It’s very rewarding to see the teamwork and spirit of comradeship in Surfers Sunrise and the results we achieve through our efforts. I encourage everyone to get involved, we have a lot coming up over the next few months so put your hand up if you have an idea or want to help with one of our projects or fundraisers.
Well done to everyone that helped at the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Saturday – we had over half of the club involved. It was a lot different to previous Sausage Sizzle’s with the new COVID procedures but it ran very well. Thank you very much to Bunnings Southport for the opportunity and to Geoff Croad and Angus Miller for organising.
I had a Zoom meeting with four South African Rotary Clubs last Wednesday in regards to the prospect of sending a 40ft container of 280 Wheelchairs to Durban. The South African Clubs would then distribute the Wheelchairs to those in need in their respective areas. The cost of shipping is currently the biggest obstacle to sending our Wheelchairs as fundraising is very tough all over the world as we know. It was a very constructive meeting and fingers crossed it will all come together over the next few months to send a container in time for Christmas. Surfers Sunrise is going to do what we can to contribute to help with some of the costs of shipping through the Containers for Change initiative and our other upcoming fundraisers.
Karen Holland, Larry Murray, Angus Miller and Andy Bell are on the Committee for the Celebration at the Wheelchair Shed on Saturday 14th November. Planning has begun and we have started talking to other Clubs in our Cluster to find out if they want to be involved. Watch this space for further details.
This Wednesday we have a formal meeting at the Surf Club. Johnny Bueti will be inducted to the Club and then Johnny and Paul Jaffar will speak. I look forward to seeing you there.
Johnny Bueti and Paul Jaffar both have transferred from Burleigh Heads and joined Surfers Sunrise as we are closer to their work location. Paul was inducted a couple of weeks ago, Johnny will be inducted this week. Looking forward to them introducing themselves and give us a bit of an insight into their personalities, hobbies etc!
On Saturday, we had our first 'COVID period' Sausage Sizzle fundraiser at Bunnings Southport. We were very lucky with the weather - after all, it was expected to rain all day, and all we got were some very brief showers. Certainly nothing that would keep our customers away! Excellent result, this time also the first time with Credit Card facilities - thanks to Mark Twyford for lending us his gear! Photo shows the first shift (07:30 - 09:30): from left: John Chirio (2 shifts), Ray Higgs, Angus Miller (3), Mitch Brown, Larry Murray, and capably supervised by Bunnings staff member Debbie. Other shifts were crewed by Andy & Robby Bell (2), Col Laurenson, President Charles Thomasson (2), Gerald East, Neil Thurlow, Simon Brook, Geoff Croad, Karen Holland, Doug Lipp and your Editor (2).
Special appreciation to Bunnings for their professional planning of this fundraising opportunity to ensure we conform to COVID laws and regulations, as well as for providing all the equipment and marquees and one of their staff for the entire day to assist us with compliance. Community organisations need to raise funds to enable them to operate. A sincere thank you!
Forgive me if I mentioned this before: Maintaining and expanding our membership is the responsibility of every member, not just the committee.
But perhaps we should look at some reasons why it is perceived that, in today’s world, there is less interest in joining a Service Club such as Rotary. Then, think about how we are going to address these reasons. Some may be real, but most are imagined.
Lack of resources. Because of dues and other commitments, membership in clubs has a financial cost that not everybody can afford, especially during hard economic times.
Lack of time. Life and work pressure keep people busy; membership in clubs may take too much time for some, especially under the traditional weekly meeting format.
Less prestige. Membership in Rotary may not have today the same prestige that it once had.
Less professional networking opportunities. Membership may not bring the same professional networking benefits as it did in the past, or at least there are now more alternative ways to network professionally.
Lack of vitality and size. Some clubs may not look attractive to younger generations; they may not be as vibrant as they used to be, especially when they are very small. [I don't really think we have this problem - I'd challenge anyone to tell me that Surfers Sunrise is not vibrant! But perhaps this is one of the best kept secrets on the Gold Coast!]
Lack of interest in community service. This last factor is controversial, and personally I don’t believe that there has been a reduction over time in interest in service work, but some have suggested that this also has contributed to membership loss.
So, how are you going to address this? This Wednesday, we'll "formally" meet two new members who transferred from Burleigh Heads club to be closer to their place of work. Whilst that in itself is significant, what is even more interesting is that of these two members are below 40! That much for “today’s young people… etc etc”! Further, our club's recent decision to cater for 'Corporate Membership' certainly can assist! But you need to start. Several decades ago, in a sales training manual, I came across the expression of the 'GOYA principle'. Many of you know what the acronym stands for. OK, if you don't, feel free to ask me! It's still as relevant today as it always was.
We'll need manpower at the shed to sort out bikes we set aside in the container outside the shed, considered suitable for re-sale. Please set the morning aside if you can and come to give us a hand!
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
I've told my suitcases that there will be no holdays this year. Now I'm dealing with emotional baggage.
Today, in a culture that should know enough to be forgiving of human weakness, we often fail to remember that people are not great all the time. People practice greatness. They perform with greatness. People practice courage. They perform with courage. And then, one day, they don’t. This does not make them cowards. It makes them human. Eric Greitens, ‘Resilience’.
At the store there was that big X near the check out to stand on. Well, I've seen too many Road Runner cartoons to fall for that one!
New Mills & Boon novel, to be released shortly:
Hands glistening with sanitizer, Viscount Randolph reached out and gently removed her mask. As he pressed closer against her, she felt a certain hardness near his trouser pocket. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yes", he replied, "I brought my digital thermometer; my valet warned me that you are really hot..."
Diesel Services Queensland and AB Crane Hire recently provided a truck and a huge mobile crane at no charge to lift a 40' container into our Project Shed area at Arundel. Thank you! Click on the links to go to their website.
Johnny Bueti and Paul Jaffar both have transferred from Burleigh Heads and joined Surfers Sunrise as we are closer to their work location. Paul was inducted a couple of weeks ago, Johnny will be inducted this week. Looking forward to them introducing themselves and give us a bit of an insight into their personalities, hobbies etc!
On Saturday, we had our first 'COVID period' Sausage Sizzle fundraiser at Bunnings Southport. We were very lucky with the weather - after all, it was expected to rain all day, and all we got were some very brief showers. Certainly nothing that would keep our customers away! Excellent result, this time also the first time with Credit Card facilities - thanks to Mark Twyford for lending us his gear! Photo shows the first shift (07:30 - 09:30): from left: John Chirio (2 shifts), Ray Higgs, Angus Miller (3), Mitch Brown, Larry Murray, and capably supervised by Bunnings staff member Debbie. Other shifts were crewed by Andy & Robby Bell (2), Col Laurenson, President Charles Thomasson (2), Gerald East, Neil Thurlow, Simon Brook, Geoff Croad, Karen Holland, Doug Lipp and your Editor (2). 
We'll need manpower at the shed to sort out bikes we set aside in the container outside the shed, considered suitable for re-sale. Please set the morning aside if you can and come to give us a hand!
