Last week’s guest speaker from the Gold Coast Corporate Club, Vanessa Jansen, has indicated that their Club is willing to have a joint meeting with us at the Shed. This probably will be early in the new year. As their meeting place is close to where I work, I hope to attend one of their monthly meetings.
Also, Thomas Robinson from Mission Australia (he will be inducted as a new member next Wednesday) has teed up with Larry Murray to take some younger persons to the Shed to give them some opportunities to do some volunteer work. This will hopefully give them some confidence to get back into the workforce.
There is a board meeting this Wednesday at 7:00 am at the Surf Club and everyone is invited to attend. There are a number of members away at this time, so other Board Members please make an effort to attend to ensure that there is a quorum.
Thought for the Week: Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there: Will Rogers
“We need to get a number of visitors together to form a Rotary Group” was the brief given by (then District Public Image coordinator) PDG Andy Rapajakse. The idea was to form a new Rotary Club based on corporate, rather than individual membership. That was in 2018 (incidentally, the same year our club, Surfers Sunrise, introduced corporate membership into our bylaws – we claim to have “invented” the concept… ☺). The result was a new club named Gold Coast Corporate Rotary, chartered in 2020. Today, the club counts 38 members. At the District 2022 District Conference, her club received the award for the Highest Membership growth in District 9640).
“It started off with door knocking,” she said, in other words: the ages-old method of aiming for personal contact. But her club works differently to conventional Rotary clubs: they meet just once a month on the 3rd Wednesday at 5:30 pm. The meeting usually takes place at one of the members’ boardroom, or perhaps at a café, for cheese and crackers. “We are looking for businesses rather than just individuals (but, of course, individual members are most welcome too, just as any other club does). Corporate members can nominate up to 8 people who can attend meetings in rotation. An annual fee of $900 entitles a business to have up to 5 voting members. The club runs various projects, including a mentorship program. Interestingly, this also involves online courses available from Rotary’s very own Learning Centre, on the Rotary International website www.rotary.org. For example, to visit the section of Personal Development, Click here (you'll need to login). Thank you, Vanessa, for a very instructive presentation!
A copy of Vanessa’s PowerPoint presentation (in PDF format) has been uploaded to our Download Files section on the right. Photo: Vanessa Jansen with Paul Seymour, our meeting Chairman.
This year's Surfers Sunrise Golf Day will be held on Monday, 30th October 2023, at the usual location, the Surfers Paradise Golf Club. It will be a 'Shotgun Start' at 12:00 pm (registration from 11:00 am). Several options:
Corporate Hole Sponsor (includes 4 players, signage and advertising)
4-player Team
Single individual player
Chief organizers Doug Lipp and Charles Thomasson are looking both for players, helpers as well as Raffle Prizes. Invite your friends, associates, customers, suppliers and make up a 4-player team or two! Tickets are strictly limited. Bookings close on 23rd October, or when all tickets have been sold.
Secure online booking site is now open. Click on this link, or scan the QR Code:
Last Saturday, Des La Rance, the original designer and instigator of our wheelchairs project, told me about one of the better kept secrets: This business has supported our project for some 25 years! This is Shane Fountain, the owner of The Pedal Shoppe in Runaway Bay. The business, as its name would indicate, specialises in bicycles, both conventional and electric. They also offer a highly functional, professional bicycle repair workshop. Thank you!
Over the years, Surfers Sunrise has supported a fair number of successful applicants to the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). Who could forget Sophie Seumahu (photo left, when she reported on her experiences in March 2022), or Briana Dorrough (photo right, 2021)?
Well, applications for the NYSF 2024 are now open. So, do you know a genuine Science student who might qualify? Note, despite the rather stiff price tag of $2,450, plus $65 application fee, competition for the places available is quite severe. However, in the past, our club has partly subsidised this. More information on their website: https://www.nysf.edu.au/
Peter Morgan was at the door, Paul Seymour was Chairman of the day. We had apologies from Angus Miller, Simon Brook, Geoff Croad, Mitch Brown, Gerald East, Ashleigh Symes and Mark Twyford.
President Doug Lipp welcomed all members and visitors Rowan Johnstone (RC of Gold Coast), Asspciate Member Ann O'Connor and Thomas Robinson (who will be inducted as a new member at next week's meeting), and of course, our guest speaker, Vanessa Jansen (see separate report above). Doug mentioned that, on a recent visit to Yepoon, he came across a bright yellow wheelchair that was manufactured by our fellow Rotarians in Western Australia, Wheelchairs for Kids. He also mentioned the recent wake and memorial service held in honour of our former member Richard Smith which was held the day before. Sue Smith and two of the family read out Richard's "eulogy", totally based on his "Rotarian behind the Badge" presentation he gave to the club when he joined in 2016. Is there better proof of how a man feels about his membership in Rotary? It was very sad that Richard had to resign a couple of years ago due to ill health.
Following Vanessa Jansen's presentation, Mario Fairlie brought us up to date on the Pentecost Island project: three people will travel there again (with travel expenses borne by our club) to finish the project, and so will Dr Graham Sivyer and three medical professionals to train local personnel in the operation of the X-Ray equipment. We expect the project to be fully completed by the end of October 2023. Peter Morgan, who is a Trustee of the Wheelchair Trust, advised that a formal agreement between the parties had been finalised.
Andy Bell indicated that he will organise a social function in the near future, details to be advised, and Trent Belling advised that we are looking for both a major corporate sponsor for our Golf Day as well as for raffle prizes.
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
Note: Wednesday 12th July is a formal, NOT social meeting to bring the calendar into alignment.
I was watching this TV show for something, like, 10 minutes and they listed all those exciting things one could do. Then I realised it was the Religious Channel and they talked about sins.
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you have now was once among the things you only hoped for.Epicurius, Greek Philosopher, 341 - 270 BC
What happens after you die?
A lot happens after you die.
It just doesn’t involve you. NOW is the time to enjoy life!
Last Saturday, Des La Rance, the original designer and instigator of our wheelchairs project, told me about one of the better kept secrets: This business has supported our project for some 25 years! This is Shane Fountain, the owner of 
ld forget Sophie Seumahu (photo left, when she reported on her experiences in March 2022), or Briana Dorrough (photo right, 2021)?
