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President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 16
I hope everyone is well.
Monday night’s club meeting,with guest speakers from Commerce Torquay, was very well attended. Thank you to the Vocational Committee, and chair for the evening Greg Birchall, for making it an interesting and successful meeting.
Thank you also to those members, particularly Bruce Turner, who assisted in the organisation of and staffing of the Rip Curl factory outlet BBQ over the last several days. Everyone’s voluntary time and effort is really appreciated, to help raise important funds.
I hope everyone received an email from Rotary International (RI) regarding the 2022 All-Member Survey. This is your opportunity to tell RI what you like about being a Rotary member and how they can improve your membership experience.
Check your emails to find the link to the survey. It takes ~10 minutes to complete and will close 4 November 2022. Please complete it if you can.
Rotary volunteers are now being called for by the Host Organising Committee (HOC) for the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne (RICON23) this coming May.
We may also look at organising a “block”, whereby we can organise with our fellow club members to volunteer on the same day/shift. Let’s start discussing this at our upcoming meetings.
I’m really looking forward to this Monday evening’s Melbourne Cup Eve club Social night at the Torquay Hotel. We have plenty of our club members, partners and friends coming, as well as fellow Rotarians joining us from Belmont Rotary Club, for some great fun, fellowship and food. I can’t wait to see how everyone “scrubs up” in their finery, prizes are on offer!
After an enjoyable meal and reporting session we moved to the presentation room which had been set up for TEAMs transmission to Rotary members on line. The meeting was to be addressed by two members from Commerce Torquay on issues relating to community development and the potential for the organisation to become involved in a partnership with Torquay Rotary for the 2023 Business excellence awards.
Les Watson, a Board member of Commerce Torquay began with an outline of how the organisation steadily grew their presence in the Torquay business community. Les is a consultant and trainer in Time management ,Sales and Customer service. His strategy was to consistently network with members and business owners. “Hi I’m Les. I am no big operator, but I believe We at Commerce Torquay can help you improve your business. Incrementally Commerce Torquay expanded its network and role within the Torquay business community. Their contacts and networks should help us to reframe the Project according to changing needs and to identify new avenues or areas of need for the awards. Basically they have the town wired and know what is going on and who we might best speak with. Kelly Binyon suggested the BNI network may also be able to have some input into this process.
Jeff Crow, a co-owner of Bells Beach Brewing company, has been in discussions with president Ben Featherston and Vocational Service Director Trevor Hall on the potential for Commerce Torquay to partner with Rotary to further develop the Business excellence awards which first ran in 2022.This was something of a trial limited to post code 3228 in three areas of business: Retail, Café restaurant, and Community service including non -profit and individuals. Entries were limited but we eventually presented awards in the tree categories at a dinner meeting held at Kithbrooke. The project was supported by the Surf Coast Times newspaper who ran a half/page advertisement for the several weeks of the program and reported on the award winners along with photographs of winners in the local paper. The hope is to further develop and expand this program with the help of commerce Torquay for 2023. The Commerce Torquay can help us penetrate better into the local business scene and Rotary will essentially be cheer leaders and boosters to recognise businesses for their efforts to survive and then thrive in the challenging post Covid environment.
The Outcome
BY the end of the meeting it was clear to me that Torquay Rotary and Commerce Torquay can work together on this project. The potential for a WIN-WIN outcome is obvious. We agreed to be back in touch soon to progress this.
All in All an enjoyable and successful night for Rotary at KIthbrooke. The Vibe was good.
Monday 31st October CUP EVE - Torquay Hotel 6 for 6.30 start
After a few years, at last we can come together with partners for a fun Cup Eve social night, - Members of the Belmont Rotary Club will also be joining us at the Torquay Hotel
There will be prizes for the best dressed - , sweeps and all the trimmings of a Melbourne Cup celebration
Get you glad rags out, your hats on and have a bit of spare cash for the the Cup Sweep Director Neil Henderson to help organise your bets !
Neil has some fun and frivolity planned, including a Phantom Call of the Cup for us to try and pick the winner of Cup
So here is an opportunity dust off your finest Spring Carnival outfits and to "Frock Up" for the evening
If you are interested in attending but did not register please contact Maggie Isom on 0412 713102
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we’ve reduced polio cases by 99.9% since our first project in the Philippines in 1979.
Today polio remains endemic in only Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children per year.
Walk With Us To End Polio
This is an invitation for you to join Team Torquay Rotary as we raise funds to End Polio by walking throughout the month of October.
This October, we are challenging you to walk, run or roll 10, 20 or 50km throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world.
2. Get a team together – Getting on the journey with friends, family or colleagues will be more fun.
3. Walk with Us! Track your journey goal and aim to get yourself on our leader board.
When and where is Rotary Walk With Us 2022?
Rotary Walk With Us 2022 is an online fitness challenge which runs for one month from 1st October 2021 to 31st October 2022. You decide where and when to complete your challenge.
What do I have to do?
Walk, run or roll 10, 20 or 50km throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world. Wherever you live, whatever your fitness level, you can decide where, when and how you Walk With Us to end Polio. Setting a challenging personal goal will make it more likely others will sponsor you.
Our next chapter meeting will be held on Thursday 17th November at 6.30pm. We will be joined by Sarah Moran from the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia. Please register at Humanitix
CLICK HERE for the latest ESRAG Newsletter (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group)
Further to the question posed at dinner on Monday night, I have booked the Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park for Thursday, 16th to Sunday 19th of February 2023 for a muster of the Recreational Vehicle Fellowship of Rotarians. This is the week after the Motor show.
Usual bookings are for 30 powered caravan sites and 10 cabins. Cut-off date for bookings is mid-November, so we will have a good idea of the numbers that will come by then.
Kelly, Sue (Currie) and one other have very kindly offered to help with the planning of the social side of the muster. I hope we can meet up later in this week.
For any further information regarding the Recreational Vehicle Fellowship of Rotarians and their planned trips please contact John Oswald.
Our combined JJCA & SCEG AGM & Presentation will be held on Wednesday November 2nd, 2022, at 6.15pmat The Birdrock Jan Juc, 2 Princes TerraceJanJuc, VIC.
Dinner to follow
and...
Our next Working Bee is Sunday 6th November details to come
In May 2023, Rotary in Geelong is mounting the Geelong Drone Expo (the week before the International Conference in Melbourne). The Expo brings together business, the arts and community into an inspirational family day.
The attached brochure outlines the promotional opportunitites, with the Supporter category being developed particularly with Rotarians in mind. Contact details are in the brochure.
If you could add this to your facebook or website we would be mighty grateful!! The Expo will have a Rotary display area where visitors can see the great work we do. We hope also to attract some of the international Rotarians coming early to visit our great state.
Following the wonderful reception from Orange Sky for the Coats and winter clothing donated by Rotarians last year, and the chilly winter that we are experiencing we have been asked to continue collecting for them again this winter.
Please note that all the people receiving the coats are currently homeless and many have asked if there are any thermal pants or skivvies.
So please check your wardrobes and donate any warm skivvies or pants as well as coats which are always in demand.
I will do regular pickups from our central collection point in Torquay which the Birchalls have kindly agreed to do.
Please click on the above image to read the article from the latest edition of Rotary Down Under for details of how you can assist the citizens of Ukraine through the Rotary network.
Delegate registration cost for RICON23 in Melbourne changes depending on when you register. The earlier you register the more economical the price.
During Houston Convention timing (June 4th -8th ) if you register and pay for attending RICON23 you shall receive the maximum discount. From June 9th , the cost increases by $50. There is also a further increase after December 15th and then greater increases after March and April 2023.
Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends can obtain the maximum discount to attend RICON23. Registration and Accommodation Bookings are now available through the RI website on this link
The Rotary Australia World Community Service website at https://directory.rawcs.com.au/41-2021-22 is our donor page, still being worked on, but with the completion of the business case, we will start our fundraising from March 1.
As an aside, Lucy received the following message re our project from the Governor of the Gulf Province Chris Haiveta
Thank you, Sis, for your tireless efforts to Assist our village over the years through the foundation.
I am committed to supporting you and the foundation as you prepare to widen your coverage on critical issues.
We are working with a couple NGOs in the Province already and can provide you the letter of support.
I suggest that we formalize the support and collaboration through an MOU.
In the meantime it would be much better to send a profile and EOI from the foundation to me aa head of the Provincial Government so that we can commence to formalize the relationship.
WHAT WE ARE COLLECTING AND WHERE TO DROP OFF ITEMS
Bottle Top Lids
Cause:- Lids4Kids is a nationwide 100% volunteer project to rescue plastic bottle lids
from landfill to benefit the environment and kids. Lids4Kids hopes to rescue eligible lids from landfill for projects that benefit all Australian kids in need.
So if you could collect milk bottle tops for recycling to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill., you will contribute to Torquay Rotary’s Environment Project
Just remove the yellow, blue or red plastic top from milk bottles, wash clean & pop into a container .
Maggie Isom will let us know when we can drop off to a bin at Coles Supermarket 41 Bristol Rd Torquay
Cause :- Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs, who collect them, sell them to recyclers and turn the cash into wheelchairs for people who can’t afford them.
Cause :- Recycle for Sight Australia a joint effort with Torquay Lions Club to send old prescription glasses to overseas communities where people cannot afford them.
Cause :- A Rotary "Donations in Kind" joint exercise with the Rotary Club of Boroko to disperse to needing schools in PNG. They need books that are used in Australian schools from Grades Prep to 8. Plus story books for younger children for grades Prep to 3.
2022-23 President Jennifer Jones is eager to advance Rotary’s narrative. To learn more of our RI President's vision and listen to her podcast follow this link RI President Jennifer Jones LINK
District 9780 Governor for 2021-22 is Kathy Rivett from RC of Alfredton
Kathy currently works in the travel industry and previously held positions in the Federal public service.
Kathy is married to David Rivett.
Kathy served as President of the Rotary Club of Wendouree in 2007-08 and worked with PDG Ken Broadbent in 2010 to set up the then Alfredton Satellite Club. With Kathy's support, Alfredton went on to charter in 2013, the first one to convert to a full Club. Kathy is a proud member of the Alfredton Rotary Club.
Kathy has been involved in a wide range of Rotary activities over the years including:
as a Youth Exchange Counsellor
serving on two District Conference Committees
as an RLI Trainer
working on FAIM Projects in Samoa, Cook Islands and Bali.
Kathy's particular love is Event Co-ordination, being a key player in organising Rotary activities including competitions, community events, concerts, expos etc.
LATEST PUBLICATIONS
To read the DG Kathy's latest District 9780 July 22 eNewsletter CLICK HERE
Rotary Down Under 2022 October Edition 654 CLICK HERE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2023
Melbourne has been announced as the host city for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, the largest conference secured this century for Victoria.
Melbourne is a Big Events City! Set to deliver over $88 million to the Victorian economy, the Convention is the most valuable conference ever won for the state, with the four-day event anticipated to attract more than 20,000 Rotarians from around the world. The global spotlight will be on Melbourne and how we present ourselves to the world.
The Convention will take place 27-31 May 2023 using Rod Laver Arena and the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for functions.
Watch this Space for further news as it comes to hand.
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