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President's Message
Ben Featherston
President's Report No 11
On Thursday, I electronically cast our clubs ‘Yes” vote for participation in the Zone 8 Rotary Regionalisation Project Pilot. This will now be collated with other votes from clubs in our District to decide how our District Governor (DG) will proceed. Two-thirds of in-favour club votes will be required in our District for our DG to endorse proceeding with the pilot. Thank-you to all members for participating in the process.
I hope everyone who attended last weeks meeting enjoyed a bit of fun with the fundraiser raffle that was drawn by our newest Member Sue Currie (thanks Sue) and the update from John Oswald on the International Committee's Lese Oalai School rebuild project.
Vernon D'Souza presented us with a "Certificate of Appreciation" for our Club's recent sponsorship of the Geelong Science & Engineering Challenge Day
This week I want to give a special shout-out to members and their work through our various Committees. It has been wonderful to see our club Committees getting very active in recent weeks. Committees are meeting regularly and planning activities and projects for the remainder of the year. It was great to hear from John Oswald on Monday, representing the International Committee, regarding the School’s Development Project in Papua New Guinea. A longer-term project which is proceeding along nicely, for such a worthwhile cause and such substantial community benefits once if comes to fruition.
Here are just a few other examples of recent work/achievements from some of our committees and members:
Community Service Committee – Shire grant approved for the purchase of BBQ equipment.
Environment/BBQ Committees – Schools Landcare Tree planting days.
Youth ServicesCommittee – Collaboration with two other RC clubs in Geelong to sponsor a student to the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)
Vocational Service Committee – Meetings with Commerce Torquay to build/enhance the Local Business Awards program.
Room Committee/Public Image Team – Successful running of various Kithbrooke Park general meetings, with many guest speakers, room arrangements, audio-visual and hybrid needs.
Members, please keep in touch with your Committee heads, so you know when meetings occur and you can be involved in the great activities the club has to offer. There really is a diverse range of ways to contribute and make your club experience extra meaningful.
Housekeeping:
Monday 19th September– NO CLUB MEETING in respect of the Queen’s Funeral
Tuesday 20th September, 6pm – Board Meeting, online MS Teams.
Tuesday 27th September (in lieu of Monday 26th September) – “Elvis” movie Screening in Geelong, raising funds for The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
President Gary Clarke from the Rotary Club of Geelong East have invited us to their social night at the Movies on Tuesday 27 Sept at Pivot Cinema cnr of Verner St & Moorabool St Sth Geelong.
So we have changed our Monday planned social night to join them at the movies
From 6pm, you (you are welcome to invite your members & friends) are asked to put on your dancing shoes and get ready to shake, rattle & roll to Baz Luhrmann's 'ELVIS' starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks as Colonel Parker.
The movie has been described as 'Furiously Entertaining'. If you remember 'The King' then I'm sure you'll enjoy it. (And even if you don't remember Elvis, come along to see what all the fuss was about back in the 50's)
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.
To all members of the Rotary Club of Torquay - Congratulations! With your input, commitment and participation both to our club and in our activities, together, we have achieved this and had recognition form Rotary International. Thank you everyone!
Michael Reed (Club President 2021-22)
The note I received read as follows ..... and is signed by the 2021-22 President of Rotary International.
Dear 2021-22 Club President,
Congratulations! Your club has earned the Rotary Citation, the most significant award a Rotary club can achieve, for 2021-22. This past year, your club demonstrated a commitment to achieve its goals, which ultimately helps strengthen Rotary and shape our future.
I encourage you to display it proudly to celebrate your club’s achievement.
Once again, congratulations on a successful year as club president!
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 September Edition 653 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.
