Another busy night at Rotary with a number of highlights including in essence 3 speakers.
Di Gillies on Interplast, showing just how much good work Rotary does and something to be proud of.
Amy Oxlade shared us her RYLA experience once again demonstrating the benefit us and the organisation. The power we have to influence in a positive way young people should not be underestimated. Whilst I know we can struggle with candidates we always come up trumps well done to Anne/Linda and the Youth committee.
It is with a touch of sadness that Linda has requested a LOA for 12 months whilst she has a busy work schedule, but we are heartened to know Linda will be back. Thanks Linda for the terrific contribution made to the club.
If that wasn’t enough we then had a chance to enjoy the very personal journey of Peter Loney and the Anzac spirit. It was lovely to see how Peter put the personal spin on the Anzac storey that I think enthralled us all. We are all touched by the Anzac spirit in some way and shows some of the strongest aspects of humanity (and indeed the worse) I hope we do, in a small way, give that spirit some justice.
This week we will have a forum where I hope everyone has an understanding of our financial position and some potential further thoughts and make a positive contribution. As with all aspects of life people view these thing in different light but I know we will respect all views and thoughts so the board can accurately reflect the club as a whole.
Barb and I (unfortunately) intend to attend the Presidents meeting of group 9 & 10 which is a good lead in to next year for Barb. This meeting rotates (week day) through the year and falls only once on the Thursday. Time flies and I wish we could do more with other clubs and it is important to be outward thinking.
Pictures this week are of our 3 guest speakers at last week's meeting, the "team" at the District Assembly, and Eeon delivering his PPE presentation at the District Assembly.
This World Immunization Week, we are closer than ever to the target of a world free of polio, with just two remaining polio endemic countries- Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Around the world, countries that remain vulnerable to polio are continuing to vaccinate children and build immunity
The Trivalent to Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine Switch
Between 17 April and 1 May, the type 2 component of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) is being removed from use through a globally synchronized switch from the trivalent to bivalent oral polio vaccine. This is the first stage of objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 to withdraw OPV in a phased manner starting with the type 2 component following the eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 in September 2015.
Follow a live update of which countries have undergone the switch at the Global Polio Eradication website (link at the end of this article). Learn more about why the switch is such an important part of ensuring a polio-free world through the series of videos on the web page.
The following indicators are being carefully tracked to ensure the switch goes smoothly. As of 25 April:
75 of 155 (48%) countries and territories have stopped using the trivalent oral polio vaccine.
Independent monitoring to ensure the switch goes smoothly has begun in 63 countries.
The National Validation Committee has received switch monitoring data from four countries: Tuvalu, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Burundi.
The WHO Regional Office has received the National Validation Report from one country: Tuvalu.
Wild poliovirus type 1 and Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus cases
Total cases
Year-to-date 2016
Year-to-date 2015
Total in 2015
WPV
cVDPV
WPV
cVDPV
WPV
cVDPV
Globally
12
3
23
1
74
32
- in endemic countries
12
0
23
1
74
3
- in non-endemic countries
0
3
0
0
0
29
- See more at: http://www.polioeradication.org/dataandmonitoring/poliothisweek.aspx#sthash.IVWhGJI8.dpuf
Be Bold! Be bold to push our message about Rotary with like-minded people, friends and communities! Rotary is about people, local and international. What we do together is so much more than individuals.
So began our keynote presentation to District 9780 Training Assembly 2016 by DGE, Stephen Lamont.
The day was attended by our members Pres Elect Barb, Stephen (Public Relations), Ros (Membership), Eeon (Service project Preserve Planet Earth), Paul (The Rotary Foundation) and Pauline as presenter on PR and communications.
Amongst other things Membership sessions covered such topics are focussing on our Alumni, Rotary-Rotaract links, how the public view Rotary, encouraging and caring for new members, membership goals, the make-up and functions of your club’s membership committee ie lots to discuss and contemplate!
Presidents Elect were briefed again on our Quarterly reports and President meetings, the DG visit to our club and the pre DG visit checklist that we have to complete. We were also encouraged to support Foundation in its 100th year. We discussed money! District fees, district budget and grants and heard about Planet earth from Eeon, ROMAC from Lesley Sheddon and Youth Exchange. An interesting day.
The Foundation break-out session covered a lot of previously covered ground (for me - but not for newcomers to the position) although it was good to have a refresher. There were new facts presented too which I'll share at some future dinner meetings. It was amazing just how much even existing Foundation Club Reps were confused or simply didn't know about The Rotary Foundation and its operation. Altogether a great opportunity for networking, re-establishing the basics of the Foundation and looking at what great work it does. There was obviously some attention given to the fact that The Rotary Foundation is celebrating its 100th year - but more about that later.
Jeri Fujimoto, governor-elect of District 5150, displays some of the gifts delivered by the team of Rotary members.
By Jon Kaufman, director of H2OpenDoors
Along with 40 friends and supporters of the H2OpenDoors project, I took part in an eight-day exploratory expedition to Cuba on 8 April.
Members of six Rotary clubs in District 5150 and their friends and family joined The Bay Area Cuba Community Alliance, starting on the far eastern side of the island for a visit and site survey at a small village in Granma province. Each person presented a suitcase of donations to the Town Delegate in an emotional ceremony.
Baseball equipment, animal husbandry tools, school supplies, and children’s clothing were among the gifts for over 550 residents. The town had been home to one of the best community baseball teams in Cuba, but they have been unable to play for over two years for lack of equipment. After a great ball game, the town elders hosted us for a lunch feast.
H2OpenDoors will return in December to install a SunSpring water purification plant to provide safe drinking water for the entire community, and an additional system in a similar community near Havana.
Following the visit to the rural colonies, our group hosted a cocktail gala at Havana’s iconic Hotel Nacional for Cuban entrepreneurs to start a dialogue about Rotary and the recent visit by U.S. President Barak Obama’s administration, and to build new friendships. The 120 participants broke out into four focus groups for lively discussions about the arts, education, water and infrastructure, and businesses.
Another 40 people will be able to join H2OpenDoors between 8-17 December for a similar schedule, including a day at the Havana International Jazz Festival. For more information go to www.H2OpenDoors.org or contact me at jon@H2OpenDoors.org
About the author: Jon Kaufman owns KL&P Marketing, a large agency in the Silicon Valley. He has been a member of the Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club in Redwood City, California, since 2012. Jon started H2openDoors as a Rotary project to provide drinking water technology to the poorest villages and schools who spend up to a third of their daily income on bottled water.
The 2016 Council on Legislation was by all accounts a great success, thanks to the strong commitment, diligence and hard work of its delegates in carrying out the Council’s critical role in Rotary's governance.
The Council took a number of forward looking decisions on membership and meeting flexibility and other items, including increasing annual per capita dues by US$4.00.
Nine out of ten Rotarians have asked Rotary to provide more services, and it was clear to the Council, based on the five-year financial forecast presented by the RI Board, that without the dues increase, service to clubs and districts would have to be decreased. As a result of the Council’s action, dues to RI will increase by US$4 per year in each of the years 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20. The increase will enable us to enhance Rotary’s website, improve online tools, add programs and services, and make other advancements to help clubs grow their membership and better serve communities.
Please find more information here about the dues increase, why it was needed, and the impact it will have in supporting our organization’s work at all levels in the years ahead. I encourage you to share this information with Rotarians in your club, district, and region. You can also read a wrap-up of the Council’s actions on rotary.org.
John Hewko
General Secretary
The District Changeover Lunch is at Truffleduck on 26th June 2016.
“Mr H.W.Buckland secretary of the shire of South Barwon has been notified that there is no objection so far as the Department of Lands and Survey is concerned to the proposal to change the name of the post-office at Germantown to Grovedale.”………The Geelong Advertiser Friday October 22 1915.
“Old Linen Wanted”
“As unlimited quantities of clean old linen are required by the Red Cross Society to make swabs, bandages etc for the wounded the local branch of the society has decided to have an old linen week commencing on Thursday next 11 inst. It is hoped that all householders in Geelong and district will respond to this appeal ion their usual liberal manner. Old table linen and sheets are especially suitable; it does not matter how old or small the pieces are as long as they are clean.”……..The Geelong Advertiser November 9 1915.”
"A U.N. study claims the happiest country in the world is Switzerland. When asked why they're so happy, Swiss people couldn't answer because their hands were counting money and their mouths were full of chocolate." -Conan O'Brien
Ken and Melba had finished their breakfast at the retirement home and were relaxing in the library. "You know," said Melba, "today, in most marriage ceremonies, they don't use the word 'obey' anymore."
"Too bad, isn't it?" retorted Ken. "It used to lend a little humour to the occasion."