Dispatches From The East - 10 March, 2020 (Mar 09, 2020)

Our Meeting of 3 March

Guests and welcome

Kris Adam chaired a very busy evening and welcomed several guests including:

AG Judy Beasley, and Rotarian Brenda Ibles from the Rotary Club of Eltham who came to support her mother, Ellen Verrier, who was inducted as a member of Geelong East Rotary.

Guest speaker Eyrian Morgan, Rotary Exchange student recently returned from Norway, and her mother Breda Murphy.

Alison Marshall’s guest was Kari, a Norwegian friend. Eryian was delighted to speak Norwegian with Kari as Eryian had not spoken the language since returning home to Australia in January.

Robyn Campbell’s guests were James Wilson, our 2020 RYLA candidate, and Joanne Pickering.

Peter Funston’s guests were his wife Robyn and her friend Lyn Olsen.

Janine’s Koch’s guest was her daughter, Lena Wood, who travelled from Wagga to celebrate her grandfather, Bill Pratt’s 98^th birthday.

Adrian McCurrie was Jenny Acopian’s guest and interested in the work of Rotary.

Honorary member Lyn Fleet was also a welcome guest.

Guest speaker: Eyrian Morgan, Rotary Exchange student

At just 15 years of age, Eryian arrived in Norway in January 2019 to commence her year as a Rotary Exchange student. She would spend her year in Tonsberg, a beautiful town, and the oldest in Norway, just south of Oslo. Before arriving she worked hard on becoming fluent in Norwegian and it paid off as her school mates, her four host families, Rotarians and all those she met welcomed her efforts to communicate in their language. She could take full advantage of her new surroundings.

Eryian’s presentation was superb and those present were amazed and delighted by her maturity and confidence for one so young. She spoke glowingly of her host families, all of whom taught her about various aspects of life in Norway – cross country skiing, hiking, cycling, other outdoor activities, learning Danish as well as Norwegian, cultural events, and so on.

Rotary organised three trips for exchange students from across the world: the first was a one and a half week skiing trip in norther Norway, the second a weekend in Oslo where the group enjoyed being spectators at major ski jumping event, and the third was a nine-day trip from Oslo to Bergen on the west coast where the students participated in rafting, cycling and other strenuous activities. Eryian also had a great time when her family visited her and they had a wonderful three weeks together touring around Europe.

Eryian provided us with an insight into the differences between Norway and Australia. One of the main differences was the deep interest young people have in politics. She has reflected on her year in Norway and believes as a result she is more mature, more confident and has the ability to cope well under pressure. She is also more appreciative of her parents and siblings, her host families and the friends and opportunities the year provided.

Eryian ended her presentation with a ‘show and tell’ of interesting items she had accumulated during her year in Norway.

All in all a wonderful presentation by an outstanding young lady – a credit to herself and to the Rotary Exchange program.

Announcements, News and Help Required

President Tony

congratulated the organising committee for a most successful 50^th birthday celebrations held at The Range on Sunday 22 February. Good food and fellowships abounded.
invited members to attend the all-Geelong Rotary Clubs Bushfire Fundraiser to be held at the Capri reception rooms on Friday 3 April 2020, $65 pp.
off-site committee meetings next week 10 March. Committee chairs to advise members of location and other details.

Assistant Governor (AG) Judy Beasley

congratulated the Club on its 50^th birthday
congratulated PDG Eddie Loughnan on his well-deserved “Service Above Self” Award from Rotary International
encouraged members to attend District Assembly in Ararat on Sunday 26 April 2020
invited members to attend the District Change-over in Geelong on 31 May 2020 when her husband Phil Beasley will be inducted as the new District Governor of District 9780.

Induction of new member Ellen Verrier

Ellen Verrier, a former nurse, was inducted into our Club in the presence of her daughter, Rotarian Brenda Ibles. Ellen was nominated by Kris Adam and thanked members for the warmth of the welcome and kindness she has received since first coming to our Club.

Announcements

Jenny Acopian

30 March 2020 Christ Church Community Meals duty calls
encouraged members to think about nominating an outstanding person in the community who could benefit from a RI Peace Fellowship.

Yannick Le Gall:

Bunnings BBQs need workers for:

Easter Sunday 12 April
ANZAC Day Saturday 25 April

Graham Thomson:

The Youth Committee has donated $600 to the Bluebird Foundation to help fund the North Children’s Choir, a group of 6 to 11 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. A special event will be held on Thursday 5 March at the Geelong Arts Centre where our donation (and other donations) will be matched by Geelong businesses.

Our Club has been associated with the Bluebird Foundation for many years and together we have organised arts mentoring for the disabled, the mentoring of young musicians who have experienced homelessness and mental illness, and more recently a concert for carers.

Boosting Bushfire Impacted Economies

Yannick has custody of the Travel Fund Box into which members can place funds to support the Club’s proposed trip later in the year.

Iowa Friendship Visit

Rotary District 9780 Rotary Friendship Exchange is in the planning with Rotary District 5970 Iowa USA for an Outbound team to visit Iowa from 21st September to 4th October 2020 and expressions of interest are sought from Rotarians.

As a member of the team your main financial commitment is to cover the costs of your travel to and from District 5970 plus spending money for extras during the exchange. There may be costs for entries to museums, attractions, transport and meals.

Going on a Rotary Friendship Exchange is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit other countries and learn about their culture, life and spend time with Rotarians as part of their family. It is an amazing experience and one that you will never forget.

Expression of interest need to be submitted by the 30th April 2020. A team of 10 Rotarian couples or singles is requested. If you would like more info please contact Pres Tony asap.

Our Terry Thornton has recently experienced a Rotary Friendship Exchange and can fill out in on what to expect.

Program – Suggestions for Speakers invited

Kris Adam advised that we have vacancies for the remainder of the Rotary year. Please pass on your ideas to Kris.

National Youth Science Forum and be seen in green

Our 17 March meeting will feature our National Youth Science Forum attendee and we will get green in recognition of St. Patrick.

Rotary District Grants

Club Secretary Jenny reminded us that they are there for the asking (provided the ask is accompanied by the necessary papery bits).

Our Club has achieved some excellent results in our local community with the assistance of these grants.

The deadline is 1 April.

Trivia Nights – 17 July and 6 November

Mark your diaries now and start memorizing the least important facts.

These are great fun(d) and you learn stuff too.

St. Albans Football Club – home game gate

There are 9 matches to be played at St. Albans in the coming season and two people are required to mind the gate and collect the entrance fee.

Please put your name on the sheet going around if you can assist.

Club Walk About

Whether you use it as a make up to maintain your attendance level or just as a way of keeping in touch with other Rotarians and what they and their clubs are up to, getting out and about at other club meetings is the thing.

Yannick is on the trail so join up with her to learn about Rotary goings-on around about.

Clubs in the Geelong area meet across the working week at various times and venues.

See rotary9780.org/clubdirectory for meeting dates, times, places and contact information to book in.

Upcoming Events Coming Up

Off site Committee Meetings	10 March
Our National Youth Science Forum delegate (Maddie) and St. Patrick's Day (wear the Green)	17 March
District 9780 Conference - Swan Hill	20-22 March
Conference Report from various members	24 March
Christ Church Meals	Mon 30 March
Vicki Linnell - Foster Care, Barwon Health	31 March
Committee Meetings - on site	7 April

The Next 3 Weeks

Meeting Roster

Meeting Date	10 March	17 March	24 March
Meeting Topic	Committee Meetings (Off site)	Maddie Van Loon on the National Youth Science Forum and St. Patrick's Day (so wear something green).	Conference Report from various members.
Duties
Chair		Jenny Acopian	Kris Adam
Sergeant		Adrian Innes	Peter Funston
Cashier Attendance		John Birrell	Jenny Acopian
Room & Hosting		Bill Bailey & Terry Thornton	Sue Beretta & Keith Dawson.
Member Talk
Report
Additional Meeting		Board

Attendance

Attendance for the meeting of 3 March

Present: 21

Percentage: 46.51

Apologies: Bill Bailey, David & Sue Beretta, Allanah Clifford, Peter Cook, Stan Deans, Sue & James Dunlop, Harrie Farnaby, Laurent Franklin, Peter Gillham, Sue Hill, Adrian Innes, Adam Koch, Maxine Leske, Eddie Loughnan, Colin McElhinney, Gary Newton, Warren Norton, Sam Ramondetta, Andrew Rofe and David Sykes.

Honorary Members in attendance: Lyn Fleet.

Make Ups: None received for this week.

Leave of Absence: Keith Dawson (5 February to 11 March)

Recognitions

Birthdays: Happy birthdays to Sam’s “other ‘arf” Karen Sunderland on 13 March and to Judy Innes for 15 March.

Wedding Anniversaries: None this coming week.

Rotary Anniversaries: We celebrate Harrie Farnaby's 9 years of membership of our Club on 15 March.