Happy Monday everyone- the start of another busy week I'm sure.
Franz tells me that my weekly message is intended to be motivational and inspiring. Apparently to motivate is “the process of stimulating people to actions to accomplish the goals”. A good friend and motivational speaker used to joke to his audience about the boss who says ” You will be motivated, or sackings will occur”. That’s possibly not the best approach (and given our membership goals, we don’t want anyone to be sacked!!)
So here we go! Let’ start with praise – what a great job we are doing with our Youth Programs – it was a real treat to hear from Alissa last week, back from her YEP – a very good presenter she turned out to be. I reflected on how courageous it is to go to another hemisphere and live with strangers for a year – you have to be pretty motivated to leave your life behind in order to develop yourself and the youth we have had through this program blow me away. We had Tahlia Fenech off at RYLA last weekend and she will be coming to present to us on what that means. And Tania is going to talk to us about how we get RYDA back on its feet - which I’m really keen to support.
Now to our membership goal. Thanks to Charles and Mark for Membership Part one- prepare yourselves for a multi meeting program of membership discussion-we got the ball rolling last week and now need to keep up the momentum. It is a pressing issue and everyone’s job. So, I challenge you with this question- what one action will YOU take to bring in a new member? Let’s not simply rely on brainstorming, where we come up with a long list of great ideas. Let’s each take personal responsibility for growing our Club and perhaps report back each fortnight on what we have done. When I worked in HR, every manager had a KPI to have a talent pipeline, a shortlist of great people that they kept “warm” so we could hire them as soon as we had a spot. There are 30 of us - if we each had a little Rotary talent pipeline of our own and took on the job of finding one member each over the next 12 – 18 months we would easily achieve our goal. Simple, not easy I know but let’s give it a go!
On the fellowship goal- I’m really looking to our Excellence in Workmanship night on 20th – hope most of you and your partners can make it as last year was great fun and really inspiring. My dentist still has the award from last year on his wall and hundreds of people must see it. It’s a great advertisement for Rotary and a big thanks to the good people in the Community. We will plan another social activity this side of Easter too – let’s brainstorm at the next meeting.
I won’t see you at Bumbles this week – have fun and see you at the Excellence in Workmanship Awards night!
Next Wednesday 20th February 2019, we'll again hold an event to recognize Vocational Excellence Awards night (in the past, we called it Pride of Workmanship). This is one of the premier social events on our club's calendar (and one of the very few evening events). Have you booked yet? Naturally, come along with your partner, family, friends. Why not invite a potential Rotarian to come along?
Cost is $35.00 per person, for a sumptuous 2-course meal (NOT tough roast etc - read the full article for the menu). Cash Bar will be open. The venue is very popular with Rotary functions; your Editor has attended several there and I have always been impressed with the quality of the meals and their service.
Please pre-book no later than Sunday 17th February 2019, and pre-pay:click on this link. Why not just do it right now? You can pay by Credit Card! Click on 'Read more' for full menu.
Main Course: Alternative drops of
Stuffed Chicken Breast Char sealed chicken breast wrapped in bacon and stuffed with semi-dried tomato, cream cheese, baby spinach and chives, finished with a creamy basil pesto sauce and served with mash potato and broccolini.
or
300gm Graziers Rump Steak (Served Medium) Served with Mashed Potato and Vegetables & Red Wine Gravy
Dessert:
Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream
or
Baked Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis & Vanilla Ice Cream
At this week's Rotary meeting, Alissa Lott, our recently returned Youth Exchange Student from the US, presented us with a brief outline of her experiences in Minnesota and her various travels within the USA. Always great to see how much those young people have benefited from being "exposed" to a different culture (and to below freezing temperatures☺) for a year. Picture shows Alissa with her grandparents Coryn and Ross Augustine. Well done, Alissa!
OK, so it seems still to be a fair way off - two months away. But accommodation will soon become hard to get - other people have already booked. Your Editor and his better half will go down on Friday for the three days.
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.
Paul Seymour was at the door, Chris Thurtell was Chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant. We had apologies from Ray Higgs, Mitch Brown, Adrian Crowe, Mario Fairlie, Graeme Isaacson and Darrell Brown.
President Jo Winwood welcomed all members and guests: our recently returned YE Student Alissa Lott (see separate article) was accompanied by her grand parents Coryn and Ross Augustine (Ross is from the RC of Frankston Sunrise), David Baguley (RC of Gold Coast) and Ralph Pownall (RC of Brighton). Ralph was not only a charter member but also our club's third President in 1988/89. Welcome all!
Following Alissa's presentation, Membership Chair Charles Thomasson and Mark Twyford started off with their Membership 101 course. To start off, all members were asked to write down at least two prospective members whom they consider appropriate to be contacted. Mention was made of a very positive case study of the Rotary Club of Adelaide which has enjoyed a massive turn-around in their declining membership numbers. However, time left was nowhere near sufficient, so it was suggested that the seminar be continued in a month's time on 6th March.
Richard Smith advised that the upcoming Excellence in Workmanship Awards night on 20th February will be held at the Quality Hotel (Lone Star Tavern) - see separate article. Online bookings can now be made - click here.
David Baguley (RC of Gold Coast) advised that the Gold Coast Ramble, originally planned for early August, will be postponed to March 2020. This is due to him getting access for Rotary to another major fundraising opportunity - watch this space for more details once it has all been "tied down"!
Larry Murray reported on the happenings at the Wheelchair Project Shed: some 70 of them were despatched to Donations in Kind. All volunteers have now been registered, and Defibrillator training will be happening very soon. Honorary Member Des La Rance will speak at our club on 3rd April to update us on various items, including a possible upgrade in the design.
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.
Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves. Andrew Jackson, 1767-1845, 7th US President, when forcing the closure of the Second Bank of the US in 1836 by revoking its charter.
My cheque was returned from the bank, with a note "Insufficient Funds". So I rang them up and asked them whether they mean "your's or mine...?" They now also offer a new service where you can ask them to text you the balance of your account. Really nice, but I don't think it is necessary to add LOL at the end...
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This week's social breakfast will be held at
Next Wednesday 20th February 2019, we'll again hold an event to recognize Vocational Excellence Awards night (in the past, we called it Pride of Workmanship). This is one of the premier social events on our club's calendar (and one of the very few evening events). Have you booked yet? Naturally, come along with your partner, family, friends. Why not invite a potential Rotarian to come along? 
OK, so it seems still to be a fair way off - two months away. But accommodation will soon become hard to get - other people have already booked. Your Editor and his better half will go down on Friday for the three days. 
