DG Charlie's Message March 2015
Rotarians never cease to amaze me! This month I have shared in fund raising events, been involved in final Conference planning and heard some exciting Rotary stories. I was invited to be present at one Club where a large cheque to be handed over for Motor Neurone Disease research...a good news story that turned out to be a classic case of starting a conversation, joining the dots and bringing parties together for a super outcome. The conversation between the Pakenham Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs regarding Motor Neurone Disease fund raising and research grew to someone drawing in a third party, introducing that person to a fourth party (researchers)and creating an outcome whereby a five year funding agreement resulted in a cheque for $3 million – yes, you’re reading it correctly! – handed over from the Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation to the Florey Research Institute to accelerate research into finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease. Well done to all concerned – you continue to LIGHT UP ROTARYDownload the March edition of the District Newsletter: CLICK HERE
With March being Literacy Month, I am happy to let you know that we have progressed literacy within our own country by supporting a Global Grant to access Library books for an indigenous community near Cairns in Queensland. This is a slightly different use for a Global Grant being used in Australia rather than overseas but desperately needed nonetheless.
As Presidents, remember that statements towards Presidential Citations close at the end of March – at this point of time I only have a few so please consider the work done by your Club during the year and even if you are unsure, it costs nothing to forward the completed brochure to me. If I have any questions or queries I will contact you to clarify potential areas of possibility.
As you would be aware, Vanuatu has been devastated by the recent weather event and as we usually do, D9820 is already looking at how best to use some of our Emergency moneys toward the RAWCS fund. This has been put together by the District Governors in Australia after a very legitimate looking email was circulated requesting monetary donations from a reliable source, but which turned out to be a scam. As a result, an immediate RAWCS fund was introduced. Disaster Aid Australia has also moved quickly to look at how best it can provide support at this time. As we tend to do, however, D9820 has held back on offers of any other aid until the need is known more fully and the country moves into recovery mode. Watch this space. We have Clubs in the District which already have operations in Vanuatu and they are also keeping their ears and eyes open for areas of opportunity to assist.