So the club moves on – It is almost like opening the front door and the back door simultaneously to let the new year in and the old year out!! A Scottish New Year tradition at Hogmanay, which we learnt about when my family lived in Glasgow in 90 and 91.
Our Changeover on last Tuesday night was a great night of fellowship, and a celebration of our club’s years’ achievements. We had over 100 people attending for the big friendship event on our calendar. We had many notables from the Rotary hierarchy, the Boroondara Council as well as politicians of many persuasions. Thanks particularly to Richard Blakeman, we had a fast paced informative night of entertainment, which ably displayed our club’s worth. Feedback from one non Rotarian was that the presentations strongly showed Rotary’s relevance to our community, which I felt was a good indictment of our position in our society. Rotarians do make a difference.
Charles Tran excelled as MC. Rehearsing and tight planning by the team of Teresa Liu, Richard Blakeman, Charles Tran, Rod Smith and myself, was necessary to pull off a night to remember. Again, another comment from a highly placed Rotarian was that that night was the best changeover he has ever seen for our club - high praise. However, the night would never have been as successful if you all hadn’t taken the time on a cold winter’s night to be involved. Thanks to Rod Smith and John Hudson for setting up the event, Lynette Spencer for her decorations and Cheryl Pisterman for her design and handling of all the printing of the programs, and arranging the Paul Harris Certificates.
This was my final chance as President to reward people, whom I thought had diligently been working in the background during the last 2 years. So, I was very happy to be able to bestow a Paul Harris Recognition to Peter Moore, Chris Raw and David Fallick. Thelma Hutchison’s PHF and one sapphire. Rob Winspear’s PHF and 3 sapphires were for the obvious but, not so out in the open participation in making our club continue to function, at its high level. Elizabeth Dumonic’s PHF and one sapphire was mainly for her amazing recruitment of so many new members in the past 2 years.
The Royce Abbey award was an obvious choice of Richard Blakeman. He has been a Past President 2017-18, conducts our Communications & Public Image, worked tirelessly as our protection officer and has been a good mentor to me over the last 2 years. He is responsible for making our club look so efficient and modern with his wisdom and audio visual skills as per tonight. Also, the Club Runner program and website is mainly of his effort. At District level, his economic background and good leadership sense has had him chair the District and Global Grant committee for now a fourth year.
I really think that we have a very good year to come with strong leadership by Teresa Liu with a talented group of members behind her. Each President stamps their personality into the running of the club, so I do expect new ideas and differing ways of doing things. The year can be difficult. I found suddenly that I needed to have an idea of how all aspects of the club was conducted. Conflict mediation and good sense of correctness with a very good committee behind me were the ingredients to enjoy being the “Boss”.
So, all I can say to Teresa is a quote from the executive coach Sope Agbelusi – “Remember diamonds are created under pressure so hold on, it will be your time to shine soon”
Budget – Has been approved for next year for timing of the invoicing for the new year. The invoices are going out now. Please pay up and give Thelma an easy time so she will not have to follow up on your forgetfulness. Luckily, for our Farmer’s market input, we can keep our subscriptions low compared to other clubs. This is a good reason to help on the rostering. This is an honour system since we are not checking what you really are up to on a Saturday morning. With “service above self” attitude of a good Rotarian, we imagine everyone if not working on a Saturday should volunteer their services.
Camberwell Art Show – The Board has decreed that we will run our normal club meeting instead of Kooyong TC, but as a social night at the Camberwell Art Show which is being held at the Advanced Technology Centre of Swinburne University. So, Tuesday night 28th from 6.00 pm onwards. Entry fee is $15, and wine and cheese are provided. From Murray Anderson - The Chair of the Camberwell Art Show
“To purchase tickets, please go to the website www.camberwellartshow.org.au and select the Tickets Page. Then select Evening Sessions and choose the appropriate date (in your case 28 June). Can you advise your members that, although we will be able to process cash and credit card payment on the night, we encourage purchasing tickets as above, so we get an idea of numbers for catering purposes.’
The plan is then to meet for a meal after at 8.00 pm. Since the Glenferrie Hotel is just down the road, I propose to book one or two tables for us to go there at about 0800 pm. I will need an idea of numbers in the week coming up so to book enough space. Please let me know if intending to come to the hotel. (mark.ellis744@bigpond.com).
District Changeover has been set for 25th June at 1200 am. It would be nice to have a team going to represent our club. Good introduction for newcomers to see the Rotary Machine in action. Bookings via Humanitix. See the Bulletin for details.
For the record -
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou (American Poet)
PS Someone left a yellow collapsible umbrella near Table 4 at the Changeover. Please let me know who the owner is.
President Mark