We have managed to get rid of 2 pallets of rubber tyres on Saturday morning. John Dobozy from Molectra Technologies has promised that he would come back sometime this week with a large truck to take-away the remaining tyres. Therefore, if this should happen, we will need five or six people to help load them onto the truck. I have asked him to give us at least one days’ notice. By the way John’s company turns the tyres into all sorts of products which include rubber tiles, pavers and many other very useful products.
Work on the first Rotary Sleeping POD (see last week's bulletin) has begun and over the next few weeks we hope to have it finished. The next step is then to look for the funding to allow full production. [Refer also to article below - Councillor Dawn Crichlow OAM on ABC Radio Ed.]
It has been suggested that Saturday 24th August be a working bee to clean-up the shed and surrounding yard and to possibility pack the container with about 200 wheelchairs. Please could you keep free a few hours on that Saturday morning. Also, please bring something to add to the morning tea as we could be short.
We are still confident that we can pack the container to be shipped to PNG. Col Laurenson has confirmed that the money from PNG is “on the way”, however, we haven’t yet got it in our account as such! Once we do, it's "all systems go!" Just to clarify to everyone: we supply the wheelchairs at no charge, but the cost of freight is at the expense of the receiving group. The money from PNG is for the freight.
The board meeting last week approved 'Corporate Membership'. The next step is to have the members vote on this at Wednesday’s meeting. Hopefully this will be approved, as Membership Director Charles Thomasson has organised several companies to join as corporate members.
Another matter that requires your vote at this week's meeting relates to the proposed merger of District 9640 (our District) with Districts 9600 and 9630. The details have been emailed to each member for your consideration. Several of our Past District Governors as well as the present District Governor have requested all clubs to vote, as they have grave reservations about the proposed merger.
My personal view is: Our district is growing and does not need to be merged. It has 54 Clubs and includes a small part of Queensland and northern NSW. The proposed district, which would encompass most of Queensland, northern NSW, PNG & other Pacific Nations, with more than 150 Clubs, would be far too difficult to manage, administer and operate. Programmes like Youth Exchanges could be extremely difficult to manage. District Grants even worse.I am opposed to the merger and will be voting accordingly. However, your vote equally is very important.
As you are all aware the meeting this coming Wednesday will be a joint meeting with Broadwater Southport Club. Also, it will include:
The induction of new members to our club
The presentation of the LUTZY award to ‘Junior Life Saver of the Year’ Jazmin Zimmerman
The formal proposal to change the Clubs bylaws to allow Corporate Membership
The formal vote on the proposed merger of District 9640 (our District) with Districts 9600 and 9630.
The meeting this coming Wednesday morning therefore is not to be missed. I would appreciate your help with welcoming all the visitors and guests, and look forward to seeing you at 7:00am at Surf Club
This coming Wednesday 14th August, we'll have the presentation of the Lutzy Award. Not only will we be joined by lots of people from the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, but we'll also be joined by the members of the Rotary Club of Broadwater/Southport! This is going to be big! See you at the Surf Club at 07:00 am! Get your breakfast downstairs and take it to the upstairs venue to enjoy fellowship. Note, there is a coffee/tea urn upstairs as well.
This Monday morning (12/08/19), City Councillor Dawn Crichlow OAM was interviewed on ABC Radio 91.7 on the deplorable situation of the homeless people on the Gold Coast. During that interview, she referred to the Rotary Surfers Sunrise 'POD', which Des La Rance and the volunteers at the Project Shed are building - refer to previous bulletins and articles on our website. It is well worth your while to listen to it: click here to access the broadcast (turn on your sound). The interview starts at Minute 4.18.
Just learned that Richard Smith, whilst on holidays in Western Australia, had a serious fall which caused him to suffer a major leg fracture... Our commiserations and best wishes for a speedy recovery! We should also mention a very well kept secret (at least as far as your Editor is concerned): Richard and his better half Sue, traveled from the most Eastern point of Australia (Byron Bay) to the most Western point (Exmouth) to raise funds for the Cancer Council. 'On ya, Richard and Sue! Awaiting to hear more...
And you are happy to stay in "affordable" accommodation (read: 3-star or worse hotels) and want to work out the hard way what is and what is not worth seeing? And you won't grumble about paying around $2,500 per couple for Travel Insurance, in case you'll need an ambulance when you're "over there" and your health fund - not to mention Medicare - won't cover you? Do I hear an emphatic "Nooo!!"?
So, here is the golden alternative - only available to Rotarians and their partners: Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE). Best if I give you a couple of details from my recent experience: I responded to an invite sent to all members by RFE Distric Chair, PDG Wendy Scarlett, to participate in an Exchange to Seattle and British Columbia. Against all expectations, my better half and I were accepted. After a couple of meetings and some online meetings, a team of 10 gathered at an agreed hotel in Seattle. From then on, for the next two weeks, we were treated like royalty - hosted by 5 different Rotary Clubs and accommodated in private homes at all locations. The local Rotarians drove us to some of the 'secret' places of beauty
and interest, we were even invited to view a very private collection of about forty 1950's and 60's Chevrolets (yes, the proverbial "Yank Tanks") in immaculate condition - Petrol Heads, eat your heart out! Some of us went off to a Whale and Orca Watching cruise while yours truly had a personally guided tour, given by the President of the local club, of one of the most spectacular Rotary projects I've ever seen: a suspension bridge across a thundering Waterfall, in Campbell River, BC. No, you couldn't buy it for love or money! And at all times we were hosted and entertained in private homes by the locals. Wonderful friendships were formed and we very much look forward to greeting the team when they visit D9640 in November. How good is that?
I mentioned Insurance: Well, provided that your Doctor certifies you 'fit for travel', the Rotary Insurance policy to which our District subscribes provides full cover including medical and hospital (except for Car Rental and dangerous activities such as Sky Diving etc). Cover is not just for the duration of the Exchange, but for additional travel at either end of the Exchange!
The cost: you need to buy the flight tickets and entry fees to any of the attractions and tours of course, and you should bring a small present for each of the hosts (say around $50) and perhaps, at each place, take the hosts out to dinner or buy them lunch. Then, naturally, when a team from the other District visits us, you and your club are to return the favour and host them for a total of 2 weeks, e.g. 3 or 4 days each club.
Interested? Well, keep your eyes peeled for PDG Wendy Scarlett's invitations and notices in the District Newsletter! I understand that the exchange to Scotland is over subscribed, but there are still seats available for Brazil in March 2020.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship / Project Shed. What does it entail? There are two aspects to this:
a) At the club meeting, your job is to ensure that all members, in particular new members, visitors and guests, and in particular the Guest Speaker, are welcomed, are introduced to other members and are comfortable. If required, explain the usual procedures, e.g. when we have our meal, when the speaker is expected to be at the rostrum etc.
b) This person is also to attend the Project Shed on the following Saturday, as the representative of our club and to assist in the general management.
This Monday morning (12/08/19), City Councillor Dawn Crichlow OAM was interviewed on ABC Radio 91.7 on the deplorable situation of the homeless people on the Gold Coast. During that interview, she referred to the Rotary Surfers Sunrise 'POD', which Des La Rance and the volunteers at the Project Shed are building - refer to previous bulletins and articles on our website. It is well worth your while to listen to it: 
Just learned that Richard Smith, whilst on holidays in Western Australia, had a serious fall which caused him to suffer a major leg fracture... Our commiserations and best wishes for a speedy recovery! We should also mention a very well kept secret (at least as far as your Editor is concerned): Richard and his better half Sue, traveled from the most Eastern point of Australia (Byron Bay) to the most Western point (Exmouth) to raise funds for the Cancer Council. 'On ya, Richard and Sue! Awaiting to hear more...
and interest, we were even invited to view a very private collection of about forty 1950's and 60's Chevrolets (yes, the proverbial "Yank Tanks") in immaculate condition - Petrol Heads, eat your heart out! Some of us went off to a Whale and Orca Watching cruise while yours truly had a personally guided tour, given by the President of the local club, of one of the most spectacular Rotary projects I've ever seen: a suspension bridge across a thundering Waterfall, in Campbell River, BC. No, you couldn't buy it for love or money! And at all times we were hosted and entertained in private homes by the locals. Wonderful friendships were formed and we very much look forward to greeting the team when they visit D9640 in November. How good is that?
