18th May, 2011
Notice for the meeting at Club Grove, Tuesday 24TH May, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject Mental Health Speaker Jodie Johnson Chairman Geoff Brentnall
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Rod Birrell Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Geoffrey Cummins
Birthdays & Anniversaries 24th Anne Geerings 27th Phil & Robyn Edwards
A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. The driver screamed, lost control of his taxi, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window. For a few moments, everything went quiet in the cab. Then, the still shaking driver said, “Are you OK? I’m sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me”. The passenger apologised to the driver and said he didn’t realise how a mere tap on the shoulder would startle the driver so badly. The driver replied, “No .no, it is me who should apologise. This is my first day in a taxi, and I was thinking of my last job. I was driving a hearse for 25 years!!” Message for Richard. ‘If you change jobs, keep your wits about you!’
Notice for the meeting at Club Grove, Tuesday 31st May, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject RYLA and life with a disability. Speaker Andrew Leesom A student of David Tyrrell, and who lost a leg when he was very young. Chairman David Tyrrell
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Gordon King Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Alex Magee
Birthdays 31st Bob Osbourne 1st June Wal Kelly
My neighbour banged on my door at 2.30 this morning !! Can you believe that? At 2 bloody 30 A.M.!!
Luckily for him, I was still up playing my bagpipes.
Programme Chairman Trevor McArdle plans to go out with a bang! [One of those truly great double-meaning’ words]
Trev. Has plans to arrange a ‘members’ night for 7th June, when we can all have our say about how the year has gone, and to submit ideas for the coming year. But then, there are two biggies to finish the year!! On 14th June, he has engaged Mr Richard Grills, noted Geelong urologist and surgeon to speak on the Prostate enigma, and then, on the 21st, Dr. David Holloway, speaking on the 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse. David is the author of the book ‘Endure & Fight’, a history of the Brigade. John Dodgshun and Phil Edwards are likely to be appointed chairmen on those two nights, but those programmes will feature two high profile speakers and some members may wish to invite friends, rellies or partners as their guests.
An example of some of the guest’s complaints lodged with Thomas Cook Holidays
A tourist at a top African game lodge overlooking a water hole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of the rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel ‘inadequate’!
Rotarian Allan Brown of the NZ Rotary club of Hutt City is a true entrepreneur!
President Noel has received an e-mail from Allan headed “Thinking of visiting New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup?’ Allan wrote ‘On Friday 9 September the All Blacks play Tonga in the first match of the World Cup in New Zealand. Over the following 44 days, 48 games of Rugby will be played at 13 venues around New Zealand to find the greatest rugby team in the world. What a spectacle in one of the greatest rugby countries in the world!.
Contemplate some of the match-ups. How about this for a weekend? Australia v Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday 17 September, then just down the road to Wales v Samoa at Hamilton on the 18th. Or how about a week in beautiful Nelson taking in Italy v USA on Tuesday 27th September followed by Australia v Russia on Saturday 1 October?
Worried about the cost? Then New Zealand Rotarians have a special offer for you. Rather than stay in commercial accommodation, why not stay with New Zealand Rotarians and experience true kiwi hospitality? Bed and breakfast for $150 [which includes the donation to polio plus] is a real bargain but more importantly it’s a way to ‘bridge continents’. You’ll make lifetime friends and get a real sense of New Zealand.
“We have plenty of hosts available in all venues”, says Convener Allan, ”and we can find hosts in locations other than game venues if you want to go somewhere else between games. It can all be done on the web. Take a look at www.rotarynzrugbyhosting.co.nz and see how easy it is to take advantage of combining some great games with the chance to meet some new Rotary friends..
If you have been thinking about the trip of a lifetime, now is the time to act. More tickets are being released. New Zealand Rotarians are keen to open their homes to Rotarian visitors and this is the opportunity to have the trip of a lifetime and support our charity ‘Polio Plus’”
Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
News from last week’s Board meeting
- The FROGS meetings trials will continue for another six weeks. Congratulations to those members who compiled the invitation appearing on page 9 of this week’s edition of the Ocean Grove Voice.
- The official opening of our Look-out Reserve project will be held on Saturday 25thJune, and morning tea will then be served in the Surf Club rooms.
- A donation of $1000 to the DIK project to assist with container costs, and $500 to MS Aust.
- You have all received the invitation to attend the Annual Change-Over Dinner at Club Grove, but I will ‘hard-copy it for Fordie and Walter.
As you all know, I have a list of all birthdays and anniversaries for members and partners. It’s a piece of completely useless information, but there are 6 birthdays in June and 7 in July, but no anniversaries. Didn’t young couples of our club want to engage in winter body warmth as a honeymoon activity? Responses please
Committee reports from last night’s meeting
- Club Grove management has expressed concern at a member or two consuming liquor on the premises which was not purchased there. A footy tipping award! This may seem trivial, but in view of strict licensing regulations, it must be taken seriously, and should not be repeated!!
- Bill & Wally went to Stawell for the District Assembly, and had difficulty locating the High School.
- Watch this space for advice about a pending working bee at the Lookout Reserve..
- John Eyles requests our e-mail response to his updated proposal for the Gordon project e-mailed last Monday.
- Our support for selected VCE students is going well, according to Youth Chair Judy Greer.
- Our best wishes for a speedy recovery are extended to ailing Annette Cullen.
- Rod Greer tops the footy tipping table, but Dick Clay gets this week’s undrinkable wine all the way from a European cruise! 7/8 because he didn’t pick Richmond!! ‘undrinkable’ only applies to our dinner venue.
- The vote was unanimous that we stay at the Club. It was noted at our table that we get a little bit of bread with our butter. [In my experience, it’s generally the other way around!]
 |
| 17 members attended First Aid Training update at bellarine memories this week. Defibrillation was dramatically demonstrated in this YouTube video http://youtu.be/KXjEnTHMUow |
I’ve reached the age where a happy hour is a nap.
“Anything is achievable if you put your heart and mind to it”
So sayeth 17yo Rachel Hodder, one of our two speakers last night, and one of our two delegates to the RYPEN [Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment] seminar at Millicent recently. A student at Drysdale’s Christian College, she also had a previous connection with our club as a recipient of a Graham Bath award whilst at OG Primary. She spoke well, thanked us for our nomination, and recognised Annette Cullen’s contribution to the success of the weekend as a long distant driver for both of our attendees.
The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
Ann Hodgkinson, to say the least, has ‘been around’!
Born into an Army family in Tasmania, Ann attended 13 primary schools on the eastern seaboard without ever being expelled from any of them, completed secondary education at Townsville High, followed by a stint as a governess in Nth Qu., before becoming, and ultimately retiring as, an academic – Ph. D.-specialising in economics. She described herself as being addicted to research, lived for a while in Canada, travelled widely throughout the world, became involved in industrial relations, and the project ‘Green Jobs Illawarra’ – electricity generation through wave activity coupled with desalination, and also involved with the South Coast Labour Council. All of that and more was crammed into an address which must have lasted at least ten minutes!! Literally, a Doctor on the move. Somewhere in all of that active life, she found time to become a wife and a grandmother to Cody, who is well known to us all.
Money can’t buy happiness – but somehow, it’s more comfortable to cry in a BMW than a VW
Rotary clubs make changes to attract younger members
When Rotarians in Walnut Creek, California found it difficult to attract young professionals to the area’s morning and afternoon clubs, they set out to establish a new club that would accommodate busy, on-the-go schedules. The Rotary club of Diablo View [Walnut Creek], chartered in 2009, meets in a local brewery at 5.30 p.m. every Thursday. Club President Jennifer Beeman says the club sets aside time each week for socialising before turning to club business and that relaxed atmosphere appeals to younger members.
Ed. Comment; When I read that introduction by Megan Feringer [R I News – 21st April] I thought that it was pretty much what we do in our club. I have since read the complete article, and I will print extracts over the next few weeks before I ‘pass the pencil’ to Alison.
John Fox
1500, 18/05/11
