Goodness!! The first month of my Governorship has passed very quickly, even if the second half of the month was in lockdown again.
My first surprise for the month was the decision by the Rotary International Board that District 9810 should form a new district with D9820 because their membership had fallen below 1,100 members. The two districts are required to prepare a Consolidation Plan by 1 December 2021 with a view of it coming into effect on 1 July 2024. The plan will not come into effect if D9810 can increase their membership above 1,100 members by 1 July 2022. We should not gloat because our membership is only 1,138. The District has prepared a Membership Initiative Plan to improve our membership numbers under the leadership of our District Membership Chair, Linda Humphries. Linda will be running a number of membership summits around the district and engaging membership champions in each cluster.
As well as attending the District changeover luncheon at Quality Inn, Traralgon where I was inducted into the Governor position, I have managed to travel around the District attending changeovers at eleven clubs. Unfortunately, there have been a number of clubs since then that have cancelled or postponed their changeover event because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
I have also attended a couple of virtual meetings with the leaders of District 9810 to discuss the planned consolidation of the district, a MUNA planning meeting by Zoom, a luncheon with the members of the Community & Vocation teams in Warragul, and a Council of Governors meeting by Zoom. Although MUNA will be a virtual programme this year, delegates still need to research the country they are representing for their presentation. We are pleased to see that we have 58 student delegates representing 29 countries. This is a record number of delegates. Well done to the MUNA committee.
Kevin Roberts inspects some donations, including power tools.
Changeovers for 2021-22: When Trafalgar club changed over to President Len Makin on 27th July, all clubs will be settled for the coming year...sort of. Four clubs have "rolled over" their presidents, with two of them in the role until someone else steps forward. In one case, John Legione of Bunyip-Garfield, is in his third year in a row…no doubt a record.
Collection of tools for East Gippsland: What started as a club project, then cluster project, evolved into one with interest across the District. Drouin’s Kevin Roberts suggested collecting old but serviceable tools to help, as we did after the Bunyip Forest fires nearby. That grew when EGRFA committee’s PeterSindrey informed us of Swinburne University VET students’ plan to build and donate three (now five) sheds to be used as tool libraries. Kevin has since collected tools from many locations in West Gippsland and also on a trip to Langwarrin. Just waiting for sheds to be finished so tools can be transported east.
Posted by Max Bird - Project Manager for Rotary Projects Timor-Leste
Rotary Projects Timor-Leste East (RPTLE). On 7th July 2021, a 20” sea container out fitted with SkyHydrant water filter and two internal rectangle water tanks.
It has taken us a while dealing with project management from afar, travel restrictions, Covid-19 lock downs both in Australia and Timor- Leste and the devastating floods in Dili, but we are getting there. Credit must go to Brother Adriano and the students of The Don Bosco Technical Training Centre in Comoro, Dili, for completing our very first water container, now supplying approximately 10,000 litres of clean filtered potable water, daily to the students and the community of Don Bosco Comoro complex of approximately 1,000 people. Rotary Projects Timor-Leste East (RPTLE) could not have completed this major task without the support from Rotary Clubs in NSW, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Credit must also go to Duncan Hedditch from the Rotary Club of Phillip Island and San Remo in Victoria, who not only designed the unit, but had the construction drawings prepared. This allowed the students of The Don Bosco Technical Training Centre in Comoro Dili Timor-Leste to follow the plans during the construction phase.
Again, I say, “Thank you all”, on behalf of the Timorese People.
I can’t think of a more important moment than right now in the fight against polio.
Most people today probably don’t know what this is:
And that’s a good thing because it shows how much progress the world has made against polio, a terrible and now largely forgotten disease. This metal tank is an iron lung, a mechanical respirator that saved the lives of thousands of polio victims. Polio attacks the body’s nervous system, crippling patients. In the worst cases, the disease paralyses their respiratory muscles and makes it difficult for them to breathe, sometimes resulting in death. Using changes in air pressure, the iron lung pulls air in and out of a patient’s lungs, allowing them to breathe and stay alive. During the height of the polio epidemic in the U.S. in the 1940's and 1950's, rows of iron lungs filled hospital wards to treat thousands of polio patients, most of them children. The reason we don’t see iron lungs anymore is because of polio vaccines, which were first developed in the 1950's. The vaccines were so effective in protecting people from polio that in 1988, the world decided to eradicate the disease. Since then, wild polio cases have dropped by more than 99.9 percent—from more than 350,000 a year in 125 countries to fewer than 200 cases last year in just two countries—Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thanks to this eradication effort, millions of people are walking today who would have otherwise been paralysed.
Our foundation joined the polio fight almost 15 years ago. And in all that time, I cannot think of a more important moment than right now.
During the pandemic, the world has been reminded of what a precious resource the global polio program is. Thousands of polio workers shifted their focus to help contain the spread of COVID-19 by teaching communities how to stay safe, distributing soap and hand sanitiser, and supporting disease surveillance and contact tracing. Polio Emergency Operation Centers—local, field-based offices that work to urgently stop the spread of polio and have also tackled other diseases, including Ebola—quickly pivoted to guide the response to COVID-19. And the Global Polio Laboratory Network, which consists of 145 labs worldwide, has stepped in to support COVID-19 surveillance efforts.
We have what it takes to finally wipe polio off the face of the earth. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a public-private partnership that includes our foundation, has proven it can meet local challenges to eliminate polio in country after country. The initiative continues to focus on adopting new tools and approaches to make vaccination campaigns more effective so every child can be protected. And, most importantly, we have thousands of dedicated polio workers committed to this case. At the same time, to be blunt, we are at risk of losing the gains we have fought so hard for.
We still aren’t reaching areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Outbreaks of other forms of polio continue to crop up in under-immunized communities across Africa and parts of Asia. And the pandemic continues to interrupt polio campaigns and routine immunisations. To address these challenges, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has adjusted its strategy, including by strengthening its integration with other health programs, improving vaccination coverage and the overall health of local communities. The knowledge, skills, and infrastructure built to end polio and all the suffering it causes will also be used for detecting and responding to other major health emergencies. That’s a win-win investment.
But it will need continued support and resources, including from historical champions like the United States, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates, to deliver on these promises.
The iron lung was one of the greatest tools to fight against one of the worst outcomes of polio.
Today, it’s the iron will of the thousands of polio workers and their supporters who are committed to finishing the job.
Thanks to the commitment of Rotary and other partners, as well as the dedicated political leadership of polio-affected countries, I’m confident that we can create a world where no child will ever be paralysed by polio again.
Changing lives is what the Malaria Vaccine Project is all about.
Our passion is to change the lives of all those people who live in malaria-endemic countries and more particularly to save the lives of the 500,000 young children and pregnant women who die of malaria every year. We share with Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) the goals of both controlling and eliminating malaria; however, our efforts are focused on elimination by enabling Professor Michael Good's (Institute for Glycomics-Griffith University) promising vaccine PlasProtecT to safeguard lives against malaria.
So far, with the help of Rotarians and other donors and sponsors in Australia and New Zealand we have raised $1.275 million towards this malaria vaccine research. This includes a very generous matching grant of $500,000 from the Federal Government in 2019.
It is my pleasure to present you our second Newsletter for 2021. Both Professor Michael Good and Dr Danielle Stanisic have written articles on the scientific program and I have contributed an update on the Project. The common message coming through these articles is that COVID 19 will have exacerbated the problems associated with malaria control in endemic countries. There is also a heart-rending story from a Ugandan student who read about our project. It will bring tears to your eyes but it highlights the very essence of what we are about and why we are so thankful for your generous support.
Please continue to support the Malaria Vaccine Project in your district so that we can eliminate the needless loss of these young children and pregnant women.
I am happy to do or arrange Zoom talks with any club in your district and Professor Michael Good and Dr Danielle Stanisic are excellent speakers at district conferences.
Course trainers, mental health nurses Ann Hamden and Susanne Lampitt together with Rotary Club of Traralgon members Helen O'Brien and Ian Keith.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training was originally developed by husband and wife team Professor Tony Jorm and health education nurse Betty Kitchener in the year 2000. Their research project was initially funded by Australian Rotary Health (ARH). Tony is a past chair and remains on the board of MHFA Australia. He also has been a past chair of ARH’s Research Committee.
The YMHFA Program is run by MHFA International, trading as MHFA Australia, which is a not-for-profit company. YMHFA is now adopted in over 25 countries with more than 3 million people trained. The aim of this course is to teach participants to recognise and provide help to those people who may show signs of suffering a mental health problem.
The course is a 14-hour face to face program run over 2 days or 4 evenings. It is attended by members of sporting clubs, community groups and any interested persons.The course is free to the participants who receive a coursebook and a completion certificate.
The Rotary Club of Traralgon started running these courses in June 2020 after receiving the generous sponsorship of Traralgon businesses and individuals, The Russell Northe MLA Golf Day, and grants provided by Gippsland Primary Health Network and Latrobe Valley Authority.
COVID-19 has affected the program, however, seven courses have been completed in Traralgon (3), Sale, Rosedale and Bairnsdale (2). Due to current and recent COVID-19 restrictions, the Club has partially completed further courses in Moe and Traralgon. Hopefully, by mid-August, 9 courses will have been completed.
Our two course trainers, mental health nurses, Ann Hamden and Susanne Lampitt, have been enthusiastic and professional and have received glowing feedback from the participants. The club has received great support from Sandie Alexander (Bairnsdale Sunrise) and Di Harrison and Len Cairns (Moe) for both publicity of the courses and providing a suitable venue.
The Rotary Club of Traralgon thanks the Traralgon Greyhound Club, the Moe Hotel, the Bairnsdale RSL and the Rosedale Football and Netball Club for making their facilities available free of charge.
The Rotary Club of Traralgon will continue to run the courses in the Gippsland area.
DGN Linda Humphries of Mount Eliza Club presenting a generator to President Warren McPherson of Traralgon Central Club for use by victims of the recent floods and destructive winds that lashed Traralgon and Yinnar South in the Latrobe Valley.
Rotary Club of Traralgon Central change over night saw Marion White, Ian Whitehead, Maree McPherson and Gary Deane people awarded Paul Harris Fellowships. To read the full article, click here.
Ok, so you have brought in a new member. Now what?
In the long run, the growth of our clubs relies on several factors. To keep members involved, Rotary must be of value to the new member starting from day ONE.
Effective club meetings that make Rotary worthwhile for new and experienced members alike are essential. Sessions should be interesting, varied and entertaining for the membership. Who wants to waste 2 hours on a boring program? People have limited time. They will join and remain in Rotary if they recognise the value to be worthy of their time invested.
Don't fill up the speakers' calendar for the sake of having a warm body at the front of the room. Please take the opportunity to invite rotary programs such as Rotarian's against Malaria and Donations in Kind and invite community guests with connections to those programs such as a local school Principal or local Pharmacist to hear about what we do. It will help your new member know about the bigger picture, ignite their interest and passion, support your club growth, and get more new members.
Don't forget, make sure you engage with your new member. Remember, they don't know most of you. Would you please make sure you greet them and show them the ropes? Avoid sitting at clique tables. Make sure if you meet for coffees at other times that they are included.
Similarly, if you have a club-based golf group, make sure that your new member is welcome to any social activities. If they are part of the club, they should be part of any fellowship opportunities. Often the opportunities to develop new friendships is an important reason why your new member has joined.
We spend a lot of energy trying to attract people to Rotary, but unfortunately, at times do not provide them with the reason to stay in Rotary. All the factors listed above (and many more) should be taken into account to gain and retain members. The value of membership to a Rotarian must be greater than the time invested and the membership cost.
People want to be a part of Rotary because they want to build new friendships, network, be involved in the community, volunteer their time in a meaningful way, and feel like they are making a difference. We must help our new members get excited about the ways of Rotary and provide them with the opportunities to achieve their needs and desires.
Membership Channel - Live
Tools, Tips and Trick from across the District. This is an opportunity for sharing ideas, solving problems together to help make your membership drive more successful. Whilst we are still limited on movement and have to reschedule our forums, I thought this would be an excellent way to start the membership discussion.
I will send out a reminder email a few days prior. We will record the session for those who cannot make it on the night
The District membership page has been updated with new material and 3 survey links. I encourage you all share this information with your club members and encourage them to complete the online surveys. Your District team will look at the survey answers and discuss the findings at the membership development days in August and September.
In August and September, we are going to start by running our first series of workshops
Have you completed your survey about membership? It only takes five minutes of your time! Use this link. The results of this survey will be discussed at the Membership workshops. at various locations around the District, focusing on looking within our Clubs, then providing some ideas and tools to help you start looking at your community.
Australian Rotary Health will celebrate Hat Day on Sunday 10th October with a FREE online webinar featuring a panel of mental health researchers. You're welcome to join us or host your own party with your Rotary Club, friends or colleagues.
All funds raised will go towards vital research helping improve the mental health of young Australians aged 0-12.
Download your Host Kit and register your event by contacting the ARH office on: admin@arh.org.au or (02) 8837 1900 if you would like us to mail a host kit to you.
