President David presented Past President Rotary Wheeler with a plaque to recognise Robert's forty years in Rotary.
Robert joined Rotary on 21st February 1978 with the classification of Cabinet Making.
The fact that Robert's phone number only had six digits (501217) demonstrates how long ago 40 years ago was.
Robert has been a member, has chaired & been the Director of the committees covering Vocational Service, Fellowship, Youth and Community Service, Classification, International Service, Membership and Fundraising.
Add to this the Polio Plus, Rotary Foundation and Rotaract Committees and the offices of President Elect, President 1986-87 and Past President, Vice President 1989-90 and Club Secretary 1994-95, Program Coordinator and Sergeant and it is clear to see that Robert knows Rotary.
Robert has served as District Secretary 1989-90, the leader of the Group Study Exchange – Quebec/Ontario Canada 1992-93 and as a member and chair of the District Group Study Exchange Committee.
Robert received his Paul Harris Fellow Recognition in 1991and now has 4 sapphires to his PHF.
Robert has been and continues to be a source of stability, strength and inspiration to our Club and we are privileged to have him with us in our Rotary journey.
Welcome to Michelle and Michael
President David inducted Michelle and Mark Grant which brings our number up to 58, being 53 with our 5 Honorary members.
We are delighted to have Michelle and Mark with us to share the fun and friendship of Rotary service in our Club.
Welcome back Nora
We also had a visit from Nora our inbound exchange student from 4 years ago.
Kris Adam has posted more details on the Club's FaceBook page with photos.
Donations in Kind (DIK) Special Day: 17 March 2018
Club Secretary Jenny reporting
On Saturday 17 March a group of energetic Geelong East Rotarians and friends gathered for a working bee at the DIK depot in North Geelong, in memory of their colleagues Leon Mott and John Hayward. Leon and John were long-standing champions of DIK and the Club decided to revive the practice of celebrating their contribution by carrying out work in their honour.
Led capably by DIK Organiser, Anton van Doornik from the Rotary Club of Geelong, the task was to fill a very large container with desperately needed goods bound for New Britain, the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. The majority of the goods were school supplies to be distributed to over 300 schools across the island. Anton explained that the cost of transportation was to be borne by the Governor of New Britain, in response to an earlier container that had been delivered and paid for by Rotary.
Desks, chairs, filing cabinets, school books, novels, paper, pens, pencils, clothing and medical supplies were tightly packed into the 40 foot container. The expertise, persistence and strength of our new member Peter Cook came to the fore as he drew on his experience of warehousing in England. He was ably supported by the team around him who delivered a variety of goods to him in the confines of the very hot and sweaty container. The President of the Rotaract Club of Barwon, Aliya Tierney, was one of the enthusiastic volunteers and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to learn first-hand about the great work carried out by DIK. Work was halted mid-morning as the workers gathered to enjoy a delicious morning tea provided by Pam Mott and Dorothy Sinclair.
At the end of a hot and busy Saturday morning the container was almost ready for its journey to New Britain. The finishing touches will be made by the usual hardworking volunteers who gather every Tuesday to continue the work of DIK.
A job well done and a great way to put into action Rotary’s theme of ‘making a difference’.
....By the way, Jenny was pleased to note that the Geelong East team was gender balanced (7 men and 7 women) and a great effort by everyone involved.
Vocational visit to Deakin University’s CADET building 5 April 2018
The planned visit to Deakin’s CADET Engineering building on Easter Tuesday has been moved to Thursday 5 April because the university is closed on Easter Tuesday. There will be no meal.
A regular Rotary meeting will be held on the night of 5 April.
Christ Church - More than Meals
In addition to providing meals, the group accepts donations of clothes, shoes and toys for distribution to those in need.
Rotary Club of Kerang Inc Art Show 2018
Club Secretary Jenny has a promotional poster for the show which is a major fundraiser for the club and for the Kerang community.
Interplast Fundraising Raffle
John Nelson from the Rotary Club of Geelong West who is a member of the District 9780 Interplast has advised our Club Secretary Jenny that the Interplast Raffle for this year will be launched on 8 April and our Club will receive further information in due course about the selling of raffle tickets.
Golf at Port Fairy
Our Club Secretary Jenny has the entry form and flyer for the Rotary Club of Port Fairy Golf Day on 20 April.
All funds raised are for 'End Trachoma' project.
This is the first attempt of the Rotary Club of Port Fairy at a 'Golf Day' so they would love to see you there.
All golfers are welcome to a fabulous course with fabulous views. For more details, contact Peter Smith who is the Secretary - Rotary Club of Port Fairy on (03) 5568 1585 or 0428 415 854.
Apologies:Bill Bailey, Satbir Chug, Allannah Clifford, Peter Cook, Stan Deans, Harrie Farnaby, Peter Gillham, Jonathan Hepner, Sue Hill, Bruce King, Franklin Laurent, Maxine Leske, Yannick Le Gall, Eddie Loughnan, Sharon Meek, Andrew Rofe and Ross Taylor.
Leave of Absence:Jenny Acopian, Keith Dawson and Angela & Bryan Humphrey.
Present: 21
Percentage: 50.0
Make Ups for February: President David Sykes - Groups 9 & 10 Presidents' Meeting on 20 February, Rotary Club of Port Lincoln on 27 February and the reception for RI President Ian Riseley at Government House on 6 March.
Past President Ross Taylor - Rotary Club of Corio Bay on 6 February.