Well – All I can say is that I am very disappointed not to have the Changeover proceed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. I thank John Hudson for his quick thinking and work to get us a new date. Hopefully the timing will be better. The new Board will take over on July 1st and I will get to introduce them on our Changeover now for July 13th. Note this is a Tuesday and so you will not have to avoid black cats and other bad omens.
It is amazing how many web sites are devoted to coping with disappointment with the COVID restrictions. The Red Cross suggests
- Acknowledge the disappointment – Yes - It is painful and a lot of reorganising.
- Accept the new normal – We just must face up to the reality of our situation.
- Look out for others – We are all feeling flat. Let’s party on July 13th!!
- Do things – Precisely what we are doing – switching to plan B, to delay to July 13th.
Overall, it is a delay in my rollover to a new year, but I really hope we can avoid similar problems in the new Rotary year. I am looking forward to the night and we have a great line up. Especially since you only have to endure one less speech by an “incoming President”. DG Philip Archer, who then will be a Past DG will assist me in the night. I just hope all of you may be able to adapt to the new date. Some may and some may not. Some who couldn’t make the original date can come, and those who were planning an escape in July will miss out on a brilliant night.So, lets’ look at some good news.
Youth Director for 2021-2
Has finally been decided. Andrea Kimler has agreed that Chris Raw will lead Youth. We congratulate them both and I expect good deeds and projects to come out of this amalgamation. Chris is keen to jump into our well known projects and Andrea will be pursuing an environment with a Youth slant. All good and I anticipate a good innings for next year. Chris is still Bulletin Editor for next year. A role she has played very well ensuring the Bulletin gets out every week on time. I do enjoy the joke section, which I usually read first every Monday.
Has finally been decided. Andrea Kimler has agreed that Chris Raw will lead Youth. We congratulate them both and I expect good deeds and projects to come out of this amalgamation. Chris is keen to jump into our well known projects and Andrea will be pursuing an environment with a Youth slant. All good and I anticipate a good innings for next year. Chris is still Bulletin Editor for next year. A role she has played very well ensuring the Bulletin gets out every week on time. I do enjoy the joke section, which I usually read first every Monday.
I believe that the District 9800 Governor Changeover is still going ahead on 10th July at Essendon Fields. Teresa Liu and I will be there, and we welcome others from the club to come represent the Rotary Club of Glenferrie.
There was a Grants Seminar this week. Zoom as per the norm. To represent our club there were Peter Moore, Cheryl Pisterman and myself on the Thursday night. Most impressively, our intrepid Richard Blakeman led the seminar with the professionalism that we are used to. We should look at grants for our programs and even scholarships for Year 11 and 12 who are having it tough and are potential scholars. Our club is well known for the Global Grant of $30,000 it generated for the Sumba Eye Program with the hard work of John Wishcer and Ian Salek. I was impressed that they still talk about it and incorrectly directed the praise towards me. Please book into the changeover to mark a terrible but successful year.
President Mark