Wow - What a ride! As my year as District Governor comes to its end, I reflect on the fabulous experience it has been. There have been highs and there have been lows but what an honour it has been to be in such a wonderful role as DG.
It has been a three-year ride of learning a lot about not only Rotary, but about the people who make up our fabulous district. The opportunity to visit every club, meet the members, and view the fantastic work our clubs do for their communities has been amazing.
The unsung heroes who are allowing people in disadvantaged countries to have clean water, to get life-saving assistance, to live a life they would never have dreamed possible, to have the health benefits we are providing every day is nothing short of amazing.
I encourage you to talk to other clubs and see what is going on that we are not told about – the time is right to start telling our stories and sharing the goodwill that is second nature to Rotarians.
I would like to thank everyone who has been part of my journey this past year. The people who have supported me behind the scenes, the Rotarians who have proudly shown me what their clubs have achieved, whether it be building a park, assisting the homeless, growing a mob of sheep, helping a school with cooking facilities, feeding hungry children, training fire fighters, providing music for dementia patients, giving teenagers the opportunity to grow to their full potential or assisting in providing a palliative care facility. The amazing work being done not only in our local communities, but around the world, needs to be known.
The friendships, the laughs, the experiences, and the people I have met along the way has shown me that taking on a role where you can give your all to Rotary has rewards that are never imagined when this journey starts.
Thank you for joining me on this journey in Imagining Rotary – and thank you for putting your faith in me to take on such an amazing role.
My best wishes for DGE Ian McKay in his year ahead as DG – may it be as rewarding for you as it has been for me.
Kathy & David
P.S.
A HUGE thank you to Deb Robertson for the hours she puts into this amazing production of the Journal every month during our Imagine year, also HUGE thanks to Pauline Stewart for producing all our Facebook and webpage updates and more HUGE thanks to Paul Barrett for producing the weekly Travel Guide. Without these amazing Rotarians and their untiring dedication, you would not have the opportunity to see what our District is up to and be kept up to date on every little thing that comes across our desks.
DG Kathy and the conference team are excited to welcome you to join in the fun in Ballarat in March and to invite your friends and family to join us on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon is open to the public, so spread the word that they can join us to hear Jelena and John speaking and even get a book signed, if they would like.
Scan the QR code or go to https://www.trybooking.com/CGDXK to book a ticket to the Saturday afternoon session. Bookings close 5pm 20 March.
Details about all of the fantastic Speakers are on the Conference website.
For more information about the conference program and venuesand to register for all or part, click here .
Reminder: PETS2 - Halls Gap *Registrations Close 21April*
Congratulations to those who have been elected by their club members to lead them during the 2023-2024 Rotary year.
President Elect Training Seminar (PETS) is an important training experience that will provide the relevant information needed to lead the club in the coming Rotary Year.
PETS also creates an unrivalled opportunity for President Elects to network with fellow PEs to form relationships and support partnerships.
PETS2 will be in Halls Gap on Saturday 29 April commencing at 10.00am and concluding with dinner together (with partners if they attend) in the evening.
Registration opened on 20 February with a registration link on the District website, the District Travel Guide and in the PE newsletter.
Accommodation can be booked now by contacting Country Plaza Halls Gap on 5356 4344 and advising that you are part of the Rotary event.
Booking will be based on availability and the rate at that time.
It is anticipated each Club would support the attendance at PETS of their President Elect. Current President or Secretary should provide information regarding Club support.
For further information on PETS2 contact 2023-24 District Secretary, Mllee Cox on 0409 822 696 or email at mllee.cox@rotary9780.org
Register before April 21 for District Assembly
The annual District Assembly is the major leadership training event in each Rotary District of the world. The sessions aim to offer motivation, inspiration, Rotary information and new ideas for Club Officers, Directors and other Rotarians. President Elects should encourage their Board/Directors to attend and newer members of each Club should be encouraged to attend to help them learn more about Rotary.
The 2023 District Assembly will be held in Halls Gap on Sunday 30 April commencing at 10.00am and concluding at around 3.30 pm.
Registration opened on 20 February. Register via link on the Weekly Travel Guide, District 9780 website or here.
It is anticipated each Club would support the attendance of Club members at the District Assembly. It is recommended that you speak with your current President or Secretary regarding Club support.
For further information on District Assembly contact 2023-24 District Secretary, Mllee Cox on 0409 822 696 or email at mllee.cox@rotary9780.org
Do you have the skills to be part of our District Finance Committee?
As a requirement of Rotary International all Districts are required to have a District Finance Committee. The primary purpose of this committee is to report to the District Governor and Board on the financial business delegated to it by either the District and/or the Board.
Without limiting the generality of the business that may be delegated to the Committee, the business may include reporting on:
Review and recommendation of policies to ensure compliance with the District’s statutory financial reporting obligations.
Review of the financial performance of the District including, inter alia, the annual financial statements of all District expenditure.
Review and monitoring of the District’s budgetary processes including, inter alia, the proposed annual per capita District levy.
Review of matters of financial significance or with inherent risk to the District.
Following a restructure of our District Finance Committee an opportunity has opened for three District Rotarians to join the committee. The positions are not onerous with minimal time required to meet the obligations that include quarterly meetings each year.
Interested Rotarians should hold governance and/or financial experience to provide advice and recommendations to the Board. These positions are for a one year term with the opportunity to continue for a further year.
Please contact District Governor Elect Ian McKay or IPDG John Clue for further information or provide him with your expression of interest.
Contact:
DGE Ian McKay IPDG, District Finance Committee Chair 2023-24 John Clue
Our District has Assistant Governors who aid the District Governor by managing a specific area. Some assist clubs, some assist various District Committees and others manage a specific aspect of our District organisation. Each month we focus on a different Assistant Governor, and let you get to know them a little better.
This month we head to Geelong with a bit of information about Cats supporter and
Assistant Governor for Youth, Wendy James from Horsham East Rotary.
Here is her story:
Disasters can devastate a community without warning, leaving people in urgent need of medical care, housing, and other basics they need to survive. In response to recent earthquakes in the region, The Rotary Foundation invites contributions to the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund to support member-led projects that provide supplies and health care to people who have been affected.
Together, we can offer our support to these communities. Here's how you can help:
Donate to the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund.
Fundraise among your colleagues, friends, and family using Raise for Rotary .
Your gift will make priority funding available for disaster recovery and support for Turkey and Syria through disaster response grants.
When you donate to our Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund now through 31 March 2023, make priority funding available to support our members’ earthquake relief work through disaster response grants. If needs diminish, or if more funds are raised than are requested, surplus contributions may eventually be made available for disasters worldwide.
Congratulations to all members past and present who have made the Rotary Club or Corio Bay a force to be reckoned with!
A full report of the celebrations is included in their "Club Courier' 2 March and copied here.
Sunday 26th February was the chosen date for our Club’s Diamond Jubilee. It was such a success and so enjoyable because of a great team effort and I’d like to thank the following in particular on behalf of our Club: the well executed plans spearheaded by Gary Beckley, Michael Carne and Deb Furlan which saw Guests and members entertained from start to finish. The location in the function room at the Geelong RSL was the ideal venue for our celebrations. The afternoon tea was exceptionally generous; the room display of memorabilia was fantastic. During the course of the afternoon, guests enjoyed anecdotes of the Club’s many achievements, presented by senior members (some requiring the use of notes as their memories were a little faded) and complimentary speeches by guests. All in all, a great afternoon of fellowship and laughter as memories were re-awakened with outrageous tales and anecdotes. A wonderful display of club banners, photo-graphic records courtesy largely of the work of Club photographer Maxine Tesoriero provided focal points for many. Deb Furlan put together a very professional power point of selected photos backed by some great music choices. A mammoth effort done without a fuss. Following the opening address by President Barbara, we were pleased to be able to recognise two 60 year veteran Rotarians with PHFs with a sapphire each. Photos courtesy of Michael Carne, Judith Parsons, Deb Furlan—many thanks!
Let's get Rotary District 9780 behind the campaign to plant a Trillion Trees worldwide!
Earth Day, Saturday April 22, would be the perfect time to hold a tree planting day. It would be a great time to link with this international program created in WA and get all Clubs running an event in their area.
I will arrange for some Media to help raise the profile of clubs involved.
If the 7.5+ billion people on this planet planted 140 trees each, we will have planted 1 Trillion Trees!
Using this formula, Western Australian communities should plant 350 million trees in the coming decades. This may seem like a large number, but look at it this way…. An organisation with 20 people would aim to plant 2,800 trees. That is doable!
If we can’t achieve what we should according to this formula, then let us do the best we can.
Every tree planted counts
Different ways to achieve this goal
♣ Sponsor/donate towards growing and planting seedlings
♣ Get involved in our tree planting programs
♣ Be part of our teams that inspire or educate others about trees
♣ Join us in dreaming up other ways to support this vision
Find out more on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/trilliontrees.org.au and get your club, your friends, colleagues and family excited about the Trillion Tree project!
Thanks to Barb and Linda for replying to my last call for help.
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