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Vol.26 No 22
An important message from our President
Members, as you realize, it is very hard to get new members and once they have been inducted, it is up to us to make them feel welcome and bring them into our club.
Unfortunately, whilst we may think we are a very friendly club, we do not do this well and have a tendency to stay in our own comfort zone. I am no exception to the rule and must admit when this was brought to my attention was very embarrassed.
Please consider these new members and when you are enjoying fellowship, bring them into your group as they may add something to the conversation, and ask them to sit with you for dinner. Nothing is very hard but it can be very important for our new members.
President John
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 2nd December, 6.00 for 6.30
Program We will be hosts to our local Senior Citizens for their annual Christmas Rotafeast.
Chairman Head of Public Relations Richard Grimmett.
Attendance Officers Rod Birrell & Peter Cullen Greeters Marion Walton & Rod Greer
Duties other than listed above Waiters, drivers, odd jobbers and hosts. If you want a particular job, volunteer, but turn up anyway, and you will probably get a job. Usual $20 plus drinks at bar prices.
Birthdays
3rd Dec. Heather Franken: 4th Annette Cullen: 6th Judy Greer
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Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 9th December, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject ‘Parks Victoria on the Bellarine’ Speaker Stuart Willsher
Chairman John Dodgshun Attendance Officer John Wynn
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Barbara Finch Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Tony Haines
Birthdays & Anniversaries
9th James & Pam Turnbull 12th Colin & Jan Brown 14th Trevor McArdle
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Notable World Events in the week ahead [that was] The first Nobel Prizes
The Nobel prizes, which award outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature, medicine and peace, were presented for the first time on December 10, 1901. The prizes are funded by a legacy from Alfred Nobel, a brilliant Swedish chemist who made his fortune by inventing dynamite.
According to the terms of Nobel’s will, the bulk of his fortune was to be placed in a fund, the interest from which would be “annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind” in the various fields. Although never officially stated, it is thought that the pacifist Nobel created the prizes out of moral misgivings over the impact of his invention.
Presentations have always taken place on December 10, marking the anniversary of Nobel’s death in 1886, and are considered the world’s most prestigious prizes in each field. The absence of a prize for mathematics is popularly attributed to the rumor that Nobel’s love interest rejected him in favor of a famous mathematician of the time. Awardees include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King , the Dalai Lama, Ernest Hemingway and Nelson Mandela.
Two fellows were discussing popular family trends on sex, marriage and values. Stu said, “I didn’t sleep with my wife before we got married, did you?’
Leroy replied, “I’m not sure, what was her maiden name?”
Coral Barker has a challenge!
I am sending this only to my smart friends. I could not figure it out and had to cheat by looking at the answer.
[Your bulletin man is withholding the answer until next week]
Q What do these words have in common, [apart from each having two double letters?]
1. Banana 2 Dresser 3 Grammar 4 Potato 5 Revive 6 Uneven 7 Assess
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5,000 march in Korea to generate awareness of Rotary
District Governor Kwang Heum Baek wasn’t too proud to peel off his sock and show his blisters after he and more than 5000 Rotarians trekked through Gyeongsangbuk-do Province in Korea to promote Rotary. A resounding success the effort drew new club members, raised money, and generated positive press coverage for Rotary.
Rotarians in District 3630 marched relay-style every weekend from July through December 2007. Baek, the districts 2007/08 governor, was one of only 11 Rotarians who walked the entire 374 miles. Along the route, participants donated their time, money, and resources to communities in need, providing free medical care, coordinating blood drives, and raising money for scholarships. The march generated US$718,000, and drew 458 new club members. [During his 2007-08 term, 700 new members have joined clubs in District 3630, Korea’s largest district, with 106 clubs and 6018 Rotarians, according to Baek].
This innovative approach to promoting Rotary was Baek’s brainchild. Though his primary aim was to raise awareness of the organization and increase membership, he also wanted to inspire Rotarians to demonstrate Service Above Self. The march was covered in local and national newspapers and on radio and television.
Generating excitement about the event was Baek’s greatest challenge, he says. Club members were initially reluctant to take on such an immense project, so he relied on support from past district governors and ralied Rotarians to the task. In the end, the effort was wildly popular.
“The march began in the middle of a hot summer. Rain or shine, we walked and were greeted by Rotarians with a great deal of enthusiasm. Their enthusiasm is the driving force of District 3630”, Baek says.
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Did you know that Group Study Exchange is funded by RI, but Student Exchange is not?
The return airfares are born by RI, and the host district meets the rest of the cost of a generally 4 week long exchange between matched districts. Howard Randall from RC Torquay led our selected team to mainly Northern France in 1999, and he shared some of his memorable experiences as our guest speaker tonight. The best of 12 applicants for this exciting leadership adventure, Howard led 4 young people, each within the age group 25-40, to the area of the Somme where your editor has fond memories. [His home town of Robinvale is twinned with Villers Bretonneux, which he and his proof reader have visited.].
57,000 GSE team members in 12,000 teams have taken part in this interesting and rewarding programme, and Howard has enjoyed many lasting friendships from that experience 9 years ago. An excellent address from a keen Rotarian. Their presentation to many French Rotary clubs was entirely in French!
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Bits ‘n Pieces
Get your sold raffle books back to Fordie within two weeks, or he will take such action as will cause you the utmost damned astonishment.
If you can’t make Rotary next week to act as waiters for the Seniors dinner, apologise by noon next Friday or pay the penalty.
Our Annual Rotary Conference registration forms for March in Ballarat are available from Hans.
Peter Hawthorne is back from a very successful 50th anniversary celebration of his Rotary club of Kerang’s charter night. Peter wasn’t a charter member, but he has clocked up 45 years in Rotary.
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