Bob’s Buzz
Hello Everyone
Welcome to the new normal. As all members are aware, all Club activities have been cancelled until further notice. Hopefully we will be able to meet again before the new Rotary year commences. However, at this stage it appears unlikely.
Laurelle has asked me to continue as president for the time being, which I am happy to do as I don’t think I will be required to make too many decisions. If a decision needs to be made I will consult with Board members by email. Rod will continue to forward messages from the District and RI for individual members’ information.
To get the latest from Rotary International regarding COVID-19 click here. It is interesting to note that Global Youth Exchange for 2020/21 and the 2020 Rotary International Conference have both been cancelled.
I propose to hold a virtual meeting this Thursday from 6:00pm if you would like to participate please let me know by Wednesday afternoon so I can send you the information about how to join. Please remember to bring a drink with you to the meeting!
Stay safe everyone and keep up the contact with other members, it is important to keep in touch.
Kind regards Bob
THIS WEEK
As Bob said, this Thursday we’re having a virtual meeting at 6pm. Have a glass of wine or whatever with you. Let Bob know please if you would like to join and he will send info. Your editor had no problems linking up so it’s obviously quite easy. Thanks Frank and Bob for exploring this.
” Home Piglet. We’re going home because that’s the best thing to do right now.”
(Kind of cute – Courtesy Batemans Bay newsletter with apologies to A A Milne.)
Out and About
Rotary Youth Driver Awareness update
RYDA organiser Neil Simpson reports in the Bay Rotary newsletter that trying to hold RYDA later this year presents many challenges. These include securing the presenters and venue and fitting in with all school calendars.
Year 11 students do exams in late September and start their Year 12 HSC work in October. With schools closing, Neil predicts all face-to-face learning time will be very precious. So, once the coronavirus bans are lifted, there is not much opportunity to get it running for this year.
RYDA is a joint youth project of Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma Rotary Clubs. It is a wonderful programme that gives students an extensive introduction to road safety from understanding how personality impacts risk, to the impacts of a crash, to how to buy and maintain a safe car. In the RYDA workshop, students work with their peers to come up with strategies to be better prepared and make good decisions, both as drivers and as highly influential passengers.
MUNA 2020 postponed
MUNA organisers, the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise (RCCS), have announced the postponement of MUNA 2020. Although it is impossible to say what the situation will be on 7-9 August, the dates originally scheduled, current restrictions make it impossible for schools, Rotary clubs and Districts to properly prepare for the event, particularly where they wish to organise run-off competitions. As the situation becomes clearer, they will work with all those interested to identify a date later in the year.
Narooma High teacher Monique Weeks says they are still keen to participate should it go ahead, so we as a Club need to register our interest in sponsoring a team at a later date should that be the case. Something for this Thursday’s meeting perhaps.
What’s also interesting is that RCCS is considering options to run online MUNA-style events while Covid-19 restrictions are in place, to provide an opportunity for students to participate in a positive activity during this difficult time. The format of these would be determined in consultation with schools involved; at this stage we believe that costs to participate, if any, would be minimal.
Rotary Youth Exchange suspended
Rotary District 9705 (a combination of previous Districts 9700 and 9710) has suspended its Youth Exchange Program for the foreseeable future because of the corona virus pandemic
This means students will not be arriving from overseas in the middle of the year, selection of Australian students to go overseas in early 2021 has been cancelled, and some students currently here on exchange have already headed home. All other students here are being supported in discussion with their parents.
The program is designed to promote peace and understanding globally as well as to build individual leadership skills in through the exchange program. Organisers look forward to the time when the program can recommence; meanwhile Rotarians will be working hard through the ‘stand down’ time to evaluate the program and determine how to improve it.
On a lighter note
