Meeting opened by Les Pontin.
Guests
Welcome - Martin Radford, Avi Singh and guest speaker, Ian Harrison
International Toast
by Bruce Radford to the RC Helsinki Finland est 1990
Vocational Talk
Suzanne Lee Archer who thought her husband was having too much fun at Rotary so joined, and we are glad she did. She has embraced Rotary in all its forms.
Directors
Will Waterford gave a directors report focusing on a document to attract new members. Also areas of direct contact that could be pursued. He also alluded to some interesting content in the presentation next week.
Les Pontin then told a joke that was possibly older than he is.
Guest Speaker: Geoff Leddy introduced our guest speaker. Ian Harrison ( no relation to Ross), he is the president of the Caloundra Sub Branch. He had a long career ( 36 years) in the army which saw postings in Bosnia, Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Returned Services League came to being after WW1, after WW2 there was a huge increase in membership and a change of focus to building structures that could provide social and physical support for members of the armed forces who had served overseas. Many RSL clubs were built across the country. In 1989 membership was extended to any service person.
The proceeds raised by RSL clubs are for the benefit of local communities in which they operate. They provide veterans services and donate to medical research. The ANZAC day commemorations in Caloundra cost anywhere between $70,000 and $80,000. The local sub branch has 300 active members. They provide a lot of sponsorship to local community and sporting groups.
Sgt Les then issued many and several fines, some of dubious origin and veracity!
Raffles, of course by Graeme Bowden and his partner in crime, who else but Les; David Millar, with a happy face who chose to take home the Meat Tray!
You obviously enjoyed the meal too Mark Paton!
REMINDERS!
Next weeks Calpac Meeting - our members will give an update on the operations in the Philippines - please register by 5 pm Tuesday at the latest!
MEMBERS, if your partner would like to receive a copy of the Calpac Capers, so they can see what you get up to on a Thursday evening, please let me know - thanks, Eve.
ROMAC TRIVIA NIGHT on 24th April - contact Greig Lee-Archer to register your table of 8 participants, by 15th April!
