DG Newsletter

Posted

on Dec 14, 2014

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas" crooned Bing Crosby on my car radio and I exclaimed "Already, where has the year gone." It has suddenly all caught up on me as I thought back on the year just passed.

In January we attended GETS (Governor Elect Training Seminar) in San Diego following home hosting with two Rotarian families at Corning and Rochester in New York State in the coldest winter in 40 years causing us to buy clothes which we will probably never wear again just so that we could view the partly frozen over Niagara Falls. At GETS we interacted with around 530 District Governors from over 200 clubs from all around the world and felt over awed by the whole experience before we finally heard the R.I President, Gary Huang, announce his new theme— "Light up Rotary" What a cracker!

I had promised to email the news back home but it went viral on the internet immediately it was announced.

Upon our return in February, we had the selection process to choose our new District Governor Designate, Alan Stephens. This was soon followed over the next two months by the selection of our new assistant governors and district chairs and program co-ordinators as well as the important team training seminars prior to our PETS (President Elect Training Seminar). Then we had to plan the District Assembly in May before attending the R.I. Convention in Sydney. .

After a brief respite during which time I spent further reading the District Governor’s Manual and numer-ous other information sources in readiness for the year ahead, We were ready for the up coming round of club change over dinners.

We have 67 clubs in our district and commencing in July, Mary and I visited every one of them with one to go. We have just returned from Wellington, New Zealand where we spent eight days in unseasonally cold and wet weather conditions attending the Zone 8 and 7b (Australia and New Zealand) Leadership Institute.

It has been a very busy year with Mary supporting me throughout with planning and arranging my club visits, but it has been a very satisfying and wonderful experience to date with full support from our district team and friendly receptions by the members at all of the clubs visited . Thank you all very much.

We have received nominations for the selection Committee to appoint our District Governor for year 2017-2018 and in the New Year we will call for nominations for this position which will close on 31st January with interviews to be held on 7th February 2015.

If you are a committed Rotarian who has been a past club president, I encourage you to consult the Manual of Procedure to acquaint your self with the eligibility requirements and responsibilities of the position. Any applicant is reminded that lobbying or campaigning is prohibited and you must be nominated by your club.

We wish every one a very happy Christmas break with families and friends. GEORGE

December 2014 District Conference http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/ Number 6

DG George and Mary invite you to the first offshore District Conference

Look on the website for accommodation and other details

http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/

On Thursday Night 30th April prior to the Conference there will be an International Dinner at the Bribie Island Hotel for the Visiting Presidents Elect from the Island Clubs. All members are invited so you may wish to book another night on Bribie

Friday 1st May

Golf Day starting at 11.00am at Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club

or Bowls afternoon

or Lunch/afternoon tea on the Ferryman

6.00pm Social get together and pre conference registration

Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club

Saturday 2nd May

District Conference commences at 8.30am at Banksia Beach State School Hall

7.00pm Gala Dinner at Sandstone Point Hotel

Sunday 3rd

9.00am Conference Continues at Banksia Beach State School Hall

December 2014 District Conference http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/ Number 6

Host a MOVIE Night for POLIO

–QLD/NT – Nicola Warman-Flood nicola@thefilmgirl.com.au

 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it's making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy - posing a rooming predica-ment for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pan-cakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky wa-ters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone's secrets. As the demands of a traditional Indian wedding threaten to engulf them all, an unexpected way forward presents itself.

- Written by Fox Searchlight

December 2014 District Conference http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/ Number 6

A thank You to all clubs who have made a donation to ROMAC

Our District gave the second largest financial support. . The Certificate was presented at the recent Rotary Leadership institute in Wellington , New Zealand.

December 2014 District Conference http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/ Number 6

VALE ROBERT DUNLOP, AOM

A summary of Robert’s [Bob’s] Rotary history and related experiences ---

The events of 1939 changed his life as he enlisted as a young man and following commando training at Canungra, he went off to war against the Japanese in the islands to the north of Australia.

Following the war he gained training and experience from a hard nosed German cabinet maker.

He then began a lifelong interest in Rotary by joining the Rotary Club of Windsor on 1 September 1960 as a Charter Member

In due course Windsor Club decided there was a need to form a Club at Mitchelton - so they chartered The R / C Mitchelton in 1966 with Bob as a Charter member

By 1975 the Mitchelton Club decided it was time to form a Club in the Stafford area. On 27 March 1975 the Charter Dinner was held and Bob was pleased to be a Charter Member of another Club.

Bob was President of the R / C Stafford in 1979 / 80. His interest in youth meant that he spent much time over the years assisting with RYLA activities and also hosting young PNG people to learn from work experience in his workshop.

He not only gained satisfaction from these activities but also for the times which called for his craftsman’s touch – amongst these he built a large cabinet to house 50 dolls in national costume from all around the world which these days have continued to be a valuable attraction in the reception area of the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital.

Funds raised from donations offered from people who enjoyed the display have been passed on to the Hospital Foundation.

A recent Club project was one which Bob introduced to the Club after one of his old mates could not continue with it – the conversion of golf clubs into Walking Sticks. The finished product which have been assembled by members in Bob’s workshop have been given to St Vinnies

During Bob’s year as Club President the Stafford Meals on Wheels was set up using the Brothers Leagues Club kitchen..

Bob was Chairman of this operation for 20 years and together with the late Kath Knight PHF, they organized meals to 200 + people daily over many years

Bob Dunlop’s commitment to the ideals of Rotary has been wholehearted over 50 years in 3 Clubs in District 9600. His record in each of these Clubs is impressive if we sight the fact that he was credited with 100% attendance over these 50 years.--- Past President Robert Dunlop AOM, PHF, retired as an active member of the Rotary Club of Stafford recently and he was made an Honorary Member of the Club . Bob passed away on 17 October 2014 ……….

PP Bob Newman, R/C Stafford

December 2014 District Conference http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/ Number 6

ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE

On the weekend we held the last orientation for our 10 outbound students who leave for overseas on 16th January. They are all really excited about their exchange as it is getting closer. There were also 9 inbound students at the weekend as well as some ROTEX students who were able to give the students some good advice about being an ambassador and an exchange student. The students then went on a 6 day tour where they mingled with many Rotarians and learnt about Rotary in our District.

Rotary Youth Exchange Program – History and Background -

In 1927 the Rotary Clubs in Copenhagen, Denmark arranged exchanges. These were for a period of about two weeks and occurred during school holidays. Then in 1929 the Rotary Club of Nice, France, arranged similar exchanges. These were the forerunner of the different types of short-term exchanges for young people that now run successfully between many countries. There are camps with different themes, bike tours, home stays and the more recent New Generations Exchange.

The most respected of all student exchange programs is the present long term Rotary Youth Exchange.

· After the 1958 International Assembly at Lake Placid, much work was done to develop the framework of the new program between districts. There were Rotarians in District 280 and other districts in Australia, the district in Nebraska and also another district in Pennsylvania in the USA developing both rules and procedures. A lot of those were and are quite similar to today’s rules and procedures.

 The very first exchange was eventually held between District 280 and the District in Nebraska, which included clubs in Colorado. In January 1959, John Rogers, a 15 year old student from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, USA, arrived in Myrtleford. At the same time two Australian students, Nick Rutherford and Norm Jordon left District 280 for Scottsbluff and Grand Lake, Colorado. It was those first three Rotary youth exchange students who started what has now become an opportunity of a lifetime for so many others.

Today there are between 8,000 and 9,000 exchanges arranged each year, both the traditional long term and different types of a short-term duration. These exchanges allow students from roundabout 80 countries of the Rotary world the opportunity of a lifetime. These are an opportunity to develop international friendships, learn about different cultures and the need for a tolerance of each other’s cultural differences.

Past RI President, John Kenny, speaking about Rotary youth exchange quoted a Chi-nese proverb; "One generation plants the trees, another generation gets the shade".

December 2014 District Conference http://www.rotarydistrict9600conference2015.info/ Number 6