NEXT WEEK WE ARE CLUBBING
Our Last Meeting
Venue: Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Sorel Coward
Attendance: 21 members
President Trevor's Announcements
With an overdose of nostalgia, Trevor reflected happily on the victories of our two AFL sides, the performance of Eddie Betts and the recovery of Fifi. Less happy were the unnecessary road deaths and sea drownings.
A Board meeting is to be held after this to consider the membership application of Joe Evangelista.
Members were urged to attend the Club Assembly next week when thrifty shopping is to be discussed, the District Assembly at Unity College Murray Bridge on May 5 and the wild social night planned for May 14.
He ran through a number of important articles in the latest District Herald including recognition of now-retiring Melda Hammond, the non-Rotarian Registrar of District Rotary Conferences over the last 13 years.
The suicide bombings in Sri Lanka are shocking.
Guest Speaker....
In the absence of our planned guest speaker, Sorel Coward was called upon to give her impressions of the recent District Conference in Broken Hill. Sorel waxed lyrical....magnificent and inspirational! As well as the conference there was time to celebrate the lives of two great BH artists, Jack Absalom who had died recently and Pro Hart.
The setting and speakers emphasised the importance of overcoming hard knocks and the strategic role Rotary plays and can play. Sorel was inspired by Broken Hill and the remarkable characters. We need to:
- focus on innovation and creativity
- seize opportunities
- broaden our club membership to include younger people, more women and greater diversity
- reappraise our priorities to focus on issues of importance
- realise Rotary is into training of future leaders, global citizenry, the environment, mental health, excellence and a whole lot more.
- attend the next District Conference.to get the adrenalin rush.
Trachoma is a blinding eye disease experienced mainly by indigenous Australians and caused by lack of hygiene...it needs more help from Rotary.
Sorel explained that one of the conference speakers was Mayor Chagai, formerly a refugee from South Sudan. Mayor related the horror of living in a children's refugee camp in Ethiopia where most of the kids died from starvation. He now works with refugees, and coaches a basketball team. Participation in this talented African born team is linked to achievement of academic grades.....way to go!
For Sorel the conference was a Game Changer.....onya Sorel.
Spots
Jerry Casburn asked for expressions of interest to attend the District Conference in Mildura 27 - 29 March 2020 as he would like to sort out some accommodation options......some of us have trouble planning more than 24 hours in advance. As we all know, the obvious cure is to think of a number, double it and divide by 2.
The Finale
The winner of the poker game was Ken Haines with an impressive Queen of Clubs. Rachel Harding is birthdaying on 27 April...happy birthday Rachel. Stephen and Beverley are about to navigate the Caledonian canal and have guaranteed to find the Loch Ness monster. Sorel has been invited to Sydney by Insight to record a session on management of transgender issues among adolescents. Pam thanked Jerry for the Thrift Shop opening on Easter Monday when they took $150. David Middleton reported on a bad swap deal at the Thrift Shop with Chad and related his challenges with baby sitting 6 and 4yo great grandchildren.....he needs more practice! Bob Mills told two funny retailing stories to round out the night.....and we finished at the unheard of time of 7.52pm
Footnote: For those that are interested, please compare the masthead above with last week's.....should be the subject of serious debate at next week's club assembly
Rotary News
Rotary EcoClub offers diversity, variety
By Steve Solbrack –District 5950 New Club Development Chair and a member of the Twin Cities Rotary EcoClub, Minnesota, USA
We chartered our new Rotary club in February 2019 with 25 members and a focus on the environment. The EcoClub is a non-traditional format designed to attract a segment of the population not currently served by traditional clubs. We began with 48 percent of our members as women, 44 percent under the age of 40, and an average age of 42. In North America, those demographics are unheard of in a service organization of any kind.
EcoClub membership is an opportunity to build new relationships, develop leadership skills and be part of the larger Rotary world, all with a focus on environmental sustainability. Charter members of the club are establishing their own unique culture and norms that fit the interests of the members. The club engages members in service, fellowship and networking. We meet two weekday evenings a month. Meals and beverages are optional, so the cost of membership is significantly less than that of a traditional club format.
As membership chair of District 5950 for three years through last June, I know the importance of forming new clubs with nontraditional formats to attract more women and people under the age of 40 to join Rotary. Forming the new club began in earnest in April 2018 with an information meeting held at The Nature Conservancy office in Minneapolis. Over 50 people attended, including 15 supporting Rotarians, and nine of the attendees eventually joined the new club. The 35 prospective members included 25 young adults under age 40. Even with this exciting start, it took another 10 months to grow membership and charter the club.
Social media was an important tool in the growth and success of the club. Jordann Hartzheim and Austin Campbell, both under the age of 30, created and managed the Facebook page and a Meetup group. The Facebook page has over 170 followers and the Meetup group has over 170 members. At least nine of the charter members came directly from the social media efforts, and 14 members have previous Rotary connections.
Beyond promotion and recruitment efforts, relationship-building has been essential in our success. I initiated over 15 one-to-one meetings with prospective members as the club was being developed. These conversations were important for recruiting members, identifying club leaders, and understanding what new members wanted out of their Rotary experience. Many of the young adults told me they were excited about the leadership development opportunities and were very interested in learning from and being in relationship with club members over age 40. The members over age 40 were excited about the opportunity to be mentors for the young adults. The initial club leadership team of six charter members was elected in September and includes five women and five individuals under age 40.
The club has consistently had fun social and recreational activities and meaningful service projects including tree planting along the Mississippi River, snow-shoeing on a cold Minnesota winter day, a sunny gathering on an apartment building rooftop terrace, and more. It really is a fun, energetic group that I thoroughly enjoy being with. In fact, the group was so vibrant, that after 27 years in a traditional Rotary club, I joined the new EcoClub.
Our Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 30 April 2019 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Club Assembly and Behind the Badge
Chair: Bob Mills | Set-up, Welcome & Attendance: Leonie Kewen & John Kikkert
Tuesday 7 May 2019 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Dianne Farrell Cottages 4 Country Care
Chair: Bob Mills | Set-up, Welcome & Attendance: Leonie Kewen & John Kikkert
Tuesday 14 May 2019 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Occasion: The Social Event of the Year
Chair: Bob Mills | Set-up, Welcome & Attendance: Heather Kilsby & Chad Leader5
Apologies to: Sorel Coward by e-mail sorel@sorelcoward.com.au or 0408 406 558
Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to unley.secretary@rotaryclub.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Week 1: 4 May 2019
Early: Vera Holt & Jerry Casburn | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Rachel Harding
Week 2: 11 May 2019
Early: Greg Mcleod & Chad Leader | Late: Wendy Andrews & Heather Kilsby
Week 3: 18 May 2019
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Pam Trimmer & Ken Haines
Week 4: 27 April 2019
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Rhonda Hoare & Jason Booth
Week 5:
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Jerry Casburn & Reno Elms
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Pam Trimmer (T) 8293 2612; (M) 0415 238 333; e-mail: pamela.trimmer@bigpond.com
Bunnings Mile End Barbeque
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Next Date: Monday 29 April
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
The next Mitre 10 BBQ (now first Saturday of each month) will be on 4 May
Detmold BBQ on 9-10 May
The Tale End.……
Sharp messaging
Sincere
Another true story
An elderly, but hardy, cattleman from Texas once told a young female neighbor that if she wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on her oatmeal each morning. She did this religiously and lived to the ripe old age of 103. She left behind 11 children, 30 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren..... and a 40-foot hole where the crematorium used to be..
