Dear Everyone,
Dear Everyone,
The third of four D9810 Membership Masterclasses was held last Monday night and our District Governor Alma did a sterling job as the presenter. As mentioned in last week’s Sparkle, we are required to report back to our clubs and share the lessons we have learnt so here goes:
“Increasing Our Impact” was the topic and to prepare, we were required to read RI’s “Community Assessment Tools” handbook, a resource for Rotary projects. It is very well-written with excellent content and recommended reading before carrying out a Community Needs Assessment.
Our Breakout group to address Part 1: Finding Community Projects, comprised members from Box Hill Central, Lilydale, Wheelers Hill and Emerald. The following is a summary:
Why would you want to carry out a Community Needs Assessment?
- To match the project to the Club
- To raise the profile of the Club and build the Club’s networks in the community
- To save time
Where would you go to find out about the needs? Who would you talk to?
- Markets, a community event, a Vox pop
- The Council
- The Community House, township groups
- Youth Leaders
- Churches, schools
- Community health services
What would you ask?
- The time-frame for the project, how and when
- What do you want to do that you don’t have the capacity to do?
- Do you have a strategic plan?
Rotary is a conduit to many other organisations
What would be the benefits of making this a cluster activity?
- Stops duplication
- A broader reach, larger in scope
- Allows smaller clubs to become involved
Part 2: Measuring impact and communication –
Thinking about a current or recently completed project in your club:
Did your project have stated (written) goals before it commenced?
Gay Morris’s Club, Box Hill Central, had stated aims and goals for their Owairtilla Community, Canteen Creek, NT project. The community consulted and the goals related to health and education.
The project had overview goals then specific measurable goals.
Which aspects of your project will / would you measure to determine if the goals were met?
They established a second-hand clothing shop; after twelve months they would measure its success by seeing how much money came in.
How will you determine what to measure?
- How much money you are raising compared to the volunteer hours invested
- School attendance
How can you communicate the impact your project has had in the community, i.e. of Box Hill?
- Facebook, newspapers, newsletters, Ranges TV, 3MDR, Noticeboard
Did implementing / completing this project have an impact on your club?
It raised the awareness of indigenous issues and more involvement in Blackburn Lake Cultural Days.
In the subsequent Plenary Session,
“Why would you bother writing out your goals?” was asked.
- For clarity, you know what you intend to achieve
- Everyone can see and discuss what it is you are trying to achieve
- It’s a foundation to build on
- It allows post-project evaluation and measurement, you know whether you were successful or not
- You can see if you can make the project sustainable
The inputs are listed: e.g. number of hours and number of members participating, $$$, other. A cost-benefit analysis can then be made.
The Noble Park-Dingley Club had a project at Noble Park Primary School. The school has a sensory room for children with emotional and developmental problems and they needed equipment. The output was the provision of equipment, which is measurable.
The outcome is what we are after, the positive impact, e.g. the number of people who benefitted, sustainability etc.
On completion, you would put up a sign or a plaque saying that Rotary made this project possible, and publicise it in print, social media and on radio and television.
Alma mentioned that the Doncaster Rotary Club has a reading programme at a local school and there is a sign at the school advertising the fact.
Tina recently sent you an email asking for volunteers to assist a literacy programme at Emerald Secondary College.
Alma mentioned in “Open Doors” 26th of October, that if your club has close links to one or more schools, especially an Interact or Earlyact club, then you have a significant Public Image opportunity. Signs can be placed either permanently or temporarily to celebrate any school/Rotary event such as speech competitions, citizenship awards, RYPEN or NYSF participation, the Deb Ball. As we become more firmly established with Emerald SC, we should explore this opportunity to promote our Rotary Club.
Thank you, this week to:
- Kris for her fascinating “Know Your Rotarian” talk. Kris is an incredibly hard worker, has exceptional skills, is very creative and very generous with her time. Kris has enjoyed living in England, Chicago, South Africa and of course Melbourne.
- Gayle, Roy and Chris Barrot for their work on Clean Up Australia day.
- Ian Wakefield for his continuing work on our R100 Celebrations with Puffing Billy Railway.
- Emma for organising a walk last Monday for the 100 Kilometres for 100 Years of Rotary.
- Tina, Roy, Lorna, Kris and Ian Ash for attending and contributing so well to the District’s Membership Masterclasses.
- The Wi-Fi Team who won the Trivia Quiz and shared their prizes with everyone in the room, a lovely Rotary-esque gesture.
This Tuesday night, on the 16th of March our guest speaker is local apiarist Mark Lane talking about bee-keeping and attracting pollinators.
There may be one or two pleasant surprises as well, but you won’t know if you don’t come along.
** Next week: on the 23rd of March it’s Club Assembly again but without Chairperson Shalini, who has had a better offer. Hard to believe, I know.
Who will chair I hear you ask? Watch this space!
Also, the Community Service Committee may have something special up their sleeves so you’d better come along.
**The following week:
on the 30th of March it’s a Social Night and we are looking to meet and have dinner at a different venue for a change, (even though the Pub is looking after us really well).
Don’t stay home, come join us this week for a great night!
Stay safe and stay Rotary Even Prouder.
Yours in Rotary,
Vicki.
