Monday 13th August Business Meeting includes Directors Club CateringMonday 20th August Glibert CateringMonday 27th August members meeting Club Catering John Burns TalkingMonday 10th September Business Meeting including Board Meeting Club CateringThursday 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 ConferenceWagga Wagga September 21st. – 23rd. *Monday 24th September 2012 Guest Speaker the Hon. Michael McCormack MP Federal Member for Riverina Gilbert Catering.Monday 1st October NO MEETING Public Holiday*Tuesday 2nd October Joint Meeting with Junee Rotary Club TBC. in Junee.*Monday in October (29th) Social Night at Ian and Marilyn Jennings’s House.Sunday November 25th. Rotary Markets.Peace Ceremony in Coolamon maybe February 2013.
*PARTNERS NIGHT.
Dick Jennings is now the Food Manager so all bookings and apologies to Dick for Club Catering on 0427 273 074 or at home on 6927 3074. It was also decided that when Gilbert is catering that apologies and invited guests must be phoned into Gilbert on 6927 1253 as normal. Your weekly diary will show what nights Gilbert is catering for as above.
We had 27 members, guests and visiting Rotarians attend tonight’s meeting.
Hannah Bushell and Jarrod McPherson
President Paul Weston welcomed all our visiting guests to our meeting. We had the pleasure of two guest speakers tonight: Jarrod McPherson and Hannah Bushell, Jarrod’s fiancee. Jarrod and Hannah are from Narrandera and spent 12 months in Laos during 2011- 2012. Jarrod works with Narrandera Fisheries and has been with them for the past 7 years. Hannah worked with the Lao Disabled People’s Association. Jarrod and Hannah gave us all a very detailed account of the 12 months they spent there. It was a most enjoyable and very interesting talk by both of them. Thank you Dick Jennings for introducing these two great Aussie ambassadors to our club and guests.
Some facts given to us by them on Laos:
Population 6.5 million of which 80% are reliant on agriculture subsistence.
Land locked country.
The Mekong River flows through Laos and holds 1200 species of fish of which 2.2 million tonnes are caught on an annual basis or 2% of the world’s total catch.
50 % of the Lao people’s diet is fish.
10% of the population are disabled due to the bombing from 1964 -1973 80 million tonnes of bombs were dropped on Laos and many bombs lie in the fields unexploded.
Read more about Hannah’s work here, heart breaking work and most needed for these people:
President Sakuji Tanaka visited a school located in the village of Enkusero Sampu in southern Kenya. A solar-powered water pump provided through a Rotary club project sponsored by District 5340 in California, USA and three districts in Japan supplies the school’s water. Sakuji was glad to see that Rotary is having a positive impact on the community.
President Sakuji Tanaka
PRESIDENT PAUL WESTON’S REPORT
We’ve had a couple of interesting meetings over the past two weeks. Thanks to Christine Atkinson for sharing a condensed version of her life story with us last week—it’s amazing what you can find out about someone when they’re given the opportunity to speak! We’ll be continuing this new tradition of having club members share their life stories with us on the 4th Monday of the month. Next up: John Burns on 27 August.
Following Christine’s talk, we had the first of our discussions regarding the reshaping of our club for the future. It was just a beginning, but it was evident that our members are keen to make changes to keep our club vibrant and a positive force for change in our community and the world. We’ll continue the discussion at a meeting in the near future, so watch this space.
Last night’s meeting was focused solely on fellowship, with a sumptuous Chinese buffet and two very engaging talks by Jarrod McPherson and Hannah Bushell. Jarrod (Dick Jennings’ nephew) and Hannah (Jarrod’s fiancée) shared their experiences living and working in Laos for a year. It was very interesting hearing their different perspectives on their experiences (Jarrod was involved with assisting the fisheries industry, while Hannah worked with improving the lives of disabled and disadvantaged Laotians). The life-changing experiences and challenging living conditions they described made everyone in attendance appreciate the little things we take for granted (such as turning on the tap and not wondering if you’re going to come down with some gut-wrenching gastric affliction!). Thanks again to a great presentation, Jarrod and Hannah, and to members who brought along the many guests which made for a lively evening.
Our next meeting (6 August) is likely to be an even bigger affair as members and guests will be packing the house to hear Linda Tillman present her vision for enhancing the profile of Coolamon Shire as a place to visit and do business. Many of the proprietors of local businesses are expected to attend what should be a landmark dinner meeting for our club. Garth has been hard at work lining up a stellar line-up of dinner speakers, so if you can’t make Monday’s meeting, you should have other opportunities to hear stimulating talks by influential members of our community and the region.
Onward and upward!
Yours in Rotary,
Paul.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
COWBOY TOMB STONE
Headstone of Russell J. Larsen in the Logan City Cemetery , Logan , Utah !
I wonder if he died knowing he won the ‘Coolest Headstone’ contest?
His five rules for a happy life are at the bottom.
FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW FOR A HAPPY LIFE:
1. It’s important to have a woman who helps at home,
cooks from time to time, cleans up, and has a job.
2. It’s important to have a woman who can make you laugh.
3. It’s important to have a woman who you can trust, and doesn’t lie to you.
4. It’s important to have a woman who is good in bed, and likes to be with you.
5. It’s very, very important that these four women do not know each other or you could end up dead like me.
{submitted by an anonymous Rotarian who goes by the monica H3}.
Great gift idea
ROTARY INFORMATION
Rotary’s Future Vision
Over the next few months we will look at how the Rotary Foundation is changing from July 1st 2013. The programme is called Future Vision and over the past 3 Rotary years including this one 100 districts have been involved in the trail of Future Vision. There are some changes that will not please everyone including the end of Group Study Exchange or GSE. GSE will be replaced by Vocational Training Teams or VTT we will have an in depth look at VTTs as they do offer an exiting new way to travel within your vocation to another country.
Here is a brief outline of what Future Vision will look like with 6 areas of focus:
6 Areas of Focus
{Click on the image above for a larger version so you can read it!}
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
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.
President Paul welcomed all present and especially John Burns on his return from 2 weeks in China with his wife Val. They took over 2,000 photos had numerous Chinese banquets and were amazed by all the new technology with wealth and poverty on show, from BMWs to beggars in the streets. We look forward to hearing about their travels at a later meeting.
Grahame Miles prepared a list of people we should invite to Linda Tillman’s talk on the 6th August, each member took on individual people to invite personally to the talk by Linda on ‘Marketing the Coolamon Shire’.
Monday the 23rd July also saw the induction of our latest member to join Coolamon Rotary for the new Rotary year 2012-2013.
We welcome Christine Atkinson to our ranks with the classification of Aged Care.
Christine Atkinson
President Paul Weston presents Christine with her member’s dinner badge.
The meeting was entertained by Christine with a short life history. Originally Christine came from Victoria, and is the eldest grand daughter of 27 grand children! Christine was introduced to community work by her Mother when she was 8 years old and so begun a life time of community service for Christine. Christine also spent some time in a convent and went onto to hold many worthwhile jobs in her career of care. Christine’s work with the Westmead Children’s Hospital as well as her time at Camperdown Children’s Hospital was amongst many highlights in her career.
While working to promote the Ronald MacDonald House at the Children’s Hospital Christine persuaded many Rotary clubs including Parramatta and Holroyd clubs to get this project to completion. For her work the RC of Holroyd awarded Christine a Paul Harris Fellow. When Christine took up a position in Wagga Wagga she joined the RC of Wagga Wagga and now that Christine is based in Coolamon she has joined our club, Wagga Wagga’s loss our gain.
President Paul on his welcome to Christine wished her all the best and said that we are all looking forward to working with Christine for our community both local and international. Christine does have a project that she is working on in Kenya. We are sure that this will become part of our Road MAPS to Africa Project.
Following Christine’s welcome President Paul conducted an introduction to our Club Visioning exercise. This is the first of these types of meetings to make sure that we go on and prosper as a club long into the future. President Paul asked us to consider as way of introduction 5 key questions:
1. What do we want this club to be recognised for by our Community?
2. How large do we want our club to grow?
3. What do we do?
4. Where do we want to be in 2017?
5. What needs to be done, by whom and by when?
So I thought that you might all be interested in the following article from the RC of Sydney on “Rotary Means Business Networking” meetings.
Rotary Club of Sydney
Who is the man on the right of Hashim Durani? Answer at bottom of page.
The Rotary Means Business networking events are held every two months when 50 – 70 Rotarians and their business associates undertake some serious networking.
The idea behind this networking activity is to gain useful and reliable business contacts, while at the same time opening the door for others to use your services and refer to their friends – in other words, Rotary members helping Rotary members and their associates.
There is no charge to attend. Drinks, including coffee/tea, may be purchased from the bar area of the venue, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel.
If you have not already registered to receive Rotary Means Business notices, please email or call Tony Benner on 9279 1194 for further information.
Photos and story from the RC Sydney’s Tuesday 24th July the Castlereagh Hotel, Sydney.
A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in nine holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany the young man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent to join him.
To his surprise the old man played fairly quickly. He didn’t hit the ball far, but plodded along consistently and didn’t waste much time. Finally, they reached the 9th fairway and the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of his ball – and directly between his ball and the green.
After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot the old man finally said, “You know, when I was your age I’d hit the ball right over that tree.”
With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard, hit the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk and it thudded back on the ground not a foot from where it had originally lay.
The old man offered one more comment, “Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only three feet tall.”
“How was your golf game, dear?” asked Jack’s wife Tracy.
“Well, I was hitting pretty well, but my eyesight’s gotten so bad I couldn’t see where the ball went.”
“But you’re seventy-five years old, Jack!” admonished his wife, “Why don’t you take my brother Scott along?”
“But he’s eighty-five and doesn’t even play golf anymore,” protested Jack.
“But he’s got perfect eyesight. He could watch your ball,” Tracy pointed out.
The next day Jack teed off with Scott looking on. Jack swung, and the ball disappeared down the middle of the fairway. “Do you see it?” asked Jack.
“Yup,” Scott answered.
“Well, where is it?” yelled Jack, peering off into the distance.
“I forgot.”
ROTARY INFORMATION
Last week we looked at Fellowships and this week we will focus on the Rotary Golfing Fellowship.
To develop and promote worldwide friendship in a sporting, relaxing way
To serve the community and humanity, through golfing
To promote international understanding and peace
Main activities
To ensure the organization of the annual World Golf Championship of Rotarians
Activities to be organized by clubs in different countries, whenever possible, all within the scope of Rotarian friendship
Statutes
Members – every Rotarian of any nationality can apply for membership. entries are made in writing, stating name, address, telephone number, and date of birth, and Rotary club and its address and telephone number. Membership requires payment of either an annual or lifetime membership fee.
50th World Championship
15th September 2012 to 21st September 2012
Lago di Garda Italy 2013
An excellent web site below and promotion for the Rotary Fellowship of Golfing World Championship in Italy later this year:
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.
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
How many languages can you recognise?
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!”.
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.
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.
Two graduates of the professional development program at the Rotary Peace Centers at Chulalongkorn University, Erinma Bell and Charles Allen team up on a project to inspire young Sudanese youth living in Melbourne, Australia to become active leaders in their community.
Monday July 16th Guest Speaker Past Assistant Governor Gary Roberts on membership Gilbert cateringFriday 20th to Sunday 22nd JulyCANBERRA CONFERENCE.Monday July 23rd Ordinary Meeting Club Catering*Monday July 30th Guest Speaker Jarrad McPherson on Fishing in Laos Gilbert Catering*Monday August 6th Guest Speaker Linda Tillman on Marketing the Coolamon Shire Gilbert Catering.Thursday August 9th Bingo on: Ian Durham, Garth Perkin, Grahame Miles, John BurnsMonday 13th August Business Meeting includes Directors Club Catering*Monday September 17th DG Greg Brown’s visit. Gilbert Catering.Rotary Peace ConferenceWagga Wagga September 21st. – 23rd.*Combined meeting with Junee Rotary Club, date TBA, venue Junee, to be confirmed.*Monday in October (29th) Social Night at Ian and Marilyn Jennings’s House.Sunday November 25th. Rotary Markets.Peace Ceremony in Coolamon maybe February 2013.
*PARTNERS NIGHT.
Dick Jennings is now the Food Manager so all bookings and apologies to Dick for Club Catering on 0427 273 074 or at home on 6927 3074. It was also decided that when Gilbert is catering that apologies and invited guests must be phoned into Gilbert on 6927 1253 as normal. Your weekly diary will show what nights Gilbert is catering for as above.
Monday the 9th July was our first meeting for the new Rotary year 2012-2013. It was also the first board meeting for the new year.
President Paul Weston got to work straight away and changed a few things. We have a new Grace and only one toast. Paul started the meeting by asking each one present to describe their week and to give any personal news. This is a refreshing start to our new Rotary year and all augers well for our future. We had a lovely meal with some excellent fines being imposed by our Sergeant at Arms for the night Dick Jennings.
VISIT TO JUNEE ROTARY CHANGE OVER DINNER
Last Sunday four members from our club visited Junee and attended the Rotary Club of Junee’s annual change over dinner/lunch. Grahame Miles, Dick Jennings, John Glassford and Paul Weston represented the club. It was the first official meeting of our new District Governor Greg Brown. Well done Junee and it was a great idea to hold the change over on a Sunday afternoon, plenty of time for good fellowship. Most of the clubs from Group 5 supported the luncheon.
AMAZING CANADIAN MAN CLIMBS KILIMANJARO
Man who lost his legs as a child scales 19,000ft-high Kilimanjaro by crawling on his HANDS for seven daysIt’s a feat most able-bodied people would struggle to achieve -scaling one of the highest peaks on the planet. Spencer West managed it using just his hands. The 31-year-old, from Toronto, Canada – who lost his legs when he was just five years old – reached the summit of the 19,341ft high Mt. Kilimanjaro on Monday after a slow, gruelling and awe-inspiring trek.
Because of the rough terrain, Mr West had to complete most of the seven-day trek on his hands, only using a wheelchair when the ground allowed Mr West was born with sacral agenesis, a genetic disorder that left his lower spine poorly developed and his legs permanently crossed. He had his legs removed below the knees at the age of three and, two-years-later, had them amputated to below his pelvis. Medical experts told the courageous Canadian he would never be a functioning member of society but he has continued to defy doctors his entire life.
He trained for a year to scale the tallest peak in Africa without legs and set off on June 12 with best friends David Johnson and Alex Meers. The trek to the top took seven days, hiking through Tanzania’s jungles, snowfields and deserts – and Mr West was forced to make 80 per cent of the journey on his hands, only hopping in a custom-made wheelchair when the terrain allowed. The trio made it to the final approach on Sunday and rose the following morning for the ascent to Uhuru Peak. They reached the top at 11.15am after a exhausting seven hour hike.
His incredible feat has raised more than £300,000 for Free The Children.
PRESIDENT PAUL WESTON’S REPORT
One week down in the new Rotary year and all is well. Our first business meeting went smoothly, although a little longer than planned because of the catching up that needed to be done. For the coming year, we plan to continue the tradition of having guest speakers and guests for the first and third Mondays of each month. The second Monday will be a business/board meeting (all members invited), and the fourth Monday will be a member’s night (the exact format to be determined, but one aspect will be members having the chance to describe their life story or formative events in their lives). These meetings will take place at the Sport and Rec Club with catering by Gilbert or an alternative caterer. The fifth Monday (when it occurs) will be a dinner meeting at the home of a member (with the exception of July 30, which was allocated to a guest speaker before the current format was decided).
Several of us attended the Junee change-over on Sunday, a lunch-time affair that was enjoyed by all. It was great to see the success that Junee is enjoying as a club after nearly going extinct several years ago; we plan to have a joint meeting with Junee in the coming months to discuss their formula for success in attracting new members. Several other initiatives to increase potential membership are being explored and will be brought to light as they get fleshed out. A start will be our next meeting, when Gary Roberts (Past Assistant Governor) shares his ideas for increasing membership.
Thanks to the members who manned (personned?) the street raffle on Saturday. Despite the frigid conditions at the start, we persevered and raised a nice sum for our charity fund. The next street raffle is scheduled for February of next year.
Hope to see you at our next meeting!
Yours in Rotary,
Paul
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The Biker
ROTARY INFORMATION
Hello Folks,
D5010 … known as the largest District in the Rotary world covering 11 times zones, bifurcated effective July 1. D2225 and D5010 are the result, one on each side of the Bering Sea: Russian Siberia from the Ural Mountains to the Bering Sea (roughly 6 time zones,) and USA’s Alaska/Canada’s Yukon (roughly 5 time zones). Siberia remains the largest District in the Rotary world and I believe D5010 is now the second largest. Each District has about 36 clubs, I’m not sure how many Rotarians, clearly there is much room for growth in both. Our two Districts have an excellent working relationship and continue to be very close in our Fellowship and friendships.
Onward and upward,
Jon Deisher, PP
Anchorage Rotary/D5010
Anchorage, Alaska
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.
