President's Message

Dear Members and Friends,

We've completed a fairly busy and successful period of in-person meetings at the Mercure Hotel. I refer to 3 really good meetings starting with the International Women's Day function where we had 24 people attending on 10th March 2021. Then on the 1st of April 2021, we had 25 attend our special District Governor Official Visit meeting, and last week we had 27 attend our meeting where Selba-Gondoza Luca spoke to us about the Afri-Auscare.

They were all very successful and really excellent meetings. Last week Selba attended as part of a group of 17 who she drove to the meeting in the minibus provided to them by the Rotary Club of Melbourne.

This week we are having a break as the venue is fully booked out. But we will be back next week 22nd April 2021 for a Club Board Meeting.

Our club is very proud to be the club to introduce Selba to Rotary and she is now a proud Rotarian.

It is our intention to meet up with the Afri-Auscare community in casual social settings such as Sunday picnics where we can share our homemade picnic meals with each other.

SAINAB IS COMING BACK

I don't really have any real detail other than I know she told me she was returning on 14th April and about an hour ago received a WhatsApp from her that they "are getting to fly out in the evening".12.45 am this morning Sainab rang me from the airport before she boarded her flight back

If she gets back to Australia by 16th April then after 14 days of hotel isolation in Adelaide she could get back to Melbourne by the end of the month maybe in time for Conference?

Technically, because we aren't having a meeting this week we nominated Jaqui O'Donohoe's Book Launch of the book she has written about her late father. The book is called Reflections Through the Periscope – My love letter to Dad and was on at the Moorabbin Bowls Club. Judy and I did go as did Cheryl Dorgan and our AG Kate Strain and Doug. It really was a nice event and the catering was very nice too.

So what is coming up now?

Thu 22nd April 2021       - Board Meeting - Mercure Hotel - 6.45 pm

Wed 21st April 2021       - 100 Year Birthday Bash Luncheon for Melbourne Rotary Club at Sofitel Hotel.

Use this link to book -  https://events.humanitix.com/100th-anniversary-lunch-rotary-melbourne

Fri 23rd April 2021  -Judy and I will be representing the club at the Haileybury College Anzac Day ceremony at the Flagstaff Gardens which I understand will be a very grand event including bagpipes.

Fri 30th April 202 - Pre-conference Club Dinners at venue TBA

Sat 1st & Sun 2nd May 2021 - District Multi-District Virtual Conference. See flyer below for details  

Sat 1st May 2021  - District Conference  - District 9800 Breakout session at Hyatt Place Convention Centre, Essendon Fields. Please join me at this event and watch the special fashion parade presented by the Afri-Auscare team and learn about what our district is involved in.  

Use this link to book -  https://rotaryconference.org.au/?rara-portfolio=district-9800 - This event includes a gourmet BBQ and costs $65/person for the day

 

 

Have a Great Rotary Week!