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President's Message
Bruce Turner
President's message 28 July 2024
Greetings and welcome. Thank you for joining our online news and updates.
I’m hoping the 23 members and guests in attendance found Monday night’s meeting “The Year Ahead” reasonably interesting. Following our regular meal component where we shared club information and updates from the Directors, we relocated to the meeting room to be greeted with a short video of Ned McLarnon’s work in Lese Oalia which was followed with a look at the next twelve months. Key points from the night:
Looking at next year as just a small part of the development of the club and continue with a number of initiatives already underway.
Recognising what we do well and currently achieve with a quick look at our activities and the range of organisations we support.
Acknowledge that we can do some things better. For example: spread the load, make sure our resources are easily accessible and readily available and share our knowledge base. Also consideration of a few events that it would be great to support again such as “Lift the Lid” and “End Polio Walk”.
Specific goals to help our club grow:
Look after current members with regular fellowship opportunities through both social activities and encouraging involvement in projects
Develop community-based projects and specifically commence consideration of a major community project
Make contact with past youth leaders – exchange students, RYLA participants etc
develop as many community connections as possible
Increase community awareness of our club – highlight what we do
change our image in the community – to encourage younger members
encourage committees to have clear specific goals
Members were also asked to complete a couple of documents. The first was asking for an indication of which committee/s members are interested in being part of and the second a Member Satisfaction Survey which will both help inform the Club Strategic Plan and help make our club even better for everyone. If you weren’t at the meeting I will email out both forms, but if you would prefer a paper document I can provide one for you. Thank you to those who submitted these on the night, many were named but a couple slipped into the pile without me noting who returned them so please let me know if you returned yours and I will tick you off the list.
Updates for members:
A request to members to seriously consider taking on roles within the club. In particular I would like to fill the President Elect position as having this vacant may affect our ability to participate in some Rotary Programs. An example of this is the current “Fit for Purpose” program being organised by the Rotary Pacific Membership Team. If you would like to see further information on this program visit this link. Unfortunately, to qualify for this event clubs must have Presidents in place for both this year and 2025-2026.
Geelong West are organising a Mental Health Forum on Monday 12th August. This event is being held to promote knowledge and understanding of the mental health problem and also to raise funds to combat mental health problems. To this end Geelong West are covering the costs of holding the event (auditorium hire etc) and ALL funds raised from ticket sales and a raffle will be donated to Read the Play which is a local organisation working with young people through sports clubs aiming to build resilience in young people.
Rotary Club of Geelong West has their Geelong Book Fair coming up. Great opportunity to pick up some winter reading! 2-4 August @ Geelong West Town Hall. Visit their Facebook page for more details.
The expressions of thanks continue to come in from Lese Oalia. Here is another sample received via email from Lucy Loco:
…..Going through the thank you notes and found this from one of the Grades, not sure which Grade. I am guessing it's the Prep teacher and her students. There's heaps more notes which I have to read through. This one caught my attention of the impact that Rotary has created. Hope for these students xxx
If you missed our previous club meeting with Nick Vivian’s Shitbox Rally review here is a link to the recording.
In closing I’d like to thank Michael for taking photos of Monday night’s meeting. I may regret requesting members to record our events as these photos were of myself. Apologies for that and note to self – keep your hands still!
Monday August 12th Auditorium, Kardinia International College, Auditorium, 29 – 31 Kardinia Drive, Bell Post Hill. Cost $20. 6pm for 6.30pm, tea/coffee and biscuits available.
Bookings open on Tuesday 16th July and close on Friday 9th August.
Thank you to our volunteers, especially members of BNI Callum Thompson, Mia Turner and Tom Turner for assisting on the day.
A nice steady day of service which added $1150 to our fund raising efforts.
BBQ Rosters:
Landcare BBQs - revegetation program
We will require three or four people to run these BBQs, which will involve preparing and providing lunch for the students on each day.
Friday 9th August: 60 students from Bellbrae Primary School
Time 10.30am (approx.) to 1.30pm
Location End of Waltons Road, Lake Modewarre.
Volunteers: John Oswald, Greg Birchall, Gail Birchall, Martin Duke, Catherine Rowe, Bruce Turner (trailer)
Wednesday 21st August: 30 students from Moriac Primary School
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO A CLASH OF ACTIVITIES the school has requested a change of date. I will check with the volunteers named below to see if the new date is still suitable.
Time 10.30am (approx.) to 1.30pm
Location End of Waltons Road, Lake Modewarre.
Volunteers: John Oswald, Martin Duke, Margaret McPherson, Catherine Rowe, Garth Symington, trailer delivery?
As always we can use emergencies for these events.
Please contact Richard Hawker if you are available to help. Phone 0407 610 414 or email rjhawker48@gmail.com.
