President’s Comment – 27 Nov 16

27-Nov-201624-Jul-2019Leave a comment

Next GoTOMEETING – Wednesday 14th December

7.30pm NSW & VIC Time

At this meeting we need to elect a President Elect for 2018-19 and Nominee for 2019-20. We also need to adopt a slightly changed Constitution & Bylaws to conform NSW Incorporation law and with RI requirements.

This article below is a reminder to all who conduct overseas projects to consult and work with the community they are assisting. Some very sound advice.

It’s not “your” project

By Dr. Francis “Tusu” Tusubira, a member of the Rotary Club of Kampala-North, Uganda

How many times do we hear Rotary members say, “we have our project in Kireberebe Kisunkaana?”

Let us get one thing right when dealing with economic and community development. And I will call this lesson one: it is not YOUR project.

It is a community project that you are supporting. Along these lines, I thought sharing a few experiential lessons is not a bad idea.

Lesson two: A community where disease is a challenge will lose so much time being sick that they cannot focus usefully on any other initiative that will help them develop. You cannot address economic and community development if you have not addressed basic health.

Lesson three: A community that does not have clean water, and which does not understand the relationship between “dirty water” and disease will have resultant health challenges: diarrhea, eye diseases, cholera, etc. You might as well have a comprehensive Water, Health, and Sanitation component as part of your project.

Lesson four: We all know that illiteracy can be a major barrier, if not a full block, to any efforts related to development. This really means economic and community development must also look at the literacy and numeracy environment (along with the ability to interpret, create linkages, and apply what is read to personal empowerment and development).

Lesson five: Poverty is state of mind. If you do not address the mindset of those that have accepted poverty as their lot, all the rest is a waste of time. This is an intangible challenge and the solution must be in addressing the mind.

When the ground is fertile in terms of the elements above, enablers like skills development (chances are that these will relate to agriculture and other income generating opportunities in rural communities) can be introduced. Or all the elements can move simultaneously to create synergy. Microcredit, for example, is an enabler, not a solution. One realizes soon on in life (if one is lucky) that money is never a solution. Giving money to the poor does not make them rich: it makes them poor people with some transient cash.

What is clear is that in all the above, dedicated expertise will be required. So will partners with knowledge and experience in handling the different aspects. Cooperating organizations are now recognized as one of the key features of sustainable economic and community development. This does not mean Rotary members do nothing; they must also dig in and apply their skills. But being a Rotarian is not a full time job so we need a helping expert hand.

So you see, economic and community development is a totality approach, not a one-dimensional intervention. Which leads to one last lesson:

Lesson six: It is not the things we give to or put in communities that create sustainability. It is what the community does in response to what we do as Rotary members.

This is behavioral change. We are just catalysts, not part of the reaction. It is NOT our project. It is THEIR project. Lesson six is not so much a lesson, actually, as a truism.

Adapted with permission from the Rotary District 9211 bulletin, The Wave.

President’s Comment – 20 Nov 16

20-Nov-201624-Jul-2019Leave a comment

Annual General Meeting

Thank you to those who attended the Rotary E-club of District 9700-Serving Humanity AGM last Tuesday 15th November. The Minutes will be posted in the members section soon. The new Club Constitution and Bylaws will be adopted at the next meeting as they require amendment. The meeting decided that the current executive would remain in office for one more year as we are new to the concept of an E-club and need to develop the potential of our Club. We also need to attract more members to be a viable Club.

It was resolved to hold our Board Meetings by GoToMeeting on the first Wednesday each month at 7.30pm ESDT, however the next one will have to be the second week in December as I will be away on the first Wednesday.

Those elected for the 2017-18 year are:

President 2017-18                   John Roberson

Vice President                      To be elected next meeting

President Elect 2018-19             To be elected next meeting

President Nominee 2019-20           To be elected next meeting

Secretary                           Debbie Schache

Treasurer                           Marilyn Roberts

Directors:
Admin                               Cameron McKern 
Foundation                          Ruth Barber                                                   
Membership                          Malcolm Dunnett
Public Relations                    Marilyn Roberts
International Service               Sharon Daishe
Youth & Australian Service          Lauren Slater
 
Other member committee positions are:
Membership                          Donna Vaughan
International Service               Kate Bowyer
Youth & Australian Service          Jemma Hayward

The positions for President Elect and Nominee must be filled by the end of December as Rotary International require the names for those positions by then. Please consider your commitment and let me know if you can see your way to accepting one of them. Our Club needs them filled to remain viable.

Remaining positions to be elected at Meeting, to be held Wednesday 14^th December at 7.30pm NSW/VIC time.

Rotary Foundation named World’s Outstanding Foundation for 2016

Photo Credit: Rotary International/Alyce Henson

The Association of Fundraising Professionals has recognized The Rotary Foundation with its annual Award for Outstanding Foundation.

The award honors organizations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs. Some of the boldest names in American giving — Kellogg, Komen, and MacArthur, among others —are past honorees.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the AFP, which gives us even more reason to celebrate during our Foundation’s centennial year,” says Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee. “The continued strong support of Rotary members will help us keep our promise of a polio-free world for all children and enable the Foundation to carry out its mission of advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. We look forward to another 100 years of Rotary members taking action to make communities better around the world.”

The announcement came on 15 November, known to industry professionals since the 1980s as National Philanthropy Day. The award will be presented in early 2017 at the AFP’s annual conference in San Francisco.

Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair-elect Paul Netzel is set to accept the award on Rotary’s behalf, and Eric Schmelling, director of fund development at Rotary, will speak at the conference. The event is expected to draw more than 3,400 senior-level fundraising professionals from 33 countries.

“While almost everyone is familiar with Rotary, not everyone may realize just how much of an impact Rotary and The Rotary Foundation have had on countless people and communities across the globe,” says Jason Lee, AFP president and CEO. “On behalf of the entire charitable sector and people around the world, all of us at AFP are honored to be able to recognize The Rotary Foundation as our 2016 Outstanding Foundation.”

AFP’s committee of judges cited Rotary’s comprehensive campaign to eradicate polio as a major driver of the selection. They also mentioned that Rotary applies a methodical, purposeful approach to support a wide variety of causes, from providing clean water to educating the next generation of peace professionals.

Rotary News

15-Nov-2016

President’s Comment – 13 Nov 16

15-Nov-201624-Jul-2019Leave a comment

trf_rgb

november is foundation Month

“We should not live for ourselves alone, but for the joy in doing good for others.” – Arch Klumph, founder of The Rotary Foundation

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Rotary Foundation helps fund our humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives. Your club or district can apply for grants from the Foundation to invest in projects and provide scholarships. The Foundation also leads the charge on worldwide Rotary campaigns such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Rotarians and friends of Rotary support the Foundation’s work through voluntary contributions.

The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, we tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.

Strong financial oversight, a stellar charity rating, and a unique funding model mean that we make the very most of your contribution. Give and become a part of Rotary’s life-changing work!

Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than $1 billion.

All Rotarians are asked to contribute to our Foundation each year. You can rest assured that your donation will be used for a good purpose.

You can make your donation directly through My Rotary or on this website to our Club Service Account by direct deposit and our Treasurer Marilyn will forward it to the Rotary Foundation on your behalf. The account details are on the Treasurer’s Page under Members.

You will be issued with a tax deductible receipt from the Rotary Foundation.

President’s Comment – 6 Nov 16

9-Nov-201624-Jul-2019Leave a comment

REMINDEr – Next Tuesday 15th October is the AGM of our E-CLUB of D9700 serving Humanity at 7.00pm ESDT

An invitational email will be sent to all members today as well as Assistant Governor Michael Horth and our new member Kate Bowyer who has a RAWCS project operating in Tanzania.

return home after visit to the Solomon Islands

I apologise for the delay in my post this week as communications in the Solomon Islands is difficult due to the high number of users on Wifi and Global Roaming costs.

However PP Richard Pottie and I have returned home enthusiastic about the projects that we have organised for May next year. I will tell you more on this soon.

The pictures below are part of our welcome to Garanga Vocational Training Centre, Santa Isabel where we plan to build a mechanical engineering workshop.

Students dance for us

Student Pan Pipe Band

President’s Comment – 30 Oct 16

30-Oct-201624-Jul-2019Leave a comment

Solomon island RAWCS trip

This week PP Richard Pottie from the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Kooringal and I have travelled to Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands to plan for some hands on teams that will travel to here during 2017.

Anyone who is interest in working on a team should contact me and register their interest. We are still requiring more funding so that all the work can be completed. All donations welcome at RAWCS Project 9-2009-10 on this website under International.

When I give to Rotary, I get so much more back

By Stephanie Witkowski, Rotary Club of Honolulu Pau Hana

At 28 years old, I decided to become a Rotarian, because Rotary changed my life.

I grew up in a small town in Oregon, USA, and was a young leader in my school. When I was 15 years old, I applied to attend a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards event in Rotary’s District 5110 to learn more about myself and what leadership meant to me. During that amazing week-long experience, I learned not only about how to be a better leader for my school and community, but about Rotary itself.

One of the things I learned about Rotary was the organization’s commitment to international service through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. I had always dreamed of learning about another culture through an international experience with students my age. So when I was 17 years old, I applied to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student. In District 5110, they have a wonderful tradition of selecting the student’s host country for them, and then SURPRISE! In 2005, I was off for a life-changing year in Slovakia.

Most students who have the incredible opportunity to study abroad speak of the experience as a pivotal moment in their life. That was certainly the case for me. While living with a host family, and studying at the local high school, I learned so much more about what it meant to be a global citizen and what my goals for my life were.

During this year, I began to appreciate different cultures and languages and what they offer to our world as a whole. This path over time led to a BA in cross-cultural communication, a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Slovakia at age 23, followed by three years of graduate study in linguistics. My Rotary Youth Exchange experience set me on a path toward my current career (as a revitalization linguist for a Native American Tribe.)

During my educational and professional pursuits, I always kept my connection to Rotary. In summers during college, I served as a RYLA camp counselor. I wanted to give back to the next generation of young leaders and inspire them. But the truth is, I always came away as inspired by the youth and their commitment to Service Above Self.

Finally, this May, I joined Rotary to once again give back to an organization that gave so much to me. But again, I find that when I give to Rotary, I end up receiving so much more.

President’s Comment – 23 Oct 16

23-Oct-201624-Jul-2019Leave a comment

MEETING DAY/TIME SURVEY

We have only received four members surveys at this time. Can those who have not completed it yet do so soon please? We will be making a decision on these items at the AGM to be held Tuesday 15th November at 7.00pm ESDT

World Polio Day – 24 Oct

Join in on 24 October for World Polio Day and share your voice that we are closer than ever to creating a polio-free world. Rotary will host its fourth annual World Polio Day: Making History live stream event at 18:00 EDT (UTC-4) from the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The event brings together the biggest names in the global fight to eradicate polio. Watch live on Endpolio.org.

I thought I’d never walk again

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Rotary International

: Nancy Wright Beasley, who wrote The Little Lion, sits on one of the motorcycles used in the stage adaptation of her book during rehearsal at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. Photo by Clement Britt

Nancy Wright Beasley, who wrote The Little Lion, sits on one of the motorcycles used in the stage adaptation of her book during rehearsal at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. Photo by Clement Britt

By Nancy Wright Beasley, a polio survivor and member of the Rotary Club of Brandermill, Virginia, USA

I thought I’d never walk again, but I did.

I thought I’d never talk about polio either, but I’ve regularly shared my childhood memories of the disease since joining the Rotary Club of Brandermill in 2005. I had been invited to speak about my first book, Izzy’s Fire. That’s where I first learned about PolioPlus, and decided — that day — to join Rotary International’s fight to eradicate the disease. I often say that I’m the only speaker who gave a speech then never left.

I contracted polio in the summer of 1952, in the middle of one of the worst epidemics in U.S. history.

Nancy Wright Beasley with her favorite muppet, Miss Piggy, spreading the word about polio eradication.

Nancy Wright Beasley with her favorite Muppet, Miss Piggy, spreading the word about polio eradication.

Some 60,000 people nationwide were infected, killing 3,000 and paralyzing 21,000 others. My brother still remembers the summer day when he found me, the youngest of four children, unconscious under a snowball bush just beside our farm house in Christiansburg, Virginia.

A spinal tap at Roanoke’s Memorial and Crippled Children’s Hospital confirmed a diagnosis of polio. At 6, I had never spent a night away from my family, but I was isolated in a sterile room, seen only by medical personnel swathed in gowns and masks. I cried with joy the first time a nurse wheeled me into the sunroom where my mother placed her hand on a glass partition opposite mine. A prisoner of polio —I talked to her by telephone.

When I was released months later, my parents were told I’d never walk again. Mama refused to accept that. She chopped wood to heat the water she lugged uphill from the springhouse, lowering me into a steaming tub and exercising my body beyond exhaustion. I’m fairly sure a home health nurse demonstrated the exercises, trying to stave off muscular atrophy in my legs. For months, Mama followed this routine twice a day, while acting as my substitute teacher; caring for my siblings, my father and grandfather; and helping with farm chores. With tears in his eyes, Daddy used to tell how Mama was so worried about me that he found her one day sitting on the bucket beside a cow and milking onto the stool.

Her hard work paid off — I eventually began to walk again, and though I had missed most of second grade except the last two months, I passed with flying colors.

My brother still remembers the summer day when he found me, the youngest of four children, unconscious under a snowball bush just beside our farm house in Christiansburg, Virginia.

I gleaned two important lessons from that experience: I never take walking for granted, and I approach difficult tasks as challenges to be overcome. When my third book, The Little Lion, was adapted for the stage by playwright Irene Ziegler, the world premiere was held at Swift Creek Mill Theatre in South Chesterfield, Virginia, in January. I approached Tom Width, director of the Mill, as well as the play’s artistic director, and he agreed to assist in a fundraiser for PolioPlus. Brandermill Rotarians joined with me to “Fill the Mill for PolioPlus” on 20 February 2016. Students, friends and Rotarians purchased tickets, some coming from as far away as New Jersey to help support the project, raising $4,512 for PolioPlus.

DeJa View, a Richmond, Virginia, club whose members are polio survivors, was one of the welcoming audiences. The vast majority of members are physically compromised, and some have been stricken with post-polio syndrome. That didn’t’ dampen their spirits, and one member managed to sell 13 tickets for the show. Several sent donations, even though they couldn’t attend.

They, and the many individuals who helped, have inspired me to help carry RI’s task to the finish line. After all, “We’re this close.”

Beasley is available to speak to Rotary Clubs about her experience with polio and the books that she has written. She donates a portion of proceeds from her books to PolioPlus. She can be reached at nancy@nancywrightbeasley.com

Rotary E-Club Serving Humanity

D9705, Australia & Worldwide

Category: Home Page Posts