Town & Country Weekly

Your e-Zine from District 9800

Volume 3  Issue 9 2 September 2006

 

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DG Bernie's Message

ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE

After many years of providing successful Exchanges with students, both here and abroad, we find ourselves now greeting smaller numbers of inbound students compared with the much larger groups of more recent years.

We are addressing this problem, that is not only confined to our District, and have renewed the Youth Exchange Committee to review the situation and adopt new strategies to make this very important work of Rotary once again a shining star in our support for our future generation.

Why Youth Exchange – the major objective of the programme is to further international goodwill and understanding by enabling students to study at first hand some of the problems and accomplishments of people in lands other than their own. There is an ambassadorial role implied in the exchange with students being expected to impart as much knowledge as they can of their own country.

In following this theme, Stephanie Reynolds, District Chair of the Youth Exchange Programme for 2006-7, conducted a seminar for some of our visitors and she writes:

"During the weekend of 25- 27 August, 8 young people from around the world met to discuss what it means to be an ambassador as part of the Youth Exchange Programme.  This year's orientation weekend took a different approach from usual and adopted the current Rotary theme - "LEAD THE WAY".

The students explored what it meant to be an ambassador, and why it mattered. But more importantly they started to explore their personal dreams - the vision they have of themselves in the future, the way in which they might be able to make a difference to the world and to others and the way they might make the most of their exchange to start making their vision a reality.

It was inspiring to hear these young people realise that they could use their exchange for more than just a cultural experience and that they had the power, the dreams and the skills to start making a real contribution to the world and to others right now.  For example, one student talked about his concern for the closure of hospitals in the Philippines, his desire to do something about this and help others less fortunate than himself and his hope that he can find a way while here to open doors and start the change.

As this current group of inbound exchange students work with returned students to initiate one of more projects, we may be about to see a new era in youth exchange - focused not just on learning through a cultural experience and promoting word understanding - but using the opportunity this presents to open new paths of service. They talked enthusiastically about the possibility of creating something in Australia that they might take back to their own countries at the end of their exchange.  Now the challenge is to help these young people make their vision a reality.

We are promoting the programme by using these students to visit Clubs and speak briefly about what it means to be a Rotary Sponsored Youth Exchange student. When these students approach Clubs across the District for guidance and support, we hope that Rotarians will be generous with their time and provide the encouragement they will need".

Clubs and Rotarians interested in the Youth Exchange Programme can contact:

Stephanie Reynolds, Chair  - email treynold@bigpond.net.au  or

Des Hosking, - deshoskg@bigpond.net.au

Lead the Way by showing our youth that we support them.

DG Bernie Walshe

Calendar of Events:
 

Click Here

 

 

DISTRICT 9800 FOUNDATION SEMINAR SATURDAY 7 Oct, 2006

Our District Foundation Committee invites all Club Foundation Chairman ( in particular those who were unable to attend the District Assembly) Presidents Elects, New Rotarians and any other Rotarian interested in gaining vital information relating to the many new aspects and opportunities presented from our Foundation.

The Seminar is to be held in the Old Royce Abbey Room, International House, Carlton on Saturday October 7th 9AM to 12PM.

A panel of experienced Rotarians will be present to assist you with any specific inquiries you may have relating to any aspect of our Foundation

Further inquiries should be directed to PDG John Wigley.  

 

 

SEPTEMBER IS NEW GENERATIONS MONTH

 

 

  1. LISTEN TO THE RADIO
    Did you know that Rotary is active on Community Radio and that you can get publicity for your projects?

    RC Canterbury has a 2 hour "Rotary and Community Service Show" on 3WBC 94.1FM every Friday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm presented by Rotarian Brian Bloomer from RC Canterbury. As our DG Bernie has eloquently said, "It is noble to be modest but foolhardy to be quiet about our great service...". This Radio program is converting thought and words into action.

    Promotion of Rotary activities = awareness = interest = Project support and new members.

    This is your opportunity for free promotion of your Rotary projects. Any Rotary Club who would like free promotion and the option to interview someone from your  club on-air about one of your upcoming projects please contact Brian Bloomer on 0405 124 958 or email brian.bloomer@3wbc.org.au

    McNair surveys just released in Aug 2006 show 7,515,000 Australians (47%) aged 15+ listen to Community Radio in an average month. Listeners to community radio in an average week spend 7.5 hours listening to community radio per week.

    Try it out - Listen in to 94.1FM on every Friday 6:00pm - 8:00pm for great music and Rotary information. DG Bernie will be interviewed on Friday 8 September.

    RC Templestowe invites Clubs in 20km radius of Heidelberg, to advertise Club events on Radio 96.5FM. Contact Keith Anderson at keitha@adilam.com.au or 0412 558 066.
     

  2. DISTRICTS 9800 & 2420 ROTARY ANZAC PEACE TOUR -
    Turkey & Gallipoli 2007 - Fully escorted group tour: April 17-26 2007. Choose from a 10 or 21 day itinerary that includes air fares, accommodation, meals, sight-seeing and the ANZAC Day Dawn Service among many wonderful special inclusions & VIP treatment - See tour website at: www.rapt.org.au  

    For an illustrated Club Presentation, contact either: Dr Owen Tassicker RC Balwyn, owen@bigpond.net.au, or Dr Murray Verso, RC Williamstown. verson@netspace.net.au

    Limited seats for this exclusive tour: Start from $5499* per person double. Book 10 October 2006 for early-bird bonus.
    For more details contact: Debbie at Harvey World Surrey Hills, 03 9830 0055 or surreyhills@harveyworld.com.au
     

  3. The Rotary Group Study Exchange Program
    Group Study Exchange with District 1580 - Netherlands
    To All Club Presidents -Reminder that applications for outbound Team members and leader close on 29 September. For questions please contact Neville John on 0417 387216.

    The Exchange will take place approximately during the period 28 April 2007 to 2 June 2007. You can visit the D1580 website at http://www.rotarydistrict.nl/d1580/

    Team leader interviews will be held on Sunday 8 October 2006 at International House. Selection for the outbound team will be on 22 October & 29 October 2006 at International House.
    The Application Form for Team Leader is available by clicking here and for Team Member click here.
     

  4. Shine On Awards - ROTARY SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
    (9780, 9790, 9800, 9810 and 9820)     focuses on  honouring the abilities of those with a disability.

    Nominate a Youth (15 - 20 y.o.) or Adult person (21 years and over) for the Rotary Shine On awards ceremony in 2007, jointly hosted by RC of Morwell and RC Hazelwood (District 9820) on  Sunday, May 6, 2007.  Information for Clubs is in the mail.

    It takes time to organise the interview and to get the nomination done. The Closing Date for Nominations is 25th February, 2007.  
    Where:     Morwell  Club Inc., 136 Helen Street,  Morwell. Vic. 3840

    Look for your mail addressed to each Rotary Club President and Vocational Service Director and you can view the Shine On webpage at  http://www.shineonawards.org/ for the story of Shine On, photos and downloadable guideline and  nomination forms.
     

  5. OPERATION CLEFT - Gift a Smile for Life:
    An international project of the Rotary Club of Box Hill Central (District 9810). Through generosity of sponsors, this project will conduct over 1,000 operations in 2006 to repair cleft lips and palates of children in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India.  In developing countries around one in 700 children is born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate, leading to a range of problems, (deafness, malnutrition, social isolation for the child, and marginalisation for the entire family). A simple operation (A$150 fully tax deductible) dramatically improves appearance and changes lives. RC of Box Hill Central & Glencoe Foundation meet all administrative and promotional costs of the project, so 100% of sponsors' funds go direct to operations.

    RC Box Hill Central welcomes the opportunity to provide a speaker to Club meetings to describe Operation Cleft, experiences of participating in an Operation Cleft mission, and explain how Rotarians and Clubs can participate in this project. For a speaker, please contact Rotarian Colin Macfarlane on 0419 358 143 or email Lindsay Mackay at lindsaym@deakin.edu.au.

     

     

     

     

     

 


 

6.   POLIOPLUS PARTNERS  - AN INVITATION TO GET INVOLVED
     This the new program that encourages Clubs & Rotarians to financially support our 
     great Rotary program of  Polio eradication. If you require specific information or ways
     that you or your Club can become involved please go to:  
     www.rotary.org/foundation/polioplus/partners/about

     Also available for download is the PolioPlus in Action newsletter and thePolioPlus
      Partners Open Plan List.

     For information about what our District is doing please contact PDG Don Jago or 
     District Foundation Chairman Chris Don.

7.  WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CLUBS

      RC Albert Park
      Rotary Club of Albert Park invites you to their
   Annual Footy Grand Final Breakfast
    Wednesday 27 September 2006 - 6.45 am to be seated for 7.00 am sharp
     AT Richmond Football Club Social Club, Punt Road Oval
     (free parking available on site - entry from Punt Road (Mel ref 2G)
     Special Guest Speaker Kevin Sheedy
      $30/head includes hot breakfast  -  tables of 10 available
     Lucky Door Prizes, Mini Auction, Raffle and lots more fun
      bookings : JOAN 0418 351762   or   PAULINE 0418 337840  by SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

      RC Eaglehawk - Another reminder about interesting fellowship options in support of  
      EAGLEHAWK SKATE PARK PROJECT
      CYCLE ABOUT WHIPSTICK -Sunday 10th September 2006

     3 Rides - 25k or 50k on Bush Tracks starting from Woodvale Recreation Reserve,  
     Janaways Road, Woodvale at 10.00 a.m.

     or 110k ride on sealed roads commencing from Woodvale Recreation Reserve at 
     8.00 a.m. Barbeque lunch to follow.  Enquiries contact Alf Thorpe 0411 540 547

      WINE TASTING Friday 15th September 2006
      at California Gully Mechanics Institute, School Street, California Gully
     7.00 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. $20 per person, includes complementary Wine Glass
     Raffles, Door Prize, Light Supper - Wine and Produce can be ordered on the night
     For further information contact Alf Thorpe 0411 540 547

     RC Carlton
     Tuesday lunch on 19 September is now replaced by Friday 15 September Fundraising  
      Dinner at Toorak RSL Club (The Hero's Club) 7 for 7.30pm. Bookings with Bob Slater
     on 0418 317 057 or 9842  6632 [H]                 Click here for details
   
      RC Footscray
     Every year since 1991 dentist member Dr Jamie Robertson has visited Vietnam 
     with an ever-expanding team of dentists and other medical professionals to carry 
     out procedures for desperately poor citizens of Vietnam who would otherwise have
     no hope of treatment.

     To assist with purchasing of necessary supplies for this wonderful humanitarian
     venture (all team members pay their own fares) RC Footscray runs an annual  
     function  "Night for Vietnam".  This year's event is on Friday 8 September at:
     501 Receptions,  501 Barkly Street, Footscray, starting at 7.15pm.
 
     Cost for a great dinner, entertainment and fellowship is $40 per head.
     Click here for details

      RC Kew
     The Club is moving its regular weekly meetings from Leonda to The Kew Golf 
      Club. The first meeting at the new location is Thursday September 7, 2006. The 
     meeting times remain 12.30 pm for 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm.
     Details are:
     The Kew Golf Club, 120 Belford Road KEW EAST 3102      [Melways Ref.: 45 G1]

      RC Richmond
      The last of the Leonda Clubs is moving. As of 11 September RC Richmond will meet 
     at Rydges River Walk (soon to be called Amoro Hotel Riverwalk), 649 Bridge Road, 
     Richmond.
     1st and 3rd Mondays 6.30 for 7.00
     2nd, 4th and 5th Mondays 12.30 for 1.00pm

      RC Tullamarine:
     On 14 and 15 of October the Club will be running its annual 24 hour Mega swim in aid of   
     MS. For more information  go to the swim web site at  www.msswim.com 

      New Members
     A big Rotary welcome to the following new Rotarian:

      RC Bendigo
      Margaret O'Rourke
     Kaye Graves

      RC Glen Eira
      Keith Faiman
     Marilyn Faiman

      RC Melbourne
     John Perberdy

      RC Point Gellibrand
     Faye Lanyon [Photo]

      RI Exchange Rate
      The September Rotary exchange rate for the AUD is 1.31 [YES - same as last month]

     Don't forget - you can always check the back issues of Weekly News if you missed
     something:  2005-2006 Issue 01  02  03  04  05  06  07  08   09  10  11  12  13  
     14   15  16  17  18  19  20   21  22  23  24   25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  
      35  36  37   38   39  40   41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48

     2006-2007: 1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8

      Speakers Bank Update - the very latest: Click Here
 

     District 9800's website: http://www.rotaryd9800.org/