Rotary Club of Gungahlin (Inc) District 9710

The Key

24 November 2014

Meetings: Mondays 6:30 for 7pm Venue: Belconnen Soccer Club, William Slim Drive, McKellar [Disabled access available]

President: Ian Foster Secretary: Sandra Mahlberg

ABN  38  130  861  289  |Box  678,  Gungahlin,  ACT  2912  |    secretary.rcgungahlin@gmail.com    

http://www.rotarygungahlin.org  |  www.facebook.com/RotaryGungahlin  

 

Next Monday, 24th November, Assistant Governor Lyn Duckham will be our guest speaker. Lyn will speak on international service, sharing her personal experiences overseas participating in various challenging programs.

Members - as we are expecting quite a few additional guests on Monday night, please notify Ian or Liz if you will be attending and if you are bringing guests so that we can set up the Boardroom to accommodate ourselves comfortably.

… and from our President …

Three new members welcomed Last Monday the Club Board considered and approved applications for membership from Clare Phelps, Anna Plotkin and Shaun Blacker. Their formal induction will take place next Monday 24 November, when AG Sue Duckham is our guest speaker.

We first met Clare at one of our Information Stalls at Gungahlin Village and she has already served on Trash and Treasure and the BBQ. Anna was awarded a certificate for Vocational Excellence a few weeks ago and was accompanied at the meeting by her partner, Shaun. Both contributed at the following meeting and have also already got their names onto the BBQ roster.

Each of these new members brings new skills and energy to the Club and we warmly welcome them. The role of Mentor is important in making new members feel at ease and Liz, Chair of Membership Standing Committee, is teamed with Clare and Emma is working with Anna and Shaun as they settle in.

In addition last Monday, we welcomed a visitor who had first met us at BBQs and then had researched our club through our website and Facebook page. She came along to find out more and soon indicated that she also wished to eventually be considered for membership. Qing Wang (Qinnie) works in government and is also the founder and director of a small Fair Trade business, trading ethically sourced goods from many countries in our wider region.

Members are strongly encouraged to get to know Qing and all our new members.

Ian

Last Monday night we had a busy time with our Annual meeting and Board Meeting. It was a pleasure to welcome a potential new member, as well as our three newly accepted members.

The Key

24 November 2014

 Well Station Community Project

A group has formed, focussing on Harrison School, to survey and map Well Station using geospatial technology and drones. On Sat 25th October, about 30 locals gathered to help, including surveyors, students, teachers, parents and volunteers, working together in teams to survey parts of the property. The students will then collate the data and create 3D models of the site. This is moving towards the development of a learning centre on this fine heritage property. Our Club was happy to donate BBQ support for this worthy community project. (photos below)

Busy volunteers

A BBQ was welcomed by the hungry organisers and volunteers

The Key

24 November 2014

 November – Rotary Foundation Month What is the Rotary Foundation? After the founding of Rotary as a service organisation in 1905, in 1928 it established its own charity to gather, invest and disperse funds in pursuit of Rotary’s objectives. While our semi-annual dues meet the running expenses of our club, District 9710 and RI itself, The Rotary Foundation is the powerhouse that enables Rotary to do good in the World. It is still Rotary’s only charity. Within the Foundation there are three funds; • the Annual Fund, • the PolioPlus Fund • the Endowment Fund How do we contribute to the Rotary Foundation? Rotarians donate to the Endowment Fund by pledging a bequest in their wills. This money is invested in perpetuity and projects are funded from the interest earned. The donors are called Foundation Benefactors. The PolioPlus Fund is used exclusively in this campaign (there are no administration costs) and each dollar raised by Rotarians attracts a further two dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Gungahlin Rotary is a strong supporter of this campaign and for several years we have contributed $1500.

The Annual Fund is used to address the 6 areas of focus of the Rotary Foundation; • Peace and conflict prevention/ resolution • Disease prevention and treatment • Water and sanitation • Maternal and child health • Basic education and literacy • Economic and community development

All contributions are first invested for three years and then 50% is used for Rotary International projects and 50% is returned to districts for their own Rotary projects. For seven years straight the Annual Fund has received the highest rating for financial efficiency – in the top 2% of all US charities. Gungahlin Rotary has donated $1500pa to this fund for several years. What can we do as individuals? The Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) program encourages all of us to make a personal donation each year, no matter how small, to the Foundation. Some clubs do this as a door donation, as part of its meeting fee, for example. The Centurion Program recognises Rotarians who donate AU$100pa (about a tank of petrol). When a member has contributed $1000, or has had $1000 donated on their behalf, they are known as Paul Harris Fellows (PHF). A Member of the Paul Harris Society is an individual Rotarian who has contributed US$1000 pa – in a lump sum or by increments. Contributing is easy and all donations over $2 made through the Australian Rotary Foundation Trust are tax deductible. There are several options for payment – online, direct debit, credit card or cheque. Ian Foster

The Key

24 November 2014

 Important Event : Club Christmas Party Monday 1st December, 6.30pm. Members, their families and Friends of the Club are invited to celebrate the end of the year at Member Terry & Christine's home, Temperley Street, Nicholls. Terry & Christine will provide pre-dinner nibbles. Please bring your own drinks.

Dinner: Buffet style. If you haven’t already advised Sandra what you would like to bring to share (salad, cold meats, pizza, etc), please contact her at secretary.rcgungahlin@gmail.com. RSVP Wed 26th November

Club Diary – Check the latest events and update personal diaries November Rotary Foundation Month. Speakers Program: Emma Sun 23rd Nov BBQ Magnet Mart (morning: Ian, Clare, Bob, Terry, afternoon: Anna,

Shaun, John) Mon 24th Nov Guest Speaker: AG Lynne Duckham, will speak on international

service. We will also formally induct three new members to our Club, so it will be a very special meeting.

Sun 30th Nov Rotary Table @ Gungahlin Village Shops (Volunteers: Ian, Holly & Sandra)

December Family Month. Speakers Program: Sandra Mon 1st Dec 6.30pm Christmas party at Terry & Christine’s home, Nicholls. BYO Sun 7th T&T (volunteers needed) Mon 8th Dec Meeting: We will welcome AG Graeme Kinraid & his son David, a

student at Gold Creek High School, and students from Amaroo High School who will talk about their World Challenge trip. Their teachers will be joining us too.

Mon 15th Dec Meeting: Club Assembly/Board Meeting, Dining Room Mon 22nd Dec Meeting: Cancelled

January Rotary Awareness Month Speakers Program: Sandra 4th Jan T&T Mon 5th Jan Meeting: TBA & NYSF A Session begins Thu 8 Jan NYSF Dinner Sat 10th Jan BBQ Magnet Mart (Liz: Coordinator & volunteers needed) Sun 11th Jan NYSF Home Hosting Mon 12th Jan Meeting: TBA Sat 17th NYSF A ends Mon 19th Jan Meeting TBA & NYSF B Session begins Thur 22th Jan NYSF Dinner Sun 25th NYSF Home Hosting Mon 26th Jan Meeting cancelled: holiday Sat 31st Jan NYSF B ends February World Understanding Month Speakers Program: Terry 21-22nd Feb President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) 23rd Feb Rotary’s 110th birthday

The Key

24 November 2014

  Roster for Meeting Toasts: Meeting National Toast Rotary Toast 24 Nov Sandra Kiri 1 Dec Holly Ian 8 Dec John Sandra 15 Dec Terry John 2015 Magnet Mart BBQ Dates (please note in your diaries & volunteer asap)

Date Coordinator Volunteers Sat 10th Jan Liz Sun 15th Feb Sat 21st March Sun 26th April Sat 23rd May Sun 28th June The Key, is edited by Liz Friend, pr.rcgungahlin@gmail.com Contributions from members are very welcome. Please send them to me so they can be inserted on Wednesdays and edited on Thursdays, for distribution before the weekend.