Hard to believe it’s been a week since my last report. They say time speeds up as you get older. I think i believe it.
I am constantly impressed by the amount of talent we have within our ranks. I’m not necessarily talking about the obvious talents of which each and every member of our club has in spades, no I am talking of the hidden, often unheralded talents. Take for instance our editor of this Newsletter, Franz Huber. Franz came to Australia from Switzerland as a young man. English was his second language. (When in conversation with Franz, especially if he gets excited, this is very obvious). Like all good immigrants Franz embraced his new country and in fact has a love of all things Aussie bush, walking, trekking and of all things poetry. Why am I telling you this? Well Franz has just won the Outback Writers’ Festival Winton 2024 Open Short Story Competition. Well done Franz, all at Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club are proud of you. [Why, thank you, Mr President! Though I'm not sure whether I should print this; I can't help the feeling I'm being soaped up for some big, extraordinarily time consuming job... ☺]
This coming meeting will be my first time with the introduction of a new format. I hope our members embrace it. If not I may set the record of the shortest time anyone has ever held the Presidency.
To our members who have not as yet nominated the committee they wish to belong to, please do so before Wednesday.
All members should have received an email, asking which committee you would like to be assigned to. Here is a reminder:
Membership
Evan Mita, Angus Miller
- Membership Development
- Membership Retention
Youth Service
Thomas Robinson, Darrell Brown
- Youth Programs (RYTS, RYPEN, RYLA)
- Youth Exchange Program - incoming and outgoing
- National Youth Science Forum
- Lutzy Award (liaison with SLSC)
Services
Geoff Croad
- Wheelchairs project
- Community Service
- Vocational Service
- International Service
The Rotary Foundation
Elizabeth Celi
Fundraising
Ross Augustine
- Grant applications
- Containers for Change
- Bunnings BBQ's and similar (organisation)
- Golf Day
Club Administration
Franz Huber
- Public Relations
Ashleigh Symes
- Guest Speakers
- Club Bulletin, incl Roster (ClubRunner)
- Social Media (Facebook, lnstagram, X)
- Club Website (Club Runner)
- Wheelchair Trust Website (WordPress)
- Social Events (Club internal)
Note: It's not uncommon for a member to be on multiple committees. Thank you to all who replied. If you didn't, President Andy will interpret that as "happy to serve on any committee you'd like me to be on, no job too big or too small". At the upcoming meeting, Andy will outline more details.
At the last meeting, our freshly baked President Andy emphasised that he wanted to put the Four-Way Test back into the forefront of our consciousness. So, I did a bit of digging into old records, and here is what I dug up out of the archives of 1997-98 from one of my (then) President's Messages. Today, 27 years later, it's still as relevant as ever:
“Rotary is a miniature model of a world at peace, one which might advantageously be studied by nations. Rotarians believe that the universal application of tolerance and friendliness would bring about the international peace so earnestly desired by everyone. “ Words spoken over 50 years ago, on the 36th anniversary of Rotary, by its founder Paul Harris. Words still as relevant today as they were in 1941: Imagine, just for a moment, the effect of all world leaders truly applying the Four Way Test, at ALL TIMES…
Whilst this may seem to be highly desirable, this might be just as impossible to achieve as Karl Marx’s model of communism or Ayn Rand’s ideal of capitalism, outlined in her work ‘Atlas Shrugged’. Both models (and numerous others in between the two spectrums) work on the concept of everyone wanting to participate in the same ideal. Yet, some people want always to be influencing and leading, some people want just to be left alone, and some will always perceive the world to owe them a living.
When you joined Rotary, your welcome kit should have included a certificate of The Four Way Test, to display above your desk. Just make sure that it faces YOU.
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
... and for those of you who are still mourning the outcome of a certain event last Wednesday:
Experiencing loss is as certain as the sunrise. When it visits, may we all find the courage to accept the invitation to use it well. Gemma Tognini, Australian Journalist.
I have been asked to join a swingers club. But I'm really nervous. What if I'm not good enough? I haven't been on a swing since I was about 9 years old.
At the last meeting, our freshly baked President Andy emphasised that he wanted to put the Four-Way Test back into the forefront of our 
