Our District is a 2 speed District, some with stage 4 restrictions others with stage 3. All I am going to say is, WE ARE STRONG we will get through these tough times. When we emerge, we are going to peddle to the floor and full speed ahead as we will be leading the race to reconnect and engage with our communities. What opportunities are you and your club going to grab?
Membership
August is membership and club development month, a time to focus on and appreciate your members and celebrate their devotion to the club and the impact they have made. It's also a time to think about developing strategies around growing your membership. The reason why Rotary is such a successful organization is because it is full of members that have one trait in common - the passion to make a difference in the world. All of us share this passion and it's what drives us to work together.
Today, there is a growing population of potential members who are not even aware of what Rotary is or does. Those that do get it are unable to join for a variety of reasons, such as unable to commit to regular dinner meetings due to work and family commitments. Rotary has made many changes to combat this challenge such as the introduction of differing club models, relaxed attendance requirements, more meeting time options, etc. but we still need to actively promote these options and really to be honest, many clubs are extremely happy to stay with the dinner club model. To attract those who are not interested in the meals but have a passion for service why not offer and opportunity for a satellite club that can attract those in your local area with a new community focus and a different way to be part of Rotary.
This year, with members in mind, why not create a development and recruitment strategy by implementing methods your club hasn't tried before. Focus on happiness: happy members are those that are motivated to do good for the club. There are many ways to keep members happy. Sometimes just being asked means a lot, so in your next meeting, have every member anonymously write changes that they would like to see in the club which would make them happy. Such a simple act shows your members that you care about their presence in the club.
Did you know our District is looking for clubs to be a part of a new pilot program for strengthening our clubs?
We have expanded out membership team and shifted the focus. Thank you to the clubs that have taken up the challenge, but we need more. Is your club interested in being part of this pilot? If you are please contact Christine Williams at membership@rotary9820.org.au
What is the Membership Pilot?
It is a pilot project to support clubs who desire to grow their membership numbers and health.
It is an ongoing conversation with some of your leadership team
recommend President, President Elect, President Nominee and Membership Chair
To empower you to develop your club to be even more effective and generate new members
How it works
It is about you! – Your club, your context, your goals and your context (one size does not fit all)
We will get alongside you to support you to set some goals, strategize, discover insights and next steps for your club
It’s about action – your action
Each session you will determine a few action steps - you may be surprised how quickly you progress towards your goal
Each time we catch up we will review how you went. What went well, what you might ‘tweak’ and what is next
Each session will be via Zoom – an online meeting (a simple computer platform where the facilitator will send you a link)
What it isn’t
It’s not training – in training the trainer sets the agenda.
For this process you set the agenda
Its not authoritarian – we will be supportive, but you will be in control. The responsibility to decide and act is up to you
What is our hope
We hope there may be significant changes
Better clarity and insight for your club to move forward
Simple goals are set
More members in your club – enabling your club to create lasting change and make a difference in your community and throughout the world
District Governor’s Fireside Chats
You are invited to share a chat have a laugh find out about other happenings in the District, connect and gather ideas. Everyone is welcome and the feedback is that everyone has enjoyed being part of this relaxed chat. Join us online and invite your friends stay for 5 mins or for the hour and be able to connect to Rotarians from across our large district.
Nigeria Certified Polio Free
HELP US Celebrate make a special donation to the END POLIO campaign.
https://www.rotary.org/en/donate By now you will have seen the Facebook posts, the email from District, Rotary International website, Foundation website and the End Polio website. Nigeria has been certified as POLIO FREE 😊 Yippee, WOW, Amazing, AWESOME, Stupendous RIPPER, plus a myriad of other EXALTATIONS !!!!!!! African region has just been certified wild poliovirus-free.
You as Rotarians have played a significant role in eradicating Polio from around the world! Give yourself a massive pat on the back. If not for you, there would still be over 360,000 cases a year or more.
Sir Clem Renouf recently died, the father of the End Polio campaign! A promise was made to rid this world of Polio! HOW CLOSE ARE WE - I cannot hear you!! YELL it out – THIS CLOSE!
Rotary has faced many challenges in its journey to eradicate polio. Amazing progress has been achieved, but more still needs to be done!! We will leave a legacy – eradication of Polio, they said it could not be done. As Rotarian we said, YES IT CAN, and we have gone about getting rid of it.
This milestone is an incredible public health achievement for Rotary members, the African region, and our GPEI partners, and a huge step forward on the road to global polio eradication. But we still have important work to do in order to eradicate wild polio in the last two endemic countries.
We need to raise a minimum of $50,000,000 yes fifty million dollars each and every year, till we rid the world of polio. I urge each and everyone of you and every club to put in a special donation to the end polio fight. Think of a figure and double it. This year the world polio day movie event will the I Am Woman the story of Helen Reddy. Watch this space for more information. (it will be difficult here in Victoria, we are trying to see what we can do!)
Thank you everyone for supporting each other. Look for those Opportunities because they are there just waiting for us to grasp them!
Mark
KNOCK KNOCK Issue 2
August 2020
August is Membership & New Club
Development Month
Learn about how you can grow membership through service, develop leaders, find new opportunities to network, and build a community within Rotary’s global family. It is also a time to recognise our members and the amazing work they do in their communities. In 2020, Rotarians around the world are finding ways to open opportunities, showing their incredible commitment to making the world a safer and better place Read their stories.
Source: The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
On the 25th of August 25, the WHO African region has become officially certified free of wild poliovirus. This certification will come four years after Nigeria – the last polio-endemic country in Africa – recorded its final case of wild polio.
This milestone will be an incredible public health achievement for Rotary members, the African region, millions of health workers, and our Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, and a huge step forward on the road to global polio eradication.
Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio. We should be proud of all the hard work that we’ve done to eliminate the wild poliovirus in nearly every country in the world. By raising funds for polio eradication, advocating with world governments and national and local leaders, holding events and fundraisers for World Polio Day, and raising awareness, Rotarians in the African region and around the world have made an indelible impact in the fight to eradicate polio.
There are Rotary clubs in all 47 countries in the African region, and the region is home to almost 32,000 Rotary members in nearly 1400 Rotary clubs.
Rotary and its members have contributed nearly US$890 million to eliminate polio in the African region.
The success of African countries, Rotary members, and partners in eliminating the wild poliovirus throughout the region is proof that polio eradication is possible.
Our expected victory over wild poliovirus in the African region represents incredible progress, but as long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere. To overcome the remaining hurdles to eradication, it is critical that Rotary members remain committed to polio eradication and continue raising $50 million a year so we can keep children protected in Africa and eliminate the wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
With continued support from Rotary, donors, country governments and GPEI partners we are confident that we can beat polio for good.
I am so honoured to serve as your president this year.
We have important work ahead of us at Rotary, and we are going
to have a lot of fun as we do it.
Last year, we launched our five-year Action Plan to build a stronger future for Rotary. We are working to increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant engagement, and increase our ability to adapt. The last several months have shown that we — as Rotarians and Rotaractors — can realize these goals as we forge a new path for the future.
Without question, COVID-19 has posed new and previously unimaginable challenges for Rotary. But within every challenge is perhaps an even greater opportunity. And while I could not have known what lay ahead when I selected my theme for the year, Rotary Opens Opportunities has even greater relevance as we begin our new Rotary year.
I am incredibly inspired by how our members have adapted and responded to COVID-19. This global pandemic has made it difficult for many of our clubs to operate as usual, but we persevered, and over the past few months, I’ve enjoyed connecting with my fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors in a new way: by visiting hundreds of clubs from my home. It’s been fun to attend so many meetings virtually. If you haven’t already, I encourage your club to try an online meeting or add an online component, like hosting a guest speaker from a Rotary or Rotaract club located in a different part of the world.
As we build a stronger future for our organization, it’s good that we are reaching out to new people and introducing them to Rotary. It’s important that our clubs reflect the communities we serve. More diverse voices in our clubs and in our leadership will help Rotary stay in touch with a changing world.
So let’s find every opportunity to show we value each and every member. Let’s seize this moment to build on what we’ve learned, to embrace our new reality, to welcome new faces, and to find additional ways to shine. This is how we will have a continuing impact on the world. And if you need assistance along the way, Rotary offers many resources that can help you reach your goals.
Rotary means different things in different parts of the world, but we are all united by our core values and by The Four-Way Test. Rotary may change, but our values remain constant.
I look forward to hearing about how you’re finding new opportunities to engage and make an impact in your club and community. Rotary Opens Opportunities, both for the people we serve and for ourselves.
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
The Rotary Foundation helps fund our humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives. Your club or district can apply for grants from the Foundation to invest in projects and provide scholarships. The Foundation also leads the charge on worldwide Rotary campaigns such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Rotarians and friends of Rotary support the Foundation’s work through voluntary contributions.
As RI President Holger Knaack declared at the Rotary International Assembly earlier this year, Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join, but rather an invitation to endless opportunities.
President Holger Knaack
Rotary Opens Opportunities — everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere, said Knaack. Rotary opens pathways for members to improve their lives and the lives of those they help through service projects. Rotary opens leadership opportunities and gives members the chance to travel the world to put their service ideas into action and make lifelong connections.
Knaack continues to encourage Rotary to be open to new approaches and embrace change. In 2020-21, he recommends that every club have at least one strategic planning meeting. At that meeting, members should use Rotary’s Action Plan to guide their discussions, asking themselves what they want their club to be like in five years and how they can bring more value to their members.
The 2020-21 Rotary Citation will recognise clubs’ accomplishments that are related to Rotary’s strategic priorities and make a positive difference in their communities. Encourage your clubs to work toward the citation’s goals.
The Council on Legislation is Rotary’s governing body that amends its constitutional documents. Every three years the Council on Legislation meets to debate and vote on proposed enactments. Each district sends one representative to the Council on Legislation, and any club and district may propose enactments.
Clubs have the opportunity to consider proposing an enactment for the Council, to be held in 2022. The deadline to submit an Enactment to Rotary International must be received by Rotary before 31 December 2020. Proposed enactments seek to change Rotary’s constitutional documents (the RI Constitution, RI Bylaws, and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution). Changes in the past have included more flexible options for attendance and membership types for clubs worldwide.
Proposed enactments for the 2022 Council on Legislation must be submitted to District 9820 Council on Legislation representative by 10th October 2020. An enactment proposed by a club must be checked that it meets the guidelines and also be voted on by the clubs in its district at its district legislation meeting (our AGM in November) and endorsed by the district governor.
An email to this has been to all Club Secretaries regarding this matter.
Australian Rotary Health’s (ARH) mission “is to create better health for all Australians through improved education and advancements in knowledge through medical research. We support excellence in research in an effort to provide both preventative and curative solutions for a broad range of health conditions” https://australianrotaryhealth.org.au/about-us/
Australian Rotary Health provides funding into areas of health that do not readily attract funding, and is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia. Australian Rotary Health provides funding in the follow Four areas:
Mental Health Research
General Health Research
Indigenous Health Scholarships
Rural Medical & Nursing Scholarships
Rotary Clubs in Victoria have partnered with ARH in support of the ‘Lift The Lid’ campaign which aims to raise funds to significantly increase research into mental illness prevention. https://youtu.be/MQC9CL3t98c
Save the Date 10th of October 2020: A district Zoom webinar on “Lifting the Lid on Mental Illness” guest speaker Professor Felice Jacka between 3- 4pm. More details to follow.
As we are also celebrating Hat Day https://hatday.com.au/ and you are invited to hold an club event and wear your most eye-catching hat.
Australian Rotary Health Research Behind Lift The Lid Podcasts are available at ARH website, Google Play and the Apps store. There are 16 episodes where the research recipient is interviewed detailing their research project. It is well worth listening, go to https://australianrotaryhealth.org.au/support-us/campaigns/lift-the-lid/.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Australian Rotary Health or district events contact Mardi Shepherd District 9820 ARH chair (2020-21)
Please welcome Dr Kay McCauley from the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza.
I am a registered nurse, midwife and mental health nurse having worked in New Zealand, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and across Australia. My PhD was awarded in 2009 from Monash University focusing n the care and experiences of women with serious mental illness in pregnancy and the year after birth.
For the past 20 years I have been an academic at Monash and RMIT Universities in Victoria and Massey University in New Zealand. Over the past four years this was in the role of Associate Professor.
As an academic I was responsible for development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as maintaining my research profile particularly in regard to the care and wellbeing of women and their families, with publications and attaining research grants.
In 2012, I began my journey in Rotary, joining the Rotary Club of Mount Eliza. In 2016 I transferred to the Rotary Club of Paraparaumu, New Zealand for two years before returning to Australia and to the Mt Eliza club and members.
I am honoured to be appointed as Interplast District Chairperson (IDC) for District 9820. Interplast is a charity organisation sending volunteer health professionals to visit countries in the Asia-Pacific region, providing life changing surgery for patients whilst also training the in-country health practitioners enabling them to provide such care in the future for their local people.
Rotary has worked closely with Interplast since 1983, through the International and Vocational service, to support this invaluable work. My role is to maintain the close liaison between Interplast and Rotary, providing clubs with the latest information and updates, and to gain as much support and funding as is possible from District 9820. In this way we can all contribute to the vision of ‘Repairing bodies, rebuilding lives’.
Welcome to the Community and Vocational column. Each month an aspect of the Community and Vocational (CV) portfolio will be featured to help you as Rotarians use your skills and the wider Rotary network to help Rotary do its job.
Most of us know that Rotary began as a professional association enabling members to grow and share their talent and that it progressed from there to become a community service organisation. While we are probably more widely known for what we do, recognising that our vocational networks and skills are valuable is as important today as it was 100 years ago. Using our professional skills and attributes to make a difference is one way to “open doors to opportunity”. Being actively involved in meaningful community service is another. So, it comes down to how well you share what resources you have and selling how effectively you use those resources to the community.
Make no mistake, in this context, Rotary is a business. Every members’ time and effort is valuable. What you and the Club does needs to be assessed professionally, as though it were a commercial transaction. Ask yourself, will what I / we offer fill a need in others and give me / others something in return? When the scale dips to favour one side of the partnership it is time to review the deal!
Champions under the CV portfolio that you will be hearing from and are available to help you with projects and speaker are:
PDG Don Ripper – Rotary Action Groups and Fellowships
Robin Stewart – Environment and Sustainability Action Group (ESRAG)
Peter Dell – Dream Cricket
Sally Dell – End Trachoma 2020
Mardi Shephard - Australian Rotary Health (ARH)
Jean Malmo – Probus
PDG Brian Norris - Mentoring
Contact details can be found on the District website (directory) or contact me.
Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist disadvantaged communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects.
RAWCS has a financial infrastructure system that facilitates fundraising for projects that deliver humanitarian aid and charitable support in Australia and overseas. Projects are registered through Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAOAF), Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) incorporating Rotary Australia Compassionate Grants (RACG), Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF), Donations in Kind (DIK) and Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) https://rawcs.org.au/.
A message form Victoria's Chief Health Office Brett Sutton:
Hi,
To protect ourselves and our friends and family from coronavirus, everyone needs to know how to safely wear a face covering.
You can wear a single use mask – like a surgical mask – or a reusable cloth one, as long as the mask doesn’t have any vents or holes. If a face mask is not available, you can also use a scarf or bandana. Before you put on your covering – wash or sanitise your hands. Make sure your covering is not damaged or dirty. Take your clean, unused mask by the ear loops or strings. Put them over your ears, or tie them behind your head, and make sure your mask is completely covering your nose, mouth and chin. Make sure there are no gaps.
The front of your face covering is protecting you from coronavirus. Be careful not to touch the front of the covering, and if you accidentally do, you need to wash or sanitise your hands. Every time you touch it, every time you adjust it, every time you pull it down you might be spreading the virus onto your fingers, neck and maybe even your face. That’s why it’s so important not to touch it. When you’re wearing a face covering, don’t pull it down around your chin or neck.
When you’re ready to remove your mask, wash or sanitise your hands. Unloop the ties. Or if your mask has strings – undo the bottom strings first. Pull the mask away from your face. And remember – don’t touch the front of the mask. If it’s a single use mask, you should throw it in the rubbish bin. If it’s a reusable mask, put it straight into the laundry – or a sealed bag. And once you’re done removing your mask wash your hands again.
They’re other things we need to remember to do: Keeping 1.5 metres apart from others, washing our hands regularly, sneezing or coughing into our elbow and if you have symptoms, please get tested and then stay home.
Thanks for your help. We can’t do this without you.
(RORP) relocates playgrounds from Victoria, specifically D9820 to Third World countries. This cost neutral, low physical and environmentally friendly project benefits children in underdeveloped countries.
RORP has relocated more than thirty playgrounds into Sri Lanka, Timor, Tanzania and soon to Nepal and the Philippines. Playgrounds are sourced from councils, schools, kindergartens, churches and other groups.
RORP first commenced with the Kensington / Flemington Rotary Club in 2017. D9820 adopted the program in 2019 and has this is now a designated International Project.
A challenge for D9820 is to identify playgrounds suitable for recycling. Your club can assist by talking about RORP to your local council, community groups and others.
Does your Rotary Club have an International project? If not, consider the RORP program. Contact your Assistant District Governor to see how you and your club may assist.
Rotarian Wayne Jenkins from the Mount Martha Rotary Club holds the position of RORP Coordinator. He is passionate about the RORP project and supports the expansion of RORP across D9820 and further afield.
Wayne is available to expand on the attributes of RORP and will “Zoom” the full width of D9820 to address any aspect of RORP. He will also send upon request, information held in the RORP Database.
Source: Judy van der Vlugt, National Promotion Officer
Recreational Vehicle Fellowship of Rotarians (Aus.) Inc or RVFR as it is known by members is a fellowship of Rotarians that have a common interest and love of the outdoors. They are Rotarians that enjoy participating in recreational pursuits including caravanning, camping, visiting different places within Australia and most of all the friendship and fellowship that you make.
Most of our activities occur on the East coast of Australia as that is where our present membership lives. For convenience membership is divided into Zones on a geographical basis. Each zone (gathering) is autonomous and conducts its own musters (event) throughout the year. Members from other zones are welcome to join in each muster. A combined muster and National AGM meeting is held once a year and all members are invited to attend.
RVFR Zones:
Eastern Zone: NSW - Nowra to Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tamworth
Northern Zone - Grafton NSW to Bundaberg QLD
Southern Zone - Melbourne VIC, Albury NSW, Central Victoria
Membership to RVFR is open to Rotarians and Partners and we welcome visits from overseas Rotarians.
More detailed information on our musters and Zone newsletters can be found on our website:
Welcome to the second edition of Knock Knock and I trust you enjoyed reading the stories.
I would like to thank all those that contributed to this edition of the Newsletter. If you would like to contribute next month please send me your articles to newsletter@rotary9820.org.au
Word documents are best, single spacing. The simpler the presentation the better because its time consuming reformatting to fit the program underpinning the newsletter.
A sneak preview: September is Basic Education and Literacy Month. I am sure your rotary colleagues are keen to hear what your club doing in this area soIf you have any stories please send them through.
