January Theme: Rotary Awareness Month
Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster: 29/1/2017 – 11/2/2017 Gordon King,
12/2/2017 – 25//2/2017 Dick Clay
Report of Meeting: 31/1/2017
Guests: Helen and Craig Salmon, Guest Speakers.
President:
The Burns Supper held at McGlashens Estate was a great success and thanks were extended once again to Pearl and Rod and all those who participated. Profit made at this event will be used for the project in Viqueque.
Rod Bush has posted a video on the website, take a look!
A Crowd Funding proposal is being considered for the Solmaid School.
From the District Board: Directives have been received from the District Board relating to the recent Royal Commission into Responses relating to Child Sexual Abuse Recommendations. RI is encouraging diligence and Districts have been asked to review their circumstances and standards of care when working with Youth. The Clubs in our district are asked to complete the following three requirements in order to meet the Child Safe Standards by Jan 1st 2017 and be compliant with the Rotary Youth Protection and Insurance Policies.
Rotary Youth Volunteer Information and Declaration – ALL MEMBERS (and later some partners) are REQUIRED to complete a prepared form. This is to be completed ASAP and returned to the Secretary (Fred) or to Judy.
The secretary will retain completed forms.
Child Safe Standards: ALL MEMBERS must be familiar with this document. Two copies are being passed around for members to read and then sign and date an accompanying Membership List, all to be retained by the Club Secretary. **Please let Judy know if you have one of these copies so their circulation can continue! A full copy of the standards is available on the District website under the Youth Tab.
**** Please return Car Raffle books with money at the next meeting ****
Publicity: DISTRICT CONFERENCE "BE BOLD" 31March – 1/2April will be held at the Barrabool Hills Centre and Saturday night dinner at the South Barwon Civic Centre. Please check the District Website for all info relating to this important event. Registration forms are also available from the Website.
Foundation: Centurian donation boxes are available from Gerry Spencer.
Fundraising: The Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings in Leopold on 26/1/17 was a great success despite the tent flying away! Volunteers were thanked for their efforts.
District Fundraiser for ROMAC on February 18th at Buckley's Entertainment Centre, 8pm. Comedian Dave Thornton will be on the program. Tickets are $32.00 per person. See information sent by Fred or contact Eng Ho for further details. There was an article in the Voice about this.
Market: There are some spots to be filled for the BBQ and Car Raffle sellers. Contact Coog if you can help on Sunday 5th February.
Health: Peter Hawthorne is not well and undergoing some tests and treatment.
Jan and John Fox are preparing for a move to a residential care in Melbourne soon, so they can be close to their sons.
Youth: Our exchange student Tiffany has moved to her new host family, the Honeywell's. She thoroughly enjoyed her trip to Melbourne with Sam and Don to celebrate Chinese New Year. Her previous host family is being taken to dinner as a thank you from the Club.
Jackie Honeywell, our outbound student has settled in well in Germany and is enjoying skiing.
Vocational: The visit to Epworth Hospital near Deacon Uni is on 7/2/17. A 5.30pm start is anticipated, with a 6.45pm finish. Meet in the front foyer. After the visit diner (Pizza etc.) will be provided at the Ocean Grove Fire Brigade. Cost will be $20. Please bring glasses for wine.
Social: Community Bowls are being held at the Point Lonsdale Bowling Club again this year. It is held every Monday evening during February. Contact Gerry Spencer if interested – only two teams can participate this year.
Guest Speakers: Helen and Craig Salmon and the Solmaid School in Bangladesh.
The Solmaid Community School has the motto of ' By the Community for the Community.'
Planning for the school commenced 7 years ago with the fist students being taught 5 years ago. At present there are 130 students being educated to Grade 5 level. There is worldwide support for the project and Helen and Craig stated that the care and support from people was an inspiration. There is a staff of five, most of who grew up in the slums living in similar circumstances to their students. The conditions are challenging and often confronting.
Nineteen students completed Grade 5 in 2016 and in the Government exam 100% passed. The whole class achieved excellent results. The success this school is sadly not reflected in the wider poorer community where most children do not attend school and if they do so they only reach Grade 2.
2016 was the first year that the children were given uniforms, a pair of shoes and paper by supporters of the school. The Government provides textbooks in Bangli and English. Food is provided daily and this makes a great difference to the families' as well as the students. The students attend for three hours in two shifts, am and pm, at an overall cost per year of $300.
The Rotary Club of North Dhaka also supports the school as well as other organizations and there is a hope that better technology will enable better contact and ability to follow the progress of the children. Regular updates will come from the five students being supported by the Club. Several pictures were shown of the children with their uniforms, shoes and books as well as a brief greeting from each of our students. The children who were to attend the school were selected from a waiting list of 600 and the teachers vetted their circumstances and need. After Grade 5 most go to secondary school with help from a German fund raising group. Work is also being done on providing vocational educational classes in the evening. The thirst for education and training is demonstrated by 1.3 million applications for 12,000 teacher-training positions! Perhaps our small contribution may help in the future by preparing children from the slums to gain a place in this profession.
Helen and Craig expressed their sincere appreciation and thanks for the Clubs support.
This is a most worthwhile project that needs our continued support.
Thank you.
AG.
