Opportunity doesn't knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door!.. and that's exactly what we're doing. Don't pack away your tongs and aprons (i said tongs, not thongs 😂) because as we roll into the festive season we got more snags to cook! [What's wrong with wearing thongs? Last time I looked, President Simon himself was wearing them. On the weekend. On his feet, I mean... ☺ Ed.] You know, once upon a time I thought BBQ's at Bunnings were for old Rotarian's to run, but I'm coming to realize a sausage sizzle is so much more. It's fun, it's fellowship, it's fundraising and most importantly, it's becoming a large part of our weekend culture. Ask anyone what is synonymous with Bunnings they'll tell you it's a good sausage sizzle! So clear your diary for the 18th of December, dig our your Santa apron and be quick to 'snag' a spot on the roster!
Speaking of rosters, there are still a few spots spare on the polio collection in November... Wowsa, It's November already! So much to do, so little time left in the year!
This Wednesday we welcome Guest Speakers with a difference:
Major David Rogerson and Rowan Johnstone: The Salvation Army’s Turning Point Admissions Centre.
Those members who've been around for a few years might remember Major Graham Tamsett, a former Southport Salvation Army Chief (now based in Brisbane)? He was a member of our club!
At last Wednesday's meeting, Rosie McIntyre was inducted into our club under the classification of 'Peak Performance Coach'. Introduced by our Sergeant and Membership Director Andy Bell, Rosie has been a familiar face at our meetings for several weeks now. The formality of the induction put "the cherry on the cake". Congratulations. and welcome to Surfers Sunrise, Rosie! Our Program chief Jo Gorman has set aside a slot for 'Woman behind the Badge' speaker segment on 2nd November. We are looking forward to it!
"Lovely to see you back in Surfers Paradise!" our District Governor enthused in conjunction with complimenting us on our signature projects: Daryl Sanderson and Des La Rance's Wheelchairs, the schools built in Thailand and Samoa, the House of Hope on Samoa. Perhaps not as well known but indeed very important also is our President Simon Brook's effort to get Rotary into Multi - and Social Media: We are now on YouTube. Simon and Kaye Titmarsh (last year's President of the Rotary e-Club of Next Gen) expended some serious effort to make this happen. Have you seen it yet? Well, go on then: click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDn4aYMY-oI - it is a recording of Simon and Kaye's presentation at the last District Assembly.
So, what is it like to be DG? Well, you will average about 100 emails a day. Some people develop a special knack to ring you when you are in the shower... But it's all about preparation: After he rejected (now) Past DG Anne Egan's feather boa, he got the outfit of an outrageously yellow hat, a vermillion tie and... ... Superman underpants. Regrettably, equally unsuitable for a person like Michael who is, by nature, a very quiet person...
Michael highlighted major Rotary events, such as the upcoming 100 year anniversary of The Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus. A brief recall of this project's origin, Michael outlined the initial efforts by Sir Clem Renouf, a Queenslander who became Rotary International President in 1978/79. Clem was the instigator of what was the 3-H Program (Health, Hunger and Humanity), which led to coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) to remove the Polio Virus from the face of the earth. That campaign started in 1989. Since then, the success has been nothing but spectacular: last year, only two countries (Pakistan and Afghanistan) had Polio cases, but meanwhile there has been another outbreak in Nigeria. All these countries are extremely difficult for the vaccinators to access.
Closer to home, Outback Links is a program where we assist farmers in draught affected areas. Whilst the recent rains brought some relief, not all areas did get some rain. But even then, it is estimated that some 49% of properties have no life stock at present. Besides the obvious efforts of providing help with chores, fencing etc, one of the major functions is to simply sit down with the families and discuss the situation and how to go forward.
And so the Rotary experience evolves. Next year we'll have an Australian Rotary International President again, Ian Risley. Last year, District 9640 had the greatest increase in membership in Australia and New Zealand. We came third in personal donations to The Rotary Foundation. But what is Rotary? Primarily, it is camaraderie, fellowship. That is what was the original purpose of Paul Harris. It still is.
Roz Irving chose the Fred Hollows Foundationwww.hollows.org as her 'District Governor's Partner' program. It is all about preventable blindness (80% is avoidable), at a cost which is well affordable. Our club's involvement with the Fred Hollows Foundation goes back to 1997, when Ray Martin (of 'A Current Affair'), who was at the time a director of the Fred Hollows Foundation, was keynote Speaker at our District Conference. This led to his program televising our Wheelchair Project, which led to it becoming the program it is today. Do we need any further credentials?
Hot off the press: "our" go-between in Vanuatu, Chantal Clarke, introduced a friend of hers, Annie Fuller, to our Wheelchair Shed. Annie picked up 3 wheelchairs, together with some toys from the Toyboys, to go to West Papua New Guinea. Annie is with the Kilungga Foundation, an organization to help West Papuan refugees. Photo below (by Al Sirovs): Annie, Chantal and our Wheelchairs Chairman Daryl Sanderson desperately trying to control his blood pressure.... There! if you want to experience some excitement, you have to be at The Shed on Saturday morning!
Franz Huber was at the door (for John Franich), Mark Twyford was Chairman (for Franz Huber), and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Peter Morgan, Tania Laird, Tony Bird, Gerald East, Mario Fairlie, Paul Seymour and Larry Murray. Graeme Isaacson bought us up to date on his wife Anne's health issue.
President Simon Brook welcomed visitors Robyn Gowland (Guest of Jo Gorman), Chantal Clarke (our "on the ground" person in Vanuatu), Sarah Cooper and her daughter Felicity (our Exchange Student to Finland last year), and of course our guests of honor, District Governor Michael Irving and his charming partner Roz. Simon then proceeded straight into getting our newest member Rosie McIntyre inducted into our club. "Remember when I mentioned 'special Rotary Moments'? This is one!", he said. [Indeed it is, not just for the President, but for all of us! Ed.] See separate article below.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson advised that the Helensvale High School project to build a school on Samoa has progressed to be processed by RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service), a major milestone to obtain Grant Funding.
Des La Rance, fresh from a 'mini meeting' with Chantal Clarke, advised that Chantal is booked to appear on Radio shows as well as getting reportage into newspapers.
Chris Thurtell, who is now District Chair of Youth Exchange, advised that issue relating to the French Exchange Student without a host has all been resolved. Well done, Chris![I shudder to think the amount of 'paddling below the surface' that happened! Ed.]
The Rotary Club of Surfers Paradise is again organizing a Charity Race Day on the first day of the Spring Racing Carnival, Saturday 8th October 2016. It will be held at 'The Dome' at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Our club has supported the event last year. Can we again get some 10 tables together? Cost per table is $700.00 (Note: correction from last week's typo). Contact Fundraising Director Tania Laird.
"Every eye is an eye, when you're doing the surgery there that is just as important as if you were doing eye surgery on the prime minster or the king."
Fred Hollows.
Parliament of the country is the repository of the sovereign will of the people, and its successful functioning is a joint responsibility of both the government and the Opposition.
Pratibha Patil, President of India 2007 - 2012
[I don't know whether Ms Patil managed to bring her view to success in the Indian Parliament. But wouldn't it be nice if our representatives in Canberra could heed her advice and just agree on something. Ed.]
This Wednesday we welcome Guest Speakers with a difference: 
At last Wednesday's meeting, Rosie McIntyre was inducted into our club under the classification of 'Peak Performance Coach'. Introduced by our Sergeant and Membership Director Andy Bell, Rosie has been a familiar face at our meetings for several weeks now. The formality of the induction put "the cherry on the cake". Congratulations. and welcome to Surfers Sunrise, Rosie! Our Program chief Jo Gorman has set aside a slot for 'Woman behind the Badge' speaker segment on 2nd November. We are looking forward to it!.JPG)
"Lovely to see you back in Surfers Paradise!" our District Governor enthused in conjunction with complimenting us on our signature projects: Daryl Sanderson and Des La Rance's Wheelchairs, the schools built in Thailand and Samoa, the House of Hope on Samoa. Perhaps not as well known but indeed very important also is our President Simon Brook's effort to get Rotary into Multi - and Social Media: We are now on YouTube. Simon and Kaye Titmarsh (last year's President of the Rotary e-Club of Next Gen) expended some serious effort to make this happen. Have you seen it yet? Well, go on then: click on this link: 
