Les Pontin opened the meeting with a welcome, the Loyal Toast, Rotary Grace and the Four Way Test.
NOTE - let's help Les raise as much money as we can for the Homeless people - scan this code to donate -
Peter Asher proposed the International Toast to the Rotary Club of Norfolk Island, District 9910. Chartered in 1973, President Ian Kiernan with 22 members (and another two in the pipeline) enjoy an active club with warm and friendly meetings. It meets fortnightly, alternating between Thursday evenings (6.30pm) and Wednesday mornings (7.30am). Projects include building a preschool childcare centre with a physiotherapy unit and a baby clinic at the hospital as well as youth projects and gardens for seniors. It also caters for community and fundraisers, acquiring a custom built catering trailer fully equipped with BBQ and deep fry cooking facilities. Its trailer is a Ferrari compared with our Holden. Visitors are most welcome - contact Secretary Jasmine Kiernan on (672 3) 53484.
Anniversaries for David and Lyn Wallis, and Win and Sandy Fowles, were recognised. So were birthdays for Ray Capps and Geoff Leddy. And Mark Paton's 33 Rotary years were recognised even though he and Lisa are away gallivanting in Norway.
Club Welfare Officer Marion Schultz advised that Bryan Mason (our Mr. ROMAC) is in hospital and cannot communicate at present. We send our very best wishes to Bryan and to Lyn.
Noel Bates delivered an excellent vocational talk - 50 years in 5 minutes! Starting as a skinny kid with asthma who wanted to be a train driver, Noel has played (or coached or umpired) all imaginable sports and is a Life Member of his basketball and AFL clubs. He currently plays bowls and is having a dual knee replacement in October... Noel never became a train driver except for once in Weipa but his crowded career included a boilermaker apprenticeship, a mechanical engineer certificate, draftsman jobs including at Weipa, project manager, maintenance supervisor, mine superintendent, Wacol Gaol builder, stevedoring manager, and others. He and Bronwynne are blessed with two daughters and the family has lived in Weipa (13 years), Brisbane, Port Pirie, Geelong, Portland, Port Hedland, Hunter Valley and Biloela because of work demands. Noel was President of the Rotary Club of Biloela in 2014-15 and marked his 19th anniversary as a Rotarian last month. Thanks, Noel, for sharing your remarkable vocational story.
Committee discussions were followed by director reports. Briefly:
International. Kiva (small business loans) continues successfully although administration fees have risen. An Umoja High Tea fundraiser is scheduled for 20th June. District Grant applications are required by 31st May. Our major teachers' dormitory project in the Philippines is progressing satisfactorily after minor design changes, and should be finished except for painting by the end of June.
Membership. Our 'Reasons to Join Rotary' handout is complete and available. The recent membership survey indicated that 80% of respondents want the Loyal Toast to end. The Board is investigating the Power Boat Club as a venue. Club member recruiting & retention remain a concern, hence moves to make the club more appealing.
Vocational. Unfortunately the 16th April visit to QIMR in Brisbane has to be cancelled as there are only seven starters. The 20th April visit to R/C Mooloolaba is going ahead. Originally that visit meant we cancelled our 23rd April meeting but 16th April is now available. What do we do on either 16th or 23rd April, if anything? Board decided - 16th, there is no meeting, 23rd is at the Powerboat Club. FYI - Also Gregson and Weight visit in Caloundra is now confirmed by Barb Bailey.
Youth. The STEP (Short Term Exchange Program) project is a family-to-family youth exchange of 11 weeks for students not yet in Grade 12. Rotary may have a counsellor role but has no financial commitment. Countries/regions involved are Australia, Japan, Europe, South Korea and Mexico. RYDA starts again in July. New trailer tyres were generously donated by JAX (71 Bowman Road, next to KFC) with our grateful thanks. And new headsets for RYDA facilitators have been obtained from JAYCAR. Exchange student Terka Zankova moves to a Caloundra club host family on Sunday. She was a finalist for a local student art prize - congratulations Terka!
Community. Last night's Inner Wheel 40th Anniversary dinner was successful. Christmas Trailer Raffle preparations are well underway. A new date for Clean Up Australia Day is to be decided. Our next Bunnings BBQ will probably be in July. The club donated $1,000 to Vinnies to support Les Pontin in the annual CEO Sleepout. Contributions from individual Rotarians are encouraged. Local state MP Kendall Hatcher (not now Morton) publishes a monthly community update that we could use for publicity. R/C Nambour will operate its Nambour Showground canteen 17-19 April and 12-14 June. The canteen needs manning (or womanning) for which our club would receive a pro-rata fee. If you can help, please contact Peter Asher soonest.
Member Moments:
Graeme Bowden observed that customer service in local businesses needs significant improvement.
Tony Long reminded us of our Charity Golf Day on Friday 9th October. Preparations are underway.
Les Pontin conducted a rapid fire Sergeant's Session and managed to extract dollars from each table for our inability to answer his questionable question.
Les Pontin and Graeme Bowden ran a successful raffle to end the meeting. Well, the winners thought it was very successful but nobody else did...
NOTE - THERE IS NO CONVENTIONAL CALPAC ROTARY MEETING THIS WEEK
Also Notes from our March Board Meeting are available below -
March Board Meeting Highlights
Financials and Community Giving The club remains in a strong financial position, with just over $100,000 in the bank at the end of February. Thanks to a successful ROMAC trivia night, which saw a profit of approximately $8,170, the board has approved a $10,000 donation to ROMAC. Additionally, the board approved a $1,000 payment to RYDA and a $1,000 donation to the Vinnies CEO Sleepout in support of Les.
Vocational and Upcoming Trips
April 9th: A coach trip to QIMR is scheduled for 8:30 AM ($55 per person).
April 20th: We will hold a joint meeting with the Mooloolaba Rotary Club.
Volunteering Opportunities: We are looking at helping out at upcoming local events where we may be able to assist other clubs with catering and car parking.
Youth and International News The teachers' accommodation project is moving quickly and is expected to be completed this May. On the youth front, the board discussed the Rotary Short Term Exchange Program (STEP), a reciprocal family-to-family exchange that provides cultural experiences with minimal cost to the club. Members are also reminded of new youth protection and blue card guidelines recently issued by the district.
Club Service Updates
Catering Change: For the meeting on May 7th featuring guest speaker Dan Purdie, the club will be serving Subway platters to simplify logistics and reduce costs.
Loyal Toast: Following a member poll where 81% of respondents voted in favor of a change, the Loyal Toast will be discontinued effective immediately.
Membership Planning: The board is reviewing a new membership action plan and looking into ways to reduce dinner costs to make the club more accessible to new members.
