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President's Message
Michael Reed
President's Report No 39
We had a different start to our meeting on Monday – Martin Duke took control of calling the meeting to order and asking for invocation and toast to Rotary International – Thanks Martin.
We were joined by Bill Trengrove from The Rotary Club of Grovedale/Waurn Ponds, our guest Speaker Ben Boxshall and Ben’s Mum Beverly.
Online joining us we had Lesley Shedden, David Sykes, Howard Randall, and Graham Gill.
Margaret McPherson gave us a terrific invocation to commence Monday’s meeting. Thank you. Margaret.
Then it was over to me ……
Our hybrid camera system has a new addition. Thank you to Greg Plumridge and Howard Randall for the work done looking into and purchasing microphones to help with those online hearing what’s being said. The microphones have made a big difference. We all need to remember to use the microphone whenever we speak.
While talking about our new hybrid camera – last night Greg Plumridge sat behind the camera and manually moved the camera around to keep the presenter and presentation in view for those joining us online. Thanks for doing this, Greg. This is something we need to continue to be aware of and do.
The club has been donated an Easter Bunny outfit. After showing it off, it is now in the Rotary Shed, and can be used anytime. If you would like to use it over Easter and our Rip Curl BBQ activities, just collect it from the shed use it, and take back once done. It has its own storage container – please continue to keep it in this container for protection.
Trevor Hall updated us on the Service Excellence Awards. This is now being promoted through local businesses. Trevor and his team have put a lot of work into this and are hoping for a good lot of entries. Please see Trevor for further information and possible ways you can assist.
President Elect Ben Featherston has returned from the President Elect Training Seminar. This is a weekend in Halls Gap, filled with Rotary information and training in preparation for the new Rotary Year.
After another lovely meal, we adjourned to the Theatre Room, where Martin took over the reins again and introduced our guest speaker Ben Boxshall. Martin gave a very interesting introduction – more of a ‘question and answer’. Then over to Ben for his very interesting and informative talk on trees and the environment.
On Monday, we have our monthly online meeting. Lesley has arranged a program and speakers for us. If you log on around 6.15pm – we can have a bit of social time, before the meeting commencing at 6.30pm.
This meeting will be followed by our monthly board meeting.
Please Note:- there will be NO Bulletin next week as I will be away and everyone can have a few days off for Easter.
President Michael
Letter regarding Donations in Kind
Good Morning Everyone,
Last Thursday I attended a Zoom meeting with the Geelong DIK committee, AG Services Margaret Robinson and D9780 International Chair David Milton to discuss concerns about the future of Geelong DIK. Due primarily Covid and the need to relocate the DIK Depot, DIK has lost many contacts through which to initiate the despatch and receipt of aid goods. From 20+ containers/year in the past to currently 6 containers/year. This meeting is to explore ways develop new contacts to enable increasing the number of containers despatched.
At the current level of activity of 6 containers per year, due to the cost of overheads, the site is unviable. The committee is asking clubs for any ideas to make the site more viable and for any possible contacts that clubs may have with overseas countries. This includes expansion opportunities within Rotary Clubs or Districts and the possibility of utilising reputable third parties.
Please give this request consideration, as the Geelong facility has done fantastic work over the years and it would be a shame to see it close due to lack of support. If anyone has any thoughts, please don't hesitate to contact myself or Frank Thompson from Geelong DIK.
What enjoyable catch up on Monday night at Kithbrook . I had the pleasure of introducing Ben Boxhall, Ben is a Forest scientist, Economic botanist and all round nice guy.
Ben gave a great overview of his work and what it involves. Ben is committed to building natural botanical benefits to improve and regenerate land through a very thoughtful way. Tree planting and cultivating thinning out to help regeneration of the ground, but also the use of the trees as timber for building. Ben explained the benefits to the ground and economic benefits to the landowners. Better soil less erosion and the benefit of removing unwanted weeds. Sale of timber to the mills and a continued cycle of growth and felling.
We had some great questions from Rotarians on the night asking about what sort of trees they grow how much area is needed and what stage WOOD 4 GOOD is at now.
Ben was accompanied by his Mum Beverley it was great to have both of them there. Beverly is a Torquay local while Ben lives Castlemaine. Thanks’ Ben and Beverley for being our guest.
The Rotary Club of Sydney's Climate Action Group is excited to host Tim Buckley - Director, Climate Energy Finance Australasia at the RCS meeting on Tuesday 12th April at 12.30pm AEST.
Tim's presentation will focus on debunking climate change myths, particularly the economic myths of climate action.
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.
Easter (outside Ripcurl shop) 9.30 till 2 Captain Trevor Hall
Friday 15th April
Darrel Brewin, Jan Emmett, John Oswald, Vernon D'Sousa (till 1.30),Tom Frats
Saturday 16th April 9.30 till 4
Marg McPherson, John Oswald, Graham and Lois Gill, Daryl Lee, Peter Bollen
Sunday 16th April 9.30 till 2
John Oswald, Peter Bollen, Greg and Gail Birchal, Could do with more . As it is unknown how busy it will be I'll leave it up to Trevor Hall to cancel this day if necessary
Monday 17th April 9.30 till 2
Daryl Lee, Graham and Lois Gill, Gerard Hogan, Darrell Brewin, Jan Emmett
Following continued success of the Art Show event with strong entries and attendances over the past eighteen years our Club is once again organising this event which will run on Good Friday 15th April to Easter Sunday 17th April 2022.
Entries of an extremely high standard are received from all parts of Victoria as well as interstate representation. We are again hopeful of similar participation ensuring that this event continues to grow in reputation. It is well worth a visit to Kerang to witness our wonderful display and we would love to see you and make you feel welcome with traditional Rotary hospitality.
I am writing to you to ask your support for our Rotary Club in this endeavour. I hope you can find time and space within your organization to promote our Art Show to your members & artists. To help you do this we have attached an entry form and tags. Simply print and submit by post or email. Payment can be made by posting a cheque or payment direct online.
To facilitate your members and artists participation in the Art Show there are several delivery & collection depots around the state that they may find useful.
With total prizes available of $7,300.00 our Rotary Club believes that many of your members & artists may well be interested and take the opportunity to participate by showcasing their artwork and hopefully achieving recognition and sales. NB. There are exciting additional categories with limit of 10 entries per artist.
Easter in Kerang and in Gannawarra Shire offers many events and activities including Tri-annual Quilt Show, Kerang Regional parkrun, Horse Races, Markets, Tractor Pull, Tennis, Bowls, Skate Parks, Pools, Forests, Lakes & Waterways & much more.
Entries close on Friday 1st April 2022.
Of course, if there are any questions or areas that need clarification, please contact the Art Show Coordinators as listed on the entry form and below.
Kind regards
Jenny Kelly Art Show Coordinators 2022 Rotary Club of Kerang Inc. Rtn. Jenny Kelly (0400 571 266) Rth. Annette Kelly (0409 183 354) rotarykerangartshow@gmail.com
We have been waiting for the outcome of a special District Board meeting which discussed how best we could support communities affected by the recent QLD & NSW Floods.
The District Board has decided to make a $10,000 donation to the RAWCS appeal. They discussed sending the funds to one of the Districts directly impacted thinking it might get to those who need it quickly or more quickly than through RAWCS. We now know that RAWCS was very quick in distributing the funds to the victims of the Dandenong storms and will be similarly speedy with this one.
As such District is donating to RAWCS, which also means we are supporting more than just one District as many are impacted.
As a Club we will look at doing the same ie. make the donation to the RAWCS appeal. The Board will keep you updated.
President Michael
Australian charity, Rotary Australia World Community Service, announced the creation of a national Flood Relief Appeal for people impacted by the current floods in Queensland and Northern NSW. Australians impacted by the recent floods will be the beneficiaries of money raised by Flood Appeal and will be able to liaise with their local Rotary Club to advise of their needs. The fundraising campaign was launched today to support the communities in need after yet another disaster impacting Australians. “The money raised from the Appeal will go directly and quickly to support those impacted, providing essential items and financial support where Disaster relief and Insurance claims won’t stretch,” said Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd CEO Andrew Woodward. “The number of disasters Australians have endured in the last few years in addition to the pandemic have been significant and left a lot of people in very difficult financial positions,” Mr Woodward said. Rotary Australia World Community Service has previously raised money for Bushfire and Drought affected areas and sees this disaster as just another where the network of Rotarians can step in to assist. Mr Woodward said that he expects the money to help people with the things that insurance or disaster relief funds cannot replace. Whether it be helping farmers build new fences or providing food and clothing to those that have lost everything, the money raised will be crucial in helping families get back on their feet as soon as possible. Rotary Australia World Community Service is a not-for-profit charity that aims to be the leading Australian charitable organization for people’s wellbeing, supporting Rotarians and Rotary Clubs undertaking humanitarian projects in Australia and overseas. Tax Deductible Donations to the appeal can be made on the Rotary Australia World Community Service website athttps://rawcs.org.au
TONGA VOLCANO ERUPTION AND TSUNAMI APPEAL
The effects of the Volcano and Tsunami on January 15th will be far-reaching, impacting the Tonga Community for months, possibly years to come.
Communication remains problematic with international and inter-island call still no possible due to the damage to the undersea cable.
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) will be working with Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS) and Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa (Tonga) in providing aid and assistance to the affected communities’ and restoring their livelihoods.
RAWCS has registered a Rotary Australia Relief Fund project to seek financial assistance from Rotary Clubs, the public and private sector. Donations to the RAWCS Relief Fund are tax deductible. Donate through https://rawcs.org.au/ Project Tonga Volcano Eruption and Tsunami Disaster https://directory.rawcs.com.au/42-2021-22
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.
As a club president, you play a critical role in keeping members informed about the Rotary Peace Centers programs. Encourage club members to use their professional and social contacts to find potential candidates. They can also support the program by coaching candidates through the application process and connecting them to districts that can endorse their applications, a required step in the application process.
These resources can help you and your members recruit candidates for 2023 Rotary Peace Fellowships:
Take the All About the Rotary Peace Fellowships course to learn about qualification requirements, eligibility restrictions, the application process, and more.
Use our referral form to tell us about potential candidates, and we’ll follow up with them.
As we grow our certificate program, we are particularly seeking qualified candidates for our peace centers at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) and Makerere University (Uganda). The one-year program is intended for working professionals and requires 11 weeks of on-site participation. We are looking for candidates with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience (the average age for this program is 42). Graduates receive a post-graduate diploma in peace studies upon completion of the program.
Candidates have until 15 May to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation. Trained Rotary endorsers have until 1 July to submit endorsed applications to The Rotary Foundation.
Send any questions about the fellowship program to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org. Thank you for your dedication to the Rotary Peace Centers and your help educating Rotary members and your community about the fellowships.
Sincerely, Rotary Peace Centers
Rotary Peace Centers are made possible by the generosity of donors.
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.
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