We are back! It feels like a lifetime ago since I last wrote a report and we had an official meeting. I must firstly congratulate all of you who volunteered and contributed to the success of arguably the best Commonwealth Games ever. It is very interesting to hear the tales from those who worked as ‘house-keepers’ at the Games Village. From all accounts a never to be forgotten experience.
A couple of instances that warrant mention and were not so good however. The first was the totally unacceptable behaviour of the professional unwashed protesters who disrupted the Queens Baton Relay on the Spit, just when our Darrell Brown was about to embark on his leg of the relay. The second was the attitude of some of the supervisory staff at the Games Village, who tried to make life unpleasant for some of our volunteers. However, I have it on very good authority that a couple of them pushed their luck a bit too far and our Mr Nice Guy, Geoff Croad, put one of them firmly in their place.
Robby and I hosted a Rotarian couple from Scotland. They are members of Troon Rotary Club, but they now live in NZ. When asked if they have joined a club in NZ they commented that their local club is far too formal and old fashioned for them, so they haven't joined but maintained their membership in Troon. I don't think we could ever be accused of falling into that category.
Our Change-over lunch is fast approaching, only about 6 weeks away on Sunday 17 June at the newly refurbished Kurawa Surf Club.
This is going to be one of the biggest District Conferences ever. Chief Jo Gorman has been working her fingers to the bone. We have well over 500 registrations. But, together with the RC of Gold Coast, our club is hosting the conference. We provide the organization, the personnel, the know how, a lot of the volunteers. YOU MUST BE THERE! All leave has been cancelled until the 12th March.
But then, on the 14th, we have one of the most exciting Guest Speakers - a genuine one-off: Dr Dainis Zirovs (Al Sirov's nephew) will speak on the transformation of his native Latvia from Russian control to Western Democracy. See Upcoming Events section on the left.
Love Bites? Last time I looked, this meant anything but Domestic Violence! I recall, (some 50 years ago) one of my mates one day rolling up to work with one of them planted firmly on his upper neck. He suffered ribald and rude comments for the better part of a week... Now, to the more serious issue of domestic violence: the statistics are... well, simply unbelievable: one in three females are suffering from Domestic Violence (DV) at some stage in their lives, one in 5 males... Unbelievable, so I jumped on Wikipedia, where it said just that. OK, perhaps a more sober place then: The Australian Bureau of Statistics. Officially, "no single agreed definition of Domestic Violence" it says. There they call it FDV (Family and Domestic Violence). The ABS statistics for FDV, say that in just one year (2015) FDV related assaults range from 177 victims per 100,000 population in the ACT to a staggering 1,668 victims per 100,000 in the Northern Territory. Click on the link to read the whole report. Warning: the homicide statistics relating to DV are no less scary. Based on this very uncomfortable reality, the summary which Anne provided me for this bulletin (printed below) is rather tame and benign. That does not mean it is less disturbing, just not as stark as the raw statistics are. Ed.
The Love Bites Reference Group began on the Gold Coast 2013 as a collaborative approach in managing the delivering of the program using a model to include best practice given the sensitive content.
Love Bites is a Respectful Relationships Program that aims to provide a safe space to discuss relationship violence and sexual assault for year 10 students. It aims to educate youth regarding domestic and family violence and sexual assault supporting young people to develop respectful relationships, engaging young people in conversations about gender equality, valuing difference and anti-bullying, clarifying rights as a human being; how to assure safety, access support and also be aware of the consequences for actions.
For these reasons, the Love Bites program is offered as an interactive process, inviting students’ views and opinions in an open forum, increasing students awareness, providing information & resources not just for their immediate use but for their long term protection and assist them to have a voice regarding respectful changes in our world about these topics moving forward into our future.
We would really appreciate financial support, in any way, given there is no funding for the delivery of the program and our goal is to train more facilitators that are currently engaged in working with youth and be able to maintain and increase the education for young people to support their safety .
Graeme Isaacson was at the door, Charles Thomasson was Chairman and, in absence of both Sergeant and Deputy, Paul Seymour acted as Sergeant.
We had apologies from Gerald East, Col Laurenson, Ian Mayberry, Tania Laird, Simon Brook, Mario Fairlie and Jim Blackburn.
President Andy Bell welcomed all members and our Guest Speaker Anna Vlamis from Love Bites (see separate report). Following advice that written complaints had been received about our Bikini Girl banner (and club logo, established since charter 30 years ago), Andy opened up a discussion about this. Various members contributed, including DG Darrell Brown, who clearly stated his concern that, in today's time, the banner is sexist and cannot be presented in Asian or Muslim countries. The decision was reached that a closed survey be undertaken via Survey Monkey, where members can vote as well as state their views and/or alternatives.
President Elect Jo Gorman, freshly back from her President Elect Training Seminar, outlined various aspects in relation to her upcoming Rotary Year. Of importance:
Blue Card: since we do work with Youth, it is essential that all members carry a Volunteers Blue Card
Under the leadership of incoming Membership Chair Charles Thomasson, membership will have major emphasis
Whilst there will be two District Assemblies held, our club's leadership team should all go to the 'Northern' event on 20/05/2018 in Boonah
Lots of other items, but Jo will outline these in a more comprehensive way at a later date.
Angus Miller, in charge of volunteers at the upcoming District Conference, circulated a sign-on sheet. Geoff Croad requires a couple of volunteers for RYDA on Wednesday 14/03/2018 (you will still have time to come to the meeting beforehand). Contact Geoff directly.
Des La Rance announced that two donations had been received for the Wheelchair Project: $50.00 by mail, and a whopping $15,000! (The donor, however, wishes to remain anonymous). Treasurer Mitch Brown reminded all that membership dues for the second half year are payable now.
District Youth Exchange chief Chris Thurtell brought our two Exchange Students Gigi and Benedetta along to our meeting. His request to get the girls to say a few words, however, seems to have taken the ladies by surprise; their speeches were of remarkable brevity...
Last Saturday, our Youth Exchange Students Gigi (left)and Benedetta (right) visited our Project Shed to learn all about how to convert unwanted bicycles into wheelchairs. Here they learning how to trim the plywood to the correct size. WH&S Inspectors: relax, pull your head in: no need for goggles, ear protection, steel capped boots: this was for show only, the machine was not even switched on. [I hope. Ed.] Photo by Al Sirovs.
Paul, at short notice due to the absence of both Sergeant Tania as well as Deputy Sergeant Ian, chose the sartorial impression some members made: President Andrew Bell must have triggered his thoughts to start... Any members who are wearing shorts! Not really the prestigious role you are expected to represent as Rotarians! Fred Hamblen, what a shirt... DG Darrell Brown, the socks tell it all... Any who were properly dressed but otherwise caught the ire of the Deputy Deputy Sergeant: Franz Huber and Bob Harrison: you are wearing the old badges! Jo Gorman, you have sort of put the cart before the horse: you have already got your married name on the badge... Chris Thurtell, we appreciate that it might take a while to round up your two YE Students in the morning, but you were VERY late...!
Anybody who tells you that a two-day conference, you're going to turn into the General Patton of leadership, they're not telling you the truth. But you can learn the fundamentals; you can absolutely understand the fundamentals. Jocko Willink
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Love Bites is a Respectful Relationships Program that aims to provide a safe space to discuss relationship violence and sexual assault for year 10 students. It aims to educate youth regarding domestic and family violence and sexual assault supporting young people to develop respectful relationships, engaging young people in conversations about gender equality, valuing difference and anti-bullying, clarifying rights as a human being; how to assure safety, access support and also be aware of the consequences for actions.
Last Saturday, our Youth Exchange Students Gigi (left) and Benedetta (right) visited our Project Shed to learn all about how to convert unwanted bicycles into wheelchairs. Here they learning how to trim the plywood to the correct size. WH&S Inspectors: relax, pull your head in: no need for goggles, ear protection, steel capped boots: this was for show only, the machine was not even switched on. 
Paul, at short notice due to the absence of both Sergeant Tania as well as Deputy Sergeant Ian, chose the sartorial impression some members made: President Andrew Bell must have triggered his thoughts to start... Any members who are wearing shorts! Not really the prestigious role you are expected to represent as Rotarians! Fred Hamblen, what a shirt... DG Darrell Brown, the socks tell it all... Any who were properly dressed but otherwise caught the ire of the Deputy Deputy Sergeant: Franz Huber and Bob Harrison: you are wearing the old badges! Jo Gorman, you have sort of put the cart before the horse: you have already got your married name on the badge... Chris Thurtell, we appreciate that it might take a while to round up your two YE Students in the morning, but you were VERY late...!.JPG)
