Apologies were read out
Birthdays
- PP PHF Tina McInerney – Birthday on 30th
- 28th September Lyn Beckwith – 12 yrs
Guests
- DG Ian Ballantine & Partner Helen
- PDG AG Shia Smart
- Darrin Hill Pres. of Knox Rotary Club and wife Elenor
- Neil Umesh & Sheeba Umesh
- Catherine Eagleston
Chairperson PP PHF Shalini Penny
DG Ian Ballantine's Address
- This is his first official visit to the club since changeover
- He is pleased to be wearing the theme tie and shirt
- Helen dressing in green for Emerald!
- Ian has been a Rotary member for 26 yrs
- Live in Sandringham and partner Helen lives in Hampton and is an emergency physician
- Official visit to club – Sangeeta/Vicki/Marcus/Shia met with Ian before the meeting – and he congratulated the team on a fantastic report
- Ian mentioned Sangeeta’s newsletter and the Website is well presented (Sangeeta the queen of the metaphor)!
Merger 9810 with 9820 = 9815 new district number
- 9820 has 82 clubs 9810 has 37 – 1 July the merger will happen
- This has been a friendly and positive experience
- Berwick Interact club a great start at working together
Regionalisation Pilot
- Rotary seeing decline in Zone 8 (Aust NZ and Pacific Islands) last 10 years 25% drop in membership
- Same as other western developed companies
- Seeing increase in SE Asia and Russia
- District has seen a steady decline in numbers
- Pilot to work out the structure moving forward and will be adopted throughout Rotary perhaps
- One Zone with a council and about 100 community groups comprising 10 -15 clubs.We currently have clusters – we need to consider community group part of – will probably be geographical
- Could be clubs grouping by interest or local government areas perhaps – we will see phasing out of district and be under a regional council and teams of experts to be made available to clubs.It’s a way forward and will be more efficient (possibly over-structured at the moment).
Membership
- This club is an exception
- If you have clubs with 10 or so members it is hard to get interest and we saw merger of clubs to help with size eg Cheltenham / Beaumauris
- This club had 6 new members last year 3 this year already (with 3 in the wings)!!
- Club culture is a big aspect for membership as is the profile in the community
- Membership retention is important too and ensuring members expectations are met
- Hands on Projects ensure we keep these up it is important to have these (hamper/breakfast at school or fundraising event).
Membership 11 items (well Ian said 10 but the editor ended up with 11)!
- Understand and have conversation of member’s expectation – what did you want to get out of joining?
- Hands on project
- Membership needs to be actively engaged with the club activities – ensure all feel included
- Partnerships with businesses schools/community groups
- Service experience being meaningful – membership dues + time + attending club meetings – money and time – am I getting value out of money and time = we will consider it worthwhile
- Key processes are friendly and efficient – how board meetings are run etc
- Furthering Rotary knowledge – not just local projects – look at the bigger picture of Rotary at District and International – resources on My Rotary
- Addressing issues promptly – issues do arise in clubs sort it out before big issues
- Surveys to measure levels of satisfaction and get the feedback from members
- Communication is important – newsletter/website and emails – Membership kept aware of board decisions
- Fellowship this club does it in spades – we all share similar goals and values Rotarians do share ‘Service above Self’ to serve our community and wider
Rotary Foundation
This club contributes to the annual fund and Polio Plus it is a very important element of Rotary – the Foundation creates the brand of Rotary – encourage you to contribute – it is considered by a lot of Rotarians that is there charity of choice.
We don’t publicise Rotary and ourselves well – maybe through regionalisation we will see more.
Any opportunity to spread the word – take the opportunity to explain what Rotary is
School events are a good opportunity as well.
Mental Health
This is one or the projects of RI President Gordon – he lost his own brother to suicide a few years ago so it is close to his heart and a personal issue for him. Any project involving youth is helping mental health as well.
Interact club with Emerald Secondary College could be a great initiative but it needs a staff member to advocate for it.
Partner Project
Helen’s partner project – District Governor’s Partner Project. This year it is End Polio so please consider a donation from the club over and above to Rotary. Endemic in Pakistan (2) and Afghanistan (5) this year. Promising especially since going through COVID.
End Polio Month coming up and End Polio Now 24th October
Conference
Conference is focused on mental health 22-24 March in Warnambool – club is registered and looking forward to having you down here – last conference of District 9810. Pleased to hear club is supporting.
Linda Humphries from District 9820 and I are organising community event in June next year in association with Mental Health.
Response by Pres. Sangeeta
I believe our RC is inclusive and we all get along. Values align and that is why we do what we do and we do it well.
Thank you for your passion Ian and Helen.
Darrin Hill – President of Knox Club
Thank you for welcoming myself and my wife Elenor
We are here to present a certificate of appreciation to Kristine Ash for all she has done for the Simple Steps Solutions project. We have undertaken a pilot supporting youth through Headspace who need the support of councellors. The program raises fund to pay for the sessions the young people require. Those chose are qualified by Headspace. The pilot supported 309 sessions from the $38k or so raised. We are moving the program forward, have DGR status and are now recruiting Board members.
Closing remarks – Pres. Sangeeta
Than you to Ian and Helen for visiting the club this evening. Thank to AG Shia Smart and all our guests in the room – Sheeba and Neil, Darren and Elenor and Catherine Eagleston.
I now hand over to PP PHF Marcus Adams for the Fine Session.
Thank you Rowan and Linda for coming along to BNI last week where we had a footy theme that raised $200 for the Rotary Club.
Pres Marcus – Fine Session
