Posted by Paul Mee District Governor on Jan 01, 2023
Greetings to all Rotarians in our fabulous District 9820. Adele & I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable festive season. Many clubs and Rotarians were instrumental in organising and participating in, local community Christmas activity in a variety of functions and events. We are certainly people of action, and we care for the people in our communities, particularly those who, for various reasons, are doing it tough. I am very proud to say as Rotarians we support and assist where there is a real need. I hope many of my Rotary colleagues in D9820, took the opportunity to spend some time-out from Rotary activity to enjoy a rest, with family and friends over new year, before another Rotary year commences. I must say 2023 is shaping up to be an absolute ripper with many Rotary activities and events on the agenda including PETs & District Conference in Feb23, District Assembly in April, RI Convention in May23. (see “Dates for your diary” below)
Youth Exchange Program - District 9820
Recently we asked all members and clubs for their thoughts regarding the resumption of Youth Exchange for our district. Thank you to everyone who completed the online questionnaire.
We think there is enough support across the district to begin planning for a return to Youth Exchange. Our next step is to recruit committee members. So, if you want to be part of the new Youth Exchange committee, please contact Barry Rogers – barry.rogers@rotary9820.org.au For those clubs and individuals who showed an interest in hosting or sponsoring Youth Exchange students - we will come back to these once a committee is set up. Thanks again for your support.
Increasing Club Member Engagement – Hybrid Zoom meetings are a good alternative to give club members the opportunity to join meetings when they cannot attend face to face. If your club would like to obtain more information on Hybrid equipment /technology, please contact District Governor Paul Mee governor@rotary9820.org.au I will point you to Rotarians in our District who have expertise to assist you.
Regionalisation Pilot – For those who are interested in the Pilot, I hope you were able to join one of the three webinars arranged in December to provide you with an update. I will be attending a workshop in February and will provide you with more details later. The Regionalisation Pilot planning team will provide regular updates in newsletters to all Rotarians as progress occurs.
Merger D9815 – Merger Action Plans have now been developed by all our Joint Focus Teams covering, Administration & Governance, Finance, Foundation, Membership, Public Image, Services for Community, Vocational & International Programs and Youth Programs. These plans are the platform and agenda for our work in the coming months to bring all district activities together for merger date 1st July 2024.
D9815 – future District Governor 2025/26 – Later in January 23, DG 9810 Ken Miller and myself will draft a joint notice to all Rotarians calling for nominations for the role of D9815 DG 2025/26. We are keen to commence the process of finding our future district leader for this period. Any enquiries please contact DG Paul Mee governor@rotary9820.org.au
District 9820 Conference Feb 24th to 26th 2023 Cape Schanck. We have 145 registrations to date and are aiming for 300. We encourage Rotarians who wish to attend this fabulous event, to register now. Online registrations are open via the link below. We have opened the showcase registrations and are looking to have showcase stalls representing most of our Rotary programs and causes. Registrations for the showcase are also available via this link. Please get in early to save your place. https://rotary9820.org.au/page/district-9820-conference-2023/
Dates for your diary:
Sat 18 - Sun 19 Feb 23 President’s Elect Training (PETS 2) – Century Inn, Traralgon.
Fri 24 - Sun 26 Feb 23 D9820 Annual Conference, RACV Cape Schanck, Mornington Peninsula, for all Rotarians, Partners, and prospective new Rotarians.
Sat 22 April 23 9.00amDistrict Assembly for all Rotarians in D9820. Nossal High School, Berwick.
Sat 29 April District Foundation Dinner and Event (D9820 +9810)- to support The Rotary foundation. Venue TBA.
13 - 23 May D9820 clubs, will be hosting a Rotary Friendship Exchange from District 7120 Washington State USA see Notice later in this Newsletter.
27- 31 May 23 Rotary International Convention Melb 23- Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Convention Centre.
All the very best for 2023 to all my Rotary Colleagues in D9820. Please “Imagine Rotary” and help me to Expand our Reach and Increase our Impact, in the coming months. Hope you enjoy the photos below which cover some fabulous club activities, attended by Adele & I, in December 2022.
DG Paul.
Casey Cardinia Rotaract Club - Christmas party
RC Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills Christmas dinner and welcome two new members
President Liam-Casey Cardinia Rotaract
RC Berwick Christmas Dinner and presentation Rotary Foundation contribution award
RC Sorrento Polio Film night and Polio award
RC Warragul Christmas dinner
Christmas at RC Bairnsdale Sunrise
Rotary Club of Philip Island - San Remo Christmas function
with President Peter & AG Graeme
welcoming seven new members inducted on the night.
There is now a major mosquito danger within flood impacted communities. In order to provide some relief to affected communities, RAWCS has acquired thousands of mosquito repellent candles.
RAWCS has taken the initiative and so far distributed over 16,000 candles in Shepparton (VIC), Lismore (NSW), Parkes (NSW) and Gympie (QLD) with great effect. There are plans to distribute up to a further 25,000 candles in coming weeks.
Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS) is also working to distribute brand new bed linen into the flood areas, which has been secured from a correction facility in the Northern Territory that was never opened.
And we are also supporting locals with Rotary volunteers who are assisting Government with distribution of donated goods, requests for support and information distribution.
Our National and State based fund raising continues to provide the necessary support for victims as the damage is determined and real needs identified.
Funds donated to the appeals are being used in the following ways:-
Backing the projects and immediate assistance programs undertaken by local Rotarians in the flood zones.
Funding cash vouchers to help with the immediate needs of flood victims as well as supporting local businesses when the vouchers are spent in the impacted towns.
Assisting with temporary housing initiatives – already 16 housing pods have been supplied with a further 12 on their way.
Provision of new clothing and new bed linen.
Distribution of free mosquito repellant candles to help protect families from diseases carried by swarming mosquitos in the flood aftermath. The candles repel mosquitos for sixty hours, are odorless and normally retail for $16 each.
Donations can be made to our national fund, or can be directed to a number of regional appeals:
CHARITY GOLF DAY RAISES $20,000 FOR FRANKSTON HOMELESS
140 golfers took to Centenary Park Golf Course on Sunday 23rd October raising $10,000 for Community Support Frankston at the Rotary-Wrangler’s Charity Golf Day.
Australasian Long Drive Champion Steffan Scutti was on hand to help the 37 participating teams take their first drive on the 9th hole. Steffan did not disappoint, successfully driving each ball more than 350-metres down the fairway.
While none of the golfers took out the $10,000 hole-in-one prize, the 4-Ball Open Ambrose Competition saw its winning male team of Paul Groves, Craig Lawson, James Lever and Justin Trinne achieve an impressive nett score of 53.3.
The title for the mixed team went to the Coles (Bryan, Andrew, Amy and Peter), with a nett score of 56.0.
Other winners on the day were –
Straightest Drive(Men) – Ellis Schofield
Straightest Drive (Women) – Amy Cole
Longest Drive (Men) – Troy Gray
Longest Drive (Women) – Jennifer Quinlan
Nearest to the Pin – Andrew Bridge
Players and sponsors were treated to an egg and bacon breakfast, followed by a delicious lunch catered by Frankston Rotary Club Rotarians and their partners. There was an electric atmosphere in the Clubhouse as everyone took their chance to win a prize at the spinning wheel.
“The Frankston Rotary Club are delighted to be able to present a $20,000 donation to Community Support Frankston, to help those experiencing hardship and homelessness in our local community, especially in the lead up to Christmas,” said Rotary Club of Frankston President, Suzanne Caldwell.
“Successful events like this one would not be possible without the efforts and support of our Rotarians, their families and our event sponsors. I extend our deepest thanks to the City of Frankston, ClubLinks, Centenary Park Golf Club and the Frankston Wranglers, along with all our sponsors, for their generosity.”
Planning is already under way for the 2023 charity golf day which will be held at the Centenary Park Golf Course on Sunday, 22nd October.
With the conclusion of the 2022 Council on Resolutions (COR), I am pleased to provide you with the Report of Action. In this report, you will find: • A letter from Council Services • Resolutions that were adopted • Vote tallies for the adopted items
Voting results for all 2022 resolutions can be found on My Rotary.
Please note that the deadline for submitting resolutions to the 2023 COR is 30 June 2023. A link to the submission form, plus helpful resources, can be found on the Councils page of My Rotary.
If you have any questions about the report or the COR, please let me know. Many thanks
Recently we asked all members and clubs for their thoughts regarding the resumption of Youth Exchange for our district. Thank you to everyone who completed the online questionnaire.
There are a reasonable number of clubs that are interested in resuming Youth Exchange and several have also indicated they cannot support the program. We think there is enough support across the district to begin planning for a return to Youth Exchange. Our next step is to recruit committee members.
As you know we and District 9810 will be merging in the relatively near future; and some Youth Programs (MUNA, RYLA) are already working together. We are liaising with District 9810 YEP and anticipate the formation of a joint Youth Exchange committee.
So, if you want to be a part of the new Youth Exchange committee, please feel free to contact Barry Rogers – barry.rogers@rotary9820.org.au
For those clubs and individuals who showed an interest in hosting or sponsoring Youth Exchange students - we will come back to these once a committee is set up. Thanks again for your support.
International Convention is just around the corner. As a lead-up, we are hosting a Rotary Friendship Exchange with District 7120, upper New York State. They would like to spend some time in our District meeting with people, clubs and be involved with a community project along the way.
How does it work?
They will arrive in our District about two weeks before Convention and spend about four nights in each location. We will host them in our homes, show them around our District, and some of the great sites, take them to the occasional meeting, do a community project, and then move them to the next part of the District. Rotary Friendship Exchange works both ways, and after we host District 7120, they will invite us to their District in return. (some images below from District 7120)
We are looking at starting them in East Gippsland, they hosted Linda and I as part of the International Assembly Governors hosting program. East Gippsland was in the clutches of the fires. I am often asked how things are progressing and they would like to see the impact first hand and doing a project in the community. Move to Central and South Gippsland, again see the sites, be involved with a project at Centenary house. Last stop, Peninsula, Frankston, Melbourne South East, has plenty to do, golf, wineries, scenery, a project on the Bay Trail, and a farewell dinner, everyone welcome.
What are we looking for:
People to host. There will be 6 – 8 couples coming. Therefore 6 – 8 people in each area, about 4 nights.
Ability to drive people to sites and activities.
Clusters to help organize the community project
Assist with transportation from Melbourne to East Gippsland
Pearl Finlay-James in East Gippsland, Janne Speirs in Central/South Gippsland and Linda Morris on the Peninsula will coordinate hosting and activities in their areas. District 7120 has been doing friendship exchanges for a long time. Check out Friendship Exchange History | District 7120 (rotary7120.org) to learn more.
Please let me know how you can be involved with this great opportunity.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic a child died of Malaria every 2 minutes. Now it is EVERY MINUTE. There has never been more urgency to Finish the Fight and eliminate Malaria in the Western Pacific Rim. PDG Dai Mason (D9600), PDG Bruce Anderson (D9780) and PDG Tony Spring (D9820) are organising a Two Day Congress on Finish-The-Fight Against Malaria. This is the two days immediately prior to the RI Melbourne Convention next year.
Those invited to speak include:
Sir Peter Cosgrove (Past Governor General of Australia)
Lady Roslyn Morauta (Vice-Chair of the Global Fund)
Professor Michael Good (Institute for Glycomics – Griffith University - Gold Coast Campus)
Philip Welkhoff (Director of Malaria - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
Adriana Lanting (Chair of Malaria Partners International)
This is a once in 30-year event that should not be missed. If you haven’t been to a Rotary International Convention, then this is your opportunity to hear and see from Rotarians from all corners of the world. If you have enjoyed Rotary International Conventions previously, then you know how fantastic they are, and Melbourne will be fantastic! It is here on your doorstep with no international travel expenses. It will never be more affordable!
Book now to get the best registration rate and importantly to secure your place at Signature and Hospitality events, which have capacity limits to ensure a comfortable and rewarding experience.
Imagine the opportunity to meet and mix with 25,000 people of action from around the globe.
Imagine the possibilities flowing from inspirational speakers, break-outs with Rotary leaders and from opportunities at the House of Friendship
Imagine the opportunity to attend and/or volunteer to be an Ambassador for Australasia and the Pacific Islands.
Volunteers are still required to assist in the running of the Convention.
A vital part of the Convention is to have an engaged and friendly volunteer workforce. We as Rotarians volunteer our time, energy and skills all the time. It is part of our DNA and makes us who we are - we are a people organisation.
It is an opportunity to witness Rotary at an International level and by volunteering, to be part of its success.
It is an opportunity to volunteer and be an Ambassador for Rotary and our country.
Giving up four hours for a single shift is not a big ask - the more volunteers we have, the greater the load is shared.
This Convention is an opportunity to see what Rotarians around the world do, speak to people from different countries about common projects or new projects, and hear world class speakers from within Rotary and from leaders in their fields outside Rotary.
Register now for the best prices. Don’t leave it to the last minute as the registration fees increase significantly as the Convention gets closer.
I look forward to seeing you at the Melbourne Convention in May 2023
Congratulations to Ula Shearer, who was the first person to answer last month's question!
I am offering a "Diligent Reader Award" to the first person who emails me with the answer to the question below. Your prize will be your name in the next month's newsletter as a Diligent Reader!
This month's question is: What does Community Support Frankston actually do?
Your contributions are what makes this newsletter valuable, so keep sending them to me at newsletter@rotary9820.org.au.
