Thank you to PP PHF DG Nominee Emma Clark standing in to cover President Kelly who was unable to attend this evening.
Welcome
- Kirsty Porter – Umbrella Dementia Café
- Jade De Kretser
- Kirsty Bates
- Graham Heatley
Apologies were read out by PP PHF Lorna Shaw
President Kelly McAllister’s messages:
Apologies to everyone for not being able to attend tonight's meeting. I hope you'll miss me as much as I'll miss you all!
Huge thanks to Emma for leading the MND Slide by Slide event on Sunday! Appreciate everyone who braved the chilly waters to support a great cause. Emma, you absolutely crushed it! To those who missed out, let's just say the water was... bracing 😅. Thanks again to all involved!
We're all looking forward to welcoming Peter Brock back after his hospital stay. Peter has thanked everyone for their support, and he hopes to be back next week to present his “Behind the Badge”.
I'm sad to miss thanking Ian and Kris Ash in person tonight for being absolute rockstars during my presidency! Kris, your insurmountable efforts in membership and marketing have been a game-changer, and your behind-the-scenes work on the dementia cafe is truly inspiring. Your dedication to representing our club at Fit for Purpose is a testament to your passion and commitment.
Ian, you swooped in like a superhero to save the All American event and a huge part of the Kids Fun Run! Your program throughout the year kept us all energized and motivated. We're beyond lucky to have you both in our Rotary Club of Emerald and District family. Can't wait to hear all about your European adventures.
Reminder: Don't forget to invite friends and neighbours to our Open Evening on June 24. They can register their interest through the Try Booking link. Existing members can also register for tickets, but priority is on getting guests signed up.
Congratulations to, Anna St. Clair 1 Year Jun. 04 2024 TOMORROW!
Upcoming events: Paint and Sip (who's in?)
Next week
Club assembly don’t forget to send Kelly a picture of you in your youth and a piece of juicy information about yourself so we can play ROTARY ROUND UP TRIVIA & Peter Brock will be delivering his BTB
JUNE 17, Tacos and Tequila Night in Belgrave at 7 pm (approx. $20-$25 per person, set menu, PLEASE BRING CASH FOR PAYMENT). Stay tuned for menu details!
PP PHF DG Nominee Emma Clark described the Big Freese event on Sunday 1st June and how she enjoyed it so much she will volunteer to take part again next year. She thanked the Club for our $300 donation which brings her fundraising figure to near $3000. It is hoped that $80,000 has been raised and this should be known by Friday.
Chairperson PP PHF Kris Ash introduced her passion project and guest speaker Kirsty Porter from Umbrella Dementia Café
Kirsty Porter from Umbrella Dementia Café
Kirsty was originally a Registered Nurse who saw a Dementia Café in UK and knew this was what she wanted to do and since then has worked to bring this project to Australia. In 2016 Umbrella Cafes were founded with the purpose of improving the wellbeing of people living with dementia. Inextricably linked to these people are their careers, family and community. They thought, what better way to harness and expand on these connections than through a café? An environment where people can come together for some relief, fun, conversation and shared experiences. They achieved this by establishing intimate, volunteer supported social groups (cafés) which are located in local community houses, churches or lifestyle clubs.
The cafés are all managed, operated and staffed by Umbrella Dementia Cafés with crucial support from local volunteer teams. Every Café is fully supported by a team of strong volunteers with an understanding about dementia (personal or professional). Together they work under one supportive umbrella facilitating greater social connections between people living with dementia, their family and their community. They believe the key to personal wellbeing is social connectedness. It’s about having a community support network around you, understanding, accepting and including you.
Through the dementia cafés model, they empower people living with dementia to regain autonomy, boost their self-esteem and improve their wellbeing. Members enjoy new connections through shared experience, activities or values, and enrich existing connections in an environment that encourages genuine conversation.
They are funded by the generous donations from our philanthropic partners, community donations and local grants from organisations who share our vision of empowering people with dementia
To protect the integrity of the café, their members request that health care professionals attend by invitation only. Aged care and organisational brochures are very welcome.
Since 2016 there have been 850 cafes hosted, 175 online cafes, 1540 families involved with 82 Volunteers and 15 Community partners. The attendees connect over a cuppa, which empowers people living with dementia and their family carers to stay socially connect to their community. The cafes are designed for Individuals with early to mid-onset dementia, People living with all types of dementia & any age, Spouses & carers to meet, share knowledge, resources and support, People who complete the registration phase before attending their first café.
The established Cafes are: Blackburn Umbrella Café, Burwood, Chatworks Café, Box Hill South, Café of Conections, Rosebud, Friendship Café, Sorrento, Navigater Café. Cost PA is $10,000 and is from Donations/Grants. Emerald Rotary is working to launch a Café before the end of 2025. So far, a $2000 Grant has been obtained and more funds are being sought. The venue will be Emerald RSL and Cafes held twice per month.
Kerith Cummins – EarlyAct
- Kerith secured volunteers for First Responders Day - biscuit making helpers on Thursday 12 June and also walkers for the afternoon to deliver the biscuits plus Walkers on Friday 13th to deliver to the police and ambulance that day after assembly.
Ian Wakefield – Container
- Been cleaned out – a lot of items for the “Market” were stored there. Still able to use it and now need to get ready to be moved in a few months' time.
Lorna Shaw – Club banners
- There were a lot of banners collected from “other” Rotary Clubs, and we now need to decide what we do with them all as there are so many.
Toni-Anne – Train of Lights
- The event covers 3rd July – 20th July and a Roster is to be circulated looking for volunteers. Also help is requested to cut up the onions. Please add your name to the Roster and let Toni-Anne know if you can assist with the onions.
Shalini Penny- Changeover
- Event is Saturday 21st June at Forest Edge, Gembrook. Cost $70 per head. Please confirm attendance and put your payment into bank account: BSB: 633 000 Account: 159114719 as soon as possible as payment needs to be made to the venue ahead of the event. Also, if you have a dietary requirement can you please let Peter Brock know asap.
Catherine Elfick – International
- Reminder if you have any old pairs of spectacles / glasses please bring to the next meeting so that they can be delivered to Nunawading Rotary.
