Happy Easter everyone- hope you had a wonderful Easter Break and got to spend some time with those that mean most to you.
Being from the Southern Hemisphere, the rejuvenation that Easter time celebrates also symbolises spring to me – baby animals, bulbs shooting through for the first time – not quite the autumnal overtones we have here in Australia but even here, Easter still epitomises love, hope, youth and growth. It was therefore really fitting to have Tahlia and Jacqui come and speak with us last week – two young women who embody great energy, personal determination and a willingness to make a difference in the world. They are definitely the future for Rotary and the bigger picture and I wonder what we can do as a club to create an environment that young leaders like that would want to be part of. It would definitely require some change (ideas to Charles please)!
As I mentioned at the last meeting, our next fundraiser will be the Small Business Expo on 22nd and 23rd May. A roster will be circulated shortly but please see the note in this bulletin in relation to times and jobs – it will be great to have as many as possible there – not only to raise funds but as public relations and recruitment drive.
On the note of fundraising, George Keily visited the shed on Saturday – not only bearing Easter Eggs for the volunteers but also to tell everyone that Apple Marketing will commence a fundraiser at the end of May for the wheelchair project. We are always so grateful for their support and thank George for his continued liaison with Apple Marketing on our behalf, as well as the personal contact he makes with anyone who donates more than a $100. George diligently calls them, explains in more detail what their donation will achieve and thanks them on behalf of us all. Great job George, thank you!
On a final note, I also wanted to thank the Twyfords for offering to host and cook for us for our next fellowship evening on 18th May. It’s very generous of them – read Franz' article to see how to take part and what to bring!
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday for our casual breakfast – and don’t forget to read on to get the details of what’s going on over the next few weeks – we have a bit going on!
As reported last week, the following jobs need to be covered in our upcoming fundraiser at the Small Business Expo this month. Volunteers required are as follows:
Wednesday 22nd May 2019
2:00 pm - approx 6:00 pm: 5 -10 volunteers to put up 200 trestle tables and 450 plastic chairs
Thursday 23rd May 2019
06:30 am
11:30 am
2 x volunteers car parking and gold coin donation
11:30 am
4:00 pm
2 x volunteers car parking and gold coin donation
3:30 pm
approx 6 pm
5-10 volunteers to take down 200 trestle tables and 450 plastic chairs ready for collection
What a refreshing experience last Wednesday to hear Tahlia Fenech and Jacqui Wark speak about theRotary Youth Leadership Award(RYLA)! Tahlia, who works with the PCYC's Project Booyah! was sponsored by our club to attend RYLA last February. Jacqui is one of the leaders and organizers. As the name would suggest, the week long event is designed to promote personal and professional development, goal setting and communication through a range of inspirational speakers, team building exercises and leadership training. In our District, it is held every year in late January or early February.
The girls started the presentation off with a video, showing the awardees enjoying every minute by participating in activities as straight forward as sliding down a slippery water slide to team activity of constructing a raft and then “racing” it across the pond. You can catch a bit of that video on the RYLA website. Obviously, everyone is having a ball! Your editor remarked that, from the video, it would appear that it is simply a giant holiday camp? “Far from it!” both the girls exclaimed, “I have repeatedly been taken way out of my comfort zone” Tahlia outlined. "One of the most beneficial items was to learn how to believe in myself" she said.
There are numerous activities which not only stretch the brain, but the various Keynote and motivational speakers really help the awardees to set goals and learn how to achieve these goals.
RYLA, now a program run in numerous Rotary Districts throughout Australia and internationally, is truly home grown: it was originally started in Queensland, as far back as 1959.
Photo (from left): Our club's Chair of Youth Service, Tania Laird, Jacqui Wark and Tahlia Fenech.
When Mario Fairlie attended the President Elect Training Seminar (PETS), he met with the Presidents Elect of the Broadbeach and Gold Coast Rotary Clubs, Dr Graham Sivyer and Rowan Johnstone respectively. Dr Graham indicated that he had identified a major need for a X-Ray Unit to be established in a hospital on the Espiritu Santo Island, in the Samna Province of Vanuatu. The hospital doesn't have one at all; travel to the nearest one that does have one takes over 5 hours. It needs more than just a X-Ray Unit: they don't have electrical power off the grid, so it needs to be solar / battery powered...
We all know that "there are no flies" on Des La Rance, our Chief Designer and Mover & Shaker at the Project Shed. He set to work and here is the preliminary draft. To an extent, it is based on the very successful design of the Samoa Schools we have installed, with solar panels and batteries. Next step is to obtain a District Grant as well as a Global Grant. For the Global Grant, Mario will liaison with his friend who introduced him to Rotary, PDG Fred Hansen in Norway.
Jump over to the Photo Album Section on the right for more images of Des' design.
Mark & Tanya Twyford are inviting all members and partners to come to a Bar-be-que party on Saturday 18th May (yes, Election Day), starting at 6:00 pm.
Full details, including address and what to bring, will be sent by separate email to all members. This is going to be a great social event for our club, so please mark your calendar. For those of you who are addicted to politics and can't wait till the news the following morning, a separate corner in their back yard will be allocated where you are permitted to use your mobile phone... ☺
Remember the Lutzy Award, which, in conjunction with the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, is presented to a promising young Life Saver. Last year's award, presented in July 2018, went to Sebastian Robinson (see picture, with Jan Lutz). Previous winners are Lucy Thorburn, our current Youth Exchange Student in the USA (by the way, has anyone heard anything from her since??) and before that, the inaugural winner Jessica Webber. A specially designed and sign written Surf Paddle Board is presented (see picture). The cost is around $2,500. Please contact organizer Ray Higgs.
At last week's meeting, Paula Brand, the head of the Gold Coast Small Business Expo, gave us a brief presentation on the project. As we were last year, we have again been invited to run a Fundraiser by setting up the day before and, on the day, run the Car Parking and, at the end of the day, take the tables and partitions down. The Expo will run on 23rd May 2019, so put that date, as well as the 22nd May into your diary now!
But this year, we have also been invited to run a booth ourselves! What a terrific opportunity for membership promotion!
You can find more information on the event on their website: www.smallbusinessexpos.com.au(don't be confused by the registration page popping up in your face - just close it to see the website itself.)
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.
A standing army is like a standing member: an excellent assurance of domestic tranquility but a dangerous temptation to foreign adventure. Elbridge Gerry, 5th US Vice President and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
THE WAR WHICH IS COMING is not the first one. There were other wars before it. When the last one came to an end there were conquerors and conquered. Among the conquered the common people starved.
Among the conquerors the common people starved too.
Berthold Brecht, German Playwright 1898 - 1956
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect.
As reported last week, the following jobs need to be covered in our upcoming fundraiser at the Small Business Expo this month. Volunteers required are as follows:
What a refreshing experience last Wednesday to hear Tahlia Fenech and Jacqui Wark speak about the
When Mario Fairlie attended the President Elect Training Seminar (PETS), he met with the Presidents Elect of the Broadbeach and Gold Coast Rotary Clubs, Dr Graham Sivyer and Rowan Johnstone respectively. Dr Graham indicated that he had identified a major need for a X-Ray Unit to be established in a hospital on the Espiritu Santo Island, in the Samna Province of Vanuatu. The hospital doesn't have one at all; travel to the nearest one that does have one takes over 5 hours. It needs more than just a X-Ray Unit: they don't have electrical power off the grid, so it needs to be solar / battery powered...
Mark & Tanya Twyford are inviting all members and partners to come to a Bar-be-que party on Saturday 18th May (yes, Election Day), starting at 6:00 pm.
At last week's meeting, Paula Brand, the head of the Gold Coast Small Business Expo, gave us a brief presentation on the project. As we were last year, we have again been invited to run a Fundraiser by setting up the day before and, on the day, run the Car Parking and, at the end of the day, take the tables and partitions down. The Expo will run on 23rd May 2019, so put that date, as well as the 22nd May into your diary now!
