Last weeks’ meeting
This week we were back at the Golf Club for a slap up meal of pizza and a meeting chaired by Greg. Once he and Murray had brought some order to the room after the meal, Greg asked Secretary Chris to bring us the latest.
Chris announced that the Rosebud Hospital Summer Appeal is currently underway and contributions can be made online or by participating in a Fun Run. Next, Chris handed around the Australian Rotary Health Annual Report. The Report is available online and it was pointed out that Australian Rotary Health is the number one independent funder of mental health research in Australia, which is quite some achievement.
Greg thanked Chris and then asked for volunteers for marshals at the Habitat Restoration Fund Open Day on the 12th. He was successful, which will mean more donations to our coffers.
Next, we had a surprise Guest Speaker. Col Byatt gave us a potted history of his time with Rotary. Sadly, Col and Barb are leaving our club at the end of February and will eventually be moving to Frankston after travelling for a bit to catch up with family.
Col joined the Leongatha Rotary Club in 2000 and helped expand the club up to 46 members. He, and Barb, moved to Dromana in 2013 and even though Ray Barnard-Brown constantly suggested that he should take on the Presidency he held out until Ray eventually gave up. Col did Ride to Conference for 16 years from 2005. He found the rides were always a challenge but a great way to meet people and establish a community of riders. He helped to organise the Ride in Hobart and said it was a highlight but also one of the hardest. The last Ride was in 2021 and over the 20 years of it’s existence the Ride had raised over $1.1 million and was a marvellous effort to be associated with. Lastly, Col waxed lyrical about our Club, pointing out how easy it is to meet people (especially if you’re running the bar) and to participate in a wide range of ventures. Next, after catching up with family Col and Barb will be moving into new accommodation being built in Frankston.
The meeting roundly applauded Col as a way of thanking him for all he has done for the Club.
Greg updated us on the ongoing search for a new meeting venue. The short list is either the CFA or the Sailing Club. The CFA is regarded as a better culture fit, but parking may be an issue in the busier months. Still, it was pointed out that this will be an issue no matter where we end up. One suggestion floated by Greg was that we think of changing our meetings to being without a meal. We could just have drinks and nibbles. This suggestion wasn’t received with either enthusiastic applause or a chorus of dissent so will be put on the back burner.
After Lotto and Fines the meeting finished at 8:00.
The Lift The Lid Walk.
Chris having already spoken about Australian Rotary Health’s successes the following flyer has arrived:
Ritchies Community Benefits.
Each month the club receives a small donation from Ritchies which represents 0.5% of purchases made by our members at Ritchies Dromana. It’s not a world shattering amount each month but it adds to our bank balance and allows us to do more for our local community, district and overseas projects.
Signing up is easy (believe me) so those who haven’t, please do, and those who don’t shop there, please do a bit
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And Lastly.
If you have any announcement, or articles which you think would be of interest to the Bulletin readers, please send them through and after they are “vetted” they’ll be published. (Vetting is minimal.)
