At our Rotary meeting this week our guest speakers were Tony and Robyn Stokes, from the Rotary Club of Box Hill Central. Tony is the Victorian coordinator of the Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery. They presented some challenging figures about the level of slavery that exists in the world today, including the fact that it is believed that there are more people in slavery now than in the Seventeenth or Eighteenth Century. The RAGAS group aim to increase awareness of slavery, and to encourage everyone to do something about it.

 

Our International Committee is considering supporting RAGAS. Our club can feel proud of the way Ken and his team are investigating overseas projects, and the high level of due diligence being conducted. Robyn Stokes said she was impressed by our International Committee meeting with them before the dinner meeting – it was the first time she had experienced this. My thanks to the committee for the time they gave.

 

Robert Johnson and the BBQ volunteers had been hard at work at Bunnings on Thursday before the Rotary meeting too. Thanks to all involved – and no, l couldn’t smell sausages on any of you!! Well done on the funds being raised.

 

We warmly welcomed Merv Hair as a guest on Thursday night. It was terrific to have a former member come back and enjoy a night with the club.

It had been very remiss of me not to mention our other guest at Thursdays’ meeting – Janet Dean. It is always good to have Janet at our meetings.

 

There is plenty happening in the coming week. I am writing this report on Saturday, and last night we had a small group from the club attend the Grovedale Waurn Ponds Dinner Auction. Their club had obviously put a lot of effort into having auction items donated, and we did our bit towards sales! It was fun, and again it was an opportunity to support another local club. Torquay and Geelong East clubs also had tables at the event

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Tonight our club has a Fellowship night at the theatre in Ceres, Monday night is a Board meeting, and this Thursday is a Committee meeting night. All members need to know where their committee is meeting!!

 

Finally, Thursday was the actual five year anniversary for me being inducted as a member of Highton Rotary. The friendship the club has offered me from the very start is much appreciated, and belonging to this club is a wonderful way to join “Rotary Serving Humanity”

 

Barb