This week has seen the coming and departure of the GSE team from Pennsylvania and what a great team they were. Our thanks to hosts Geoff, Larry, Darrell and Simon and all other Rotarians who helped in making this a very memorable trip for the GSE team. They declared their visit to our Wheelchair factory last Saturday to have been one of their highlights.
This week is the formal notice to all Rotarians that, with effect from the 1st June 2016, we will be meeting at Surfers Paradise RSL and will conduct all future normal weekly meetings at this venue. Further details will be given at this week's meeting.
This Wednesday we have our visit from District Governor Anne Egan and I am sure we will all make her welcome.
A Reminder: Next board meeting has been set for Tuesday 17th May at 5-30 at Andy Bell's office.
What's the difference between a respected Public Accountant, a Race Horse Owner, a Rotary District Treasurer and somebody who entices people to come along to play cards whilst having a couple of beers or a glass of wine? None. It is all one and the same person!
Doug Lipp (without doubt with the capable assistance of his better half Sue) organized a very successful Crazy Whist night last Saturday. And President Elect Simon Brook brought along most of the Rotaract Club of Southport. Obviously playing cards is not necessarily just for oldies! Thank you Doug and Sue, well done!
2017/2018? Loooong time in the distant future! Huh? Think again. It is only about 15 months away! "Our District Governor Nominee" already has a full time job preparing for the big year coming up: Leadership meetings every quarter, and - without doubt NOT! - Darrell's favorite activity: to create a budget. Hundreds of ways to spend money, but only very limited sources of income.gst the many segments of Rotary activity to be reviewed is the District's engagement with International Youth Exchange: in the "olden days" it was not uncommon to have 40 Exchange Students, now we have 7... Yet the results demonstrate every time that the program is very worthwhile. Is there a way we can promote this, perhaps by providing support for students who can't afford the expense?
Our club will be well represented on the District's Leadership team, with Chris Thurtell as incoming Youth Exchange Chair, with Gerald East as his Treasurer of the Youth Services committee.
There are lots of major events to be organized, including Pre-PETS (Presidents Elect Training Seminar), PETS and the District Assembly, which will be held in Lismore. Goals will need to be set: one of the current major goals, to promote 'Donate Life' (Organ donorship) to be continued.
Roz Irwing, DG Elect Michael Irving's better half, has nominated the Fred Hollows Foundation as her 'DG's Partner's Project'. Kerry Brown is still evaluating potential contenders - feel free to make suggestions!
Darrell, himself a former GSE (Group Study Exchange) awardee, is checking out other districts in the world who may want to have an exchange with District 9640. Possibly, first time ever, we may host a team from South Africa?
Then, there is the major event of the year, the District Conference. to start off, quite a challenge to set the date - the Gold Coast will host the Commonwealth Games around the same time! It will be held at the Seaworld Nara Resort. Our member Terry O'Shea has agreed to take the Chairmanship, and Geoff Croad will be Conference Secretary. Chris Thurtell will organize the technology aspects (Sound, Video etc) - as a senior 'Mover and Shaker' of Seaworld, no doubt Chris knows a couple of people who consider this subject as a walk in the (theme) park... (pun intended). A substantial number of senior positions have been filled by Rotarians from other clubs, but there are dozens of positions still to be filled. Members will be sent a table with the most important ones listed. Please put your name against one of the free areas!
"Our" District Governor Elect Nominee, Darrell Brown, last week foreshadowed a BIG upcoming year in 2017/18. In particular, the District Conference will require a massive manpower effort. If you are a member of Surfers Sunrise, Darrell's list will be attached to your bulletin email. If you are not a member, but would like to participate, please reply to the bulletin email, or send a message to franzhuber@onthenet.com.au to receive a list of current vacancies.
The meeting was held at the Surfers Paradise RSL Club insted of our usual venue, the Yacht Club. Mark Twyford was at the door (for Tony Bird), Darrell Brown was Chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Jo Gorman, Tania Laird and Mario Fairlie.
President Paul Seymour welcomed all members and guests Margaret Lees (RC of Nerang), Al Sirovs and David Blackmore (both guests of Doug Lipp - see picture on right) and our Youth Exchange Student Martina Missarelli. He also foreshadowed an upcoming board meeting on 01 April 2016.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson
Fundraising Director Doug Lipp confirmed that all is in readiness for the Crazy Whist night Saturday 12th March (see separate article).
President Elect Simon Brook published a draft of the upcoming program when our club hosts the incoming GSE Team from Pennsylvania - see Download Files section on the right. Our club will host them from Wednesday 11th to the day of their departure on Sunday 15th May 2016. It will be a good mix of leisure and events. Some major items still to be detailed: has anyone got a boat to take them out to Tipplers on Thursday, 12th May, and the host/location of the Dinner on Friday 13th May.
Simon also brought a Rotaract Southport project to our attention: they will organize a Trivia Night - a Fiji Relief effort on 16th April at the Southport Bowls Club. See our Facebook page - click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/489551021232395/
On Easter Saturday, 26th March, Gerald East needs bodies on the ground at Metricon Stadium: Gold Coast Suns -v- Essendon. Late afternoon.
Des La Rance and Bob Harrison will attend a Rotary Club dinner in Toowoomba, promoting our wheelchairs program.
Chris Thurtell went jet skiing with our YE Student Martina... she dumped him off! Give Martina some money so she can pay the fine! You should know better than to allow an Italian Teenager drive anything, including a Jet Ski! Darrell Brown, welcome back. How was the Riot back in South Africa? (Darrell responded by presenting $100 to the Treasurer in recognition of another grand child being added to the Brown familiy. Congratulations!)Paul Seymour, those South Effrikens... Can't play Rugby, can't play Cricket... Too busy fighting? Adrian Crowe, you have been elevated in status, joining the (new) top table? Simon Brook, do they have a special Skate Board parking area over at the Bruce Bishop Car Park? Peter Morgan, any update on your knee? Terry O'Shea, undoubtedly best dressed today: wearing shorts with colour matching the Rotary logo on his T-Shirt... David Blackmore, normally visitors don't get fined, but what was that about that car race you competed in? Yep, first lap, first corner... (you guessed it)... Mitch Brown, what a beautiful flower bag! (When the Sergeant was an undercover cop, infiltrating drug gangs, the first thing he would do was to get himself such a flower bag...!) Ray Higgs, are you alright? Just looking very quiet, trousers slipped down a little... Angus Miller, modern mobile phones are also supposed to have contact details stored in them! Mark Twyford had a happy buck - something to do with "engaged"? (Sorry, can't read my own hand writing. Ed.] And Paul Seymour had a happy buck: his daughter and her horse will compete in the Rio Olympics in the Dressage competition. And Franz Huber dobbed himself in: at the previous Sunday's District Assembly, the school kids, supporting a Breast Cancer Awareness charity, "sold" everyone a Pink Pinkie, getting their pinkie fingernail painted pink. Since Catherine didn't have any nail polish remover, Franz was unable to remove it. Visiting a client, he was asked whether he was off to the Mardi Gras...
On Saturday 16th April, the Rotaract Club of Southport (Yes, they were there in force at the recent Crazy Whist night!) will stage a "Tropicana" themed trivia night with games, raffles, bake stall and more.
Early bird (til Mar 31): $30/head or $220/table of 8
Regular: $35/head or $260/table of 8
Includes BBQ buffet and snacks. Drinks available for purchase.
Proceeds will go towards providing relief in Fiji, following Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston; their strongest cyclone on record. We, the Rotaract Club of Southport, are partnering with the Rotaract Club of Lautoka Sugar City, who are on the ground in Fiji providing much needed assistance to locals. This includes food packs, sanitary items, school supplies, building materials and more.
Simon Brook aims for a table of 10 people to participate. Are you coming?
WHAT ARE SOME FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES WITH GRANT FUNDS?
* Follow your spending plan to distribute and use grant funds for the stated purpose in a timely manner.
* Make project-related expenditures by check or other traceable method.
* If payments are made electronically by one person, maintain a paper trail showing that the payment was approved by both signatories.
* Maintain detailed receipts and record each transaction in a ledger. The ledger should list each transaction, noting the date, amount, and reason for the transaction.
* Make sure to share the information so grants run smoothly and funds are secure!
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR GRANT OVERSIGHT TOP NOTCH!
What's the difference between a respected Public Accountant, a Race Horse Owner, a Rotary District Treasurer and somebody who entices people to come along to play cards whilst having a couple of beers or a glass of wine? None. It is all one and the same person! .JPG)
2017/2018? Loooong time in the distant future! Huh? Think again. It is only about 15 months away! "Our District Governor Nominee" already has a full time job preparing for the big year coming up: Leadership meetings every quarter, and - without doubt NOT! - Darrell's favorite activity: to create a budget. Hundreds of ways to spend money, but only very limited sources of income..JPG)
Chris Thurtell went jet skiing with our YE Student Martina... she dumped him off! Give Martina some money so she can pay the fine! You should know better than to allow an Italian Teenager drive anything, including a Jet Ski! Darrell Brown, welcome back. How was the Riot back in South Africa? 
