www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Volume 26 No 8
August 21, 2007
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 28th August, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject ‘The Australian Share Market, the basics, and where is it heading’
Speaker Andrew Conlan, financial planner, WHK Day Neilson. Chairman Colin Brown
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Peter Hawthorne Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Tim Kemp
Birthdays & Anniversaries
29th Hazel Ford. [also PM Andrew Fisher 1862, Ingrid Bergman 1915, and Michael Jackson 1958.]
2nd Sept. Rod & Patsy Bush. [also the great fire of London 1666, Surrender of the Japanese 1945, and Vietnam becomes a republic 1945.]
2nd Sept. James Turnbull. [ also some very strange people, but James won’t get to read this in Europe.]
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Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 4th September, 6.30 for 7.00
This is a partner’ night and you are presumed to attend, with partner, unless you apologise.
Resuming Presidential Duties President Alison
Chairman/ entrepreneur/ fun manager/ and activities arranger Coral Barker
Assistant Cashier Alex Magee Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Trevor McArdle.
Anniversary 8th Martin & Anne Geerings [To which can be added the following notable events – The unveiling, in 1504, at Florence, of Michelangelo’s masterpiece David, which took three years to complete; the establishment of the first European settlement in North America at St. Augustine in what is now Florida, 1565; and the crowning of William IV as King of Great Britain in 1831.
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The venue appears to be a day to day proposition
Has anyone got any idea what is happening at our place of meeting? It closed for renovations about two months ago, but of renovations, there is nothing. The next-door retirement settlement, which is apparently part of the same picture as the hotel, has not moved for at least the same time. I understand that we are still there only to keep the licence alive, and insolvency appears to hang over the whole project. Meanwhile, the loyal but skeleton staff provide us with excellent meals and service. Do we have a contingency plan? What if we turn up one Tuesday, only to be locked out? Very, very odd.
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A Bad Day Contributed by me Pommie mate Robin Stevens.
A little fella is sitting at a bar, just staring at his drink for half an hour and this big trouble-making bikey steps up next to him, grabs his drink and gulps it down in one swig. The poor little fella starts to cry.
“Come on man. I was jus’ givin’ you a hard time” the bikey says. “ Yu don’t need to cry”.
“This is the worst day of my life”, the little fella says between sobs. “I can’t do anything right. I overslept and was late for an important meeting, so my boss fired me. When I went to the car park, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance, and then I left my wallet in the taxi on the way home, and I found my wife in bed with the milkman and my dog bit me. So I came to this bar trying to work up the courage to put an end to my life, and then you show up and drink the damn poison”.
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A postcard from PresAl. Isle of Skye 9/8/07
‘Dear John & Jan, Received the bulletin dated 7/8 yesterday- thanks. Not the other one though. We are off to the Outer Hebrides tomorrow- weather has fined up and we can appreciate the wonderful scenery. We are having a wonderful time – much whiskey tasting and tonight, haggis for dinner. Thought these puffins reminded me of a Rotary meeting. Love Alison.’
[Your wicked editor will hand said card to the Sergeant on 4/9]
Clubs help Filipinos squeeze livelihoods out of coconuts
The Rotary clubs of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. And Metro Kalibo, Philippines, help turn waste into profit for Philippine coconut farmers and their families in the small village of Ibajay. With the aid of a US$5,000 Rotary Foundation Matching Grant, the two clubs implemented the coconut-based Livelihood Project.
The programme gives local coconut farmers the supplies and labour to turn wasted coconut husks into ‘coconets’ which have environmental, economic and social benefits for the community.
The project increases employment levels for women, out-of-school youth, the elderly and physically disabled citizens while reviving the coconut industry. Before the project, most women had almost no earning capabilities. The Rotary club of Kalibo donated labour and materials to help construct the expansion of the work and storage shed. It also sponsored training sessions in making twines and nets.
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Snippetts
• The Board has contributed $500 to the Bellarine Secondary College Youthfest fund.
• Another $500 to the fund to send kidney transplant recipient Tamaryn Stevens to the transplant games.
• If the Federal coalition thought they would gain political mileage out of Kevin’s visit to a New York strip club, they clearly came a gutser.
• On the other hand, the seven new signets on Begola Wetlands are thriving. Trebled their birth weight!
• The DIK project will be put under scrutiny next Tuesday. If it is to continue, it needs YOUR support.
• The local reps. to the ‘Adventure in Citizenship’ trip to Canberra will be our guest speakers shortly.
• You are reminded of the Community Service working bee at the south end of Presidents Avenue next Saturday morning at 0930. Shovels, hammers and gloves to work with. Caps, shirts, and other Rotary promotion stuff to ‘show the flag’.
• Our Donald continues to do a great job with the youth of the town at his boxing lessons. And he’s a great host for our Rotary dinners.
• Geoff Brentnall didn’t exactly enthuse about the Rotary Foundation Conference at Ararat last weekend, but there were some very interesting speakers and it was voted a success.
• Remember the ladies bike race at Barwon Heads a few months ago? A good fund raiser without much effort. Well, Brownie has given us plenty of warning of events coming to Portarlington, [a triathlon on 3/2/08] and Torquay, [more bikes on 15/3/08].
• Vocational Service bods are contemplating support for a needy year 11 student about to attack yr.12.
• Proposed Int’l service projects include a potable water supply to a Philippino school and an improvement on the meagre 3 toilets at a school in the same country for 1200 students. It’ll cost us, but a matching grant will help.
• We mourn the deaths of Marion Walton’s mother on 20th August and past benefactor and PHF Moyra Armstrong on !7th.
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Being the Australian Champion SLS club for the past 8 years is akin to being AFL champs!!
That was almost a ‘throw-away’ line from guest speaker Bruce Ward, 10 years as honorary treasurer, but that’s how good the local club is, and we should be proud of them. The club is 100, and the only paid employee is the cleaner. Bruce was volunteer of the year in 2005, and his club boasts several State and Federal awards. They don’t get the support they deserve from the community, but there are several local business supporters and the club provides an essential service. Well done to you all.
