It was terrific to have a pretty good turnout to our meeting this week to hear our own Tim Moore update us about the Regionalisation Pilot that we will work through in the coming year or so.
Done well, it provides us with a better support structure and a bottom-up approach. I encourage you to take an active interest via the website www.creatingtomorrow.org
On that note, Jane & Tim head north to their new digs on the Gold Coast and we had their company on Wednesday night for the last time on a regular basis, but we will see them again in October when they are down with us. Both Jane & Tim will continue to contribute behind the scenes to our club. Personally, I want to thank them both for their strong guidance and friendship and like me, I’m sure everyone wishes them safe travels.
Yesterday, I received a note from Ben Plunkett, President of friends from Casey Rotary inviting our members and friends to an evening at Beaconhills Golf Club to hear from Harry Sanders about going from rags to Riches. At age 17, Harry Sanders was left homeless after his parents separated but now, just 8 years later, he’s a multimillionaire who is determined to give back and help others get back on their feet. See his recent story on The Project below:
The night is at the Beaconhills Golf Club (85-87 Stoney Creek Road, Upper Beaconsfield). 25th September 2023, 6:30PM for 7PM start, $40pp inc. 2-course meal, drinks at bar prices.
Final date for reservations: 18th September 2023. Please include dietary requests when booking or send to: Secretary, Lucy Rowlands - sales@sojourn.com.au or 0488 089 403.
On the 27th of September, we are fortunate to have Trevor Watson put us through our paces with a Footy Trivia night. It should be a hoot so now is a good time to brush up on your footy (& Richmond FC) knowledge AND invite any family/friends along to make it a cracker of an evening.
Finally, I am thrilled to let everyone know from our next regular meeting onwards, we have a new Sergeant (team) guiding us through our meetings. Jen Marshall and Glenn (Shoey) Schumacher will take on the role conjointly and I thank them both, knowing that they will do a ripping job.
Thanks Jen & Shoey for stepping up and also to Funno who has done a splendid job as sergeant. He is the only one I’ve seen since joining the club and the bar is well set.
By now you will have received your invitation to our social evening next Friday night at the Beaconsfield club to the Bee Gees Revival night of music and fun. This social night is in lieu of our normal weekly meeting and it will be terrific to see as many Rotarians / friends join in and help support Vicki & Bob who work tirelessly supporting us.
There is a new focus in the Club surrounding membership engagement and attendance.
The reason is simple: We have lost many valuable and knowledgeable members over the last few years and must recruit and train new members to replace them. Our older members have been great mentors within the Club, but we must bring on new members before our core knowledge disappears for good. Leadership and knowledge are keys to our Club being relevant and productive in our community. Rotary can do incredible things in the community, but if we don't know what we are doing, it isn't going to happen.
A responsible approach from every member is essential for building a solid club that effectively serves the community. To achieve this, fostering leadership skills and creating a culture of accountability is crucial. Encourage responsible behaviour and develop influential leaders within your club by:
Leadership Training: Offer training programs or workshops to help members develop essential leadership skills. This can include communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, and project management skills.
Mentorship: Pair experienced club members with those interested in leadership roles. This mentorship can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights as new leaders learn the ropes.
Clear Expectations: Clearly define roles and responsibilities for club members, including leaders and those in training. This clarity helps everyone understand their contributions and commitments.
Lead by Example: Current leaders should set a positive example of responsible behaviour and commitment. Members who see their leaders taking their roles seriously are more likely to follow suit.
Accountability: Encourage accountability by setting goals and tracking progress. Regular check-ins and evaluations can help members stay on track and fulfil their responsibilities.
Effective Communication: Establish open lines of communication where members can voice their ideas, concerns, and feedback. This creates an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
Recognition: Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of responsible members. Celebrate their contributions and leadership, which can motivate others to step up.
Empower Decision-Making: Give leaders and aspiring leaders opportunities to make decisions and take ownership of projects. This empowerment fosters a sense of responsibility.
Team Collaboration: Encourage collaboration among members. Effective leadership often involves working collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals.
Regular Training: Offer ongoing training sessions to help leaders stay updated on best practices and strategies for effective leadership.
Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback mechanism where members can provide input on club activities, leadership styles, and community impact. Use this feedback to refine your approach.
Inclusivity: Ensure that leadership opportunities are accessible to all members, irrespective of their backgrounds or experience levels.
Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement. Encourage members to reflect on their experiences and suggest ways to enhance the club's operations and community service.
Transparency: Keep members informed about the club's goals, activities, and decision-making processes. Transparency builds trust and encourages active participation.
Celebrate Successes: Highlight the positive outcomes achieved through responsible leadership and community service. Sharing success stories can motivate members to stay engaged and committed.
Ultimately, building a strong club and serving the community requires the collective effort of all members. By nurturing responsible behaviour, providing leadership development opportunities, and fostering a culture of accountability, our club can thrive and impact the community it serves. All it takes is the commitment to do your best to regenerate our Club and bring a fresh group of new members that will lead our Club and improve our ability to deliver a good range of projects while having a great time doing it.
The numbers look good as meeting attendance improves under the leadership of our new President!
Month
Total Members at End of Month (Incl. Honorary)
Total Members Reported (Not Incl. Honorary)
New Members
Terminated
Closed Meetings
Gain/Loss
YTD Gain/Loss
Attendance avg %
07 23
43
39
0
0
4
0
0
48.54%
08 23
44
40
1
0
3
1
1
59.05%
Leave of Absence (LOA): If any member intends to be absent from Rotary for more than three weeks, they are expected to notify the Secretary as a courtesy. The reasons for going on LOA can be varied, but work, travel, and illness are the most common. During your LOA timeframe, attendance is not counted (because you are excused). The members know you are not attending, no one is worried about you, and we have a date to expect you back!
Hi Rotary Club of Berwick, we are Community Bank Beaconsfield District (part of Bendigo Bank). We are based in Beaconsfield & actively give back to the community through our Community Grants program.
We would love to grow our community on Facebook and connect with other local businesses and NFP organizations. We have recently liked your Facebook page & look forward to updates from you.
Posted by Roger Thornton: D9820 DIK Rep
on Aug 29, 2023
This little project caught my eye because I have been at a school (Raouli) in Timor Leste in 2018 to hand out similar school backpacks to students with nothing. Their school was just a cow shed built after the Indonesians burnt down their school in 1975. Timor Leste is an impoverished country, so rebuilding anything takes an extraordinary time. The trip brought a perspective on life that couldn't be understood unless you saw it with your own eyes. I am sure that Geoff and Di Double, who were also on that trip, will give an insight into Timor Leste's history and hardship. While Omelai school is 300 km from the Balibo District, the need is the same. When we were in Timor Leste in 2018, we had meetings with Spend it Well (the people organising the backpacks) concerning building the schools and found them to be a caring organisation with a focus on building rather than profiting. Five years later, they are still doing what they are doing, so I trust they will deliver.
Remote Omelai School in Timor Leste has a new building with three classrooms, a teachers' room, a kitchen for school lunches, five toilets and a hand-washing facility. It has good quality desks and chairs from Australian schools arriving soon for the new classrooms. Some of these desks may have been collected by the Rotary Club of Berwick and sent to Donations in Kind in Footscray for delivery to this school! (Our Club does fantastic stuff right here at home, too!).
The new buildings will officially open on Monday, September 25, 2023. We'd love to give each of Omelai's 130 children a good quality backpack filled with school supplies - exercise books, pencils, sharpeners, rubbers, pens, a ruler, a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. We can buy these items in Dili for $30 per child.
If you'd like to give a backpack, please donate $30 using the button below - write "backpack" in the notes section. Your donation will be tax deductible and we will send you photos. We'd love you to send us a personal message from you or your children we can put inside your backpack - you can scan and send these to kris.webb@spenditwell.com either in English - or you could write it in Tetum using the online translator!
I have purchased a $30 backpack using the link above. There is an optional fee of 43 cents for card processing but then 100% of my funds go towards the supply of a backpack that will make a big difference to someone in the picture below.
You’re welcome to help Build a culture where everyone can belong, contribute, and thrive. We will showcase inspiring speakers and great entertainment.
Join us at our District 9820 conference for 2024 in Warrnambool
Stay close to the centre of town so there isn’t too much driving and can relax with a local drop and spend a few hours at a museum or gallery We want everyone to have a great holiday and walk on the beach, have a picnic in the gardens and enjoy a coffee and read the paper in the sunshine. Luckily you don’t have to think too hard about what to do as you know Warrnambool can tick all the boxes for everyone.
The Rotary clubs of Panamá Norte and Westchester (Los Angeles), put together a global grant that sought to remedy the digital divide in Panama. The project provided each school with 30 laptops for students, an interactive whiteboard, and other technology, and also provided training for local teachers.
Rotary editor Wen Huang visits the home of the 2024 Rotary International Convention for a third time and finds that the flourishing Asian city-state has reinvented itself — again
It was terrific to have a pretty good turnout to our meeting this week to hear our own Tim Moore update us about the Regionalisation Pilot that we will work through in the coming year or so.
On the 27th of September, we are fortunate to have Trevor Watson put us through our paces with a Footy Trivia night. It should be a hoot so now is a good time to brush up on your footy (& Richmond FC) knowledge AND invite any family/friends along to make it a cracker of an evening.
