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From President David

from president david

A busy night last Thursday with Rebecca Casson providing the Committee for Geelong perspective on the region and how exciting the future may be. I take this message for our Club in that we need to focus on the positives that we bring the community and indeed the enrichment to our own life’s the club plays.
 
To that end there is nothing more exciting than new members. Welcome to Janice and Martin to our club we look forward to working together in the future and I know both of these people will provide a fabulous addition to the rotary family. Thank you for putting your faith in us, and I know we will all make them feel welcome.
 
As we start to work towards changeover please consider your position on how to contribute to the club, remembering that being active in the club has no barriers. We are an active healthy club and we need to remain that way and  I know we will give Barb every cooperation
 
Continue to be a “gift to the world”
 
David
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That was the week that was.
 
 
 
If you weren't at the presentation by Rebecca Casson, then you missed a doozy and nothing I write here will capture the passion and completely positive aspects of her organisations visions for a vibrant and progressive Geelong. Do yourselves a favour and visit the Committee For Geelong website and see more about their projects and aspirations.
We also inducted 2 new members - a great occasion, and received a cheque from Mark Wilkinson for our efforts at the Pier to Pub.
And is that wan't enough we congratulated a couple of our members on their acquisition of new "gongs" for their sporting prowess.
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

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Student Leadership Accolades
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Polio this week

Polio this week as of 18 May 2016  
  • From the 17 April to the 1 May, 155 countries and territories participated in the historic trivalent to bivalent oral polio vaccine switch, withdrawing the type two component of the vaccine to protect future generations against circulating vaccine derived polioviruses. Track the switch live.
  • Preparing for the WHA: next week, health ministers from around the world will convene in Geneva for the annual World Health Assembly (WHA). Among other public health topics, delegates will review and discuss the latest global polio epidemiology. The GPEI has set up a WHA-specific polio website, with key documents to help guide discussions.
     
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.

  • Thanks to the efforts of a wide range of stakeholders from Ministries of Health, health workers, volunteers, switch monitors, WHO, UNCEF and partners of the World Health Organization, confirmation has been received that 152 countries have completed the switch.

  • Follow a live update of which countries have undergone the switch. Learn more about why the switch is such an important part of ensuring a polio-free world through this series of videos.

  • The following indicators are being carefully tracked to ensure the switch goes smoothly. As of 10 May:

    • 155 of 155 (100%) countries and territories have stopped using the trivalent oral polio vaccine.

    • Independent monitoring to ensure the switch goes smoothly has begun in 151 countries (99%).

    • The National Validation Committee has received switch monitoring data in 124 countries.

    • The WHO Regional Offices has received the National Validation Report from 124 countries. 

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

15

3

24

1

74

32

- in endemic countries

15

0

24

1

74

 3

- in non-endemic countries

0

3

0

0

0

 29

 

- See more at: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx#sthash.xaGWx9mz.dpuf

 

 

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Rotary Moments

rotary moment

What does a Rotary club designed by younger members look like?

Members of the Rotary Club of Metro Savannah

The leadership team of the Rotary Club of Metro Savannah with the author (seventh from left in white shirt).

By Gordon Matthews, past governor of District 6920 (Georgia, USA), Rotary Club of Savannah East

A panel of three young members spelled out for us the issues that block young people from joining Rotary during our spring assembly a few years ago — scheduling, cost of dues, and rules.

I’ve been active in developing leaders in our community and have worked with our Group Study Exchange teams in the past, so I know the energy and potential in this “under 40” generation that we need to tap for Rotary. But I’ve also seen several Rotary clubs try to do this with limited results, because they stayed too close to the traditional model and dues structure.

Breaking the mold
To break that mold, I asked the son of a fellow member to gather a group of young people in the metro area of Savannah to explore the idea of starting a new club. I told them their are really just a few rules – to meet weekly, pay dues, and train a president-elect. The rest are just a lot of traditions. They were directed to develop a format that would meet their needs.

The team included young professionals with a Rotarian parent, past exchange participants, and others who were just interested in tackling the challenge. Several had taken part in our leadership development program and wanted to keep learning about the community. Others were in a social group that met monthly but craved more substance.

A recent service project.

A recent service project.

After an initial meeting or two with district leaders, the team met on their own for six months to craft a plan and draw up a list of candidates. When they had 75, they invited them to a reception to introduce the concept and explain how to become a charter member. Applications came in quickly and they froze the group at 50 to submit their charter application, adding the remainder to a waiting list.

The Metro Savannah Rotary Club started with a bang and has never looked back. They are careful to add members who maintain their diversity and bring in unique perspectives.Their membership includes engineers, construction managers, attorneys, graphic designers, sales managers, librarians, and non-profit directors.

What works
Annual dues is $300. Members stay up to date on Facebook. They meet for lunch the first and third week of the month, calling in sandwich orders. Another week, they network at a pub over drinks. This in itself invites membership inquiries from others in the pub. And at least one meeting is a service project. The club has had at least 12 projects every year.

After a year, the board held a full day retreat to examine their format and make tweaks. Attending only as an observer and resource, I was impressed these busy young professional gave up most of their Saturday to evaluate and plan.

The club continues to thrive with more than 60 members, most under the age of 40. It’s a great model for other districts who want to launch dynamic clubs of young professionals. And with the recent action by Rotary’s Council on Legislation, it’s easier than ever to step out and try new things. For more information how we got this idea off the ground, contact me at Gordon.matthews@earthlink.net

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Rotary Conversations

news from the district and beyond

As this Rotary year is drawing to a close it is timely to remind everyone that contributions (by members or Clubs)  to the Rotary Foundation need to be made by early June as per the attached letter from Peter Simons our District Fundraising Chair.  
Please take the time to read Peter's letter.
with regards
Jane Cox
District Governor 2015-2016 
Rotary Club of Geelong Central
Mob: 0418 345 331
Ph: 03 5261 5506
Email: jncox4@bigpond.com   
 
 
 
 
 
 
23nd May 2016
Dear Rotarians of District 9780.
The end of this Rotary year is fast approaching with 5 weeks to go.
A week ago our district and individual contributions are down on last year to the Annual and Polio Plus Funds.
18th May 2015 District 9780 contributions to Our Foundation for 14-15 year are compared to same time last year are:
Annual Fund                      ↓Down $13,864
Polio Plus Fund               ↓Down $27,226
Some clubs maybe sitting on Foundation funds for Ride the Bellarine and Film Night proceeds. We need them in ASAP. Same applies to any Foundation Funds clubs still have on their books for disbursement this year.
Any clubs and individual Rotarians who are contributing this year need to act quickly to meet the deadlines. Every Rotarian has been sent an individualised contribution pre-completed form via their club.  
We need to get contributions in a little earlier now as all Rotarians would be aware now, Australia Post is now much slower unless pay premium rates. So we need all Rotarians and clubs to have contributions to me (P/O Box 1027, Portland 3305 with the paperwork) ideally by the end of 1st week of June, or if is your practice is to send direct to Parramatta by mid-June 2016. Parramatta becomes very busy from mid-June onwards and may not be able to accrue your contributions into this financial (and Rotary) year. They cannot put fund received in 16-17 year back into this year if it arrives too late!
RI exchange for May 2016 is the equal best we have seen for the 15-16 year but, according to Mark Anderson it will go down in June again. So to get the best bang for your Foundation bucks it needs to be processed in May for this year.
Regards
 
PP Peter B. Simons
District 9780 Foundation Fundraising Chair 2015-16
                                                                                                                                                                              
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Bulletin Bits
“Tram Track Rubbish”
“Comments are heard in three municipalities against the way in which the tramway authorities cleanse their tracks. Two employees walk the line each morning with pointed shovels   which scoop up the road refuse and each casts it onto the roadside to be scattered by the wind and annoy pedestrians and shopkeepers. It is an untidy and objectionable scheme. Could not some attachment be fitted to the cars to pick up the refuse continuously? Failing that the stuff should be fed into barrows on a cart and taken olff the streets.”………….The Geelong Advertiser December 13 1915.
 
“State Income Tax”
State Income Tax returns must be furnished to the Commissioner by January 17th. All persons who received201pounds  or more during the year ended   June 30th 1915 are required to furnish a return.”…………..The Geelong Advertiser December 30 1915.
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The next 4 weeks

THE NEXT 4 WEEKS

 
26th May 2016 - Lyndon Grove
Grovedale/Highton Nepal Water Project Report by Paul Desbrowe-Annear
Chair - Ken Mansfield
Welcome, Badges  and Property - Robert Johnson
 
2nd June 2016 - No Meeting at Lyndon Grove
Star Search on 3rd June
 
9th June 2016 - Geelong Yacht Club 
Club Night and Directors' Reports
Chair - David Farnsworth
Welcome, Badges  and Property - Robert Johnson
 
16th June 2016 - Barwarre Gardens
Dinner and Description of facilities
Chair - Mark Seller
Welcome, Badges  and Property - Robert Johnson
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Celebrations 20th May to 26th May 2016

Celebrations 20th May to 26th May 2016

First cab off the rank is Marjorie Macaulay who has a birthday on 26th

Then there are 3 Club Members with a "Rotary birthday"

Pam Carroll and Ray Rounds on 23rd and David Farnsworth on 24th

 

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Leave of Absence

leave of absence

David Sinclair's going off on another trip from 7th June to 7th July

.Ian Campbell will also be away - from 1st July to 11th July

Rod Morrison follows that with an overseas trip from 11th July until 16th August

The Mark Seller will be away from 19th July 'til 28th August - visiting Marie Louise as part of the trip.

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Inspirational quotes

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'. - John Greenleaf Whittier

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. - Booker T. Washington

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Humour ?

Humour ?

A dottering, old professor of logic asked his College class a question.
"If Philadelphia is 100 miles from New York and Chicago is 1000 miles from Philadelphia and Los Angeles is 2000 miles from Chicago, and the Moon is 239,000 miles from Earth, how old am I?"
A student in the back of the class raised his hand and when called upon said, "Professor, you're 70."
The old professor said, "You're absolutely correct, but tell me, how did you arrive at the answer so quickly?"
The student said, "It's easy, I have a brother, he's 35, and he's half nuts."
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A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.''Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk.
'I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.' Puff! She's gone.
'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.' Puff! He's gone.
'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'
 
Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.
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Curious when I found two black-and-white negatives in a drawer, I had them made into prints. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were of a younger, slimmer me, taken on one of my first dates with my husband.
When I showed him the photos, his face lit up. "Wow, look at that!" he said. "It's my old Plymouth!"
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A guy stood over his tee shot for what seemed an eternity; looking up, looking down, measuring the distance, figuring the wind direction and speed. Finally his exasperated partner says, "What's taking so long? Hit the blasted ball!"
The guy answers, "My wife is up there watching me from the clubhouse. I want to make this a perfect shot."
"Forget it, man - you don't stand a chance of hitting her from here!"
 
 
 
 
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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
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