Ange’s Thoughts
Hats off to a brilliant weekend in Merimbula for our Rotary District 9705 Conference and for our eight members who took part. Thrilled that 8 from our Club attended, including new members Ana Koen and Greg Heath.
The 2023-24 Rotary International Theme is ‘Create Hope for the World’. This theme encapsulated the wonderful achievements in the recent past and Rotary’s goals and aspirations for the new Rotary year.
The weekend seminars were split between PETS (President Elect training) and Club Learning & Development. Delighted that Lynn Hastings attended all PETS’ sessions which covered leadership, communication, conflict resolution, diversity, equity and inclusion plus building confidence in the role. All our participants shared informative sessions. These included the Rotary Foundation, Australian Rotary Programs e.g. RAWCS, ARH & ROMAC, Youth, Rotary Youth Exchange, the Environment, Public Image & networking, Governance, Membership & Innovation, Youth Protection and Rotary Insurance.
This event is such a great forum for everyone to meet our 2023-24 Elect DG Andrea Grosvenor (Queanbeyan RC) and Area Governor Haseema Tweddle (BerryRC). A wonderful opportunity to mingle with fellow Rotarians, share ideas, refresh and learn lots. District Team leaders were fantastic.
Some stories were riveting, such as Parkes RC’s YouTube ‘Eugowra Stories – Heartbreak and Hope’ about the 6 Feb 2023 disastrous floods and how Rotarians from all over rallied to assist their locals in their dire need. Viva Rotary!!
Don’t forget the markets this Sunday – Mike has circulated the roster. Many of our members are away, so please help if you can.
THIS THURSDAY – Pride of Workmanship
This is should be a great night. Our Pride of Workmanship Awards give employers and managers, through Rotary, a chance to publicly recognise an employee who goes above and beyond in their work. It encourages pride in personal performance in the workplace with the theme: ‘Do it once, Do it well.’ Pride of Workmanship is not a competition; it’s a recognition of individual achievement and commitment. We have received six nominations.
The cost is $43 p.p. for a two course meal. We’re back to the Seahorse Room 6 for 6.30pm.
The Week that Was
Our Business Breakfast
Our guest speaker at last Thursday’s Business Breakfast Jacqui Van Teulingen of Business Australia made what could have been a dry subject quite fascinating. She produced a telling timeline overlaying the bushfires over a couple of months (effects on supplies, access etc) with the Covid lockdowns, border closures. It’s no wonder so many businesses along the coast are struggling, some having already called it a day. Her talk was more poignant because she had been through it too with her and her husband’s business Grandpa’s Garden in Narooma. It also explained why so many of us have been anxious through this period.
Her message was that local businesses have until the end of June to benefit from free access to professional business consultants through Business Australia. Jacqui says, “Fires, floods and Covid over the last few years have impacted on everyone. Every business person who feels they could do with some professional advice or support can apply. It may be a free reality check, or digital help, or marketing advice, or peer to peer support, or something else entirely, we’re here to help. Business Australia’s role is to hook people up with professionals who can help, if we can’t do it ourselves.”
Out and About
Volunteers needed for Rotary Easter Saturday Races
All proceeds from Rotary’s Easter Saturday races (8th April) at Moruya Racecourse will go toward Carers’ Accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.
Our Club has been asked to supply two people to man the buckets to collect coins as people arrive. It would be from 11.30am to 2pm. Any volunteers? Please see President Ange.
From Moruya Rotary
Moruya Rotarians were heavily and enthusiastically involved in the town’s recent Mardi Gras and River Lights which certainly showed Rotary in a good light. Two Rotarians, also Chamber members, did a great job organising the day’s program. Since the event they’ve been looking at how to rationalise their involvement for the next one in two years’ time, such as only have one marquee as the Rotary information centre and perhaps a few select others, and leaving catering to outside caterers. Another thought is to resurrect their wonderful bicycle and again take part in the parade.
ClubRunner Webinars
Some of our members at the District 9705 seminar at Merimbula at the weekend expressed interest in the ClubRunner software used by our District. Our District is successfully using the District version of ClubRunner bought in 2016 by District 9700. Several clubs in our District are using the Club Version, but not everyone inlcuding us.
Our Club has looked at the possibility in the past and elected to stick with Word Press which is the programme we currently use for our Webpage and Beacon.
ClubRunner has a series of Webinars starting on April 14th until April 23rd. They offer both beginner and advanced level training sessions covering various modules, by role on the club and district versions. Registrations are now open on www.clubrunner.com/training