Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
This week’s meeting is unusual: We don’t feature a guest speaker, but instead all members are invited to put in “their two cents” of ideas on how we can make our club better – and bigger. [Two cents? Why not a “Million Dollar" idea? Ed. ☺] Though our membership numbers have remained steady, if you look to the future, say, 5 years from now: Out of the current 34 active members, over one third (12) will be 85 or over. Franz has agreed to do a brief presentation on this.
Ross Augustine still requires more helpers at the Bunnings BBQ at Nerang on Sunday 1st February and Saturday 28th February 2026. These events provide a major source of income for our club. The attendance roster list will be available at this week’s meeting. Thanks to Ross for organising.
Last week’s social meeting at Benowa Tavern was very well attended by about 12 members and visitors.
We have been advised by the Surfers Paradise SLSC that their renovations have not yet been completed. Thus, we will continue to hold our 'formal' fortnightly meetings at the TRYP Hotel, 59 Meron Street, Southport. Usual time, 07:00 am for 07:30 am start.
This meeting will be of a workshop style - bring your own (metaphorical) wood and chisels. We'll discuss what happened and what will happen. Here is your chance to voice your concerns, your ideas and provide constructive criticism. Everyone is welcome to speak.
... and another container full of wheelchairs is on the way... this one destined to go to the flood affected highland regions of Sri Lanka. It contains 121 boxed 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs, as well as 7 refurbished "normal" wheelchairs and 19 pairs of crutches. At a material cost of $123.00 per unit (not including overheads and transport), this represents almost $15,000 worth of wheelchairs.
The Rotary Club of Gladstone Sunrise paid $2,000 for the container. Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club contributed $2,500 towards the cost of getting the container to the Brisbane wharf. A Sri Lankan / Sydney based charitable organisation, Vanni Hope, contributed $3,825 to the shipping costs, and will take care of the container and its distribution in Sri Lanka.
January is designated ‘Vocational Services’ month. [Yes, Henrietta, it used to be October, but let’s not quibble...] Let us reflect on our daily dealings with customers, suppliers, employees, partners - and competitors.
“Business is Business”. “Let the buyer beware”. “It’s tough out there”. “The ‘Dog-eat-Dog’ rule applies”. “Sorry, with Artificial Intelligence threatening, the gloves are off”. All too often we hear these expressions. And perhaps we may even have used them once or twice ourselves to justify our actions? Contrast these to the second part of the Object of Rotary, which instructs us to understand and practice
“High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society…”
and you have a perfect contrast to the classical case of the unethical businessman spending an hour at church each Sunday morning…
The Four Way Test gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do this. It might be old fashioned, but it still applies today as much as it did when it was coined by a gentleman named Herbert Taylor, back in 1932. He didn't write it for Rotary, but to change the ethical standards of a company that faced bankruptcy. It was adopted by Rotary in the 1940's when Taylor was an international director of Rotary.
You may proudly display a plaque or a certificate in your office which quotes ‘The Test’. But, make sure that it faces you.
As is customary in our club, the first "formal" meeting of the calendar year is reserved for the President to conduct a Mid Year Review. What have we done so far, but more importantly, what needs to be done in the next half year? Is our club running smoothly? Are our members happy? It will be held this week, on 15th January.
Were we just a purely social club, we mightn't be concerned about 'Club Health'. But look at the first one of The Objectives of Rotary(yes, why not click on the link?). It is 'The development of acquaintance', but the second part of the sentence reads 'as an opportunity to serve'. The success of our world-wide organisation is due to the "opportunity to serve" component. The "serve" component is not just addressed to others, such as the recipients of our wheelchairs or our youth programs, or even the Christmas presents. It equally applies to ourselves, to our own club.
I encourage you to download and complete the Rotary Club Health Check. Go through the questionaire step by step, answer honestly. Some of the questions might appear to be "of no concern to me, that is for the Board of Directors' to worry about”. Permit me to disagree. Particularly for our newer members, feedback of what is good and what needs improvement is hugely important. You come in with fresh eyes. Members such as me and other oldies, who have been in Rotary for (groan) almost 40 years, may not even be able to see the woods for all the trees. You are invited to speak up.
Our club has been offered to run a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Sunday 1st February 2026. Are you able to help? The usual three shifts need to be filled:
07:00 am - 10:00 am
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Please contact Ross directly to put your name down and indicate which shift, or advise that you are unable to make it.
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
Never date cross-eyed people. They might see somebody on the side!
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should, on no account, be permitted to do the job. Douglas Adams, 'The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
The doctor assured me that I wouldn’t have any kids anymore after my vasectomy.
So I went ahead with it, but when I got home, they were still there.
We have been advised by the Surfers Paradise SLSC that their renovations have not yet been completed. Thus, we will continue to hold our 'formal' fortnightly meetings at the TRYP Hotel, 59 Meron Street, Southport. Usual time, 07:00 am for 07:30 am start.
January is designated ‘Vocational Services’ month. 
As is customary in our club, the first "formal" meeting of the calendar year is reserved for the President to conduct a Mid Year Review. What have we done so far, but more importantly, what needs to be done in the next half year? Is our club running smoothly? Are our members happy? It will be held this week, on 15th January.
Never date cross-eyed people. They might see somebody on the side!
