We are over a week into 2018, so by now you would either have firmly stuck to your resolutions (you did??), or have already canned them or... didn’t have any at all! [see Inspirations… at the end of this bulletin. ☺ Ed.] So, let’s get straight down to business: At our first meeting of the new year we have our official AGM. Usually, this is a relatively quick affair, since – as is the case in most community organizations – the incoming board positions are discussed with potential holders prior to the AGM and are generally not as hotly contested as, say, pre-selection for a seat in parliament! So, with a bit of luck we should have time to also do some planning about where we intend to go for the remainder of my year ending in June and, beyond that, President Elect Jo Gorman’s year. Well, hold on to your hats! In just 8 weeks, from 9 - 11th March 2018, our very own DG Darrell Brown will hold his District Conference at Seaworld Resort. Let us just say that “all leave has been cancelled”; we need all hands on deck. Shortly after that, the Commonwealth Games where a number of our members are deeply involved in various capacities.
But back to the present: Rotary’s international theme for January is Vocational Service Month. Due to our club's massive involvement with International Service and Youth, Vocational Service has always had a bit of a Cinderalla existence in our club. Will this be the first year we are going to do something about it?
What a breakfast! Ian Mayberry organized local V8 Supercar driving super hero Warren "Wazza" Luff, one of the most sought after co-drivers in Supercars (the only driver to have won the PIRTEK Enduro Cup twice) is in the House!. He is the son of well-known driver instructor Ian Luff and one of the few drivers who did not started his career in karts. Away from the track Warren has a multitude of extracurricular activities - Stunt Show’s Manager at Movieworld, driver coach with McElrea Racing and a high-performance vehicle test driver and track tester for Motoring Magazine.
On another note, we are LIFTING THE LID ON MENTAL ILLNESS on this day- a fundraiser for Mental Health Awareness. Wear your hat and bring a big fat donation!
Don't forget to wear your hat this coming Wednesday 18th October!
Australian Rotary Health every year finances various research projects into Mental Health. Remember, one of DG Darrell Brown's major goals is to raise $33,000 to sponsor a PhD Scholarship in Mental Health. Darrell also emphasized that we should support Rotary's own projects - well, this certainly meets the guidelines!
You have two days left to book! We get a special discount at the Seaworld Melbourne Cup Luncheon. Those of you who came last year will agree that this is a super event and we have been able to score discounted tickets for this years lunch as a reward for being good Rotarians. The cost is $75 per person (instead of $100) and this includes a really great 3 course lunch (the dessert buffet is fantastic!) AND 3 hours of premium beverages. Already a few of you have said you'd like to go so I will ask them to reserve some tables for us. Please get numbers to me no later than this Wednesday18th October so I can go ahead and confirm. Dress up and join in the fun. Click on this link for details. Email Jo Gorman to book.
You may recall, some 4 months ago, "our" District Governor Darrell Brown outlined his goals for the district, and thus by extension our club. One of his major ones is to double membership. The theory is quite simple: every Rotarian asks another member to join. Darrell has just done that (see story above), as he has done numerous times before. How are we progressing? Well, based on the theory, by now, after 1/3rd of the year, we should have 40 members...
Have YOU asked a potential new member to come along?
On Sunday 5th November, DG Darrell Brown and the District Training Chief, PDG Wendy Scarlett, will host an online Q&A session - 'All about Rotary'. Note: you need to register - there are a maximum of 50 seats. Click on this link for more details and to register.
As a District and following on from an interest meeting 5 October, it is almost certain that we will accept the invitation to assist with the Commonwealth Games as Housekeepers to the Athletes Village. This is a huge commitment. We will combine with District 9630 as well. PDG Brian Heaton needs a commitment on numbers with names by the end of October. We'll need to nominate the beneficiaries of the money raised. Hopefully besides local charities we will nominate Rotary Initiatives such as the PhD Scholarship in Mental Illness, ROMAC, RAM, DIK, Rotary Foundation & so on. It is a better return than working at a Sausage Sizzle. A detailed write-up was sent to all members on 16th October - click here to download it from the District Website, and also some more in the District Newsletter which was published over the last weekend.
HL Mencken’s first rule of pragmatic politics: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”
A wise man once said: If you pull into the pits after a race and your rear bumper has more damage than your front bumper: Son, you ain't moving fast enough!
What a breakfast! Ian Mayberry organized local V8 Supercar driving super hero Warren "Wazza" Luff, one of the most sought after co-drivers in Supercars (the only driver to have won the PIRTEK Enduro Cup twice) is in the House!. He is the son of well-known driver instructor Ian Luff and one of the few drivers who did not started his career in karts. Away from the track Warren has a multitude of extracurricular activities - Stunt Show’s Manager at Movieworld, driver coach with McElrea Racing and a high-performance vehicle test driver and track tester for Motoring Magazine.
Don't forget to wear your hat this coming Wednesday 18th October! 
You have two days left to book! We get a special discount at the 
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You may recall, some 4 months ago, "our" District Governor Darrell Brown outlined his goals for the district, and thus by extension our club. One of his major ones is to double membership. The theory is quite simple: every Rotarian asks another member to join. Darrell has just done that (see story above), as he has done numerous times before. How are we progressing? Well, based on the theory, by now, after 1/3rd of the year, we should have 40 members... 
As a District and following on from an interest meeting 5 October, it is almost certain that we will accept the invitation to assist with the Commonwealth Games as Housekeepers to the Athletes Village. This is a huge commitment. We will combine with District 9630 as well. PDG Brian Heaton needs a commitment on numbers with names by the end of October. We'll need to nominate the beneficiaries of the money raised. Hopefully besides local charities we will nominate Rotary Initiatives such as the PhD Scholarship in Mental Illness, ROMAC, RAM, DIK, Rotary Foundation & so on. It is a better return than working at a Sausage Sizzle. A detailed write-up was sent to all members on 16th October - .jpeg)
HL Mencken’s first rule of pragmatic politics: 