Hi all, really looking forward to the meeting this Wednesday. Our guest speaker Warren ‘Luffy’ Luff got himself on the podium at Bathurst, coming in second. What a great achievement. I’m sure however, that as he was coming across the top of the mountain on that final lap, foremost in his thoughts would have been how excited he was going to be to talk to the Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise.
On another matter entirely I would like to talk about ‘change’. Change is defined in the Dictionary as: verb; -- to make the form, nature ,content ,future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.
Rotary, by its very nature, ideals and constitution embraces change regularly. Every week we have a different Chairman, a different guest speaker or topic for discussion and every year a new President and Board.
I think our Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise would be quite conservative, as opposed to some other clubs. In my humble opinion it works well for us and we like it that way. But, we do have to embrace planned and calculated change, otherwise we will over time fade away and cease to be relevant.
I remember when as a ‘Male only’ club the consensus was that the admittance of females would spell the end of all we held dear and further, a young President who rode a skateboard to the meetings - Never. How wrong that thinking was. Thanks to all the members who pushed for those changes, because today we are a vibrant, industrious and growing club.
Just remember - Nothing changes if nothing changes. ……….just sayin.
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July, just two weeks into his term as Rotary International president-elect.
August is Membership Development and Extentions Month. Can you remember when you were inducted into Rotary? Have you considered why you were proposed by your sponsor? What made you to decide to join? Did you feel a sense of pride, of achievement, to be invited to join an organization of the highest international repute? Did you feel that your sponsor did “The right thing” by considering you to be potentially a good Rotarian ? Did you feel a little bit overwhelmed, sort of “am I really up to this?” You did?
“The more hands Rotary has, the better and more effectively the ideal of service will be achieved. Hence the importance of membership.” These words, spoken by one of Japans foremost Rotarians, Kanejiro Matsumoto put the point very straight. I put it even straighter: If we are to spread the workload of running this club, if we are to achieve our aims on the local scene (Youth Service, Vocational Service, Community Service), if we are to pull our weight on the International cart, we have an obligation to not only maintain, but increase membership. Whom have you asked lately to come along to one of our meetings?
Last Wednesday, we received a special insight into the work of Tanya Twyford, who is the Coordinator for the YARA (Youth at Risk Alliance), CNAP program (Complex Needs Assessment Panel) supporting vulnerable young people and their families. YARA is under the auspices of Wesley Mission Queensland. The families referred to the program are indeed complex. The range of complexity can be anything from drug misuse, homelessness, physical abuse, involvement in the criminal justice system, mental health issues, disengagement from school, just to name a few. Any professional/organisation in the community sector can make a referral such as Police, Youth Justice, Child Safety, School, Disability Services however families cannot self-refer as CNAP is a co-case management model. "We are the last stop shop" she declared.
Take this example: A youth was referred by YHES House (Youth Health Education Service), a program of Wesley Mission Queensland where young people at risk can turn to in the first instance. He was 13 years old, unkempt, with nothing other than the clothes on his back. He was kicked out of his home following an argument with his step mum. Riding a bicycle, his dad followed him, hit him off the bike, broke the bike, leaving him not only without a home but without any means of transport. The CNAP panel made recommendations of support for the young person and had a serious job
of getting this kid back on the rails, and re-engaging him in school. Yet, organizing another bicycle and a Go Card to him enabled him to develop sustainable independence and ultimately get himself back to school and allow him to make his own way to work was the turning point for this young person. The panel also authorized the purchase groceries in exchange for rent, a school uniform, shoes and a mobile phone so that Tanya could stay in contact with the young person. Ultimately, he reconnected with his biological mother. He joined the local football club, committed to perform at school and - indeed - he succeeded!
YARA provides collaborated, coordinated and integrated case planning for children unborn to 18 years and their families, who are “at risk” or who have been identified with complex needs, through the Complex Needs Assessment Panels (CNAP - pronounced 'snap'). "CNAP brings government and community representatives in partnership to provide a coordinated approach when assessing and planning the needs of clients with complex needs" is the official description. In essence: it is in response to the increasing number of young people for whom the existing system cannot provide support. But a person in need cannot expect to simply be accepted: The decision is made by the panel, evidence must be provided that the current system cannot meet the needs. Complex? Well, a staggering 17 organizations, from YARA (see above) to Centrelink to the Qld Police Service are involved.
So where can Surfers Sunrise Rotary be involved? If you go to our website, you will find a recent addition under the Wheelchair segment (top row menu): We are now offering "pre-loved" bicycles to organizations (not individuals) at a verylow price!
Des La Rance was at the door (again - this time for Clive Edwards), Paul Seymour was Chairman and Ian Mayberry was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Tania Laird, Rosie McIntyre, Clive Edwards. We understand Clive isn't well - our best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!
President Andy Bell welcomed all members and visitors, starting off with quite a good clean joke [no, I didn't say that this is uncommon! Still, considering Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act, it might be offensive to Scottish people and thus I can't publish it... Besides, without Andy's ability to talk with a proper Scottish accent... Sorry, you should have been there! ☺ Ed.] He then read a letter of thanks from (DG Darrell's wife) Kerrie Brown, thanking us for the $500, "buying" her pillow straight away. (You are most welcome, Kerrie!) Reporting on the status of the School for Samoa, Andy acknowledged the huge work done by our members to get the school going, not just in construction, but also with legal work, finance and raising finance, liaison with the Samoan community (see President's message above).
Des La Rance was asked by the Taree Men's Shed for another 10 wheelchairs, and RC of Gatton brought back 12. Wheelchairs are, as ever, going strong. Mario Fairlie suggested that "if ever anyone says..." (e.g. we all deserve a pat on the back) for the work we do with the Samoa School. As late as last weekend, he was still chasing up money from teachers who hadn't paid their fare yet. Doug Lipp advised that in the foreseeable future he'll organize either a trivia or card game night, and Graeme Isaacson has sold another 5 Entertainment Books, the commission of which will go towards the Wheelchairs project.
Graeme Isaacson: how come you got your hand and arm all bandaged up? (He fell off a bike in Amsterdam...) Mark Twyford was spotted "stealing" half of his wife Tanya's breakfast... Mario Fairlie for one thing or another, ditto for Al Sirovs (sorry, they are a bit boisterous in the morning... Ed.) Peter Morgan couldn't go to work last Friday - hang over?? Definitely not, Peter assured us... Fred Hamblen, did you dress yourself this morning? Mitch Brown, aren't you looking forward to counting the money from those Rotary Foundation coin boxes? Gerald East, you would be the one person who would truly benefit getting that big pillow we bought from Kerrie Brown last week - you could sit on it! Col Laurenson, you're the only member I know who was inducted twice within two weeks! Larry Murray, weren't you supposed to be emigrating to the UK again? Simon Brook, 'White Tea' is not black tea with milk! Paul Seymour and Angus Miller - don't know why... And finally, your long suffering Editor Franz Huber for talking all morning about France and speaking French...
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.” ― Ernst F. Schumacher
A woman on a bus is reading the Gold Coast Bulletin. She is so astonished by a story on life expectancy that she turns to the stranger beside her and says ‘Do you know that every time I breathe, somebody dies?’ ‘Fascinating,’ says the old Queenslander, ‘ever tried mouthwash?’
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Graeme Isaacson: how come you got your hand and arm all bandaged up? (He fell off a bike in Amsterdam...) Mark Twyford was spotted "stealing" half of his wife Tanya's breakfast... Mario Fairlie for one thing or another, ditto for Al Sirovs (sorry, they are a bit boisterous in the morning... Ed.) Peter Morgan couldn't go to work last Friday - hang over?? Definitely not, Peter assured us... Fred Hamblen, did you dress yourself this morning? Mitch Brown, aren't you looking forward to counting the money from those Rotary Foundation coin boxes? Gerald East, you would be the one person who would truly benefit getting that big pillow we bought from Kerrie Brown last week - you could sit on it! Col Laurenson, you're the only member I know who was inducted twice within two weeks! Larry Murray, weren't you supposed to be emigrating to the UK again? Simon Brook, 'White Tea' is not black tea with milk! Paul Seymour and Angus Miller - don't know why... And finally, your long suffering Editor Franz Huber for talking all morning about France and speaking French...
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