Mine is an especially good one- I’m on staycation [my spellchecker just did a double reverse somersault with a twist... Ed. ☺] for two weeks and couldn’t be happier. We’re pretending we have rented our apartment as a holiday home and using it a base to have a holiday on the Gold Coast. Don’t know what time the housekeeping service is though!
That said, I’m really looking forward at our Excellence in Workmanship Awards this Wednesday evening – last year was such a buzz and a real opportunity to recognize some of our unsung heroes, so I hope lots of you and your friends and families can make it. It’s another opportunity to recruit new members too (yes, I’m repeating I’m sorry!).
I did think it would be a bit of fun at our next formal meeting for some members to present an elevator pitch on the club – we should all prepare a one minute summary of our club that would inspire someone to come along if they heard it. I'll ask the Sergeant to call a few out. Have a think what yours would be!
Thanks to Darrell Brown’s ongoing connection with the GC Small Business Expo, this year we will not only be assisting the expo as a fundraiser, but also be provided with a free stand to exhibit Rotary. With 1,500 visitors expected and 175 stands- it will be a great opportunity to showcase the club and we will need helpers as always. It is on Thursday 23rd of May 2019 so pop that date in your diary and we will work together on making a really great stand of our own.
The great vibe of the Shed got another huge boost this week with the arrival of the brand new roller doors which the Club donated to the project. None of the Club had realised just what a challenge the old doors had presented (or for how long they had been a problem). When asked what they wanted the most, this was the Associates’ standout request and it was very satisfying on Saturday to see what a difference the $7,000 investment has made. I was specifically asked to thank all the members of the Club whose fundraising made this possible and Gus and Andy for getting the job done. It really has made a big difference and further cemented the Clubs commitment to supporting the Project Shed.
Our next challenge is to promote the Wheelchairs as outside of DIK, we have not had any wheelchair orders for sometime. As many may know, the orders have historically been adhoc and word of mouth but this is starting to slow down and we have an overstock. A few of us are meeting in the next two weeks to discuss a strategy including making other Clubs aware of their availability to support any overseas projects, but if any readers know of any overseas communities that could benefit from all terrain wheelchairs for children, please get in touch with the Club.
That’s about all for me know – I’m off to enjoy vacation Day 1. See you Wednesday evening!
This coming Wednesday 20th February 2019, we'll again hold an event to recognize Vocational Excellence Awards night. (Note, there will be no breakfast meeting.) This is one of the premier social events on our club's calendar (and one of the very few evening events). Have you booked yet? Naturally, come along with your partner, family, friends. Why not invite a potential Rotarian to come along?
Cost is $35.00 per person, for a sumptuous 2-course meal (NOT tough roast etc - read the full article for the menu). Cash Bar will be open. The venue is very popular with Rotary functions; your Editor has attended several there and I have always been impressed with the quality of the meals and their service.
Please pre-book no later than Sunday 17th February 2019, and pre-pay:click on this link. Why not just do it right now? You can pay by Credit Card! Click on 'Read more' for full menu.
Main Course: Alternative drops of
Stuffed Chicken Breast Char sealed chicken breast wrapped in bacon and stuffed with semi-dried tomato, cream cheese, baby spinach and chives, finished with a creamy basil pesto sauce and served with mash potato and broccolini.
or
300gm Graziers Rump Steak (Served Medium) Served with Mashed Potato and Vegetables & Red Wine Gravy
Dessert:
Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream
or
Baked Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis & Vanilla Ice Cream
Whenever those horrendous weather or fire events happen, numerous appeals are being launched, by major organizations all the way down to the very small. And frequently, one wonders where your hard earned money donation will actually end up. I recall having read reports of millions of dollars that still sat in somebody's bank account two and three years later, for example in relation to the Victorian bush fires a few years ago. Well, this one you can be assured of will find its target: RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) has launched a national project. They are working together with the Rotary Club of Townsville South West (District 9550)
Project Number 75-2018-19: North Queensland Flood Relief Appeal
Description: A Relief Project to accept donations for those affected by the 2019 North Queensland Floods.
Sponsored by: RAWCS National
On-line donations can be made through the following link:https://donations.rawcs.com.au/75-2018-19. The appeal has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) registration and has been listed as a Charitable Fund so we can accept tax deductible donations from individuals or organisations.
OK, this might not be the sexiest picture ever on our club bulletin and website... [look, I was going to have Larry Murray in it, but he wasn't there. So here is a photo for you... ☺ Ed.]Still, it's worth mentioning that the club has, purchased two new massive Rollerdoors for our Project Shed at a cost of over $8,000. This comes hot on the heels of the purchase of a Defibrillator, to ensure that, should ever an emergency occur whilst our volunteers are working there, we are equipped. It should also be mentioned that no donatedmoneyto the Wheelchair Trust has been used for this, it was financed by the club. Funds raised from donations are used solely for the purchase of materials related to the wheelchairs.
Do you know a sign writer who would do us a good deal? We'd like it made very clear what Rotary is doing at our Project Shed! Contact Larry Murray with your details.
OK, so it seems still to be a fair way off - two months away. But accommodation will soon become hard to get - other people have already booked. Your Editor and his better half will go down on Friday for the three days.
Why attend a District Conference?
Well, to start, it's fun: you meet lots of interesting people (the most interesting Rotarians DO attend the conference - not meaning to be bragging about myself of course)
You will hear Keynote Speakers for which you normally would pay hundreds of dollars to attend
The dinners are always superb fellowship events. The Saturday Night dinner is always very vibrant; this year they have a top notch Jazz & Swing band. Yes, we dance!
You learn a couple of things about Rotary which you may not have known before
Registration for Rotarians and their partners is free of charge, however, in fairness, a fee applies to partake in the events which serve food. Click on this link to go to the Registration Page.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship. What does it entail? Your job is to ensure that all members, in particular new members, visitors and guests, and in particular the Guest Speaker, are welcomed, are introduced to other members and are comfortable. If required, explain the usual procedures, e.g. when we have our meal, when the speaker is expected to be at the rostrum etc.
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise. Robert Fritz, author of 'The Path of least Resistance'
After 10 years, the wife starts to think their kid looks simply a bit too different, so she decides to do a DNA test. She finds out that the kid is actually from completely different parents.
Wife: 'Honey, I have something very serious to tell you.'
Husband: 'Yeah, what is it?'
Wife: 'According to DNA test results, this is not our kid.'
Husband: 'Yeah, sure. You don't remember, do you? When we were leaving the hospital, I had just settled you comfortably in the truck, when you noticed that our baby had pooped. Then you said: "Please go change the baby, I'll wait for you here." So I went inside, got a clean one and left the dirty one there.”
Moral: Never present a man with a problem which is not meant be solved in the most direct way by simple logic!
This coming Wednesday 20th February 2019, we'll again hold an event to recognize Vocational Excellence Awards night. (Note, there will be no breakfast meeting.) This is one of the premier social events on our club's calendar (and one of the very few evening events). Have you booked yet? Naturally, come along with your partner, family, friends. Why not invite a potential Rotarian to come along? 
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OK, so it seems still to be a fair way off - two months away. But accommodation will soon become hard to get - other people have already booked. Your Editor and his better half will go down on Friday for the three days. 
