Dear Everyone,
We attempted a hybrid meeting at our Club meeting on Tuesday night with mixed success; we will persevere until we can have an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for both in-person and Zoom attendees. I did refer to the District Website and the technology help there, but it’s a steepish learning curve for me.
In this vignette, I would like to talk about some of the items on the agenda at the Presidents’ meeting on the 19th of March.
First up was the
“Picnic in the Park” on the 15
th of May for the Rotary Centenary Celebration. The venue is Jells Park Wheelers Hill from 10:00am. to 3pm. and it’s BYO everything. There we will be attempting the World Record for the Waggle Dance. Please see the
flyer below. This is the link to the website where the steps which we have to learn are demonstrated.
https://youtu.be/dnGcKjt9gT8 We had all better start practising as there are quite a lot of steps!
DGE Daryl Moran advised that District Training Assembly will begin online on Sunday 23rd of May. Like last year, the sessions will be by role and by topic and will be recorded. The sessions will continue on evenings throughout the following week, as that formula worked very well last year. All Club members are encouraged to take part in the Assembly as it’s interesting and you learn a lot, and those who will be taking on roles during Shalini’s Presidency are especially encouraged to do so.
The sessions the Toastmasters ran last year were extremely valuable.
Next up was Past District Governor David Tolstrup, the District’s Director for Ethics and Governance, whom DG Alma had asked to speak. He talked about the Rotarian Code of Conduct, which many Rotarians may not be aware of, and which is in addition to the Four-Way Test (which governs how we think, and what we do and say as Rotarians). For this reason, please click on this
LINK to familiarise yourself with the Code of Conduct. (Image provided below as well).
Alma asked David to talk on this subject because there had been some instances recently in clubs of views being expressed that were out of kilter with modern-day thinking and attitudes. David advised that, if you come across any behaviour from a fellow Rotarian that is concerning, you should first speak to the club’s President. Often the issue can be discussed with the person who has caused offence and resolved informally over coffee. And Presidents can always ring David for guidance. The aim of the chat is firstly to stop the poor behaviour and secondly, to bring harmony back to the Club. There are ways and means of solving the problem and primarily it is a Membership issue.
Alma was delighted to report that every club in the District submitted its insurance form to the District Insurance Officer before the date it was due. She was convinced that this was a District world-first and that those who had sent the forms in – Shalini in our case - deserved a free drink.
For those of you who may be interested, the District Changeover at which Daryl Moran will be taking over from Alma, will be on Saturday 26th of June at the Southern Golf Club. Once the bookings open, you will need to book as soon as possible as numbers will be limited because of Covid.
Finally, our T2T Market sign is up on the Ogilvy Road intersection, thanks to the Lions Club and Gem Signs. Go and take a look!
Thank you, this week to:
- The Community Service Committee and especially to Russ Nielsen for the delightful Easter cards he designed to bring joy to the Lifeview residents at Easter. Wasn’t it great that we could all be involved in writing a personal message during our meeting?
- Russ Nielsen and Roy for negotiating the date with PackenhamFC for next year’s all-important All-American Car Display and Man-Cave Alley.
- Catherine for her work on the small corflute signs that will be dotted along roads leading to Emerald prior to our Market days.
- The Sausage Sizzlers on Saturday at Emerald Village Meats.
- Ian Wakefield for arranging the meeting with Nicoleta and Jade from Puffing Billy Railway, and Co-President Helen from the Belgrave Rotary Club, to sort out logistics for our R100 celebration on Saturday 22nd of May.
- Jenny Wakefield from CWA for attending the meeting too, as she is kindly helping with the catering on the day.
- The Members clocking up kilometres for the 100k’s for 100 years’ Walk, and to Emma for organising next Sunday afternoon’s walk.
- Ian Ash for his inestimable help in setting up the hybrid meeting; it would not have happened otherwise.
- John Henderson for submitting an article and photos on the KFRWT for the R100 Celebration Coffee Table Book. It may not make the cut but we remain hopeful.
- Tina for talking to friend of the Club Peter about the video for the District Conference.
**This Tuesday night, on the 30th of March it’s a Social Night and we are meeting and eating at a different venue, The Laughing Fox Café. They have a seating capacity of 55 and a liquor licence, and we’ll order off their usual menu, but a couple of extra desserts will be added.
Maybe there will be fun and games too!! 🤣🤣🤣
Family members are most welcome, and Lorna will need to know numbers by Monday 29th March. Thank you Lorna for organising and liaising.
Come along for a fun and convivial night.
** Next week: on the 6th of April, our guest speaker is Salwan Shahine, Youth Service Chair from the Rotary Club of Doncaster talking about Earlyact and Interact. You’ll learn a lot about the amazing projects the youngsters are engaged in and their capacity for empathy. It’s heartwarming.
**The following week: on the 13th of April, AG Brian Hodgson will be launching our Cluster’s fantastic Youth Wellbeing Project.
We will have the genial company of Rotarians from the Belgrave and Monbulk Clubs, an important meeting not to be missed!
Don’t stay home, come join us at The Laughing Fox Café for a great night!
Stay safe and stay Rotary Even Prouder.
Yours in Rotary,
Vicki.
