TAKE TWO!
This week's meeting was a late scratching as a date got a bit muddled and our venue had a double booking. These things can happen and there was no chance to have a meeting amidst a sea of thirsty footballers! So we get to have another go at the meeting we were going to have but didn't.
As with every meeting we have these days, booking numbers were weak at 13 out of 40 members just before we had to give the caterer the numbers. With a considerable effort from Andrew, he got the numbers up to 22 which is a mighty fine effort! Thank you, Andrew.
It took Andrew 7 emails to get a response from all but 9 members. It might be time to go back to billing for meetings in advance, then I am sure we will get a definitive response in only one email!
Program Directors, David Nutter and Gus Dominguez have been doing their best to bring a more interesting and varied program to the Club. We have had some terrific and interesting speakers but to a small audience. Each speaker brings to us opportunities that can make a difference in our day to day lives, teach us more about where we live or introduce us to what is going on in the world around us.
Our Changeover is coming up in a couple of weeks and it is great to see we have seven Berwick Rotarians registered already. Every Berwick Rotarian and their partner has to come just to make sure I'm out the door! Please make me feel proud of my Club and register for the end of the Buttonman and the start of Gus +3 year! It will be awesome.......
They say that it takes a village to raise a child and for children to grow into dynamic adults they need to find that village! The way our society is currently structured leaves some people with a small or no network of older people to keep them on the path as they form as adults. I have been very fortunate to be part of the Human Powered Vehicle "Village" at my daughter's school. Andrew and Jeanette are also members. Together, we have seen many children grow into amazing adults just by being an active part of the village.
At this week's meeting, we have a speaker who needs some outside "Ears" to listen to what he has to say. I feel that Rotary has more to offer than we are giving when it comes to looking after the future people of the world. Perhaps this week, we can learn something from our speaker, but also evaluate and point out a path to help his future. All it takes is a chance to listen, learn and relax over a nice dinner this Wednesday Night. Consider this meeting to be a potentially life-changing event for the speaker and a village opportunity for Rotary. Sometimes doing something important doesn't mean hard work.
Jesse Barnett is a 14-year old student at Kambrya College. Jesse has High functioning Autism and is still able to show excellent leadership being voted class captain every single year at the school. He excels given responsibility and enjoys a challenge. Jessie does get exhausted blocking out noise in the background and at times struggles with talking with his own peers.
Jesse is excellent with his manners and assisting students with any problems they are having. Jesse is great with participating in school leadership with ANZAC days ie raising and lowering flags for school at assembly. Jesse is always trustworthy and reliable and very responsible. He has a very mature manner and always assists teachers with any requests. This was extremely helpful for me (Ms Ukena) when I had computer issues with my MS teams teaching Science. Jesse always had the patience to help me when I got stuck and the students.
Though out the three years I have known Jesse he has always shown interest in helping the community. For the last two years, Jesse has shown a deep desire to get involved in Politics to make the community a better place to live in.
Jesse’s smile and enthusiasm are contagious and very heartfelt. He always tries to improve things for students at Kambrya College and I am confident that moving into his local community will be a natural progression. Jesse is extremely hard working and has much energy to put towards his goal of getting into politics. He is genuine and real and has a photographic memory that simply would put our current prime minister Anthony Albanese to shame.
All Jesse needs is an opportunity from Rotary Berwick to see how he makes an incredible difference in his local community as he has at Kambrya College.
