On Sunday I attended a Rotary Leadership meeting at Twin Towns put on by District Governor Elect Lisa Hunt. This meeting stressed that not only do we need to know the Four Way Test but, as a Rotarian, we should follow these rules in our normal life. We also learnt about grant types and our causes. There is Global Grants money available to clubs in our district that is not been used and now this money is been given away to other Districts. District Grants are available each year and each Grant can be as much as $5000.00 and each Club can apply for a maximum of three grants.
Diversity, equity and inclusion were discussed along with the Code of Conduct. Polio Plus was discussed in detail. The thinking with Polio is “there are only a small number of cases in the world so why are we worrying?" But Rotary aims to completely eradicate Polio.
Thought for the Week:
Your self-worth is determined by you. You don't have to depend on someone to tell you who you are. Beyonce.
So you like to have the occasional flutter? Did you say “occasional”? Our world is soaked with gambling opportunities: Horses and dogs, footy games - any code? Cricket? Tennis? American Football, Basketball? Elections? Pokies? Keno, Lotto, Powerball, Scratchies anyone? And we have so far only mentioned some the legal ones. Major betting businesses spend eyewatering sums for saturation advertising. Smartphone app technology is widely promoted on all electronic and printed media. Placing a bet on the spur of the moment has never been easier. Cases of kids stealing their parent's credit cards are common. Yes, gambling addiction is ubiquitous throughout all age groups and denominations. “The guvmnt orta do sumthn’ about it” I hear you say. Yeah, right. With government revenue from gambling taxes in excess of $6.6 Billion annually, governments are equally addicted!
So what if you succumb and this becomes an obsession? What if every fibre of your being revolves around getting, borrowing, even stealing money to place your next bet?
“It is not just an addiction, this is a sickness” our guest speaker at last Wednesday’s meeting, Rod Buchanan (picture above, with meeting chairman Graeme Isaacson), explained. Rod once was a gambling addict himself. “It cannot be cured per se, the only way is total abstinence. Even accepting the gift of a raffle ticket will instantly put me back to square one” he said.
Once a gambling addict himself, Rod is a key member of one of the local branches of Gamblers Anonymous (GA). Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, the organisation has regular meetings, designed to help people who are unable to control themselves and, in essence, wreck not only their own lives but also that of their families, their businesses and even their community. “The organisation is spiritual, not religious” Rod advised. On the Gold Coast meetings are held throughout the week at various locations. Visit https://gaaustralia.org.au/ or contact Rod directly via email: rodbuchanan126@yahoo.com
Many of our members would recall the details of one of our most spectacular projects in the history of Surfers Sunrise Rotary and the Associate Members at the project shed: the House of Hope, installed at Apia, Samoa, in 2012. Principally, we coordinated with the Samoa Victims Support Group (SVSG), an organisation that supports victims of crime and sexual abuse. Most of their "clients" are children and teenagers. This project began around 2010, with the first building installed in 2012. Our resident Electronics Guru Mario Fairlie was hyperactive in the planning, management, raising of grant monies, procurement and liaison with SVSG, then, whilst on-site at Apia, he also organised and financed the implementation of a Video Link setup at their court building, so children could appear in court without the need to face the accused.
A second building was added in 2016/17, named the 'School of Hope'. Initiated by students of Helensvale High School, the bulk of the work (and financing) was carried by Surfers Sunrise Rotary and the Associate Members at the project shed, led by Des La Rance. Check out the photo album on our website's Photo Album Pages. Meanwhile, the SVSG project has expanded exponentially - they now have a 'Campus of Hope' with some 8 buildings. Read their newsletter in the Download Pages on the right.
Good turnout at our working bee at the project shed this morning. We tidied up and carefully stacked a container full of bikes that cannot be used for wheelchairs, and prepared a load to fill another container when it arrives. All followed by a well brewed coffee (by our resident barista, Lionel Molloy). (Photo by Al Sirovs)
On Wednesday 13th March 2024, our club will host the Rotary Friendship Exchange Team from Pennsylvania. We will be joined by members of the Rotary Club of Mermaid Beach, who are joint hosts of our visitors. (The team actually arrives on the Gold Coast on Monday 11th March, and will leave on Friday morning). There is plenty of opportunity to meet and greet our visitors - see Paul Seymour for more details.
Here is an opportunity to meet some interesting people! Join us at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, from 07:00 am. The "formal" part of the meeting starts at the usual time, 07:30 am and concludes at 08:30. The team will then proceed to our wheelchair shed (approx 1 hour), then drive up to Mt Tamborine. Depending on the weather, we'll visit to the National Park and/or the Tamborine Mountain Regional Botanic Gardens. All members and friends are welcome to join.
There are various other events relating to the RFE team - please refer to the Events Section for more details. Some events are restricted; please see Paul Seymour to book.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
Every four years, February has an additional day, to give people sufficient time to explain why we need an extra day every four years...
I think that we should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death, unless they so imminently threaten immediate interference with the lawful and pressing purposes of the law that an immediate check is required to save the country.Oliver Wendel Holmes, US Supreme Court Judge, 1919
Here's one compliments of Gerald East:
My wife says I only have 2 faults. I don't listen and something else….
So you like to have the occasional flutter? Did you say “occasional”? Our world is soaked with gambling opportunities: Horses and dogs, footy games - any code? Cricket? Tennis? American Football, Basketball? Elections? Pokies? Keno, Lotto, Powerball, Scratchies anyone? And we have so far only mentioned some the legal ones. Major betting businesses spend eyewatering sums for saturation advertising. Smartphone app technology is widely promoted on all electronic and printed media. Placing a bet on the spur of the moment has never been easier. Cases of kids stealing their parent's credit cards are common. Yes, gambling addiction is ubiquitous throughout all age groups and denominations. “The guvmnt orta do sumthn’ about it” I hear you say. Yeah, right. With government revenue from gambling taxes in excess of $6.6 Billion annually, governments are equally addicted!
