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President's Message
Michael Reed
President's Report No 48
I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend, and a relaxing Monday evening to complete the three-day break.
Well, mid-year has arrived and so has the cool weather (to state the obvious!) This brings a slight reduction in members attending our meetings ‘in person’ as they hook up their portable living quarters and head north to warmer weather. Some are taking advantage of the world opening up and using airlines to take them abroad and enjoy the hospitality of other countries …. Some simply flying interstate to visit family and friends.
We do have one member who has been away for six months returning soon …. hope you have your warm clothing handy Lesley!
We are lucky to have a great facility for our ‘travelling buddies’ – the opportunity to join us at our meetings by logging on and being part of the meetings using our Hybrid Camera.
Treasurer Mal has sent out the club dues for the coming 12 months. If you have not paid them yet, can I ask please you do so, as our District and International fees are due on the 1st of July, which Mal will have to pay. If you have any concerns, queries or wish to discuss payment options – please contact Mal.
Our club changeover is only a couple of weeks away now. If you are still to do so, please register using the Trybookings link on the changeover invitation everyone received. There is also a copy of the invitation a little later in the bulletin.
If you are unable to join us, I would appreciate you sending an apology email – as some members have already done.
On Monday is our monthly online meeting – please use the Teams link to join us.
I was just wondering if you or any of your members would be interested in supporting us by donating an hour or 2 of your time on either Saturday 25 or Sunday 26 June between 8am and 4pm at the Torquay Bunnings for a fundraising BBQ? Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated in assisting us to raised much needed funds for our health service.
President Michael Reed along with President Elect Ben Featherston would like to invite you and your partner to attend the changeover of The Rotary Club of Torquay, where Michael will hand over the Presidency of the club to Ben and welcome the new leadership team for 2022/23.
This event will be held on: - Monday 4th July 2022.
To be held at: - Kithbrooke Park, in the Community Hall, 350 Grossmans Rd, Torquay, 3228.
Time: - 6.00PM Arrival for 6.30PM.
Cost: - $40 per Head for Two Course meal.
Drinks at Bar Prices.
Please use this TryBooking link for all Registrations and Payment
And …. don’t forget to Include any dietary requirements.
Welcome to the very late May edition of our monthly newsletter. This month we share the report from last month's Chapter Meeting where our Zone Director Jessie Harman helped launch the Club Carbon Calculator. We also include links and resources for you to use. Have you discussed this in your club yet? Imagine the impact if every Rotary Club worldwide adopted the Club Carbon Calculator and hen offset their carbon emissions?
And as always, we are also keen to hear from Rotarians and clubs about their environmental projects. Please send words{400-600} and images or a website/Facebook link and I would be delighted to share and celebrate your work.
What is your club doing for World Environment Day?
Please join us for our next chapter meeting to be held on Tuesday 21st June. This meeting will reflect on the past 12 months and ask for feedback and suggestions from all members on our speakers and focus for the coming year.
CLICK HEREfor the latest ESRAG May Newsletter (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group)
With thanks to you and your fellow Rotarians, Operation Cleft Australia, together with our Bangladesh partner have brought a smile to the face of more than 1,500 life threatening, Cleft suffering Children over this last challenging 12 month.
Rotary continues to prove that ‘When the going gets tough the tough get going’. Our surgeons and hospital support staff have not stopped, despite all the tough times they have continuing to operate – to change faces and change lives!
This attached Newsletter includes some amazing stories of children and families impacted by life changing surgeries; you have made possible. It also highlights the exciting and unique way in which Rotary Clubs and Rotarians support Operation Cleft Australia.
Thanks for your help in transforming the lives of so many desperately needy children. Through your gift and your Club’s support, these children can participate in school, benefit so much from the life-long value of education, enjoy good health, make, and sustain friendships, play normal sport and …. Smile!
Registrations are now open for The Push-Up Challenge 2022, so jump in! We'd love to have you be a part of it.
Join the amazing online community for The Push-Up Challenge as we stay connected, get fit, learn about mental health and have a bit of fun along the way.
All the while supporting Lifeline Geelong & South West Victoria.
In 2017, The Push-Up Challenge was created as a way to make a positive difference to mental health in Australia.
This year, we’re going to push big,
we’re going to push-up, and we’re going to push
for better mental health
We would like to give people across Australian like you, the chance to get fit for tomorrow’s challenges and show your support for mental health in Australia. 💪
If you think you have what it takes, go solo or grab some mates and challenge yourself to 3,139 push-ups over 24 days in June.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?
• This year your target is 3,139 push-ups. To represent the number of lives lost in Australia to suicide in 2020.
• Our event app has a few new, funky features up its sleeve
• A whole lot of new, surprising and insightful mental health facts to get you thinking
• We have some sweet, new merch for you to push-up in style
• You will be able to support Lifeline Geelong & South West Victoria and our local community.
You will be able to aim for 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of each day's target. As always, alternatives to push-ups are welcomed and encouraged.
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. From 4 June 2022 registration and Accommodation Bookings will be 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.
Shekhar and Rashi Mehta at their home in Kolkata. Rashi painted the picture Mother and Child, behind her.
When I met Shekhar almost 20 years ago, he was busily manning a booth at the Rotary International Convention. His enthusiasm and energy in showcasing his club’s projects were infectious. A project man myself, I was inspired by the work exhibited at the booth. That casual encounter developed into a strong friendship.
Shekhar is a visionary leader. He always sees things others can’t. He envisaged a way to eradicate illiteracy in India by 2025 and designed the TEACH program (which stands for Teacher support, E-learning, Adult literacy, Child development, Happy school). He started the Shelter Kit project that now is in the vanguard of disaster relief in India. His Saving Little Hearts project, which provides heart surgeries to thousands of children, along with the more than 15 eye hospitals he helped establish, which have served hundreds of thousands, speaks to the scope of his dreams.
Ravi Vadlamani
Rotary Club of Guntur, India 2001-02 governor of District 3150
He has an exceptional talent for building teams and driving them to achieve their goals. Shekhar’s programs and ideas may seem larger than life, but he always walks the extra mile to make Rotarians feel at home.
His power of dreaming big is backed up by planning, perseverance, and patience. He’s an excellent communicator who connects with his audience instantly and can motivate people to move mountains. He is also a family man, ably supported by his spouse, Rashi.
Shekhar’s X factor as a leader? Nobody is able to say no to him when he asks for something.
District 9780 Governor for 2021-22 is John Clue from Rotary Club of Port Fairy
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.
