Our Week that Was
Last Thursday the Board plus other members closely associated with the markets discussed many aspects of the way we conduct our markets. A few shortcomings were identified particularly in our internal communications. Steps are being taken to fix those to ensure our Narooma markets continue to meet our high standards and continue to be known in the wider community as “the friendly markets”.
Rotary Down Under changes
It took the delivery of RDU this month to make me realise how it has now evolved into RDU.ONE – the new central communications hub for all Rotary news across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific – to keep us connected. That’s fortnighlty e-newsletters, web stories, social channels as well as the revamped magazine, now bi-montly. Worth checking out. Laurelle
THIS THURSDAY 24 July
This week’s Dinner Speaker Rev Tim Narraway will talk about ‘South Africa – Land of Diversity’. South Africa has many similarities with Australia but some striking differences. Tim is a Boer War specialist and spent many years working with endangered wildlife before running his own safari business mainly out of the Kruger National Park. He is a founding member of the South African Australian Association and is passionate about the wellbeing of both nations and their need to cooperate for mutual benefit. Tim will talk about South Africa’s wildlife and its beauty, but also its troubled history.
Everyone is welcome. Please spread the word and bring your friends. Please let Gero know numbers by noon on Tuesday. Dinner from the Bistro. Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm.
Out and About
Bega Rotary Book Fair last weekend
Last weekend’s Bega Book Fair, Bega Rotary’s major fundraiser, raised an estimated $5,000 for the Club’s coffers. Their team was supplemented by two ANU Medical students who helped with the pack up. President Charlie reports many more books come in during the book fair, so their container is already just about full; they sold almost as many as came in.
From Moruya and Batemans Bay Rotary
About 20 Moruya Rotarians will join Batemans Bay’s special meeting this Thursday to hear guest
speaker Brett Henderson. Brett has had over 20 years operational and theoretical experience in emergency management, primarily in NSW. Brett will share the findings of his doctoral research into the response to the bush fires particularly on how the community could participate in and share emergency responsibilities in local areas – recovery, preparation and prevention. Emergency services members have also been invited.
Bay Rotary also subsidising dues
Batemans Bay’s Rotary Board has also decided to subsidise members’ annual fees. The Bay will charge each member only $100 p.a. rather than the full amount. As Narooma Rotarians now know, members’ dues are about $316 per member for 2025-2026 made up of several components: the Rotary International Fee (RI Website, online learning centre, project stories, videos, Governor training etc. $145), District 9705 Levy (Insurance, public image material, district meetings and website $132) and Rotary Down Under ($39).
That means the Bay Club will have to find $216 per member from other sources to pay the bills. The Bay newsletter notes “we cannot use money from Rotary fundraising activities nor funds from our ‘project’ account for this purpose”.
Other news from Batemans Bay Rotary
Among other decisions from the Bay’s first Board meeting of the Rotary year was to go ahead with Rotary Business Breakfasts as a new community service project. They also decided to introduce a 3-5 minute segment in every meeting called ‘Short and Sweet’ where members will be rostered to present a short talk on a topic of interest, and establish a panel of experienced Rotarians as mentors and write a 3-6 month mentor program to support all new members.
NEXT THURSDAY (31st July)
No meeting is scheduled for next Thursday being the fifth Thursday in the month (31st).