COVID 19 has certainly made a big impact on our lives both personally and as Rotarians. Our freedom to socialise and physically interact have been removed and some live in fear of their lives should they contract this disease. While this paints a gloomy picture, it is what it is and there has to be a time to find ways around the gloom. As a Rotary Club, I think most members have adapted to being online. We have no choice with that option anyway, if you want to be an active member of the club, Zoom is our only available practical platform. Isobel has mastered all matters of Zoom and we are lucky to have people in our club willing to learn how to do new things in order to keep the Club functioning. There are some clubs that don't meet at all!

 

We have several members who are not willing or able to join our online meetings and I suppose there is not much we can do to fix that. Some Clubs, early on before the COVID restrictions got serious were able to get around to members unsure of how to get online with Zoom and sort their technical issues out for them. We have missed that window. The scale of our lockdown has caught us by surprise.

 

So where to now? What is the likely scenario for getting back to normal? I expect the road to the new normal will be rough and long.  We are not likely to be able to have physical meetings (20+) for a long time. We might be able to have small meetings of 5 people in private houses as a first step and that might progress to 10 if we are all outside. My brothers Rotary Club in the USA is only able to meet outside which is a good sign that there is still hope to have some face to face contact one day! Zoom will still be the connector even when we can meet physically as there are some members who cannot go out in public while the pandemic is not fully under control. After lengthy research by Sam, Holm Park is still the only venue that meets our needs, especially when considering the social distancing aspect. Our Board is considering all options of how to move forward as restrictions are reduced, but as you can imagine, it is a complicated process.

 

What about Projects? PDG Adrian Froggatt is our Projects Director. As Rotarians, we should be looking to answer the needs of the community through our work. I would suspect that Carols and Australia Day, our signature projects are too risky to pursue as physical projects and must be considered as potential online projects if we are still to try and stage them. The golf day and presentation balls are both likely to succumb to COVID restrictions making them risky to run too. That does not mean we are dead in the water, it just means we need to think about the issues a bit harder. We can do a lot of work if we are willing to think differently! Please contact PDG Adrian is you have a project to put forward or can help with ideas/contacts to turn our physical projects into virtual ones. Contact: afroggatt@netspace.net.au

 

Disaster Aid Australia (DAA) is working with partners to help those in need in Beirut after the disastrous explosion of ammonium nitrate in the port city on 4^th August.  The explosion caused at least 190 deaths, 6,500 injuries and US$10-15 billion in property damage.  It is estimated that 300,000 people have been left homeless.

 

 

Every October, Australian Rotary Health encourages Rotary Clubs, businesses, and individuals to get involved in 'Hat Day', as part of ‘Lift the Lid on Mental Illness’, our national fundraising and awareness campaign for mental health research.

We understand that this year the COVID-19 pandemic may present some obstacles, making it difficult to get involved in the same way as previous years. But we also believe this is an opportunity to put our creative thinking hats on!

It has been a tough year for everyone, so let’s get together (virtually), put on a silly hat, and do something important for mental health.

 

We have come up with some COVID-19 safe ways that you can get involved in Hat Day 2020 on 10^th October, to help us Lift the Lid on Mental Illness.  They are:
 

Host an online trivia/raffle session
You may want to get a group of people together for a trivia/raffle night on Zoom. A bit of friendly competition is always fun. Plus, prizes could be awarded to those with the best/funniest/quirkiest hats!

Team Up with Clue Detective Puzzle Agency
The Clue Detective Puzzle Agency, founded by Rotarian Catherine Eagleson, is teaming up with Rotary Clubs to sell puzzle memberships online as a contact-free way to fundraise for Rotary projects and Lift the Lid on Mental Illness. You may even want to get together with a group online to solve puzzles together. Find out more.

Ask Australian Rotary Health to Help You Organise a Mental Health Speaker
Australian Rotary Health is funding plenty of Mental Health researchers, who are more than happy to present their research to Rotary Clubs. Get in touch with our office to organise a speaker at your next Club meeting.  

Bake Some Hat-Themed Treats
Whether it be biscuits, cupcakes, or pancakes, baking ‘hat-themed’ treats could be a delicious way to raise money for mental health research. A simple online transaction and delivery to someone’s doorstep can make the process ‘contact less'. Don’t forget to wear gloves while handling food!

Decorate Your Own Hats at Home
Depending on the restrictions in your area, you could gather with a small group of friends for a hat-decorating crafternoon! Make sure you send us your pictures!

This is only a few ideas, so feel free to be creative and come up with your own as well!