By the time you read this our intrepid travellers/volunteers will be well and truly settled into Samoan life.
I had to mortgage the family home to pay for the extortion masquerading as ‘Parking fees” when I ventured to Brisbane International airport to bid our wonderful volunteers ‘bon voyage’.
To say they were exited would be an understatement. The pupils and teachers from the 4 schools looked terrific in matching shirts, with the project and their names proudly displayed.
From our side Rosie, our project leader, was resplendent, looking like a young Katherine Hepburn and oozing calm authority.
I am sure everyone will have the time of their lives and to show it will not all be hard work, our builder had his surfboard under his arm with the cover housing his tools and clothes. We did tell him to check it for foreign matter, but he assured us all it was a surfboard and not a ‘boogy board’.
Pleased to report, our Editor, young Franz and his lovely wife Catherine have survived the wilds of Europe and returned to the warm and safe embrace of the Gold Coast and the Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise. Welcome home.
Siànte.
Andrew Bell
President, 2017-18
(Picture above: Rosie McIntyre with some of the participants. Picture by President Andy)
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July, just two weeks into his term as Rotary International president-elect.
This Wednesday 19th July we'll have a Dinner Meeting (6:00 pm for 6:30 pm start), at our usual venue, the Surfers Paradise RSL Club. Partners, friends, family and in particular any potential new members are most welcome! Just $20.00 per person for a sumptuous meal and good fellowship.
Col Laurenson, the chief of Donations in Kind (DIK) Northern Region outlining what is behind one of the most efficient re-distribution of anything from medicine to hospital beds to clothing to books to developing countries in the South Pacific region.
Photo above, from left: President of Surfers Sunrise Andy Bell, Jan Lutz, Lucy Thorburn and Surfers SLSC President Trevor Hendy.
At last Wednesday's meeting, Lucy Thorburn was presented with the annual "Lutzy" Award. No, it is not some plain certificate or plaque - it is a fully fledged rescue/paddle board!
The award, in honour of our Charter Member Keith Lutz who sadly passed away some four years ago, is determined in conjunction with the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. Ray Higgs and Chris Thurtell from Surfers Sunrise team up with David Orchid and a selection committee from
the SLSC. As David Orchid pointed out, it is presented "to the person who makes a difference", not necessarily the top Life Saver. This year's award, again sponsored by Astute Projects Pty Ltd was presented by SLSC President Trevor Hendy and Jan Lutz.
Lucy is just 15 years old and studies in Year 11 at Benowa High School and is studying for a Certificate 3 in Child Care. She has successfully attained the SLSC's Bronze Medallion. In Lucy's acceptance speech, she pointed out that "as a member of Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, I am proud to be involved as a senior competitor in training and competition, water safety activities for nippers and also as an active patrolling member on Surfers Paradise beach".
Sam F. Owori, Rotary International president-elect, died unexpectedly Thursday as a result of post-operative complications from a planned surgery. Sam’s term as Rotary’s 108th President would have begun on 1st July 2018.
Sam was a member of the Rotary Club of Kampala, Uganda, for 38 years. "Please remember Sam as the outstanding, hard-working Rotarian he was," said Rotary International President Ian Riseley. "In this difficult time, I ask you to keep his wife, the Owori family, and Sam's millions of friends around the world in your thoughts."
At the same meeting we had the presentation of the Lutzy Award (see above), we also welcomed the three awardees to the recent RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment) awardees.
Jaali Hendy joined with the Lutzy Award winner Lucy Thorburn and last year's Lutzy winner Jessica Webber (picture left). [must be something in the water over there... ☺ Ed.] RYPEN is a weekend experience in the Gold Coast Hinterland for youth aged 14-16 years, designed to develop skills that
will assist them in the transition to adulthood. Participants are involved in a variety of workshops and activities, which provide an opportunity for them to personally develop, gain self confidence, communication skills, challenge themselves, build friendships, and develop life skills.
From a prepared speech, the three girls presented us with a brief outline: "It was an awesome experience that we recommend to any 14 to 16 year old to participate in and broaden their life experience and self confidence".
RYPEN is just one of 12 Youth Programs conducted in our District. Click on this link to get full details of what else is happening!
Daryl Sanderson was at the door, Mario Fairlie was Chairman and Tania Laird was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Paul Seymour, Jo Gorman, Rosie McIntyre, Col Laurenson, Simon Brook, Chris Thurtell and Gerald East. (Gerald is in hospital, we wish you all the best for a speedy recovery!)
This was a special meeting with a lot of members of the Surfers Paradise Life Saving Club present as well (see story above re the presentation of the Lutzy Award).
President Andy Bell welcomed all members and guests: David Orchid, Trevor Hendy and all the members of Surfers SLSC (too numerous to mention individually), Jan Lutz, Ross Augustine (RC of Frankston Sunrise), accompanied by his Son in Law, Matt Klott. Welcome all!
In the absence of (now Past) President Simon Brook, Andy presented the Quiet Achiever Award to Al Sirovs (see picture on right). Al was unable to be present at the Changeover Lunch. Congratulations, Al!
Des La Rance updated us on the progress of the School for Samoa: the frame is all built and up, the wall panels have arrived, a container will arrive on Monday, and Saturday week (22. July) a team from Helensvale High School will come around, accompanied by a crew from Channel Seven!
For the benefit of our visitors, Mario Fairlie further elaborated on the school.
Graeme Isaacson is again running the fundraising effort via the Entertainment Book - so far already 10 copies have been sold, which will pay for a wheelchair. Can we sell another 10 copies? See Graeme or send him an email.
The meeting then proceeded to hear Jaali Hendy, Lucy Thorburn and Jessica Webber's report on their RYPEN Camp experiences, and the presentation of this year's Lutzy Award to Jessica Thorburn. See separate articles on both items above.
Des La Rance needs a few able bodies to help him if the Samoa School is to be completed on time, then to be dismantled to be loaded into the container. He is at The Shed (off Napper Road) the following times when he needs help.
Every Wednesday 9-12pm (after club meetings)
Every Friday 8-12pm
Every Saturday 7.30-12pm
Feel free to rope in friends and family as well! If you need more details you can phone Des on 0413 704 954 for more information. You don't need to have any special skills!
Many of you may not be aware that you can download our member's contact details to your Smartphone. Clubrunner, the application our club uses for Club Administration, has an App. How to go about it?
iPhone: Go to the App Store, and search Clubrunner.
Android: Go to the Google Play and search Clubrunner
To run it, you need to login with your Rotary Login. If you don't have it, send me an email and I'll reset your password and advise you. Yes, it works!
Our new Sergeant, Tania Laird, kept it short and sweet. I guess there wasn't a lot of opportunity to dig up misdemeanors in the short time before the meeting, so your Editor Franz Huber was unfortunate to have been in front of Tania when exiting from the Seaworld Resort: Slammed for not obeying the Stop sign! As for the rest: In view of tonight's State of Origin decider: Anyone who is a supporter of the Maroons, pay up! [Didn't work though. Enough for the Blues to turn blue with envy... Better luck next year! Ed.]
The enemy if fear. We think it is hate, but it is fear. Mahatma Ghandi
"So, I'm talking to this 13 year old online... She is funny, she sounds sexy. Now she tells me she is an undercover cop. How cool is that for somebody only her age?"
This Wednesday 19th July we'll have a Dinner Meeting (6:00 pm for 6:30 pm start), at our usual venue, the Surfers Paradise RSL Club. Partners, friends, family and in particular any potential new members are most welcome! Just $20.00 per person for a sumptuous meal and good fellowship.
Photo above, from left: President of Surfers Sunrise Andy Bell, Jan Lutz, Lucy Thorburn and Surfers SLSC President Trevor Hendy.
Sam F. Owori, Rotary International president-elect, died unexpectedly Thursday as a result of post-operative complications from a planned surgery. Sam’s term as Rotary’s 108th President would have begun on 1st July 2018.
At the same meeting we had the presentation of the Lutzy Award (see above), we also welcomed the three awardees to the recent RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment) awardees. 
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Android: Go to the Google Play and search Clubrunner.jpg)
Our new Sergeant, Tania Laird, kept it short and sweet. I guess there wasn't a lot of opportunity to dig up misdemeanors in the short time before the meeting, so your Editor Franz Huber was unfortunate to have been in front of Tania when exiting from the Seaworld Resort: Slammed for not obeying the Stop sign! As for the rest: In view of tonight's State of Origin decider: Anyone who is a supporter of the Maroons, pay up! 