Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #10
MEETING September 10th. 2012
PRESIDENT PAUL WESTON’S REPORT
Coolamon Rotary activities continue to hum along despite a fair few members being out of town lately for various reasons. And despite the lower numbers at the last couple of meetings, we’ve had some productive and enjoyable sessions. I even sensed that people had fun at the board meeting this past Monday, which is a first!
Planning is underway for the next meeting with the local business owners and operators. We’re shooting for one of the Mondays in mid-October, so watch this space.
The Coolamon Rotary food van will back on the road soon, making an appearance at the Scarecrow Festival scheduled for 30 September. We’ll be dishing up some tasty treats at the event, and welcome those who might want to spend a little time at the griddle. Look for a roster sign-up at our next meeting.
Speaking of next meetings, District Governor Greg Brown will be attending our meeting on Monday, 17 September. Please make an extra effort to attend and make Greg welcome as he begins his visits to clubs in the district. Gilbert is catering, so remember of phone apologies if you’ll be unable to attend.
The following week is a special night as we welcome the Hon. Michael McCormack to our weekly meeting to regale us with insider tales of life in Parliament. The talk, entitled “The Lighter Side of Parliament”, will not be of a political nature but instead will expose some of the things that go on behind the scenes at Parliament and don’t make it on the evening news. An invitation has been extended to the public, so we’re expecting a large turnout. Typical for such events, a Chinese buffet will be on offer.
International programs continue, with John Glassford sharing news that $40,000 was recently disbursed to the charities in Africa designated as beneficiaries of the recent climb of the Mountains of the Moon. Plans are taking shape for the next climb, scheduled for 2015. Watch this space for further developments!
Don’t forget about the Rotary Peace Conference taking in place as the Wagga RSL over 21-23 Sept. If you’re not up for attending all three days, you can register to attend single sessions or half days. More information can be found at http://www.rotarypeace2012.org.au.
I have to say I’m amazed at how much good work is being done by such a small organisation. It’s clear that we have a hard-working, dedicated group of members, and I’m very proud to be a member and honoured to be at the helm for this year.
Bingo will be taking place at Alawah Lodge this Thursday—will this be the night the Jackpot is won? Anyone is welcome to play, so come by on the 13th and try your luck!
That’s all for now. Until next time, onward and upward!
Yours in Rotary,
Paul
REMINDERS
Thursday 13th September BINGO Rostered on: Christine Atkinson, Henk Hulsman, Dick Jennings, Neil Munro.*Monday September 17th DG Greg Brown’s visit. Gilbert Catering.
Rotary Peace Conference Wagga Wagga September 21st. – 23rd.
*Monday 24th September 2012 Guest Speaker the Hon. Michael McCormack MP Federal Member for RiverinaGilbert Catering.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT SAKUJI TANAKA
September 2012
Dear fellow Rotarians,
Many of you know that we now have five Avenues of Service in Rotary. The fifth, and newest, is New Generations Service. There are many ways to serve through this avenue, and you will read about some of them in this month’s issue of the Rotarian.
All of the work we do to educate children, to improve maternal health, to help families live healthier lives – all of this is service to New Generations. We also serve New Generations by working to eradicate polio, helping to ensure that future generations of children will be born into a polio-free world.
Our youth and young adult programs, such as Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange, are a very important part of this Avenue of Service. We must remember that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. By helping to develop young leaders and bringing younger members into our clubs, we strengthen communities – and Rotary’s future.
For most of my life, I have been a salesman. I learned long ago that being a good salesman is not enough. You must also have a good product. If you are a good salesman, you will make the first sale. But if you do not have a good product, you will make only the first sale. You will not make the second.
It is not enough to bring new members into Rotary. We want them to stay. We want the new, young members to become longtime members. We want them to be Rotary leaders in 10, 20, or 30 years.
How do we do this? We have to look at our product. We have to look at Rotary not with our own eyes, but with new eyes. When we invite a new member to join and that person’s answer is no, we should ask why. This is not to pressure someone into joining. It is to find out more information. What are the obstacles to membership? Is it an inconvenient meeting time? Is it too much of a time commitment? Is it something else that we have not thought of?
We need to ask questions, and we need to open ourselves to the answers. We cannot say, “No, we will not do this,” just because we have never done it before. Why not have child care at a meeting? Why not involve families in projects? Why not make attendance requirements less strict, or meet less often?
Our new Avenue of New Generations Service is an important step in ensuring many future generations of Rotary, and of Service Above Self.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they’re physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember.
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. “Want anything while I’m in the kitchen?” he asks.
“Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?”
“Sure….”
“Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it?” she asks.
“No, I can remember it.”
“Well, I’d like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so not to forget it?”
He says, “I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.”
“I’d also like whipped cream. I’m certain you’ll forget that. Write it down,” she says.
Irritated, he says, “I don’t need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream – I got it, for goodness sake!”
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment.
“Where’s my toast?”
~~~~~~~
Last Laugh
Sweet Potatoes
Every morning during our coffee break, my co-workers and I listened to the culinary disasters of a newlywed colleague. We then tried to share some helpful hints and recipes.
One day, she asked us for step-by-step instructions on cooking sweet potatoes, one of her husband’s favorites.
“I’ve finally been able to make them sweet,” she said, “but how do you make them orange?”
{Thanks to Tom Telfer of ROTI fame for these jokes}
ROTARY INFORMATION
THE SCHOOL OF ST JUDE’S
Although not a project of Rotary International the School of St Jude’s in Moshono Tanzania has a lot of Rotary clubs from around Australia and other parts of the world supporting this amazing school. This is a photo of the latest line of hopeful children who want to be accepted at the School of St Jude’s on the 27th. August out of the 1500 applications 150 will be accepted. The School of St Jude provides an International-standard education to bright children from the poorest households so they will have a better future, break the cycle of poverty, and become the educated professionals Tanzania desperately needs.
The Mountains of the Moon climb has raised $6,725.00 for the School of St Jude’s and the money is on the way to Tanzania.
In 2002 a young lady, Gemma Rice (now Gemma Sisia), from a sheep farm in Australia, opened a small school in Northern Tanzania with the help of her family, friends and local Rotary Club. What started with only three students and one teacher is now a thriving school of over 1,500 students and over 400 local Tanzanian staff. The students and staff are located across three campuses and includes two boarding houses to accommodate more than 1,000 students. These schools really have the potential to influence the quality of Tanzania’s future leaders.
Vision Statement
To be an exemplary, modern and self-sustaining institution that affects a paradigm shift on the educational system in Tanzania by enabling Tanzanians to run successful and moral schools to alleviate poverty and break the cycle of dependency on external aid.
Mission Statement
The School of St Jude is an independent sponsorship-supported school that provides education for Tanzanian children from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds. The school demonstrates leadership, promotes critical thinking and expects high moral values from its students, staff and the school community.
School of St Jude’s Web Site
TOO CUTE Part 2
The animal handlers at the Oregon Zoo took Chendra around to meet some of the other animals one day before the zoo opened. The sea lions were her favorite!
Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka
Governor of District 9700 Greg Brown
Coolamon Club President Paul Weston
Coolamon Club Secretary John Glassford
Coolamon Club Treasurer Henk Hulsman
Coolamon Rotary Club Inc. P.O. Box 23 COOLAMON N.S.W. 2701
Websites of Interest
NEW! ROTI Rotarians On The Internet September Newsletter
Coolamon Rotary Club: http://coolamonrotary.com
Road MAPS to Africa a Coolamon Rotary Project: http://www.mountainsofthemoon.org/
Rotary Down Under on line: http://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/2/26587/49598/pub
Rotarians For Fighting AIDS AUSTRALIA: http://theork.com/
Our Rotary Centennial Twin Club Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa: http://www.rotaryhoutbay.org
Don’t forget to regularly check our club web site for current information such as bingo rosters and various newsletters from the District Governor, the School of St. Jude’s, the monthly membership on the move newsletter as well as several other club bulletins.