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President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 8
Hi everyone,
It was great to attend a coffee meeting this week with fellow member Greg Birchall and the President and Secretary of Commerce Torquay. Under the lead of Director, Trevor Hall, the Vocational Services Committee are looking at expanding on the initial Business Excellence Awards the club ran last year. Commerce Torquay are very keen to collaborate with our club on this terrific community service initiative, and I look forward to seeing how this evolves this year into bigger and better things.
What a lovely Social night we had at Lentils Indian Cuisine last Monday. The company, food and ambience of the night was terrific. The family run hosts/chef of the restaurant really went out of their way to put on an exclusive night for the club. Please keep their restaurant in mind next time you are looking to eat out in Torquay. Thank you to Maggie Isom and Charmaine D’Souza for their contributions to the night. It was a nice, relaxed way to celebrate the diversity of cultures we have within the club membership. I was also lucky enough to be seated on Charmaine’s table as she gave great insight into the origins/flavours of the dishes being served.
This Monday evening, we welcome Membership Director Kelly Binyon as chair for the proceedings. We have an interesting program arranged, as we continue the August theme of Membership Month. We will hear from our fellow club member, Claire Slocombe; guest speakers from Home Instead; a new member induction, fabulous; and our important members vote on the Regionalisation Pilot project.
Housekeeping:
President Elect required! Any members who are interested in this opportunity to help lead the club and challenge/develop themselves please let me know.
BBQ Roster – please keep an eye out for upcoming BBQ commitments and please volunteer your time/service when available.
Geelong Club – Jazz Swings, in the Mood for Mental Health. Friday 2nd September.
Next Board Meeting – Monday 19th September following online club meeting.
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.
A reminder to all clubs that District 9780’s flagship Agricultural Careers and Leadership program – Defying the Drift, will be held again this year at Longerenong College Sept 20-22.
Early bird pricing $250 per student ends 31st July, reverting to $350 after this date, so please contact your local school/s to see if there are Year 10 or 11 students wanting to attend, or if you know of someone who may be interested please contact Youth Director Amanda Hough.
Our next chapter meeting will be held on Thursday 15th September at 6.30pm. We will be joined by PDG Jennifer Scott who will help us with Foundation grant applications in the environment Area of Focus. Please register at Humanitix
This is relevant to all clubs and districts keen to extend their work on the environment.
Please share with your fellow Rotarians and friends who may be interested.
CLICK HEREfor the latest ESRAG August Newsletter (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group)
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 August Edition 652 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.
Trevor Hall 5 years - Joined Torquay Rotary ,2017
