Christine Owen, our DG speaks to the Club
District Governor, Christine Owen spoke to the club at the meeting held at Balgowlah RSL on Tuesday September 19.
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| Joint President Roger Gray, DG Christine Owen, ADG John Campbell, Joint President Di Hart |
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| PP Ian Grayburn and Graham Evans |
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| Paul Apps and Rhonda Scotter |
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| PP Rick van Bruge being dressed by Pres Diana Hart |
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| Diane and Pascal Grant |
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| Alois and Nigi Lechner |
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| Michael Brent with Diane and PP Michael Mead |
Co-President Roger Gray opened the meeting welcoming Christine Owen and ADG, John Campbell together with visitors Robert Thompson, Denise Horan, Enid Hill, Sybille Lechner, Helen Grant, Diane Grant, and Diane Mead.
Roger outlined some key matters including implementation of Member Survey outcomes, budget finalisation and then asked Sue Terry to update on “It’s in the Bag”.
After dinner Roger briefly outlined many of the club community and international programs together with Youth activities, then handed over to Christine.
Create Hope in the World: Christine first outlined the 2023-24 presidential theme, Create Hope in the World. It was launched by incoming international president, during the Rotary International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 9 January.
"The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves," McInally told Christine and others at Rotary's annual training event for incoming district governors.
He urges all members to promote peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders.
Club Visit: The district (9685) consists of 64 clubs – sizes range from 7 members to 65 members. Christine said that she is privileged to visit all clubs one by one rather than in groups; since they all operate quite differently, and she wanted to get to know them individually. Each club has a different culture, with its own way of operating. In addition, there are still 3 Rotaract clubs (down from 20 years ago) but Interact clubs are no longer operating in our District.
4 Goals: Christine outlined her four goals:
1. Engage Members: Active Rotarians willing to do the sorts of things
that make Rotary great. Not a quota of female/male members, but people having fun together
and teams helping the community with meaningful service projects; especially reviewing
if they are still what the community need – not just an ongoing project that
has been happening over the years.
2. Collaborating with other clubs: This is partially happening on the Northern Beaches, but even greater impacts can be achieved if clubs work together.
3. Rotary Foundation: This is the financial mechanism behind District and Global grants, via the interest generated from the Foundation investments. 36 clubs in District 9685 received a grant making leveraging their ability to provide extra financial assistance in worthy projects. Rotary is not the charity; the Foundation is the charity. Remember that applications close yearly end May.
4. Domestic and Family Violence:
The campaign is “Rotary says NO to Domestic and Family violence and YES to respectful relationships”.
The second part is to enable engagement with school aged people in the conversation. Some clubs are funding a one–day program in years 9 and 10 held in schools called “Love Bites” and students learn more about respectful relationships. (this is operated in schools by NAPLAN who train the facilitators).
Christine elaborated that Domestic Violence doesn’t discriminate it is in all levels and parts of society and victims have no options of how to get away or where to go. All districts in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands have adopted this project. It will also be promoted in collaboration with Mounties clubs throughout the NSW (staff wearing the T-shirts) together with walks against Domestic Violence ours is on Friday Nov 22, Queenscliff to Manly. Rotary in all 5 NSW Districts has partnered with NSW Police who will work closely with many aspects of the program and other domestic violence organisations.
One project is being done by Belrose club - recycling mobile phones. They don’t promote the way in which his is done – the phones are data cleaned, then loaded with an app allowing them only outgoing calls. Most of these phones go to people in Women’s Community Shelters.
Moreover, every club should have a project supporting Domestic Violence Assistance. (Our club project is It’s in the Bag)
The latest Rotary Down Under has the story:
https://rotarydownunder.com.au/2022/10/25/banding-together-to-say-no-to-domestic-violence/
A great question time covered subjects ranging from Assistance to Morocco/Syria, District Conference, Regionalisation and Rotary Down Under.
Roger thanked Christine for her excellent and inspiring address and explaining the goals and the Domestic Violence program so clearly.
Photos: John O'Brien
TWO INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
1. NEPAL
Our District grant application for a portable ultrasound unit for Dr Ray Hodgson has been approved. This equipment will greatly help his great work of improving the situation with Women's Health, especially maternal mortality in Nepal link to story
This increases our donation of $5,000 to $10,000 along with further donations from other Northern Beaches cluster clubs. Well done!
2. SCHOOL OF ST JUDE - Tanzania
For many years our club has help fund the buses that transport many children in remote areas to this wonderful school in Tanzania.
Australian Gemma Sisia founded the school in 2002 had worked very hard, assisted by many Rotary clubs to build ithe school and its infrastructure. Today it operates on 3 campuses and still provides free primary and secondary education to the poorest and brightest children in a remote region called Arusha, LInk to story of the school
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Click on this link for the Wheels of Opportunity story
--ooOOoo--
Thank You From StreetWork
On Saturday 25th August 2023, Bev Yakich, Rhonda Scotter, Rick van Bugge and Michael Mead assisted StreetWork with a BBQ fundraiser.
StreetWork Board member Philip Loveday wrote and sent photos.
Dear Bev, Rhonda, Rick and Michael.
Thank you so much for all your hard work today at our BBQ – it is very much appreciated by everyone at Streetwork.
With your help we raised just over $1,350. This is a fantastic achievement and it will make a real difference to our charity and the young people we mentor. I shared the good news with our CEO Helen Banu and she is delighted. She send her gratitude to you all too.
We will do a social media post in the coming days to say a thank you to your Rotary club and to Warringah Mall. The photo will likely be one of the two attached.
Thank you again for your support today and more broadly for the Rotary Club of Balgowlah’s continued support for StreetWork.
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OUR NEXT MEETING: Tuesday October 3 at Balgowlah RSL, Wine Room @7pm
Come and contribute to our Youth programs in a discussion led by Pascal Grant.
Our club had a very successful Youth night which focused on RYPEN and the participants. There are other programs and great opportunities in Rotary Youth so come and become familiar with all the aspects of Youth Service.
Why not come beforehand and have dinner at 6pm in the Bistro and join other members at the Rotary table (Please let Tony Hill know 0411 670 341)
Induction of former Rotarian, Robert Thompson will be conducted by
Co-President Diana Hart.
Robert and wife Anne will have been to many meetings and gatherings over the past few months and look forward to becoming part of the Balgowlah Rotary family. Come and make them most welcome!
FORWARD PLANNING:
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FINALLY:
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