Firstly, I confirm the Club has received a duplicate of the lease executed by Gold Coast City Council and the lease extension has been registered on title. This secures the Club’s operations at the Project Shed to 30 June 2028 but there are still a number of compliance issues that need to be finalised / tidied up.
Secondly, the Club was awarded two (2) Recognition of Significant Effort honours at last weekend’s District Conference. One was for our work with the Rotary Clubs of Gold Coast and Broadbeach in respect of the Pentecost Island x-ray facility. The other was due to our Club’s Administration Chair, Franz Huber, and his ongoing and tireless efforts in improving the club’s image via his updating the Club’s website and Facebook pages.
Well done Franz! [Thank you, Mr President. But, if Surfers Sunrise wasn't a top notch club, what would there to be reported every week? Ed.]
Social meeting this Wednesday and the usual Thursday social function at the Benowa Tavern for refreshing beverages, starting at 4.30 pm.
Wow! Two ROSE (Recognition Of Significant Effort) awards were presented to our club at the District Conference. This is a new award designed (I assume) by District Governor Karen Thomas, presented this morning. I admit I wasn't even aware of the awards, not to mention their presentation.
One is for the monumental joint effort with the Rotary Clubs of Broadbeach and Gold Coast in building the Mauna Health Centre (recently packed up and on the way to Vanuatu), the other for 'Improving the Club Public Image' by frequent posts to our website and Facebook pages.
Well, fellow members, associates, Rotaractors and helpers and the project shed: give yourself a pat on the back! You are permitted an extra biscuit or piece of cake next Wednesday morning!
Last Wednesday, President Mitch Brown conducted a Club Assembly. Not uncommonly, if this type of event is poorly attended, it is a sign of a club that is not in shape. Not in Surfers Sunrise! We had an excellent roll call, with vigorous presentation and discussion.
After the greetings and apologies (Peter Morgan (foot in plaster), Geoff Croad (in the country of the long white cloud) and Mario Fairlie (just had a knee operation) President Mitch commenced with a summary of goals set at the beginning of the Rotary year, compared to where we stand today. See the PDF in the Download section on the right:
We are almost there to getting a Presidential Citation. Of the goals we have not achieved, we have some which can indeed be achieved by 30th June. Others, such as No 4, 5, 6 and 7 we should achieve. I should say "will achieve", there is little doubt.
#12 - 2 Media Stories. All going according to plan, we'll have media present at our big PR event on 5th April (see separate article).
So, all in all, we are on the right track.
Directors presented their individual reports: Club Service, Membership, Foundation, Fundraising all going well and according to plan - no detailed outline necessary.
Services Director Larry Murray's:
We have completely run out of ready made wheelchairs for despatch - they are all gone to South Africa and Vanuatu respectively.
We have materials (castors, plywood, wheels, tyres) for 150 sets in stock
The Gold Coast University Hospital will deliver a container to be filled with hospital beds, destined for Donations in Kind
With the assistance of our new members Evan Mita and Jake Richards, who work with Mission Australia, we'll develop new programs to attact young people, including Rotaractors
Youth Service Director Ashleigh Symes:
We have had / have participants in RYLA, RYPEN, RYTS - 4 applications so far for the upcoming camp.
We will again work with the Surfers Paradise SLSC to present a Lutzy Award
International Youth Exchange will start up again
Looking to find a National Youth Science Forum candidate
Treasurer Charles Thomasson:
Paid $8,000 for the container to South Africa - you can track its progress - click here
Good income from the Bunnings Barbeques, but we need it!
Special thanks to Adrian Crowe who has organised 8 sites to collect Containers for Change
Special thanks to our former member Col Laurenson, who is still very active in organising the containers and logistics to ship wheelchairs and other goods to their overseas destinations.
The meeting concluded on time at 08:30 am - always a good sign of competent chairmanship. Thank you, President Mitch.
A big PR breakfast has been organised, designed to highlight one of our club's "real big" projects: the X-Ray Unit for Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. This is a Multi-Club project, which also involves the Rotary Clubs of Broadbeach and Gold Coast.
The event is chaired by Mario Fairlie and Nicole Bricknell is charged with the overall organisation of the event. It will be held at breakfast on 5th April 2023 at the Cafe Catalina on the Broadwater Parklands, Southport. We expect various dignitaries to attend, including federal, state and local government representatives. Several have already accepted, including our District Governor, Karen Thomas. As Mario advised, we have confirmation that the Vanuatu Minister for Health, as well as "our man in Vanuatu", Dr Richard Leone, will attend.
Bookings are open now - click on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/CGETL or click on the QRCode. This will be one of the most important meetings of the year for all members as well as associate members and all volunteers who have tirelessly worked to bring this project to fruition.
(Photo by Trent Belling (l-r): Trent Belling, Nicole Bricknell, Dr Graham Sivyer, Greg Bowler, Mario Fairlie)
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
He who builds a better mousetrap these days runs into material shortages, Patent-infringement suits, work stoppages, collusive bidding, discount discrimination…… and tax H.E. Martz, US Scientist and Researcher
Some call it multi tasking. I call it something else whilst I try to remember what I was doing in the first place. So, I made a comprehensive To Do list today. Now, all that's left to do is to find somebody who is going to do it.
We believe that electricity exists, because the electric company keeps sending us bills for it, but we cannot figure out how it travels inside wires.