Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin # 3
MEETING DINNER JULY 16th. 2012
Gary Roberts
Monday the 16th July saw our first guest speaker for 2012-2013. Past Assistant Governor Gary Roberts (Murrumbidgeee Rotary Club) spoke to us on membership. Gary brought with him Mitchell Kilham also a member of the RC of Murrumbidgee. Gary outlined some ideas for our members to look at implementing to attract new members and to retain our current members. We all had an excellent discussion with Gary and Mitchell. Many ideas were canvassed and it was decided to dedicate next week’s meeting to a think tank on how we will implement our ideas. This in the form of a shortened Club Visioning meeting.
Mitchell spoke about how at the age of 22 he became a Rotarian and after going to RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Mitchell loved the concept of helping others in need in countries such as Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa with the RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service). So Mitchell joined Rotary and will be more than happy to visit our club again to help us with explaining to women and men in his age group the benefits of joining Rotary. One thing Mitchell did emphasise is that his generation are very keen to do good in the world around them, travel and have fun at the same time.
Grahame Miles won the raffle and Dick Jennings conducted a very spirited and professional auction of two dinners at the club, funds raised go to the cost of our weekly dinner shortfall. We need more members!
Garth Perkin and Dick Jennings reminded members of our two very interesting guest speakers on the 30th July and 6th August. President Paul has said that hese meetings will be open to the public in our area and that we should all make a big effort to ask as many people along who may enjoy the nights.
*Monday July 30th Guest Speaker Jarrad McPherson on Fishing in Laos Gilbert Catering. *PARTNERS NIGHT
- Jarrad McPherson with fish in Laos
*Monday August 6th Guest Speaker Linda Tillman on Marketing the Coolamon Shire (Gilbert Catering.) *PARTNERS NIGHT
Testimonial from the Coolamon Shire Council
Linda Tillman of Tilma Management is assisting us to develop and implement a plan that will show everyone else what our residents already know – that Coolamon Shire is a beautiful, friendly and culturally rich part of regional NSW that must be visited! The strategies planned are creative and unique and based on Linda and her team’s in-depth knowledge of the tourism industry, our target markets and Tilma Management’s passion and flair for tourism and destination marketing.
Terrey Kiss – General Manager, Coolamon Shire Council
Harnessing the sun’s power to cook
Rotarian Allart Ligtenberg spends three months abroad every year, telling anyone who will listen about solar cooking.
Solar cookers use reflective materials such as glass, mirrors, or aluminum foil to concentrate sunlight and convert it into heat for cooking.
Ligtenberg, a member of the Rotary Club of Los Altos, California, USA, was sold on the virtues of the devices more than three decades ago after his company, Hewlett-Packard, sent him to India in 1979. An avid hiker, he spent time trekking through the mountains of Nepal and was spellbound by the country’s beauty, but also troubled by its poverty.
Back home, he saw a newspaper ad for solar cooker blueprints. He sent the company a US$10 check and built the cooker, which he still uses in the yard of his California home.
Ligtenberg realized that if the people of Nepal could harness the sun’s power for cooking and water purification, they might be able to alleviate some of their health, environmental, and energy problems. Women wouldn’t have to walk far from home, spending valuable time and risking attack, to find wood for fuel. Deforestation would decrease. Vegetables and fruits could be dried, reducing spoilage. Water could be pasteurized, killing bacteria.
During the nine months he spends back home, Ligtenberg works to secure funding for projects, including Rotary Foundation Matching Grants, and to develop other efforts, such as starting carpentry and metalworking classes in Nepal, distributing devices that can purify water without boiling, and getting solar cookers into developing nations like Afghanistan, Indonesia, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Mongolia, and Haiti.
“This simple technology solves problems,” he says, “one village at a time.”
Rotary 2012-2013 Theme
R.I. President Sakuji Tanaka explains: “The design for my theme includes cherry blossoms, which represent the Japanese aesthetic that nothing is perfect or permanent. The bird is an origami crane, a symbol of peace and hope. The blue background was chosen because it is associated with peacefulness, serenity, and nature.”
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The Lonely Frog
A lonely frog, desparate for any form of company telephoned the Psychic Hotline to find out what his future has in store.
His Personal Psychic Advisor advises him, “You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you.”
The frog is thrilled and says, “This is great! Where will I meet her, at work, at a party?”
“No” says the psychic, “in a Biology class.”
The lawyer
A very successful lawyer parked his brand-new Lexus in front of his office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he got out, a truck passed too close and completely tore off the door on the driver’s side. The lawyer immediately grabbed his cell phone, dialed 911, and within minutes a policeman pulled up.
Before the officer had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically. His Lexus, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter what the body shop did to it.
When the lawyer finally wound down from his ranting and raving,the officer shook his head in disgust and disbelief. “I can’t believe how materialistic you lawyers are,” he said. “You are so focused on your possessions that you don’t notice anything else.”
“How can you say such a thing?” asked the lawyer.
The cop replied, “Don’t you know that your left arm is missing from the elbow down? It must have been torn off when the truck hit you.”
“My God!” screamed the lawyer. “My Rolex! My Rolex!”.
Thanks to Tom Telfer Editor Joscoe’s Journal
ROTI Charter Member
ROTARY INFORMATION
ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS
Rotary Fellowships are autonomous, international groups of Rotarians, Rotarian spouses, and Rotaractors who join together to:
- Share a common interest in worthwhile recreational activities (sports, hobbies, etc.)
- Further their vocational development through acquaintance with others of the same profession
- Make new friends around the world
- Explore new opportunities for service
- Have fun and enhance their Rotary experience
Learn more about Rotary Fellowships.
How to get involved?
Consider joining a Rotary Fellowship that addresses your interest. To get started
- View complete list of Rotary Fellowships.
- Consult the Rotary Fellowship Directory to get in touch with group(s) you’re interested in.
- View a list of Suggested Rotary Fellowships and offer to help organize a prospective fellowship.
How to organize a new Rotary Fellowship?
Forming a new Rotary Fellowship takes a lot of work, but as Rotarians who have established a group will attest, the effort is worthwhile. Before submitting a proposal, plan to develop a strong network of prospective members in at least three countries. You can start by posting your idea on the list of Suggested Rotary Fellowships.
Latest Proposed Rotary Fellowship:
Mountain Gorilla Tracking
President of Rotary International 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
Coolamon Rotary Club: http://coolamonrotary.com
Rotary Down Under on line: http://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/2/26587/49598/pub
Rotarians For Fighting AIDS: http://www.rffa.org
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.