President's Message

Dear Members and Friends,

Well, we are now closer to getting back to a face-to-face meeting. The Mercure Hotel has advised we should be right for us to get back there for next week's meeting on 17th June. They should confirm tomorrow. If so the plan is for Sainab Sheikh to be a speaker to tell us about her African adventures earlier this year.

Speaking of Sainab, I spoke to her a couple of days ago and she has arranged to get about another 25 cartons of Foreameal for her to distribute amongst those in need especially people that are caught up in Melbourne that are not receiving any assistance.

I had mentioned in previous reports that Judy and I were to represent the club at a Haileybury College Concert tonight but as you would expect it was canceled. I did propose to them that they would be welcome for some of their students to perform at our Changeover but they declined as it is during school holidays.

I contacted the Japanese Rotarian that contacted our club to host a Global Grant Scholar to get complete confirmation that everything was in place for the application. They said all was good. I then hand thought and asked if they could assist us to support a friend of our club, Jemima Montag when she races her 20km walk event at the Olympics. I thought it might be possible because it is a street event and it is over a 1km course so if someone could get a spot on the course holding a sign of support from our club she would pass it 20 times. They seemed very interested and impressed that we would know an Olympian so we will see what comes of it. Who knows what is going to happen with the whole Olympic event even though it is scheduled to start only next month now.

Jemima, winning the Gold Medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Last week I mentioned prior to all this our club was getting on a roll well I am hoping we can get back into that mood soon and I think our involvement as a Foundation member of Rimern could be the avenue to do this. Rimern is Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network. At the moment Susan Robb and Judy Page are our club representatives there and Susan has taken on the role of Volunteer Coordination. I am sure Judy will help her but it is a great opportunity for other members to both offer to do some shifts and to also offer to assist Susan with the Coordination.

 

A couple of admin issues during the week have been an invitation received by our Foundation Chairman, Ted Dziadkiewicz on about the upcoming Rotary Foundation Grant Seminar which is at 3.00 pm Sunday 20th June. Even if Ted can make that seminar it would be good for our newer members to attend to learn about it.

The other item relates to considering a motion proposed by the Rotary Club of Balwyn for consideration at the 2021 Council of Resolutions. Basically, the whole Rotary organization runs by rules that all clubs in the world have a say in. In this case, a club in our own district is proposing the following change to the Rotary Structure as follows:

To request the RI Board to emphasize the importance of its January 2019

“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement” by ensuring that 30% of future Rotary

Foundation Trustees are women and set a goal to have  female Trustee Chair

within a reasonable timeframe.

Our club needs to advise of our support by 15th June so I plan to have it addressed tomorrow.

At this point, I would like to again urge everyone to book for our Changeover. I know you will eventually, but I would appreciate not being stressed out by having to push for sales in the last week.

So far Judy and I and Kammy and Ida have booked so please book yours now.

The details are:

 
The Trybooking link is https://www.trybooking.com/BRXQD

As advised earlier our meeting tomorrow is a Zoom Board Meeting and Andrew Georgiou has already issued the agenda. To join the Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86525983685?pwd=S1hpS2tKdU5UUTA0RUtlSkNWVFV1UT09

Meeting ID: 865 2598 3685

Passcode: 802946

Another item we will discuss is the request as advised last week to support the Rotary Club of Erode Cosmos in India by helping them with their purchase of body bags.

Please take note of other upcoming Changeover's that Judy and I have booked into:

26th June 2021 - E Club Changeover at the Amora Hotel.  $60.00/head

27th June 2021 - District Changeover - Hyatt Place 12-00-2.00pm - $65.00/head

6th July 2021 - Southbank RC Changeover = Seafarer's Mission - 6.30 - 9.30pm - $60.00/head

As well there is also the  International Convention - also Virtual  on 12th-17th June 2021

Upcoming Club Meeting Details are:

Thu 17th June 2021 - In-Person Meeting at the Mercure with Sainab Sheikh as Guest Speaker.

Thu 1st July 2021 - Club Changeover

Have a Great Rotary Week! 

 

GRANT SEMINAR 2021