16th March 2010
This Day Tonight
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Tonight's premier fine had something to do with Alison George's sick cat, but I missed the punch line, which I was told was attributed to Noel Emselle.•
Foxy's Belgian chocolates were relegated to fifth prize in the raffle tonight, which only goes to show that Dick Clay is inundated with quality offerings.•
Heather Wallace reports 59 bookings for Davidsons Restaurant in May. If we get to 80, we get exclusiousity!•
We all owe Alison $5 for our RAWCS sticker. [Rotary Australia World Community Serice]•
Judy Greer has advised further vacancies for the RYLA weekend.•
Geoff Brentnall reported $162 for the blue fingernails project.•
Phil Edwards advised that although the March Market was cancelled because of inclemency, he is still confident of a net $16,500 plus for the season..•
Ian Downing reported the Queenscliff Town Hall as the venue for the 2011 Rotary Ocean Grove Art Show.•
Our footy tipping competition is great fun. If you are not already registered, contact Gary Golding•
There is a working bee at Surfside School this Friday morning. Bill Walton is OC, and if you can help, phone Bill.•
Our Red Cross calling effort raised $4000, and Peter Hawthorne is confident of an even greater gross takings before the project is complete•
Managing the Economy
It's a slow day in a little Australian town. The sun is beating down and the streets are deserted.
Times are tough; everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit. On this particular day, a rich tourist from down south is driving through town. He stops at the motel and puts a $100 note on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one for the night.
As soon as he walks upstairs, the owner grabs the note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the $100 and rushes off to pay his account at the supplier of feed and fuel. The manager of the Farmer's Co-op runs to pay his debt to the local prostitute, who has been facing hard times, [no pun intended], and has had to offer her services on credit.
The hooker rushes to the motel and pays off her room bill with the $100. The aforementioned owner then places the $100 on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.
At that moment, the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the $100 and, stating that the rooms are not to his liking, pockets the money and leaves town. No one produced anything. No one earned anything.
However, the whole town is now out of debt and looks to the future with optimism.
And that, my fellow Rotarians, is how the Australian Government is conducting business today!!
Thought for the week
There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity. Just ask Lara Bingle.
The District Conference
Frankly, I thought the attendance at the district conference held last weekend, was poor. Our club was represented by 11 members [a bit better than 20%] and 3 partners, but if there was 20% of all district Rotarians present, I would be surprised. Perhaps it was at least partly due to the fact that there are 14 Geelong District clubs out of the district 9780 total, and a Geelong conference does not, perhaps, hold much appeal. But certainly, we all 'rattled' around the confines of the ground floor of the Costa Hall. The stage was used to good effect, but there was often at least 50 feet between the chairman and the speaker, which, at least to my mind, seemed a bit incongruous.
However, the program was good, the timing excellent, the huge marquee erected next to the auditorium was eye-catching and very convenient, and Highton Kardinia RC can be very proud of the way it all went. I apologise if I sound a little unenthusiastic, but I attended my first Rotary district conference in 1958, and there is, understandably, a certain sameness about them all.
However, the annual conference is always very well balanced and informative, and my attendance over a span of more than 50 years is testament to the value of the conference to all keen Rotarians.
It is for that reason that I commend to all my readers, the 2011 Rotary district conference, due to be held in Ballarat from Friday 18thto Sunday 20th March 2011, at the Caro Convention Centre of the University of Ballarat, University Drive, Mount Helen. Registration details will be advised nearer the event.
On communications
There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. It could be a right number!
Three fascinating, but otherwise quite useless pieces of information.
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Chickpeas were used as a coffee substitute during the First World War.•
A can of coke contains the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar.•
Former North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh once worked as a pastry assistant in the kitchens of London's Carlton Hotel.Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, 23rd March, 6.00 for 6.30.
Subject Rotary Shine On Awards. Speaker Adrian Innes. Chairman Bruce Gilbert
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Ian Bent Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Martin Geerings
Birthdays & Anniversaries 24th David & Anne Tyrrell. 26thMary-Lou Gilbert. 30th Coral Barker
If you get stiff in those joints, keep out of those joints
Until this edition, my proof reader would have said, "Better not use that if you want to win the District Bulletin Award". Having not done so, [and probably didn't even get into the final eight], I think 'Bugger it, I'll use it anyway! Hey, I almost forgot the punch-line!! Which is…….
After 50, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead! Gerry Spencer sent me that one
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, 30th March, 6.00 for 6.30.
Subject Mental Health Speaker Naomi Adams Chairman Ingrid Cummins
Asistant Cashier & Thanker Phil Edwards Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Hans Franken
Birthdays & Anniversaries 1st April Val Kelly 2nd April Geoffrey & Ingrid Cummins.
Reflections on the conference
We were awarded the Lang trophy for the best district net membership growth in 2008/09, a triumph rightfully attributed toJohn Calnin and his membership growth team
President Rod, Noel Emselle, Heather Wallace and John Fox all reported on various aspects of the District Conference last weekend. There were many and varied speakers, and the first three reporteesabove prepared comprehensive reports which were too lengthy to adequately cover in these last few lines Sufficient to say that most of the speakers were outstandingly good, and the timing of all sessions was really first class, thanks to Highton Kardinia RC efficiency
Foxy talked volubly but incomprehensively about Wesley College purple shirts, the demise of Apex, JC's and other former service clubs, without bothering to explain what that had to do with the conference sessions.
Poor bugger, he is getting old!. Helen Trigg tried desperately to put it all in to context, but it was probably too late. The conference was a success, despite the disappointing numbers. Ballarat next year should have greater appeal for at least the Bellarinerers.
A prayer for forgetfulness
Grant me the acutility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the people I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
And, as a final thought for the week……..
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke
John Fox, 2120, 16/03/2010
