One of the great things about being involved in any organisation is the chance to meet and mingle with people with similar interests. Now, as we cautiously emerge after COVID, I am keen to move past Zoom in favour of face to face just so I can talk to people in small groups about all matter of topics. Zoom has served us well and perhaps we might have to call on it again, but it is hard to have a "proper" conversation online.

 

During the week just passed, I attended meetings at the Rotary Club of Pakenham as well as our own meeting at the Rotary Club of Berwick. It was just terrific to have physical interactions with real people and listen to interesting, entertaining and informative speakers at both meetings. I enjoyed both meetings very much.

 

I belong to a couple of organisations and several committees/groups within the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria and Rotary International. I am Zoomed out and keen to get back to normal life! We need to amplify value to ourselves and others by just being physically involved. Both the Nursery Industry and Rotary (as well as many other organisations) are ready to rock and roll and it is the physical meeting where the magic happens. Our world and the opportunities that go with it are changing quickly as restrictions come off. 

 

 

This coming week, there will be no Zoom. This is not because I want to cut off our regular Zoomers Fred and Sharmaine. It is because our guest speaker, Sarah Hocking is presenting a hands-on talk that will be hard to transfer to Zoom. Zoom is not disappearing, it is just taking a break for this week.

 

Sarah is a Hearing Clinician and is presenting to us to help us understand how important hearing health is for everyone, no matter what stage of life they are at. Sarah works with clients of all ages to improve their quality of life. She will share how to identify hearing loss, what can be done to improve hearing through the technological advances in hearing aids. Hearing is one of the key components we use to interact with the world. As we age, we start to lose our sight and our hearing. Denial will only get you so far, then education and help will follow!

Take the opportunity to meet Sarah and soak in all the valuable information she has to offer.

 

 

 

ART SCREENS: YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
 
November marks the revival of the Art Screens fundraiser and we have to help with the following jobs please:
 
November 24  - Wednesday morning - Delivery to 10 Elgin Place, Hawthorn - 3 x 2.5m and 3 x 2m screens - 1 tower and 1 helper
November 25  - Thursday morning - Delivery to Rye Community House - 16x2.5m and 8X2.5m screens - 1 tower and several helpers
November 26  - Friday morning - Delivery to Montesori School, East Brighton - full white trailer - 1 tower and several helpers
November 29  - Monday morning - Collection from Rye - 1 tower and several helpers
December 1 - Wednesday morning - Collection from Hawthorn - 1 tower and 1 helper
December 3 - Friday morning - Collection from East Brighton - 1 tower and several helpers
 
The crew will meet at the shed at 8:30am each day to depart for the corresponding destination.
 
Please indicate which days you could contribute by emailing artscreenhire@rotaryberwick.org.

 

With an aging Rotary membership there is always the expectations that when the opportunity arises, most will be off like a Herd of Turtles. I suppose it could be related to the seasonal migration of many species such as butterflies, birds, whales and wildebeest.

 

I once attended a Rotary Club in the Channel Island of Guernsey one January and most of their Club migrated to the snowfields of France. Nonetheless, an enjoyable home-cooked dinner of Skate at the home of the Chief Medical Officer of the Island and a good lesson on how Rotary works in other parts of the world. The experience brought home the power and goodwill of a global community organisation.

 

Our Rotary Club, just like the Rotary Club in Guernsey needs to keep functioning during these epic migration events. That of course means building our foundation of members who are less mobile because they are actively working. As Rotarians, we belong to a bigger picture well beyond our local area. Rotary was built on working professionals to lever off business connections to help communities. As our members retire, our ability to make a difference diminishes. Our retired members are the connection of what we were once capable of doing. Now our Club needs fresh working members to bring our Club back into working order for our community.

 

This week in 2015, our Rotary Club meeting looked like this:

 

 

Rotary has a lot to offer but it needs active members to bring it all together. Reignite the power the Rotary Club of Berwick used to have and invite a friend or colleague to visit the club while the turtles are on their migration.

 

 

This Conference will be all about the environment which fits in with Rotary's new seventh area of focus. It also has a link to our Club's own Environmental Policy project started by Jen Marshall in the hope that all Rotary Clubs in the District will use zero environmental impact process while running projects.

 

Our Club has just signed this agreement and I think it is an important step forward to walk the talk. Jen has done a great job preparing this policy and creating our first Environmental project. It would be perfect if our Club members went to the Conference just to show our support and commitment to the environment and learn of other ways Rotarians and Rotary are working in this area.

 

 

Just to tease you a bit, imagine that you wanted to attend the District Conference. Where might you stay? DG Bill apparently had some time on his hands and this is what he came up with:

 

What will it cost you? What is it about? How to book. That information can be found here: https://rotary9820.org.au/sitepage/district-9820-conference-2022

 

All I can tell you is that I have registered for the District Conference in February and I hope to see you all there too!