This week see our club receive a reciprocal visit from Hope Island Rotary Club, I am sure there will be great fellowship with a good guest speaker.
As you are all aware an individual email has been forwarded to all members with details for members to vote in an anonymous survey with respect to our club moving the venue to Surfers Paradise RSL. I urge all members to complete the survey and I will present the results and comments.
This week we have had an incredible announcement from the Aussie Tag Along Tour conducted by the E-Club. As all Clubs are aware the E-Club and in particular PDG Heather and PDG Ian Yarker from time to time conduct and direct tag-along caravan tours for the purpose of raising funds and enriching the Rotary experience. Earlier this year they conducted a 10 island extravaganza Tag Along Tour of Tassie working in conjunction with District Governor John Dare of District 9830.This week the Tour Director announced a donation of the profits of just over $33,000 raised during the tour from individual members, Clubs and the tour itself to Australian. Well done Heather and Ian and all who partook.
Our GST team are now well established Aussies and arrive on Wednesday morning as our guests and I am sure we will make them very welcome. Please assist Simon wherever possible with transport etc. Again reminding all that the meeting on the 11 May has been cancelled in lieu of a get together BBQ and my residence (14 Sundown Drive , Paradise Point).
A Reminder: Next board meeting has been set for Tuesday 17th May at 5-30 at Andy Bell`s office.
World Malaria Day is being held on Wednesday 11th May at Griffith University. As you are most probably aware, Rotary, via RAM (Rotarians Against Malaria) supports the eradication of Malaria and has done for a very long time. If any of the Rotarians are interested in attending, please reply directly to Regina Tucker 0434 171 921 or r.tucker@griffith.edu.au. YIR, Sue Dist. Sec
Yes!! Jo Gorman joins Tania Laird as our second lady member! Last Wednesday, President Paul Seymour inducted Jo into our club, under the classification of Employment Services. Welcome to Surfers Sunrise, Jo! We look forward to your "Lady behind the Badge" presentation on 6th April.
Gabrielle recently returned from her year in Minden, Germany. The town of Minden, on the Weser river, goes back for centuries. Famous for its bridge over a bridge (see picture), one of its major events in history was the Battle of Minden on 01 August 1759. The locals call it Annus Mirabilis. That, however, certainly is not what Gabrielle describes her year there.
Her first host family’s cooking was all Vegan – Howzat for a completely new experience? She stayed there for 6 months, with the occasional ‘Sugar Craze’, or acute craving for a steak or at least a hamburger… “I grew very close to my last host family”, Gabrielle reported. All in all, a very interesting and character building experience for her indeed.
She went to school at the Ratsgymnasium (no, nothing to do with Rats – pronounced ‘Raat’s’, from the German word ‘Rat’ as in Gemeinderat (Local Council Authority), and Gymnasium as in College or High School).
There was a lot of Rotary activity, firstly with the sponsoring Rotary Club of Minden – Porta Westfalica, as well as with multiple major excursions, not just around Germany, but internationally throughout Europe. One of the local activities of the local club is ‘Baumpflanzen’ (tree planting): for every visiting student, a tree is planted. They can then return at any time in the future and check how it has grown, and perhaps in another 40 years, bring your grandchildren there!
Gabrielle engaged herself in a new hobby: drawing and painting. Good training for her intended career path: she will shortly commence a University course at the University of Queensland in Multi Media Design. And to continue her involvement with Rotary, she’ll also join a local Rotaract Club in Brisbane, the Rotaract of Brisbane CBD. And, just in case the brain is not stretched far enough: how about a course in Spanish?
Gerald East was at the door (for Julian Price), Larry Murray was Chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Geoff Croad, Peter Morgan, Mario Fairlie, Mitch Brown, Darrell Brown, Neil Thurlow and Julian Price.
President Paul Seymour welcomed all members and guests Daryl Sanderson’s charming daughter Natalie Sanderson, our Youth Exchange Student Martina Missarelli and our Guest Speaker and rebound Youth Exchange Student Gabrielle Burey, accompanied by her mum Anne Burey.
Paul reminded us of the upcoming District Assembly (not conference as per his President’s message in last week’s bulletin), but in relation to the District Conference in early May: do we want to run a display stand for our Wheelchairs Project there? Decision to be made at the board meeting.
Paul then proceeded to induct our newest member, Jo Gorman, under the classification of Employment Services (see separate article).
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson advised that the Rotary Club of Gosford has sent 24 wheelchairs to Madagaskar. The previous Friday, he travelled to Brisbane to pick up a load of cartons to pack wheelchairs in. Palen Creek Correctional Centre sent us another 28 wheelchairs. Prisoner David (? – sorry, didn’t catch his surname), who is in charge of the wheelchairs over there, also advised that the centre will have an Import business, and they offered to help in any way they can. The Rotary Club of Gladstone has put in for a grant to buy a container, which they intend to share with us to send wheelchairs and goods to the Rotary Club of Kandi, Sri Lanka. See more details in President's Message above.
Fundraising Director Doug Lipp confirmed that all is in readiness for the Crazy Whist night on Saturday 12th March (see separate article).
Youth Services Director Chris Thurtell formally welcomed Gabrielle Burey and her mum Anne to the club. Chris is looking for nominations for RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment), designed for 14 – 16 year olds. And a fundraising event is temporarily set for 29th May to meet with the Dolphins at Seaworld.
Gerald East reported on the recently held Movie night in support of ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children), in which several of our members participated.
A rare event indeed: Andy started off by fining himself, after announcing Doug Lipp to be Chairman, and noticing the long face of Geoff Croad (he was the one on the roster. Not only that, Geoff specially dressed up for the event!). That was where the niceties ended:
Simon Brook and Geoff Croad: I'd love to do a time and motion study: About 1 1/4 hours to setup the screen for your presentation, Simon?? "Pope" Des La Rance, it's never a good idea to mention in passing "I'm going to get fined..." Gerald East, again on the door: today, after your complaint last week, almost everyone had the correct change. And guess what? Moan, moan... Bob Harrison, you are looking good. Good enough to pay a fine... Franz Huber, can't you get anything right? It is the Black Caps, not Cats! [hmmm... sorry, didn't realize that the more interesting name had already been taken...] Doug Lipp, it is claimed that you have more money than the Pope... Peter Morgan, you are taking the limelight from Mario Fairlie: Is there anyone still left in the club who has NOT seen the scar on your reconstructed knee? And last, but not least: Terry O'Shea: what on earth are you wearing? "Strong and Bold"? [No, nothing to do with cider. It's the Richmond AFL Club's Guernsey]
This Wednesday 02/03/16, our incoming Team Captain Simon will present on the subject of Young People in Rotary. This is not just a "listening to" session, this is a "participation" session! See you all there!
Doug Lipp is organizing another one: Saturday 12th March 2016. Bring friends along. Whilst for some the rules of the game may be somewhat "different", it all contributes to everyone having a good time. Lots of hilarious moments! See Events pages.
WHAT IS A ROTARY FOUNDATION GLOBAL GRANT FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING?
Established in 1965-66, the Group Study Exchange Program was an educational program that promoted international understanding through organized travel and personal contact. [Our club is quite seriously involved in GSE - President Elect Simon Brook was a member of a recent team, and we'll host the incoming team from Pennsylvania next week. Ed.] The program evolved as Rotary updated its grant model and placed this activity within global grants. Vocational training under global grants builds skills within a community by offering local training or by supporting groups of professionals traveling abroad for rigorous study in their profession or to teach local professionals about a particular field. This type of training is often effective in conjunction with a humanitarian project. YOU CAN VOLUNTEER TO BE A VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAM LEADER OR NOMINATE A NON-ROTARIAN VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAM MEMBER - WHICH WILL IT BE?
“To persons standing alone on a hill during a clear midnight such as this, the roll of the world is almost a palpable movement. To enjoy the epic form of that gratification it is necessary to stand on a hill at a small hour of the night, and, having first expanded with a sense of difference from the mass of civilized mankind, who are disregardful of all such proceedings at this time, long and quietly watch your stately progress through the stars.”
Thomas Hardy - Far from the Madding Crowd.
The paralytics of the government are struggling feebly with the epileptics of the revolution.
Yes!! Jo Gorman joins Tania Laird as our second lady member! Last Wednesday, President Paul Seymour inducted Jo into our club, under the classification of Employment Services. Welcome to Surfers Sunrise, Jo! We look forward to your "Lady behind the Badge" presentation on 6th April.
Gabrielle recently returned from her year in Minden, Germany. The town of Minden, on the Weser river, goes back for centuries. Famous for its bridge over a bridge (see picture), one of its major events in history was the Battle of Minden on 01 August 1759. The locals call it Annus Mirabilis. That, however, certainly is not what Gabrielle describes her year there. 
(no, nothing to do with Rats – pronounced ‘Raat’s’, from the German word ‘Rat’ as in Gemeinderat (Local Council Authority), and Gymnasium as in College or High School).
A rare event indeed: Andy started off by fining himself, after announcing Doug Lipp to be Chairman, and noticing the long face of Geoff Croad (he was the one on the roster. Not only that, Geoff specially dressed up for the event!). That was where the niceties ended:
the club who has NOT seen the scar on your reconstructed knee? And last, but not least: Terry O'Shea: what on earth are you wearing? "Strong and Bold"? 
Doug Lipp is organizing another one: Saturday 12th March 2016. Bring friends along. Whilst for some the rules of the game may be somewhat "different", it all contributes to everyone having a good time. Lots of hilarious moments! See Events pages.
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