Rotary Theme: Rotary Fellowships Month
Guest: Terry Powell
Report of Meeting June May 5th, 2018
President’s Report
- • Socks for homeless appeal still open. Please give donations to Marian Walton.
- • Geoff Ford is in hospital. [Any other information Norm]
- • We have informed the Uniting Church we are unable to help with the backyard clean up as it needs tree cutting.
President Elect, Graeme Chamberlain – all duties for next year organised. New Board members are invited to attend the last Calnin Board meeting at his house, 49 Halibut Avenue, at 10 am on Tuesday, 12th June.
Reminder – car rally is on 17th June.
Adrian Schmidt – next fundraising Bunnings BBQ is on 24th June in Leopold. Volunteers are needed with sheet distributed. As Adrian will be away, Coog and Wal Kelly will be organising it.
Query as to location of 50 Club banners, which were recently ordered.
Guest Speaker: Nicole Vinken-Powell – New Member’s Introduction
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| Nicole Vincent-Powell |
Nicole was one of four children born to Dutch immigrant parents, who came over as children. She was born in Geelong and has lived here her whole life. After completing year 12, Nicole started work in childcare, doing a Diploma in Childcare at Gordon in the evenings. She completed several other diplomas and then a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education graduating in 2007, again studying in the evenings. She is married to Terry and has two stepchildren currently aged 23 and 25. Nicole is a keen athlete and represented Victoria as long-distance race walker.
Nicole has worked for the City of Greater Geelong for the past 23 years. She became the Director at the Surfside Kindergarten Centre and later moved to the Drysdale and Corio centres. She then became Coordinator of the Family Day-care Program and is responsible for the City’s parenting program which runs supported playgroups to help develop parenting skills in disadvantaged areas of the municipality. Nicole currently oversees a number of Council programs and is responsible for over 300 educators and support staff.
Council has introduced several innovations such as ‘bush kinder’, which is held in Ocean Grove, taking children to the Nature Reserve each week. A similar program is run in Barwon Heads, which also has ‘beach kinder’. Nicole is a strong advocate for the rights of children and tries to ensure Council provides support for children in need.
Her current interest is in the child’s brain development, which occurs fastest in their first three years. To stimulate their development, children need to be in a stimulating environment at this time. The long-term effects of stress in these first three years remain with kids all their life, affecting their learning and relationships.
Nicole chose to join Rotary in order to contribute to the community. She also volunteers at the Christ Church Meals program and is an advocate for women in the community. She is a member of the Club’s Family Violence workgroup.
If either Members or their partners are not going to the Changeover Dinner they must send in apologies by the 15th June or they will be charged.
Obviously if someone falls sick nearer to the time a later apology will be accepted.
Thanks, Ann Hodgkinson
