SPOKE 'N' WORDS

Issue 38
8th May2024
 
 
Join our dinner meeting most Wednesdays at The Beaconsfield Club, Holm Park, Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia 
 

6.30 pm for 7.00 pm

Enquire by Email:
Visitors and Rotarians are very welcome.
 
Welcome to our vibrant and relaxed Rotary Club, where community spirit thrives alongside a sense of ease and camaraderie. Picture a place where laughter mingles with purpose and friendships are forged through shared experiences and meaningful endeavours.
 

By the way, this Bulletin is Best Viewed Online 

 
President Dave's take on the week
Welcome to yet another week in Rotary.
 
I want to start this week by giving a vote of thanks to those Rotarians and families who attended the service to celebrate the wonderful life of Garry Cooper.
The service was a testament to a terrific bloke and Rotarian who dedicated his life to his family, friends and service including Our Lady Help Of Christian Parish Narre Warren, the RSL extended family and also Rotary. It was very humbling to be part of the Guard of Honour for Garry at the end of the service.
There is quite a bit on the runway at present and I thought it best to list so there is a consolidated view.
 
Next Wednesday & Thursday, 15 & 16 May are the Presentation Balls for Berwick College. Thank you to all Rotarians who have volunteered to be part of the 2 nights, in particular Isobel & Jenn who will be our Masters of Ceremony over the 2 nights. As a consequence of these Presentation Balls being held next week there is no meeting on Wednesday 15 May at Holm Park Beaconsfield.
 
I attended practice at the venue this week on Monday & Tuesday and I have to say that the Debutantes & their Partners have come a long way since the journey started and I think that next week there will be plenty of proud & satisfied parents & friends.
 
Andrew has circulated a call for help with Playground Harvests over the coming weeks. If you have the capacity to help out it is certainly appreciated.
 
Roger Thornton from the Rotary Club of Pakenham has extended an invitation to all our Cluster Club members to attend their special presentation on Tuesday 28th May.
Nandy Gur, who is from Spend it Well will be speaking, see brief description below.
 
It would be great to have representation from all clubs in attendance to find out how we could be of assistance as a cluster.
Throughout Roger’s 10 years with DIK, clubs have been  providing school furniture thru DIK to Timor Leste. 
Anything we can do will certainly help assist them. Rotary matching grants can be used.
Pakenham Meeting time: Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. Cardinia Club71 Racecourse Road Pakenham, VIC 3810
 
Bob & Vicki have reminded me that they have another music event coming up on Friday 17 May, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons vs. the Bee Gees showdown. If you are interested in attending and supporting the hosts of our weekly meetings, please CLICK HERE to see the details and book for this event.
 
In addition, our members and families are invited to a BBQ on 18 May, commencing at Noon, at the Rotary Rotunda Warragul to mark the History of District 9820. Details are at the bottom of this bulletin.
 
Finally at our next meeting get together on Wednesday 22 May we are thrilled to let you know that we will be inducting Jahanne Nagle into the club. It will be good to have a good representation at our meeting to make the night memorable for Jahanne and those special to her.
 
Photos of the week
Hi Lisa
Many Rotary Youth programs change lives for both Rotarians and participants alike. Rotary Youth Exchange is one such program, and although it has hibernated since COVID-19, it is still playing a big part in Rotary by connecting people worldwide.
 
The Rotary Club of Berwick has had a very long and colourful connection to Rotary Youth Exchange by hosting students from around the world almost every year for 25 years (I will stand corrected on that, I'm just guessing from my comfortable perch in Germany). If you ask any RCB member who has been in Rotary over 5 years, they are sure to tell you all about those Exchange students. 
 
For those unfamiliar with the program, Rotary swaps a student from Australia (Outbound) with a student from another country (Inbound) for 12 months. During that time, club members host the students and take them to school, outings, events, and other activities to show them what living in another country is like. Some students blend right in and make the most of the opportunity!
 
I am visiting Lisa Bayer, our Exchange student from Germany who lived with us in 2017. Lisa is still active in many of our lives and keeps contact with many people in the club. She has a long list of fellow exchange students she regularly visits. While I am over here, it was only fair that Lisa and her family showed me what it is like for me to live in Germany, so I have been having German lessons, eating traditional German food and looking at all the great history in the town where she lives. More from Lisa next week.
 
 
May is New Generations Month
 
What Is your Rotary Club doing to focus on Youth Service this month? May is Youth Service (formerly called New Generations) Month when Rotary Clubs, around the world focus on youth services, Rotaract, Interact, RYLA, Youth Exchange.
 
INTERACT

Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club comprised of 14-18 year olds.  Interact gives young people the opportunity to take part in fun, meaningful service projects.  Along the way, Interactors develop their leadership skills and initiative while meeting new friends.  Members exchange ideas, opinions and plans with other talented, energetic people, in an atmosphere free from negative pressures and distraction.  Interact strives to promote student leadership, local volunteer service, and to make members aware of the many global and world issues that effect people everyday. 
 
Ultimately, students can:

•   Become acquainted with a premiere service organization (Rotary International) and proven leaders from communities throughout Rotary;
•   Learn how to manage and head community service projects;
•   Learn about other Rotary club programs including Rotaract (service club for young adults), Earlyact (a service club for primary school students), youth exchange (a chance to live and study abroad ) and RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards).

The word Interact stands for “international action” and today there are more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries.
 
 
ROTARACT
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 18-30.  Rotaract clubs are usually community or university-based and are sponsored by a local Rotary club, making them true “partners in service” and key members of the Rotary family.

Young adults augment their knowledge and skill and also address the physical and social needs of their communities while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.  Rotaractors also often spearhead the formation of Interact clubs and participate in RYLA. 

Rotaract is one of the fastest-growing programs of Rotary service with more than 9,500 Rotaract Clubs with 291,000 members in 177 countries.
 
Rotaractors follow the motto “fellowship through service”.
 
 
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE

Rotary Youth Exchange is an excellent and inexpensive way for high school age students to travel and study in a foreign country.  

Youth exchange gives the participant the opportunity to improve their language skills and school and family experiences will teach them the culture of their host country.  They also act as ambassadors for their home country.  Each year the Rotary Districts that are part of CSRYE send approximately 300 young people to other countries and accept 300 young people from other countries in return.

Accepting a youth exchange student into your club, community and household can be a very rewarding experience.  It’s an opportunity for you, your family and your fellow Rotarians to learn about a different culture and also help a young person understand your culture.  The goal of Rotary Youth Exchange is to promote the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace at the person to person level.
ange is an excellent and inexpensive way for high school age students to travel and study in a foreign country.  

Youth exchange gives the participant the opportunity to improve their language skills and school and family experiences will teach them the culture of their host country.  They also act as ambassadors for their home country.  Each year the Rotary Districts that are part of CSRYE send approximately 300 young people to other countries and accept 300 young people from other countries in return.

Accepting a youth exchange student into your club, community and household can be a very rewarding experience.  It’s an opportunity for you, your family and your fellow Rotarians to learn about a different culture and also help a young person understand your culture.  The goal of Rotary Youth Exchange is to promote the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace at the person-to-person level.
 
District Celebrations
District Changeover
Did you know that members of our club are arranging the District Changeover as our current District 9820 merges with our neighbouring District 9810 to form a new District 9815?
 
 
Geoff and Di Double are creating a great event to celebrate this groundbreaking occasion. It will be a watershed moment for us to meet a whole new bunch of Rotarians that most of us have never met in a relaxed environment and to celebrate the beginning of a brand new District. Our good friend and past Assistant Governor, Colin Byron will be sworn in as the new District Governor.
 
 
The event is not far from home and promises a good night out.
There is a booking fee of $4.83 per ticket, making the total cost $89.83 just so you know.
 
I have already booked, and I am looking forward to seeing how our newest Rotary District will impact our community.
Use the QR Code below to book using your phone, or click on the images above to take you to the booking page on your computer.
See you there.
 
 
Berwick College Presentation Ball - Night 1
Cathies Lane Receptions
May 15, 2024
3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
 
Berwick College Presentation Balls 2024
Cathies Lane Receptions
May 15, 2024 3:00 pm –
May 16, 2024 11:00 pm
 
Berwick College Presentation Ball - Night 2
Cathies Lane Receptions
May 16, 2024
3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
 
View entire list
Member Birthdays
Trevor Watson
May 4
 
Andy Merrill
May 5
 
David Anderson
May 19
 
Spouse Birthdays
Pat McCurdy
May 1
 
Sheldon Rodrigues
May 3
 
Jenny Hart
May 11
 
Join Date
Gary Evans
May 1, 1980
44 years
 
Funno Funston
May 17, 1984
40 years
 
David Anderson
May 20, 2021
3 years
 
Diana Gomez-Fullaway
May 25, 2016
8 years
 
Jane Moore
May 28, 2014
10 years
 
Jeanette Blackwood
June 16, 2022
2 years
 
Sharmaine Squire
June 18, 2009
15 years
 
Sam McCurdy
June 23, 2011
13 years
 
Isobel Caulfield
June 25, 2014
10 years
 
Our Sponsors
Executives & Directors
President
 
Treasurer
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Membership
 
New Generations
 
Public Relations
 
Club Protection Officer
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 

Rotary member John Sever’s work to end polio spanned decades and was marked by unwavering determination and resolve.

 

Rotary recognizes President Emmanuel Macron for France’s commitment to a polio-free worldPARIS (4 May 2024) – Rotary International presented its Polio Eradication Champion Award to French President Emmanuel Macron

 

On TikTok and on campus, students with mental health struggles are finding support among each other.

 
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This week's contributors to the Spoke 'n' Word
  1. President Dave - story x2
  2. Di Double - photos
  3. Di and Geoff Double - Changeover
Anyone can help tell our Rotary Club story. Email me with a ready-to-publish story!