Bob’s Blog
Hello Everyone
Rita Wagner our guest speaker at last week’s meeting gave a fascinating presentation on her life as an artist and writer. What made it even more interesting was the fact that her career path came about because of a horrific car accident that left her unable to continue to work as an executive with a hotel chain. I guess the message was clear – every cloud has a silver lining.
It was also pleasing to see many guests at the meeting, thanks to Ang. Please remember that guests are always welcome at our meetings – it is a good way of highlighting Rotary and its work. When inviting guests, please make sure you tell them about Rotary and encourage them to consider becoming part of our small but vital Club.
In this week’s edition of Rotary Weekly there is a wonderful story about Jimmy Carter and his vision for peace. I strongly encourage all members to have a read https://www.rotary.org/en/jimmy-carter-says-peace-must-be-fought.
This week: A reminder there is no meeting this Thursday. Instead, we’re off to Moruya Golf Club on Wednesday night (6.30 for 7pm) for a combined meeting with Moruya and Batemans Bay Clubs. It promises to be a big night. This meeting will distribute the $12,000 raised at the Rotary Race Day on 24 December to the Shire’s four surf clubs including Narooma’s. At this meeting, Chelsea Rowley will also talk about her experience at the last National Youth Science Forum.
Next week: Thursday 1 March : Please note a change of plan – Club Assembly at Narooma Golf Club (usual time)
The week after next – Thursday 8 March: We will be at Narooma High School.
Have a great week.
Bob
Around about
The ‘Accidental Artist’ Rita Wagner
Rita Wagner’s talk last week was truly inspirational. What resilience, determination and true grit to recover from near death after a horrific car accident, stay optimistic and persevere over the many months as surgeons rebuilt her smashed body, and then establish a whole new career as an artist and author. Hence the term she used of being an ‘accidental artist’.
She discovered art when in search of something to stimulate her mind while spending over a year in a wheelchair, starting with interior design and moving on from there leaps at a time. She described herself as a mixed media artist influenced strongly by Japanese art. She has also written and illustrated several light-hearted books – Menopause Makes Mummy Mental! and two children’s books.
Rita now lives at Mystery Bay, previously Canberra.
New Rotary District update
Our Club will become part of the new Rotary District 9705 on 1 Jul 2020. DG Steve Hill says at this stage the only confirmed details about the new district are:
- its number ,
- the District’s outer borders (see map)
- and that the new positions of Area Governors will replace the current system of Assistant Governors; they will also have extended roles within their areas.
Still at draft stage is what clubs will be in which areas. At the moment, the proposal is for Narooma to be in Area 6, along with 14 other clubs in the Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven, Bega Valley and Wingecarribee (Bowral-Mittagong, Moss Vale and Berrima District) Shires. Area 6 has the largest number of clubs.
DG Steve is keen to hear from anyone who has any thoughts on which clubs should be in particular groupings, as well as any other thoughts you may have about the new District. He would like to hear those thoughts fairly soon.
Cheers
Laurelle
Trumped, courtesy Peter Bull
Obama, Clinton and Trump are standing at the throne of Heaven.
God looks at them and says, ‘Before granting you a place at my side I must ask you what you have learned, what you believe in.’ He asks Obama first: ‘What do you believe?’
He thinks long and hard, and says, ‘I believe in hard work and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my countrymen.’
God sees Obama’s essential goodness and offers him a seat to his left.
Then God turns to Clinton and says, ‘What do you believe?’
She says, ‘I believe passion, discipline, courage and honour are the fundamentals of life. Like Obama I believe in hard work. I, too, have been lucky, but I’ve always tried to be a true patriot.’
God is greatly moved and offers her a seat to his right.
Finally, God turns to Trump and says, ‘And what do you believe?’
Trump replies, ‘I believe you’re in my seat.’