Regrettably, President Mario had to be re-admitted to hospital today, hence I'm again “ghost writing” the President’s message. So on his behalf, here are the major points I would imagine he would want to communicate. Ed.
Last week's AGM produced the very results that are necessary for a healthy club to succeed. To an outsider, it might not be obvious that, in difference to political elections, there usually isn't a scramble of competitors for the "cabinet" positions of a Rotary Club. How good then to see that the "candidates" readily agreed to fill the major directorships and chairmanships. Congratulations to Charles Thomasson and John Chirio in having their key positions of President and President Elect 2020-21 confirmed! My sincere thanks to all the members who put up their hand. [See list in separate report further on. Ed.]
Do you agree with me that slogans sometimes are just a bit overdone? In particular, when it comes to political party slogans at election time, one wonders how much currency is there in something like 'A fair go', A future for all of us' or 'Building our Economy'? At least for me, they have the opposite effect, they turn me off. So what about Rotary's Slogan 'People of Action'? Well, let me give you some living proof that this one is true to the core:
Wheelchair Trust Chair Larry Murray tells me they have too many Rough Terrain Wheelchairs ready to go and they need to move some to make space.
On Wednesday, I call the District Chair of RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service), Richard Crandon, under whose wing comes DIK (Donations in Kind).
Richard calls his offsider on the Gold Coast, Bren Milson (Burleigh Heads RC).
On Friday, Bren and his fellow member Shamus Davis rolls up at our shed with a truck containing 3 hospital beds and mattresses, which are just what we are after for our Vanuatu project, and in turn they take a truckload of 60 wheelchairs up to DIK in Brisbane. They’ll come back for another 60 in February.
Richard advises that within a day, six of them have already been despatched to Kiritimati. (Where? Just about exactly between here and Mexico. Look it up!) on an "order" received from their local hospital.
Does that verify 'People of Action' well enough for you??
This Wednesday is a social meeting, next Wednesday 18th is our Christmas Dinner - see details further on. Please book and pre-pay online; we don't really want to collect money on the night and I need to provide the Surf Club with exact numbers. So, if you haven't already booked, please do so now. If you are unable to attend, please advise me too, so I don't need to chase you up. And remember: we'll again give Anglicare a load of presents for the disadvantaged children in their care. Ian Mayberry is either collecting the presents at the Christmas Dinner, or will extract at least $10.00 from you to buy one on your behalf.
At last week's Annual General Meeting, the members unanimously elected John Chirio to be President Elect Nominee 2021-22, an appointment which John graciously accepted. Thus, again, our club is assured of a solid, steady leadership in the coming years. Congratulations, John!
For a list of all the elected club officers 2020-21, please refer to the club bulletin, or login to our website and access the AGM minutes in the protected section, under 'Documents'.
For the first time, this year we'll have a Christmas Dinner rather than a Christmas Breakfast. This will not only allow members, their partners and friends to have a Christmas drink, but - let's face it - the atmosphere will be considerably more festive. The Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club has agreed to set aside the upstairs Restaurant (where our "formal" meetings are held) for us. Dinner will be served, and the Cash Bar will be open. Children, grandkids, family and friends all welcome! This will be a purely social event - no club business.
Cost per person $30.00, Kid's menu $10.00. If you require a Vegetarian or Vegan meal, please ensure you order accordingly!
Online booking is now open! Click here:https://www.trybooking.com/BHDQFBookings close Saturday night (we need to give the caterers exact numbers). Please book online - we don't really want to chase money on the night. Thank you.
Last Thursday, Bren Milson and Shamus Davies (top) from the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club brought us 3 hospital beds, destined for our Vanuatu X-Ray unit to go to Pentecost Island and in turn picked up 60 Rough Terrain Wheelchairs to go up to Donations in Kind (a Rotary Australia World Community Service project) for distribution to various destinations in Oceania: East Timor, Solomons just to name a couple. That is how Rotary works, we work together to produce a result. That is why Rotarians are 'People of Action'. We DO, we don't just talk about it!
Photo, from top left, clockwise: Bren Milson, Shamus Davis, Des La Rance, Larry Murray.
Update from District RAWCS Chair Richard Crandon: "From this consignment, 6 wheelchairs have already been dispatched to go to the Ronton Hospital at Kiritimati (Christmas Island)." [No Henrietta! Not that Christmas Island! With the Millions of dollars the government is spending on that Christmas Island, they can well afford to buy their own wheelchairs! Kiritimati is on Kiribati, just about half way between here and Mexico. ☺ Ed.]
Last Weekend, "our" District Youth Exchange (YE) Chairman Chris Thurtell and YE Treasurer Gerald East organized a meeting for the inbound and outbound YE Students of District 9640. Photo shows (what is, judging by the number of badges on their blazers, assumed to be) the current inbound group. Our club's Ayana Sadaka front row, centre.
Last Wednesday's meeting was our Annual General Meeting. Peter Morgan was at the door, Ian Mayberry was Chairman as well as Sergeant. We had apologies from Mario Fairlie, Paul Seymour, Darrell Brown, Adrian Crowe, Doug Lipp and Neil Thurlow.
Andy Bell stood in for President Mario. Andy advised that Mario had been discharged from hospital, is at home but for the time being would prefer not to receive visitors since he still quite unwell.
Secretary Mitch Brown conducted the AGM:
It was confirmed that a quorum of members were present
Approval of updated bylaws (in relation to Corporate Membership) - carried
Election of Club Officers for 2020-21:
President: Charles Thomasson
President Elect 2020-21: John Chirio
Secretary: Mitch Brown
Treasurer: Doug Lipp
Director, Club Administration: Franz Huber
Director, Membership: Simon Brook
Director, Public Relations: Neil Thurlow
Director, Services: Larry Murray
Director, Rotary Foundation: Gerald East
Director, Youth Services: PDG Darrell Brown
Sergeant at Arms: Ian Mayberry
All were voted on and carried unanimously. The AGM was formally closed. Various other club business was discussed and announced:
President Elect Charles Thomasson suggested that the club's bylaws be further amended to allow Corporate Members to have two 'full' members rather than just the one. Secretary Mitch Brown will investigate and report back to the club.
Franz Huber advised on a number of club admin related issues:
Christmas Cakes and Puddings: These need to be ordered by the coming weekend. $16.50 each
Christmas Dinner on 18th December at the Surfers Paradise SLSC: Book online, see website and bulletin
Presents for Anglicare: either bring a present with you at the Christmas Dinner, or simply give Ian Mayberry $10.00 to buy one.
Facebook: yes, our Facebook page is regularly updated. Could you please "like" the page, so the news spread!
First 'formal' meeting in the new year: 08/01/20
Charles Thomasson reported on the recently held Golf Day: a total of over $3,700 was raised! Well done, fellows, in particular since this is, in essence, a first time effort.
Geoff Croad has been able to secure a slot for a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Saturday 14th December: Roster needs to be filled
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Larry Murray reported on the happenings at the Project Shed:
We wish to acknowledge the huge amount of work Neil Thurlow does by providing free artwork and printing for the projects; the recently held Golf Day being only the most recent example. Thank you Neil!
Whilst it is too late to have a 'Big Bike Sale' before Christmas, a recent delivery from a Police Station produced quite a number of bikes in reasonably good condition. We'll advertise them on Gumtree.
We'll have a Christmas Party at the shed on Saturday, 21/12/19. Members and volunteers, please bring a plate.
Geoff Croad reminded all that we are registered for bottle and can recycling. So far, $320.00 has been raised (largely coming from the people who live at his resort).
Vocational Services chief Richard Smith intends to hold another Excellence of Workmanship Award night - currently projected for February. So, we'll be looking for nominations!
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Larry Murray asks me to post a request for more bicycles to be donated to the shed. Yes, I know, we had to knock them back only a few months ago. Meanwhile, we have properly tidied up the area. Numerous skippy bins of unsuitable bikes and bike parts were sent to Sims Metal for recycling, the tyres went to Molectra for recycling, some bikes were restored in preparation for the next 'Big Bike Sale' and those frames that are suitable to be used for wheelchairs have been stripped off.
So, could you please spread the message: We need some more bikes! They can be dropped of at our Project Shed any Saturday morning, 07:30 am till 11:30 am. Drop us a message.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship / Project Shed. What does it entail? There are two aspects to this:
a) At the club meeting, your job is to ensure that all members, in particular new members, visitors and guests, and in particular the Guest Speaker, are welcomed, are introduced to other members and are comfortable. If required, explain the usual procedures, e.g. when we have our meal, when the speaker is expected to be at the rostrum etc.
b) This person is also to attend the Project Shed on the following Saturday, as the representative of our club and to assist in the general management.
Out of ideas on what to buy for the man in your life? Here's the latest Eau de Cologne for men...
What some people mistake for the high cost of living is really the cost of high living. Doug Larson
A new administration has some six to eight months in which to achieve major changes; if it does not seize the opportunity to act decisively during that period, it will not have another such opportunity.Milton Friedman, ‘Tyranny of the Status Quo’
Christmas is so much harder as you get older. When people ask you "what do you want to do this year?"
"I don't know."
"Financial Security? An interesting job? A career? A Sense of Purpose?"
At last week's Annual General Meeting, the members unanimously elected John Chirio to be President Elect Nominee 2021-22, an appointment which John graciously accepted. Thus, again, our club is assured of a solid, steady leadership in the coming years. Congratulations, John!
For the first time, this year we'll have a Christmas Dinner rather than a Christmas Breakfast. This will not only allow members, their partners and friends to have a Christmas drink, but - let's face it - the atmosphere will be considerably more festive. The Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club has agreed to set aside the upstairs Restaurant (where our "formal" meetings are held) for us. Dinner will be served, and the Cash Bar will be open. Children, grandkids, family and friends all welcome! This will be a purely social event - no club business.
Last Thursday, Bren Milson and Shamus Davies (top) from the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club brought us 3 hospital beds, destined for our Vanuatu X-Ray unit to go to Pentecost Island and in turn picked up 60 Rough Terrain Wheelchairs to go up to Donations in Kind (a 
Last Weekend, "our" District Youth Exchange (YE) Chairman Chris Thurtell and YE Treasurer Gerald East organized a meeting for the inbound and outbound YE Students of District 9640. Photo shows (what is, judging by the number of badges on their blazers, assumed to be) the current inbound group. Our club's Ayana Sadaka front row, centre.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Larry Murray asks me to post a request for more bicycles to be donated to the shed. Yes, I know, we had to knock them back only a few months ago. Meanwhile, we have properly tidied up the area. Numerous skippy bins of unsuitable bikes and bike parts were sent to 
