What crazy weather we are having at the moment. Hope you are all keeping safe and dry as we experience a week of storms and record rainfalls. I still get weather notifications on my phone from the Isle of Skye where we had our honeymoon last year and was gobsmacked to see the temp get to 29 degrees there in early March- courtesy of a heatwave from the Sahara Desert. Now that’s really freaky.
Obviously the international news this week has been the terrible tragedy in NZ and it beggars belief that poor old Christchurch has again been front and centre of things. Having lived there for 6 years including through the earthquakes, I can say first hand that no City will rally better but its such a shocking thing to have happened and our thoughts go out to everyone there, especially those that have been affected. I have loved the drawing by Rebel Challenger that summed things up.
It was a vibrant casual meeting on Wednesday at the Surf Club and we managed to find ourselves a little nook away from the holiday crowd where we could mingle. One of the things that we were able to finalise was a Working Party for the ongoing administration and strategy for the Project Shed. Day to day operations are running well under the stewardship of Des and Larry with help from Bryan, The Johns, Terry, Laurie et al but we need some structure around administration and bigger picture/future plans which involves Club Members, spread the load for Larry and gets some traction for the future. This group has now been appointed – in addition to Des and Larry, Angus, Col, John and myself will all take roles in future proofing the Project Shed and it was agreed that the current President of any year will also be on the team.
We have a surplus of wheelchairs at the moment and are reaching out to other Rotary Clubs to see if any chairs would be helpful to their international projects. If anyone reading this newsletter is aware of any programs/projects where our all terrain wheelchairs for disadvantaged children may be of interest, please get in touch with either Larry Murray or myself.
You may have seen on Facebook that the Club donated $300 to John Hall’s Greatest Shave fundraiser for leukaemia and helped him to smash his fundraising goal. Having grown his hair for many months- he had it all shaved off on Tuesday so I’m looking forward to seeing John’s fresh image shortly.
I can tell you first hand that the Associates at the Shed are extremely grateful for the Club’s ongoing commitment to their welfare and the running of the Shed and as always, I want to pass on to all our members their thanks for your input, time and fundraising to support them.
We are in for a fabulous musical breakfast on Wednesday but also a fascinating update on the Human Brain Project by Graham Jones. Look forward to seeing you there!
Have a great week all and don’t forget- wear your Rotary Pin wherever you go! It will spark a conversation J
Best wishes
Jo
A meeting with a difference: pure entertainment! The world famous Barbershop A Capella group 'The Blenders' will join us! Can't miss that!
And to make it even more interesting: PDG Graham Jones will drop in to bring us up to date on the Malaria Vaccine Project our district is partnering with Griffith Uni.
Choose from the club's Buffet or from their extensive breakfast menu, or just have a cuppa. Note: order in the bistro downstairs, then take your meal to the upstairs restaurant and enjoy the fellowship!
News has reached us that last week, our Associate Member John Hall sacrificed his prolific locks for a good cause: to support the Leukemia Foundation. Above are the 'Before', 'Nick Kirgious style? Naw... perhaps not' and final results. Good on ya, John!
Last Wednesday, Ray Higgs and I visited the Gold Coast Regional Botanical Gardens to participate in one of their guided walks 'Indigenous Use of Bush Foods and Flora'. So what?? I hear you ask, what's that got to do with Rotary? Well, one could say Ray and I were practicing good ol' fellowship (remember: this is one of Rotary's major objectives!), but most of you would not even be aware - or have forgotten - that a number of the Gold Coast based Rotary Clubs had a hand in the establishment of the Botanical Gardens. In the early years of the 21st Century, Past Rotary International Treasurer Brian Knowles instigated concerted efforts for local Rotary Clubs to be involved, and a number of planting days were organized. Over the last 15 - 20 years, those small tubers have grown into quite decent trees and shrubs! Rotary is very much there too, with a Rotary Education Pavilion.
Back to the guided walks: honestly, despite your Editor's genuine interest in the Australian Bush, I had no idea these walks existed. And there are more, several times every week! Butterfly Walks, Native Bee Walks... Click on this link to get directly to the Friends of the Gardens own website.. And, either before and/or afterwards, have a nice cuppa at the Friends of the Gardens Centre. And, as I couldn't, try to resist the urge to buy a jar of one of their special jams...
Saturday week, 23rd March. Please register your interest with Gus Miller.
This is a great social evening with an air of mystery as neither the guests nor hosts know who is attending, respectively who will host. Gus needs about 4 volunteer hosts, but regardless of whether you are hosting or not, he will need final numbers of attendees so we can make sure that we have enough hosts. Note: it is an 'impromptu, minimal fuss' affair: if you are hosting and you are an accomplished chef and want to show it off: slave over a hot stove and cook a three course dinner! At the other end of the scale, simply organize some take-away pizza. Or anything in-between! The principal purpose is to have a great night!
For those who have not attended one of these dinners before: Firstly, you will all gather at a particular address for a drink & nibble. The hosts' address for the evening will then be drawn up, who will then make their way to that address for the dinner. Each host will have nominated the number of guests they would like, but they will not know who will come to dinner, nor will the guests know who else will be at that given address. The food is provided by the hosts, for which the guests will contribute $15 per head and provide their own drinks [and perhaps have a glass to spare for the host too..! Ed] . The menu is entirely at the whim of the host, anything from caviar to pizza.
Gus needs to know who will be participating by the next meeting on the 20th March. Please register your interest directly with Gus Miller 0418 886 422 or email agipmiller@gmail.com.
The conference starts next Friday, 29th March! Your Editor and his better half will go down on Friday for the three days and so are - at this point in time - 4 couples from our club attending. Registrations close this coming Sunday 24th March!
Why attend a District Conference?
Well, to start, it's fun: you meet lots of interesting people (the most interesting Rotarians DO attend the conference - not meaning to be bragging about myself of course)
You will hear Keynote Speakers for which you normally would pay hundreds of dollars to attend
The dinners are always superb fellowship events. The Saturday Night dinner is always very vibrant; this year they have a top notch Jazz & Swing band. Yes, we dance!
You learn a couple of things about Rotary which you may not have known before
Registration for Rotarians and their partners is free of charge, however, in fairness, a fee applies to partake in the events which serve food. Click on this link to go to the Registration Page. Note: Registrations close this Sunday, 24th March.
At last week's meeting, Paula Brand, the head of the Gold Coast Small Business Expo, gave us a brief presentation on the project. As we were last year, we have again been invited to run a Fundraiser by setting up the day before and, on the day, run the Car Parking and, at the end of the day, take the tables and partitions down. The Expo will run on 23rd May 2019, so put that date, as well as the 22nd May into your diary now!
But this year, we have also been invited to run a booth ourselves! What a terrific opportunity for membership promotion!
You can find more information on the event on their website: www.smallbusinessexpos.com.au(don't be confused by the registration page popping up in your face - just close it to see the website itself.)
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship. What does it entail? 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.
They have acted like carnivores who used the world to enrich only themselves, and whether it's the election of Donald Trump, or Brexit, the elites have realized that the people have stopped listening to them, that the people want to determine their futures and, in a perfectly democratic framework, regain control of their destiny. Marine Le Pen, leader of the French 'Rassemblement Nationale' party.
“And those values, I can assure you, will not and cannot be shaken by this attack. You may have chosen us, but we are utterly reject and condemn you." Jacinda Ardern, NZ Prime Minister.
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Last Wednesday, Ray Higgs and I visited the Gold Coast Regional Botanical Gardens to participate in one of their guided walks 'Indigenous Use of Bush Foods and Flora'. So what?? I hear you ask, what's that got to do with Rotary? Well, one could say Ray and I were practicing good ol' fellowship (remember: this is one of Rotary's major objectives!), but most of you would not even be aware - or have forgotten - that a number of the Gold Coast based Rotary Clubs had a hand in the establishment of the Botanical Gardens. In the early years of the 21st Century, Past Rotary International Treasurer Brian Knowles instigated concerted efforts for local Rotary Clubs to be involved, and a number of planting days were organized. Over the last 15 - 20 years, those small tubers have grown into quite decent trees and shrubs! Rotary is very much there too, with a Rotary Education Pavilion.
The conference starts next Friday, 29th March! Your Editor and his better half will go down on Friday for the three days and so are - at this point in time - 4 couples from our club attending. Registrations close this coming Sunday 24th March!
At last week's meeting, Paula Brand, the head of the Gold Coast Small Business Expo, gave us a brief presentation on the project. As we were last year, we have again been invited to run a Fundraiser by setting up the day before and, on the day, run the Car Parking and, at the end of the day, take the tables and partitions down. The Expo will run on 23rd May 2019, so put that date, as well as the 22nd May into your diary now!
They have acted like carnivores who used the world to enrich only themselves, and whether it's the election of Donald Trump, or Brexit, the elites have realized that the people have stopped listening to them, that the people want to determine their futures and, in a perfectly democratic framework, regain control of their destiny.