Narooma Rotary Beacon 31 August 2017

Bob’s Blog

Hello Everyone

I am sorry that I will not be able to join you on Thursday evening to thank our Busking sponsors. The success of our Busking Competition was due to the hard work of our organising committee and the support of our sponsors. Business owners in our small community are often asked to support a myriad of events and activities, it is great that they have chosen to support the Busking Competition and it is fitting that we thank them with a special event.

As mentioned elsewhere in the Beacon the Whale Watching Raffle will be drawn on Saturday. Thank you to members who sold tickets in various parts of the town, you help was greatly appreciated.

The major fund raising project for our Club are the Narooma Rotary Markets. The Markets have provided in excess of $12000.00 a year that we donate to a variety of causes. It is important for us that the markets continue to grow and evolve, for this reason I believe that it is time to carry out a quick review of what we do and how we can make a very good activity even better. If you have any ideas or if you would like to be a part of the review let me know.

Just a reminder that our next ‘Rotarian Presents’ night will be at Narooma Dental Surgery on 7 September. Charmaine will fill us in on all things dental. Please be at the surgery at 6:00pm, we will head to the golf club afterwards for dinner and fellowship.

Have a great week everyone.

Bob

The Week that Was

Angie Ulrichsen proposed our international toast to the RC Amsterdam International in absentia via email; she was not well enough to join us at the meeting. Chris O’Brien and Angie had joined the Amsterdam Club International  for dinner at the Hilton Hotel during their recent European jaunt.

Being the summer holidays, the Club’s numbers were down from their normal 40, so those still in town are enjoying informal dinners each week. ‘They were a good bunch of about nine business people from various countries who call Amsterdam home for now,’ Angie said. ‘Chris and I described our Club activities, exchanged banners etc then enjoyed a yummy three-course dinner in the elegant Roberto’s restaurant. Fortunately one member gave us a lift back to our hotel which was on the other side of the city.’  The Club regularly has ambassadors as guests and has formal gala fundraising events.

Renewable Energy Expo Saturday 25 November

Expo coordinator Frank Eden reported from an earlier meeting that night that ‘things are shaping up well’ for the Expo. We are still seeking Expo sponsors and more exhibitors and finalising forum speakers. It will be at the Sport & Leisure Centre from 10am to 4pm. Member for Eden Monaro Dr Mike Kelly will open it in the morning.

The Expo dinner will be in Club Narooma at 6pm (bookings essential) followed by a Forum with three keynote speakers followed by questions to a panel.

Guest speaker Geoff Pryor

Geoff works with the Southern Region Business Enterprise Centre (SRBEC), a regional organisation that delivers business and educational services across southern NSW and the ACT. He is SRBEC’s Bintrim Manager which means he helps businesses reduce waste which he said can reduce costs and save time.

Mike Young thanks our guest speaker Geoff Pryor

He spoke about innovative businesses that are finding new and profitable ways of using all kinds of waste materials, some of them locally.  ‘Waste should be seen as a great resource,’ he said.

More generally, he said regional development generally needs to focus on innovation of products, processes and organisations. Creating and appreciation of the local culture and environment is conducive to innovation and creativity.

Geoff added that BEC is interested in being an exhibitor at the Expo because o its interest in recyclables. An interesting postscript, Geoff has been part of the Tilba Lake community since 1980.

Whalewatching raffle

The whalewatching raffle will be drawn this Saturday 2 September at 12.30pm at Narooma Charters, Narooma Town Wharf. If you can, please be there to support this initiative. This raffle is raising funds to support Eurobodalla Surf Clubs, which is the joint fundraising effort by the three Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs for this year’s Rotary Christmas Races.

We meet at 5.30pm this Thursday to thank the Busking Festival sponsors

This Thursday’s meeting will be a little different. We will meet a little earlier at 5.30 pm for an informal thank the sponsors’ night. It’s a partners night with drinks (first drink is free then you pay) and nibbles, probably in our normal Seahorse Room but please check the sign as you come in. If we have a huge response, we may be in the auditorium upstairs.

Our Festival coordinator Sandra Doyle is keen for us all to circulate among our visitors who will also include representatives from the organisations that received donations from Festival proceeds. Please note dinner is not included in the meeting, but you are very welcome to buy your dinner around at the Club’s bistro after the sponsors function.

Hope to see you then.

Cheers Laurelle

Random thoughts, courtesy Peter Bull

  • 100 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses.
  • Many animals probably need glasses, but nobody knows it.