on the Spit, just when our Darrell Brown was about to embark on his leg of the relay. The second was the attitude of some of the supervisory staff at the Games Village, who tried to make life unpleasant for some of our volunteers. However, I have it on very good authority that a couple of them pushed their luck a bit too far and our Mr Nice Guy, Geoff Croad, put one of them firmly in their place.
Robby and I hosted a Rotarian couple from Scotland. They are members of Troon Rotary Club, but they now live in NZ. When asked if they have joined a club in NZ they commented that their local club is far too formal and old fashioned for them, so they haven't joined but maintained their membership in Troon. I don't think we could ever be accused of falling into that category.
Our Change-over lunch is fast approaching, only about 6 weeks away on Sunday 17 June at the newly refurbished Kurawa Surf Club.
Join us for the last meeting before the Commonwealth Games: this coming Wednesday 28th March, Sabrina Kellmann from Gold Coast Hospital Foundation will present at Surfers Sunrise.
Last Wednesday, we enjoyed a visit by Nasser and Nayer Kaviani (both members of the RC of Broadbeach). Nasser is an expert Apiarist (Bee Keeper) and "runs" several hives to produce that most wonderful of nature's food, honey. His presentation, entitled "The wonderful work of the bee" outlines in an easy, non-technical way the various types of bees, how bees are organized in hives, their life cycles, how they mate...
OK, we all know that central to the hive is the Queen. Then there are the Workers, who are the ones that collect the honey and the pollen. But did you know that the queen only mates with a Drone? Drones are the male bees and do nothing to help the Workers (which are infertile females). They congregate in a separate area high up outside the hive, waiting for virgin queens to visit for mating. Only a few get the opportunity to mate and, once their business is concluded, they simply die... The queen returns to the hive and from then on, the Drones are not permitted entry and usually die at the hive entrance on the ground.
Development depends on the type: it takes just 16 days to make a Queen, 21 days to make a Worker and 24 days to make a Drone. Their life cycle is between 5 and 7 weeks. There is no school for young bees - they know their job from day one. There is so much interesting stuff... if I have to pick one, it would have to be the Waggle Dance. Its purpose is to communicate with other bees where nectar and pollen can be found. Rather than me trying to explain it, why don't you just click on this link where it is all explained in detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ijI-g4jHg
The volume of honey produced is extraordinary: world wide, some 1,500,000 tonnes are produced, of which 462,000 tonnes is produced in China. Is the honey you buy in a supermarket the real thing? Well, not necessarily, so Nasser advised. Commercial honey sold in the supermarkets is heated to stop it crystallizing on the shelves. If this heating process is not managed well, all the mysterious goodies in the honey get wasted. So, raw and unheated honey is only the real one with all the goodies in it still intact. Nasser can supply you with just that! Simply contact the Editor and I'll forward your request on to him.
You would recall the visit by Charmaine Wheatley, the dynamic lady from the Rotary e-Club of South Africa, who presented at our club in early February (see bulletin of 14th February - it is still on the website - see left). Last Saturday, Charmaine visited our Project Shed to see our volunteers, our Associate Members, to give recognition of the work they do. Charmaine again presented on the deployment of our wheelchairs in South Africa. The picture above (by Al Sirovs) shows her surrounded - - talking about a rose among over a dozen thorns... ☺
Bob Harrison was at the door, Doug Lipp was Chairman and Tania Laird was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Gerald East, Simon Brook, Des La Rance, Daryl Sanderson and Rosie Rocco.
of the upcoming board meeting.
DG Darrell Brown presented a bunch of banners he received from the incoming Group Cultural Exchange team from Florida. District Youth Exchange Chair Chris Thurtell reported on his protegé's current travels through the Australian outback on their Safari; at the time they were somewhere around Uluru.
Your Editor Franz Huber reported that he had received a written complaint in relation to a (very) old joke he printed in last week's bulletin, relating to Russia. He profoundly apologized for any offence that may have been caused to anyone of Russian descent or alignment with that nation. Note that Franz meanwhile has undergone a comprehensive re-education program and fully acknowledges that Rotary is to be entirely non-political.
President Elect Jo Gorman advised that no official club meetings will be held during the Commonwealth Games period, e.g. no meetings on 4th and 11th April. She will organize instead a social get together, ideally somewhere which can be reached without having to negotiate the traffic barriers.
Adrian Crowe reminded members that the collection of old postage stamps is still as valid today as it was 50 years ago. Fundraising Director Doug Lipp related to providing volunteers to be Parking Attendants during the C'wealth Games, from Tuesday 4th - Monday 16th April. If you (or any of your friends) are willing to put in a few hours, some real fundraising can be achieved: Goldoc have offered Rotary the opportunity to assist with the Commonwealth Games as parking attendants. DG Darrell Brown has accepted the challenge on behalf of Rotary at $25.00 / hour / attendant - 2 persons per shift.
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Last Wednesday, we enjoyed a visit by Nasser and Nayer Kaviani (both members of the RC of Broadbeach). Nasser is an expert Apiarist (Bee Keeper) and "runs" several hives to produce that most wonderful of nature's food, honey. His presentation, entitled "The wonderful work of the bee" outlines in an easy, non-technical way the various types of bees, how bees are organized in hives, their life cycles, how they mate....jpg)
You would recall the visit by Charmaine Wheatley, the dynamic lady from the Rotary e-Club of South Africa, who presented at our club in early February (see bulletin of 14th February - it is still on the website - see left). Last Saturday, Charmaine visited our Project Shed to see our volunteers, our Associate Members, to give recognition of the work they do. Charmaine again presented on the deployment of our wheelchairs in South Africa. The picture above (by Al Sirovs) shows her surrounded - - talking about a rose among over a dozen thorns... ☺.JPG)
