Mark's January message
G ’Day everyone,
 
Well, 2020 has GONE! Let’s welcome 2021.

2020 certainly threw up some interesting challenges throughout the year, both on the working front and the home front. However, through this time we all seem to have managed to keep on doing good Rotary business, we all kept in contact with family and friends, importantly we continued to serve our communities and indeed through our support of the Rotary Foundation our reach was enabled to go much further across the world than we were allowed to go under those strict lockdown rules. The big question is, what will 2021 bring?  I have been rubbing the crystal ball furiously, but it is still very clouded! But I know this, we will continue to grow in both our personal and business lives. We as Rotarians will make a big impact on people’s lives.

Providing things continue to move as they currently are, we will be able to do more and more projects, bigger and better activities, and importantly we will be able to meet in ever increase numbers face-2-face.

We MUST however continue to conform the rules and guidelines as laid out by the proper authorities.
So, what can we do to help improve the lives of those around us? Well January is the perfect Rotary month for getting back into Rotary business. January is Vocation Service month.
 
What is Rotary Service month?
‘Vocational Service calls on us to empower others by using our unique skills and expertise to address community needs and help others acquire or refine skills and advance their professional opportunities. By bringing together people from diverse professions and backgrounds, Rotary recognizes the importance of all skills and occupations. A vibrant Rotary club reflects the businesses, organizations and professions in its community, embracing diversity in experiences and perspectives.
Your professional life and vocational service go hand in hand. Rotarians have a dual responsibility: represent their occupations within their club and exemplify the ideals of Rotary in their places of work.
January is Rotary’s Vocational Service Month, a great time to start leveraging vocational service!
 
As you can see from the quote above it is about us, Rotarians, helping others, by giving of our skills and expertise to empower them to do great things.
We often get the message wrong, we often do the work for people, when in fact we should be mentoring, teaching, supporting and developing those around us. When we empower others great things follow, we can then look back and say, we were a part of that person’s life and WOW doesn’t that feel great. We made a difference.

How can you take action?
Find local people and projects that we can assist with, since 2020 has gone, there are many opportunities and new issues that need to be solved, we do not need to look hard.

Work on a plan as to how we can support the people and project, remember what I said above, it is not about us doing the work, it is about us, teaching, training, mentoring, developing, supporting others. When we do this, people see Rotary in a different light to another organisation. They see Rotary as an organisation that cares for its communities and develops new leaders.

Have you thought about joining a Rotary Action Group?
Action groups offer their technical expertise and support to help clubs plan and implement projects to increase our impact, one of Rotary's strategic priorities. This support includes helping clubs find partners, funding, and other resources. Action groups can also help clubs and districts prepare grant applications, conduct community assessments, and develop plans to monitor and evaluate their projects. 
Anyone who wants to share their expertise to make a positive difference can join an action group. Only Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary Peace Fellows can serve in leadership roles.

Have you thought about joining a Rotary Fellowship Group?
I have mentioned fellowship groups before, many Rotarians from our District belong to fellowship groups, snow skiers, 4-wheel drivers, caravan, whisky to name a few. These people get to experience Rotary in a very different light, they get to see Rotary in Action, and through there activities, they are supporting each other, working with and supporting other communities and importantly changing people’s lives.

What about volunteer on a Service Project?
Have you ever wanted to see firsthand how Rotary is changing the lives of those around us? Many Rotarians from our District have volunteered their time and skills in communities around the world, building infrastructure, building medical facilities, building schools, cleaning up farms, providing clean drinking water, giving those 3 drops of Polio vaccine. Some of these activities happen in remote parts of the world, but we go there to make their lives better.

There are many ways in which we can provide service, we each have our own special gifts to impart, we all have the ability to change a person’s life. During the month of January and now that we are moving out of restrictions, how can we/you deliver service to your communities that will help make them better stronger and inclusive.

Linda & I are both looking forward to supporting each and everyone of you over the next few months. We have visited many of you online, some of you in person. Over the remaining months we want to be a part of your club and your service projects, so please think of us as an extra pair of hands. We want to be part of your community so please invite Linda & I along, we already have many events in the calendar, so please give us plenty of time so we can book in as many opportunities to be there.
 
Rotary Opens Opportunities, we have many new opportunities available to us, lets grab them and change people’s lives for ever.
 
Mark
A History of Vocational service
Extract from: A Century of Service (2003) David C. Forward  as part of the material for this article .
 
January is Vocational Service.  Please enjoy a short history about Vocation Service, and it’s importance in Rotary club life...
 
January is Vocational Service Month on the Rotary calendar. Vocational Service is at the heart of Rotary, which was founded on the classification system of membership. Business and professional life are the bedrock of Rotary, and Vocational Service is a major force in developing and mentoring young professionals .
 
A Short History Lesson honour, integrity, and trustworthiness in business.
Originally only one representative from each business or profession was invited to join a club. Paul Harris felt that if several members of the same profession were to join, they would either sit together and “talk shop” or compete against each other for other members’ business. The idea of “trade-boosting” was gradually eliminated and by 1912, Rotarians were no longer required to exchange business with one another.
 
The Forgotten Avenue of Service
Of Rotary’s five Avenues of Service* – Club, Vocational, Community, and International – Vocational is difficult to define, so it is sometimes called the “Forgotten Avenue of Service”. One reason is Club, Community, International and Youth Service activities usually involve groups of Rotarians. They enjoy the fellowship of Club Service, the satisfaction of serving the needs of their communities, and the hope that their International Service promotes world peace and understanding. But Vocational Service – the second Avenue of Service -- is generally conducted by individual members.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A name badge from the 1928 Rotary International Convention features
Rotary’s mottoes.

Service Above Self
Rotary’s early leaders often cited the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – as the guiding principle   of Rotary’s Vocational Service. By the time the National Association of Rotary Clubs held its first convention in 1910, the networking   emphasis had begun to shift. The majority of clubs told the new Civic Committee that Rotary should move from being a booster club   to improving their communities. The concept of “he profits most who serves his fellows best” became “he profits most who serves best”. This idea morphed into “Service, not Self” and finally, it became the Rotary slogan we know today -- “Service Above Self”.
 
In 1940, Rotary International defined the Object of Vocational Service “to encourage and foster: high ethical standards in business   and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an   opportunity to serve society.” Today’s Rotarians still pride themselves on being able to use their professional stature and knowledge   to make things happen worldwide, wherever there is a need for change.

The Rotary Code of Ethics
Back in 1912, when Glenn Mead succeeded Paul Harris as President of Rotary International, he recommended a code of business ethics be formulated to contribute to the advancement of business morality. At that time, there were no consumer protection laws or truth-in-advertising statutes. Fraudulent and deceptive business practices were the norm. The unwritten law was caveat emptor, “Let the buyer beware.” Since the adoption of the Rotary Code of Ethics in 1915, at least 145 national industrial codes of conduct practice have been adopted as a direct result of the influence of Rotarians.
 

The Four-Way Test
Rotary’s current code of ethical conduct – The Four-Way Test – was developed during the Great Depression, by a Rotarian, Herb Taylor, from the United States, as a four-part ethical guideline that helped him rescue a beleaguered business. The code’s four points are simple and direct – “Of all the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
 
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
 
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?                                          
 
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”
 
The Four-Way Test was officially adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into the languages of over 100 countries. It appears on highway billboards, in schoolrooms and on the walls of businesses, in labour contracts, courtrooms and halls of government. It’s even on the moon, in the form of a Four-Way Test pin planted on the surface by astronaut
 
Art Shows
Source: Mark Humphries DG 2020/21
 
Early each year several of our clubs hold art shows and luckily most of our Rotary art shows will be able to be held as wonderful community events in 2021.
 
Many artists have used the lockdown to create amazing works, pencil drawing, charcoal, oil, acrylic, glass work, woodwork, metal sculptures and much more. Each show will be taking place with COVID guidelines in place. Take the opportunity to support our clubs and our artists by attending.
 
I have been surrounded by art all my life. My father has painted since his early teens and my sister is a Doctor of Fine Arts specializing in print. I have been privilege to attended hundreds of art events over many years.  By taking the opportunity to attend art shows you get to see some truly fantastic work done by inspirational artists and maybe purchase that special piece for display in your home.
Please support each other and local communities                                                     
What’s on and when?
 
Mornington Art Show
Friday 22nd January 2021 – Tuesday 26th January 2021
 
Leongatha Art Show
Friday 15th January 2021 – Sunday 7th January 2021
 
Sorento Art show
Saturday 6th March 2021 – Monday 8th March 2021
 
 
 
Multi District Conference 
S A V E      T H E      D A T E
 
We are now at the point where we can advise some detail of what is happening for our conference.
 
It is going to happen in 2 parts – Book in your calendar Saturday 1st May & Sunday 2nd May.

On both Saturday and Sunday there will a Multi District online broadcast. All Victoria Districts will be involved. It is going to be a state wide celebration with amazing speakers and entertainment - bookings available soon.
 


On Saturday 1st May in the afternoon, we are going to hold a special District 9820 get together in Berwick. This District only event will allow some time to reflect on the past year and celebrate our achievements. To recognise and award clubs that have achieved goals and see some of the great things that have occurred.

Fellowship will be the top of the agenda. We will have some time to just talk and reconnect with each other in person. Followed by a celebratory dinner and some live music to while away the evening.
 
During the past few months, we have been challenged to do things differently. Our online conference will indeed showcase how much Rotary has changed, proving how we can adapt and work together as ‘We R 1’ we are one Rotary.
 
 
 
District YouTube
Have you visited our District YouTube channel lately?   
   Image result for youtube image art
Our YouTube channel is growing, new items being posted regularly. Our channel can be viewed by everyone across the globe. You can use the YouTube channel when talking with community groups or business’s, show them wide range of activities that Rotary is involved with.
 
Why don’t you create a video clip of your activities, send it in and we will add a landing slide and upload it. Then your activity will reach a bigger audience.
 
 
 
 
 
End Polio Now
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.     Image result for end polio

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.
 
Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.

Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

How much does it cost to protect a child?  $3US a cup of coffee!
 
Please give to the Polio eradication program < Click Here >

By the numbers
In 2020 (week ending 23rd December), 2 endemic countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan
 
 
 
 
Membership and marketing: Two sides of the same coin
Sourced: RI Zone 8, Public Image Newsletter, Vol 3, Issue 3, November 2020
 
RI DIRECTOR-ELECT, JESSIE HARMAN — NOV 26, 2020
 
For almost a decade, I taught Marketing Principles to undergraduate and postgraduate students at University.
 
Here are five tips for services marketing that have always resonated with me and are directly relevant to Rotary:
 
1. Connect with your customers on a personal level - to ensure you understand their needs and wants. In the end, members perceive quality and value when their volunteering needs and wants are met through Rotary. We need to really understand our members’ needs. 
 
2. Ensure the brand projects confidence and credibility - because a strong brand helps reduce the risk associated with buying an experience. Make sure your internal and external communications reinforce the message that Rotarians are People of Action creating positive change in their communities and themselves. 
 
3. Use people to promote the brand. When it comes to purchasing services, would-be customers definitely prefer recommendations, testimonials and referrals from trusted sources. Educate and support your members to be great ambassadors for Rotary.
 
4. Post regular, high quality content to build awareness and understanding. Make sure the content captures Rotary’s brand essence, is credible and upbeat. Above all, be consistent. 

5. Find ways to continuously improve the customer experience - to enhance perceived value and satisfaction. Like other customers, our members’ expectations continue to rise; so too do their options for volunteering. 
 
We need to find new ways to increase member engagement, improve retention and build loyalty. This last tip reminds me that membership and marketing/public image are two sides of the same coin when it comes to promoting Rotary. 
 
It may also go some way to explaining why I’ve held membership, rather than public image roles within the organisation. Despite that, as I prepare for the role of RI Director, I am looking forward to working with our Public Image leaders throughout our zone. You have an incredibly important role to play in strengthening the present and the future of Rotary – you can count on my support. 
 
 
Zoom meetings from around the world
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