We were a fairly small family on Monday evening, with 23 of us online for our meeting. It was great to have Michelle Bodington join us after a very busy few months at work. Good to see you, Michelle! – and hopefully you will be able to join us a little more, depending on your work commitments.
There have been some very informative sessions at District Assembly. If you have not had the opportunity to see the sessions of interest to you, please ‘log on’ and have a look at these at your leisure. With ‘today’s technology’, many of the sessions have been recorded, stored, and available for us to view.
Following is a link. The link takes you to a form seeking your details to be used to create access to the District Learning Centre. Once you have access you will receive an email with your username and password and instructions on what to do next.
If you already have access to the District Learning Centre, you can simply ‘log on’.
District Changeover is on Sunday July 3rd, in Ballarat. If you are interested in attending, you will need to register using the TryBookings link. As seats are quite limited, I suggest you register very soon.
Our Club Changeover is the evening of Monday 4th July, at Kithbrooke Park. President Elect Ben and I are working through the last couple of details before sending out the Changeover Invitations.
For now – please note this date, and details will be sent to you once finalised.
On Monday 6th June there is a combined Environmental evening, involving all clubs in Groups 9&10 – all the Rotary Clubs in the Greater Geelong Area. Many clubs have changed their meeting night for the week, to Monday 6th June. There are some terrific speakers lined up, and this is a great opportunity to either catch up with or meet other Rotarians in our neighbouring clubs. Registrations are by the TryBookings Link. Please consider this evening, and register yourselves, partners, and friends, if they would like to join us.
Saturday 28th May, there is a working bee at a farm in Paraparap. The Environment Team are planning to be there. Everything is supplied, including morning tea, all is required is some people.
Please contact Rhonda for any further information.
We received news on Monday that Amanda has not been well and had a couple of days in hospital. It was reported at our club meeting, that Amanda is now home resting. Our thoughts and very best wishes are with you Amanda for a speedy recovery and hope to see you back with us soon.
On Wednesday morning, I attended, and represented our club and Rotary at a Morning Tea put on for all the volunteer organisations. This was held at Torquay Community House – and was a very enjoyable and worthwhile morning, catching up with Members and Representatives from our Council, Lions, Men’s Shed, Ladies Shed, Landcare groups, Neighbour Hood Watch, Community House coordinator and volunteers – to name a few.
This week the board has been looking at the funds we, the club, has raised this Rotary year.
We have raised $35,820. The board is looking at the many programs, projects, and organisations we consider and like to support each year. If anyone has any thought of a worthy recipient, please contact Mal within the next few days, so it can be considered. The funds distribution needs to be finalised, and funds will be distributed early June.
I would like to thank you all for your efforts over the year, helping us raise these funds, that will go to help and support some of those less fortunate.
We have been quite fortunate to raise the amount we did – many clubs were not as fortunate…. Again, Thank you all!
The International Convention in Melbourne is on next May – yes only 12 months away – Lesley informed us that registrations will open on the 4th of June, when this year’s convention starts in Huston. Tickets will (obviously) be available up to next year’s convention, however the ‘cheapest’ you will be able to purchase tickets to this major Rotary Extravaganza will be between the 4th and 6th of June this year. The ticket prices will get ‘more expensive’ after June 6th and will continue to increase as the convention gets closer.
Registrations will be available via the International Convention Website. (see article & link below)
Lesley told us of how Rotary is working in and helping Ukraine.
There has been over $13 million to date donated. These much-needed funds will be so well used in the communities and for people of the devastated areas there.
Shelter Boxes have once again had a huge impact and been great support, sending many, many shelter boxes over and setting up ‘whole communities’ with the tents and contents in these boxes.
Lesley encouraged us all to consider donations to The Rotary Foundation….. ‘Our Charity’. Our club makes a donation each year to the Foundation, however each individual can also make a personal donation. This can be done in number of ways. The important thing to remember is all the funds donated go to Rotary Projects and programs around the World.
Just think of all the ‘good’ Rotary does in the world ……..
I have mentioned on a few occasions about a ‘Sisterhood’ agreement between the Rotary Club of Rizal West, in the Philippines, and our club. Members from both clubs have met online and discussed this. It is a terrific opportunity for both clubs to come together on potential projects, share ideas and associate with Rotarians from their club, as well as be invited to each other’s meetings and online events.
Members from Rizal West are planning to come to the International Convention next year. With this in mind, there may be a great opportunity to ‘home host’ the Rizal West Members, in our homes in Torquay, for a couple of nights – and show them around Torquay and the Surf coast. When the members are here, they are planning to come down and attend at least one of our club meetings.
This month we have been in the hands of our Vocational Director Trevor Hall and his team.
Following the success of the Business Awards, next week Trevor has arranged for us to have a vocational visit followed by dinner at the Jan Juc Hotel (also known as Beach Hotel) for dinner. Unfortunately due to a last minute cancellation by Mark Clatworthy at Ocean Grind the vocational visit will now be to Bells Beach Brewery. Greg has sent out the revised invitation for this so hopefully you have all registered, if you intend going for dinner.
Don’t forget the early start on Monday, 5.30pm at Bells Beach Brewery for the tour.
See you there to sample some of the ales!