Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #29

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #29

 

FEBRUARY IS WORLD UNDERSTANDING MONTH.

MALALA IS ONE OF US

Malala Yousafzai was shot in October 2012 for defying the Taliban by speaking out for girls’ education.
Photo Credit: ©Niall Carons-PA Wire.
The Swat Valley of northern Pakistan, in the highlands between Kashmir and the Khyber Pass, was once a lush, peaceful place. It was ruled by Miangul Abdul Haq Jahanzeb — the Wali, or absolute monarch, of Swat. A modernizer, the Wali built schools for his subjects — girls as well as boys — and toured remote regions where no one had ever seen an automobile.
You have probably heard of Malala Yousafzai. Only 15 at the time, Malala was a star student at the Khushal School and College in the Swat Valley town of Mingora. A voracious reader of everything from Pashto poetry to the Twilight saga, she wore a navy blue school uniform to her classes in science, math, Islamic studies, English, and Urdu, the language in which she wrote a blog about life under threat from the Taliban. She blogged about battles between Pakistan’s army and the Taliban (“The night was filled with the noise of artillery fire”), about helicopter gunships buzzing overhead, about book shortages, her dreams, her favorite pink dress, and about the possible end of her schooling:

“The Taliban have issued an edict banning all girls from attending school.”

Her father was doing his part to keep the traditions of Swat alive. In 2010, after Pakistan’s army restored partial order in Mingora, he helped his Rotary club stage the first public musical performance in the town since the Taliban takeover. “We Rotarians were proud to arrange such a show. It was a brave thing to do, since the Taliban influence was still there,” says Yousafzai, a member of the Rotary Club of Mingora Swat. “Things were uncertain, with many threats and frequent assassinations. But we put on a good show.”

That’s Malala’s goal too. The other day her father, reflecting on his family’s remarkable trajectory, said he hoped to go home someday.

“I dream of a time when we will go back to Swat, our dream valley,” Yousafzai says. “And I will ask Malala to join our Rotary club.”

 

FULL STORY ON MY ROTARY HERE.

 

MEETING MONDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2014

We had our monthly board and planning meeting last night and among the decisions made were:

  • Telephone Book Close of entries on February 28th.
  • We need volunteers to work with the Lions on Saturday 22nd March  Music for Mates in Coolamon.
  • RYDA in Wagga Wagga Coolamon on Friday 21st March 2 Volunteers.
  • 2014 Scarecrow Festival tentative support subject to several conditions.

We had 11 members present last night and the meeting went very well under our new format.

Reminder 1 that we have Bill Fraser from the Royal Flying Doctor Service on Monday 3rd March.

Reminder 2 Des Carmody is our guest on 7th April subject “Gallipoli Victory or Defeat?”

Reminder 3 Bingo this Thursday night in Coolamon.

Reminder 4 Contact Christine Atkinson by Friday each week if you are NOT attending Monday meeting.

 

Diary Reminders

Thursday 13th February BINGO Dick Jennings, Rodney Jarrett, Neil Munro, Christine Atkinson

Saturday 15th February Ganmain Fundraiser for Jake Underwood Ganmain Bowling Club.

Monday 17th February Regular Meeting Guest Speaker Simon Playfair “Solar power production and financial incentives!” Gilbert Catering.

Thursday 20th February Wollundry Rotary Club Polio Plus Movie Night in Wagga Wagga and this year the movie  is Las Vegas with Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, and Kevin Kline.  It has been reviewed as a great comedy and good fun … that everyone in the audience will enjoy.

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February PETS in Young

Sunday 23rd February Rotary’s Birthday 109 years old.

*Monday 24th February Guest Speakers PDG Fred Loneragan and John Glassford Mount Kenya 2015.  Partners welcome.

*Monday 3rd March Guest speaker Bill Fraser from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Monday March 10th Regular Meeting followed by a Board Meeting, all members very welcome to attend

Monday 17th March Internet Workshop Night with Paul Weston and John Glassford.  Bring your communication device with you, includes tablets, smart phones and lap tops.

Friday 14th March Trike Convention Catering in Wagga Wagga proceeds to Ronald McDonald House in Wagga Wagga.

Monday March 17-Friday March 21st RYDA in Wagga Wagga (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness)

Friday March 21st-Sunday March 23rd D9700 Conference in Orange.

Saturday 22nd March Music for Mates Concert in Coolamon.

*Monday 7th April Des Carmody Guest Speaker “Gallipoli Victory or Defeat?”

Saturday 19th April EASTER MARKETS in Coolamon.

*Saturday May 10th International Night in Ganmain for AFRICA’S rhinos.

Sunday 18th May D9700 Assembly in Grenfell

Saturday 24th May Red Shield Appeal Street Stall.

Sunday June 1st-Wednesday June 4th.  SYDNEY 2014 RI Convention See promotion at the end of this bulletin.

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June Wagga Wagga Book Fair.

Saturday 28th June D9700 Change Over Dinner in Orange.

*Partners and Guests Night.

Apologies for Monday meetings call Christine Atkinson on 0427 880 158 or 6927 3521 BY FRIDAY 12.00 pm.

 

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT RON BURTON:

From left: RI Director Celia Elena Cruz de Giay; Consul General of the Argentine Republic Marcelo Suarez; 2013-14 RI President Ron Burton; and 1996-97 RI President Luis Vicente Giay at a reception for consuls general at Rotary world headquarters.

2013-14 RI President Ron Burton and Deputy Counsul General of Japan Keiko Yanai at the reception for consuls general at Rotary world headquarters.


 

On The Lighter Side

Two Parrots.

A lady goes to her priest one day and tells him, ‘Father, I have a problem.

I have two female parrots,

But they only know to say one thing’

‘What do they say?’ the priest asked.

They say, ‘Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?’

‘That’s obscene!’ the priest exclaimed,

Then he thought for a moment……

‘You know,’ he said, ‘I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the Bible…

Bring your two parrots over to my house, and we’ll put them in the cage with Francis and Peter.

My parrots can teach your parrots to pray and worship,

And your parrots are sure to stop saying… That phrase… In no time.’

‘Thank you,’ the woman responded, ‘this may very well be the solution.’

The next day, She brought her female parrots to the priest’s house…. As he ushered her in,  she saw that his two male parrots were inside their cage holding rosary beads and praying..

Impressed, She walked over and placed her parrots in with them…

After a few minutes, The female parrots cried out in unison:

Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?’

There was stunned silence…

The one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said,

‘Put the beads away, Frank,

Our prayers have been answered!

The Ostrich

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him.The waitress asks them for their orders.The man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke,” and turns to the ostrich, “What’s yours?””I’ll have the same,” says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. “That will be $9.40 please.” The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment. The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke.”

The ostrich says, “I’ll have the same.”

Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes routine until the two enter again. “The usual?” asks the waitress.”No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad,” says the man.”Same,” says the ostrich.Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, “That will be $32.62.”Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. “Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?”

“Well,” says the man, “several years ago I was cleaning the attic andfound an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offeredme two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything,I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of moneywould always be there.”

“That’s brilliant!” says the waitress. “Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you’ll always be as rich as you want
for as long as you live!”

“That’s right. Whether it’s a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exactmoney is always there,” says the man.

The waitress asks, “What’s with the ostrich?”

The man sighs, pauses and answers, “My second wish was for a tall chick with a big ass and long legs who agrees with everything I say..”

 

ROTARY INFORMATION

Every woman deserves education, access to health care

By Divya Gopisetty, president of the Interact Club of Oakwood High School, Morgan Hill, California

I am amazed at all Rotary is able to accomplish. Each of you, members of Rotary, has an unyielding passion for change, a kind heart, and a determined spirit. You have discovered the importance of taking action instead of merely acknowledging issues exist. You are role models for the rest of the world.

Because of your enormous success and drive, I propose a new project for Rotary clubs to undertake. “Every Woman, Every Right” would not only build schools in poorer parts of developing countries, but also advance the security of women, and aid in providing health care where people can’t afford hospitals or treatment.

Unequal power relationships between men and women, social norms that decrease education and paid employment opportunities, and physical and verbal harassment are just a few of the conditions that prevent women and girls around the world from attaining the best possible level of health and education.

In the past few decades, the maternal mortality rate has decreased globally by about 40 percent. But on average, 800 women still die every day due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Women need significantly better access to quality family planning and other reproductive health services, skilled midwives, emergency obstetrics, and postnatal care.

FULL STORY HERE

 

ONLY IN AFRICA

 

OUT OF AFRICA

 

 

CAUSES WORTH SUPPORTING

Ganmain rallies for 5 yo battling leukaemia

Jake Underwood from Ganmain

We urge you all in Rotary to get behind young Jake.

As A Ganmain boy and his family prepare for the fight of their lives against leukaemia, the Ganmain community are rallying the troops to bolster their spirits.

Just two weeks ago five-year-old Jake Underwood was excited about heading off to “big school” at St Brendan’s.

That dream however was quickly put on hold when tests revealed he had laeukemia, a blood cancer, which has seen him begin rounds of chemotherapy at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

With mother and father Kelly and Daniel still trying to wrap their heads around Jake’s condition, close friends of the couple have been hard at work with fundraising plans to ensure they don’t need to worry about financial constraints.

Next Saturday a family fun night will be held at the Ganmain Bowling Club with the aim of raising funds to help the Underwoods cover medical expenses and the everyday living costs of needing to be in Sydney.

The family night will include kids entertainment and a mega auction including holidays to the Gold Coast and Bermagui, fishing charters, signed guernseys, AFL tickets, a guitar signed by Shannon Noll, gym memberships and beauty and pamper packages.

What: Fundraiser for Jake Underwood

When: Saturday, February 15 from 4pm

Where: Ganmain Bowling Club

Info: Kids entertainment, monster goods and services auction, dinner is available for $10 adults, $5 children or $25 family.

Can’t attend? Still want to help?

Visit the Jake Underwood Fundraiser event page on Facebook for auction item details and how to bid.

Alternatively, make a donation to the family at the following account.

Persons donating are asked to use their names as references.

Ganmain Memorial Bowling Club

BSB: 805-022

Account number: 38712837

 

 

SYDNEY ROTARY CONVENTION

 

 

For our American friends.  Australia is a BIG country.

 

SOME ATTRACTIONS IN AND AROUND SYDNEY

Bronte Beach not as famous as Bondi.

Rhinos at the Sydney Opera House.

 

REGISTER NOW FOR SYDNEY

The programme Click to Enlarge:

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION LISBON 2013

Rotary International Conventions are held annually in a different country in the world.  Some conventions have had over 40,000 attend, this year it is in Australia and then to Brazil in 2015.  Here are some photos from the 2013

Convention in Lisbon (remember to click on the thumb nails to get a larger photo):


 

 

FOOT NOTE

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND PRINCE WILLIAM HAVE A MESSAGE:

 

LINK TO VIDEO

Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge record video as part of their mission to save elephants, rhino and other animals from extinction

 

 

 

 

Yours in Rotary John Glassford Chair 2013 -2014

Proposed Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species

PLEASE CALL ME ANYTIME 02 6927 6027.

Bulletin Editor and Web Site:  John Glassford


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.

Rotary International President Ron Burton

Governor of District 9700 Geoff Tancred

Coolamon Club President  Dick Jennings

Coolamon Club Secretary Paul Weston

Club Treasurer  Henk Hulsman

Coolamon Rotary Club Inc. P.O. Box 23 COOLAMON N.S.W. 2701

Websites of Interest

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

Mount Kenya 2015 Web Site incorporating the ORK: http://theork.com/

Our Rotary Centennial Twin Club Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa: http://www.rotaryhoutbay.org

Proposed Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species RAGES: http://www.endangeredrag.org/#