Hope the week is treating you well – it's summer in just a few days and the weather is behaving accordingly; Xmas decorations are up (far too early in my opinion) and we are all gearing up for the approaching festivities.
Don’t forget our Xmas breakfast at QT Hotel on 19th December – booking details to follow but mark it in your diary – the buffet breakfast there is quite a feast. Another date for the diary is Saturday 15th December at the Project Shed when we are joined by Gloria Harrison and sons John and Andy, who would like to celebrate Bob’s Rotary life with the Club by bringing some refreshments to share. See separate article below.
Preparations for our Giant Bike Sale and Open Day (8th December) and progressing nicely although lots of work still do. This one is a must not miss. Larry and his team are flat out cleaning up the yard and categorising bicycles for sale and we had another small batch given to us by the police this week - thank you Daryl for collecting them. If you have a few hours up your sleeve, contact Larry as he is gratefully accepting all the help he can get.
The Board is grateful to Larry Murray, Geoff Croad and Charles Thomasson who have graciously agreed to take up appointments on the Wheelchair Trust to join Doug Lipp and Peter Morgan and we look forward to working with the new Trust on their ideas for the future.
With all the changes going on at the Shed, sometimes its good to look at how other people do things and on Wednesday, I am very excited to have Warren Humphries (former member of our club) come and talk with us about “How a Men’s Shed operates” – he was instrumental in us obtaining our Project Shed and subsequently has established a number of successful Men’s Sheds on the Coast. Let’s pick his brains on any tips and tricks to keep the Shed humming.
On Tuesday this week, Charles, Ray and myself are meeting with the Board of Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club to look at opportunities to work together for the good of the community and our Clubs and on Wednesday, George Keily and I are meeting with the CEO of Apple Marketing who are about to embark on a fundraising campaign. We are always very grateful for their work. They have also invited us to attend a seminar they are hosting on digital fundraising strategies and trends so we will report back on that afterward.
And before you know it … it will be time to write the next message.
In view of recent new directorship appointments to our Wheelchairs Trust (see President Jo's Message above), the decision was made to change the speaker at our upcoming meeting. Warren Humphries OAM, a former member of our club, has had decades of involvement with the Men's Shed organization. He'll join us to outline his experiences and outline major points to ensure maximum success of this most important project of ours.
Choose from the club's Buffet or from their extensive breakfast menu (download from the link below the image on the left), or just have a cuppa. Note: order in the bistro downstairs, then take your meal to the upstairs restaurant and enjoy the fellowship!
Never mind that, for the better part of 6 months, Donations in Kind(DIK) had a serious warehousing problem; that wouldn't stop those hardworking volunteers to sort, recycle, pack and ship tons of goods to various countries in the developing regions. (By the way: in case you missed it, they have found new accommodation!) Nor would it stop them collecting major awards: after receiving last year's recognition by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILTA) (see District Newsletter December 2017 - click here), they have this year been recognized by receiving the highly coveted ASCLA (Australian Supply Chain & Logistics) award for Environmental Excellence.
Photo on left shows Northern Region DIK Chief Col Laurenson, flanked by regular volunteers Royce and Lynn Allan. Congratulations all! Well done!
As was previously announced, our Charter Member Bob Harrison passed away on Friday 16th November. The family opted to have a private, immediate family only funeral. A memorial celebration of his life relating to Rotary will be held at the Project Shed on Saturday 15th December - Gloria, as well as their sons John and Andy will come to the Project Shed at 10:00 am with a load of food. Gloria is looking forward to meeting you all.
Bob joined Surfers Sunrise at its Charter in February 1987, with the Classification ‘Land Surveying’. How would we all remember Bob? My description, and that of just about everyone I spoke to, came up with “the proverbial quiet achiever”, “Mr Reliable” and honorifics of similarly highly complimentary and very much deserved type.
So we knew that Bob was the Club’s Treasurer for over 20 years. We knew that he was the Wheelchair Trust’s Treasurer since its inception in 1997, when the first batch of 10 wheelchairs was delivered to crippled children in Fiji. We knew that Bob would unfailingly roll up on Saturday morning at the Project Shed to work hands-on. We knew that Bob was the hardest man for the Sergeant to fine.... Bob's contribution to Rotary and to the community is too extensive to fit onto the Home Page. I have written a full article about Bob; please download it from the Download Pages on the right. Ed.]
On Saturday, 8th December, we'll have the inaugural Annual Rotary Bicycle Sale at the Project Shed. (note: 8th, not 1st as originally advised). By now, our volunteers have restored dozens of bikes to their former glory, simply far too good to be scrapped for just their frames to make wheelchairs. They were either donated, or were given to us by the Police - unclaimed property. For example: this Cervélo Racing Bike, light enough to lift with one finger (see picture right). Yes, new, they sell for $8,000. Read that again: Eight grand! They are ready to be sold at very attractive prices to the public, just in time for Christmas. But wait, there will be more! Music, Sausage Sizzle, Tours of the Shed...
We'll need manpower [no, Henrietta, 'manpower' does not exclude women! ☺], so put it into your diary now.
We have again organized our traditional Christmas Breakfast, this year at the QT Hotel - see details below:
QT Hotel,
7 Staghorn Avenue,
Surfers Paradise QLD
Wednesday 19th December 2018
Time: 07:00 am
Very special price: Just $32.00 per person for a super-sumptuous buffet.
Graeme Isaacson, who liaises with the hotel, needs to provide the QT with numbers. Thus, PLEASE RSVP to Graeme no later than Sunday the 17th of December by e-mail only: business@mainbeachpo.com
We again will support the St John's Centre to provide presents for disadvantaged children. Please DO NOT wrap them. Bring them along to either the meeting of 12th December or to the QT Hotel breakfast.
Lyssia was our incoming Youth Exchange Student from Belgium in 2013/14. She recently celebrated her birthday, and our YE District Treasurer Gerald East sent her a message of good wishes. Here is her reply, from Bolivia, of all places!
I'm currently doing an internship in Bolivia and seeing how I cope with everything here, on my own, it really gives me the opportunity to see all I learnt during my time in Australia. It is a lot different of course. Here, I'm part of an organisation that works on food security and launched an organic garden in the city. My time here is divided between time in the office where I do research on urban agriculture and fieldwork in the garden. I'm really enjoying it all!
I hope everything is going fine at the Rotary Club. I follow a bit of your adventures on facebook. Please pass on my salutations to everyone.
As Gerald mentioned, when he read it, "Bolivia" conjured up memories of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid... [Yes, you are betraying your age, Gerald! Yes, it was in 1969! ☺ Ed.]
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship. What does it entail? 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.
"The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends… It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace.” George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones, Vol 1)
People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and New Year. But they should worry about what they eat between New Year and Christmas!
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Never mind that, for the better part of 6 months, 
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On Saturday, 8th December, we'll have the inaugural Annual Rotary Bicycle Sale at the Project Shed. (note: 8th, not 1st as originally advised). By now, our volunteers have restored dozens of bikes to their former glory, simply far too good to be scrapped for just their frames to make wheelchairs. They were either donated, or were given to us by the Police - unclaimed property. For example: this Cervélo Racing Bike, light enough to lift with one finger (see picture right). Yes, new, they sell for $8,000. Read that again: Eight grand! 
Lyssia was our incoming Youth Exchange Student from Belgium in 2013/14. She recently celebrated her birthday, and our YE District Treasurer Gerald East sent her a message of good wishes. Here is her reply, from Bolivia, of all places!
"The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends… It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace.”