Attendance: 21 members 1 guest The meeting opened at 6.35pm and closed at 8.10pm
District 6040 GSE Team Visit
Rotary has the motto of “Service above Self” I wish to recognise Rhonda’s huge contribution to the planning of the program for the GSE team from Missouri. Rhonda took on the role of being a member of the District GSE Committee when an invitation was distributed in the middle of last year. This meant attending many meetings
Rhonda accepted the role of coordinating, with members of the committee, the vocational visits for each GSE team member, and she also coordinated the publication of the program booklet. A mammoth task.
Rhonda and Roger hosted team member Lisa Deatherage and assisted with transporting team members to various locations including to Murray Bridge when the team were “handed” over to the Murray Bridge Club.
Well done Rhonda and thankyou on behalf of Unley Rotary Club.
In addition I would like to thank Leonie for liaising and coordinating with Rhonda the vocational program of the team whilst they were with our club and the other hosts – Christina, Mavis and Richard, and Jerry and Briony.
The Thrift Shop and Wekly Meetings
At the meeting last night, I posed two questions:
- What is the future of the Thrift Shop and
- Is our weekly meeting structure and format in need of re-structure.
I think it is necessary to start the conversation about both of these issues as outlined below.
Thrift Shop
The Thrift Shop requires many volunteers so enable it to be open 6 days a week.
Turnover and net income is down.
Costs of trading are increasing due rent increases, and higher electricity cost.
Something like 7 months of trading pay our costs, net profit comes from the remaining 5 months.
Question
- Should the Thrift Shop be closed sometime in the future?
Given that the current lease expires in 10 months? (there is right of renewal within the current lease agreement.)
- If in the future the shop was closed what do we do to raise sufficient income to the Club so that Unley continues to support Community, Youth and Vocational and International Projects.
Club Meeting Arrangements
During the past few months attendances at meetings has declined.
Given at any time some members are away on holidays or have other engagements it has to be expected that we will never have full attendance, but some members attend very irregularly.
The speaker program has been extremely varied and interesting.
We have “moved” with the times and meetings have been simplified – a shortened more meaningful invocation, we do not have sergeant, we don’t fine members for trivial matters, we don’t sing the anthem nor toast Rotary (pity about that) nor the Queen.
Question
- It is time to look at other alternatives to the structure of the meetings
- And is it time to consider alternatives to the weekly meetings arrangements.
These matters need to be discussed.
Lastly, I had a delicious meal last night – all credit to Damien and his staff.
Have a good week
Trevor
