It is always a good night when the District Governor visits, but last night's meeting was even so much better with special thanks to our wonderful chef member Andrew Svenson. What a fantastic meal Andrew provided. He is a difficult act to follow, and we cannot expect him to continue to work so hard for us all. Do we have any other budding chefs in our club?
Report on meeting on 16 October, 2024
President Rob Deshon with DG Lisa Hunt
Marcia, Denise and Joan
Lisa, Rob and Gareth
Ken, John, Heather, Ian and Norm
our wonderful meal
Preparation in the kitchen
David and Andrew
Andrew, Greg and Deb
Ian, Ros and Robyn
Brian and Nina
Report on meeting on 16 October
The District Governor, Lisa Hunt and her husband Gareth were our special guests for the Club meeting on 16th October 2024. The DG gave a detailed presentation which outlined:
Hers and Gareth's experience in different roles within Rotary. This showed us how that experience is helping her fulfil the role of DG for our District.
She gave us a refresher about the Mission and Vision of Rotary, but also put into perspective what those 2 things mean on the ground for our Club and our District. She reminded us that "Together people create change" which are the keywords pulled directly from our Rotary Vision. She also asked us to remember that being a part of Rotary is not just about fundraising - it's also about telling the story.
She touched on the Rotary Action Plan with its four foci of Impact (the impact we have), Reach (the reach we have), Engage (how we engage) and Adapt (how we adapt) and explained how it is a framework from which we can create our Rotary journey. Lisa gave concrete examples of how elements of the Action Plan are working on the ground. For example, in our own Club we increase our impact by being problem solvers and building social capital, we expand our reach through our Allrounders Program which is an investment in the future, and our Youth Exchange commitment which results in connections and conversations that expand our reach.
While Lisa is fully invested in the District Governor role, her husband Gareth is passionately involved in various Rotary Youth Programs such as Our Youth, Our Foundation Partner Program, RYLA, RYTS, RYPEN.
Lastly, at the request of our President Rob, Lisa gave us a bit of an update on Polio which she reminded us is Rotary's top Global Project. Major partners include the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and the Gates family. We were also reminded that once our annual global donations hit $50m, the Gates will donate a further $2 for every $1 donated. So in effect, $50m becomes $150m - but we must hit the threshold first. Water sampling in Gaza has identified an uptick in polio cases - the region has been polio free for over 25 years until the recent hostilities. Similarly in the African continent due to a combination of human movement (refugees, conflict, famine) and dropping vaccination rates (militant attacks etc) - there has been an uptick in cases here too. Our focus remains on eradicating polio from the world. Financial planning/fundraising goals are: District 20% DDF, Clubs $1500/year, Individuals $10/year.
Don't forget that 24th October is World Polio Day - we may have been caught a bit flat-footed with this one, but if anyone has an idea for a quick and easy fundraising event for a worthy cause let us know about it. Events can be run for at least 2 weeks either side of the day.
Thanks Deb Daly
Social Cruise on Sunday 6th October on board The Lady out of Sanctuary Cove.
What a fantastic day enjoyed by al 18 members and friends. It was a perfect day on the water, a great boat, good music and dancing - and lots of fun and enjoyment for all of us.
International Day of Peace
Every year on the 21st September, communities around the globe acknowledge the International Day of Peace. Established by the United Nations, this day recognises a global aspiration for a world devoid of discord and turmoil.
This year the Broadwater Southport Rotary Club hosted a Peace Day event at the Rotary Broadwater Chapel. A Peace Pole inscribed with the invocation “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 13 different languages has been erected at the site in time for the 2024 Peace Day celebration. Our District Governor Lisa Hunt & President Ray of Broadwater Southport Club cut the ribbon to mark the occasion. White doves, widely recognised as an international symbol of peace, were released from a wicker basket.
Our own Ukrainian exchange student Eliz Navrotska was a guest speaker marking the day with an emotional speech about what peace means to her and her community. Our Italian student Alice was also there to mark this special day.
Apologies for the lateness of this article.
ROTARY AROUND THE WORLD
These are the photos taken by Patricia Dear when she visited in April.
The Helena Goldie Hospital is being refurbished but has no money for supplies, hence our push to fund a container.
Any money no matter how small.
Donations via Someone Who Cares.
Thank you
Jane Loxton
Rotary E-Club
Helena Goldie Hospital in Munda, Western Province (Solomon Islands) is owned and run by the United Church of the Solomon Islands. It was built in 1903 by Methodist missionaries and currently serves more than 26 000 people from surrounding communities North New Georgia, Vona Vona Lagoon, Roviana Lagoon and Rendova Islands.
Proposed refurbishments will be done over an estimated time period of 6 months for the general ward, operating theatre and the labour ward as well as construction of a new isolation unit and provision of a new generator set.
World Polio Day - 24 October
Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on difficult problems and create lasting change. We set bold goals — including the eradication of polio.
This is our top humanitarian priority, and we've made incredible progress. But polio anywhere can affect children everywhere. This is why we need to maintain our efforts and end polio now.
Rotary International has been working to eradicate polio for more than 40 years. Rotary has helped immunize more than 3 billion children against polio, contributed more than US$2.7 billion to global polio eradication efforts, and helped secure more than US$11 billion from donor governments
Ashmore State School Early Reading Literacy Support
Ashmore State School Early Reading Literacy Support
This project commenced in July 2024 and was completed on 20th September 2024.
The school uses Decodable Readers as one of their primary resources for teachers teaching Yr 1-3 students to read.
It is recognised that children who cannot read effectively by the time they finish Yr 3 are likely to be at a serious disadvantage during the remaining years of their education, and indeed throughout their whole lives in many cases.
The school asked that the club provide a number of Decodable Readers to enhance their supplies, and specifically to enrich the fiction component of their resources. Having the readers would also help by cutting down the current excessive use of photocopying of the few existing readers.
A bulk pack of readers was purchased. The pack contained 340 books, plus other reading resources. The books are packed into plastic sleeves for use by the teachers, and these sleeves have been labelled with the Rotary emblem, and to indicate that they have been supplied by the Rotary Club of Ashmore and the Rotary Foundation. The school has an illuminated sign on the roadside, and the club’s assistance was recognised on this sign and in the school newsletter.
Club members have been utilised in a one-on-one reading program with Yr 2 students for the remainder of the school term. In all, 7 Rotarians and one community volunteer have spent over 50 hrs reading with the children. This reading has continued during the current term.
The books are robust, and should last for many years.
The cost of the pack of resources was entirely funded by RC Ashmore at a cost of $4850. There are no other costs involved or expected.
It is only 16 days until we start selling our Christmas raffle at the Q Super Centre and Ashmore City Shopping Village. The roster will be sent out soon. Please advise the dates and times that you can help.
Christmas Tree Decoration at Q Store
November 8,9,10 for set up. Volunteers wanted please.
