Good evening Rotarians and Friends. This weeks meeting was held at the Dromana Life Saving club. THANKS RAY FOR DOING MY DUTY AS L WAS AWAY. Rotary meeting September 28 2017 Meeting at the Dromana Life Saving Club Notes Four representatives from the Peninsula 2.0 Rotary Club including the President, Diana O’Malley joined us for our meeting at the Dromana Life Saving Club on September the 28th. We must thank President Rob, Greg Fitzgerald, Chris Booth and others who may have helped to set up and clear up for the meeting. President Rob was keen to try out a new venue in the belief that it may appeal more to younger potential members. The representatives from Peninsula 2.0 Rotary Club spoke to us about why they think that their club has got a superior meeting agenda to most clubs in our District. If there is one over-riding impression that I gained it is enthusiasm for the way they run their club. However I would claim that this is to be expected and normal in a relatively new club. In fact they have already lost a number of the younger members which suggests that even they have not discovered the secret of Rotary success. Certainly Rotary has changed as has most things in life and Rotary must and will also change. On the other hand I got the impression that the Peninsula 2.0 Rotary Club is not all that different from our club as it is conducted today. For example as a comparison: - They meet every week although they have standard topics for each week in the month – indeed it could be said that in this respect we are actually more flexible.
- They do not have a Sergeant At Arms, nor do they sing the National Anthem or toast the Queen.
- Their first week is for Rotary Information, the second week is for discussion of projects, on the third week in each month they have a speaker and they have a Social Night on the fourth week.
- They actively look for changes to the way they conduct their Rotary events whereas most older clubs tend to maintain their status quo.
- The club has evolved over the three years that it has been in existence.
- They have actively sought out Sikhs and others of different ethnic backgrounds.
- They plant a Birth Tree each year and for $50.00 donors names are recorded on it or near it.
- They have sponsored a SkyHydrant which is in operation in Cambodia.
- Emily, one of those who attended our meeting, is still a Rotoractor as well as being a Rotarian.
- They conduct a ‘fun run’ in Frankston for children.
- They have adopted one of Winston Churchill’s sayings as follows: ‘To improve is to change, to change often is to change often’.
- They have a Board including a Treasurer as they found that they could not operate satisfactorily without. A proper structure is essential.
- There is a very strong need for decision makers.
In my opinion there is also a risk that so much effort is put into possible change that the club will suffer. For example we have tried other venues on two or three occasions and none have been as good as our present location which served us quite happily when we achieved our highest membership of 40 when the economy was booming and self-funded retirees were doing very well compared with today. We have a very attractive venue with a very homely atmosphere, photos on the walls, our own secure store, a satisfactory kitchen, air-conditioning, a video projector and screen. Compare this with the DBLSC which could not provide a store, every wall of which is highly reflective of sound, has no carpet and is very expensive to rent compared with our current venue ($142.00 compared with less than $30.00 that I believe we still pay at the Old Shire Offices). To wind-up I would like to emphasise the we enjoyed the company and value the message that we received from all four of our guests from Peninsula 2.0 and I believe that their club will prosper into the future, as will ours even if we are different. There is surely room for all types of Rotary clubs. Ray Barnard-Brown Guest pic Pic of the hall.
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