Happenings at last weeks’ meeting
This week we had our first Hybrid meeting, with participants attending in person and via Zoom (Col Byatt and Jane Anderson). As we continue with this style of meeting it is expected that our meeting format will have to be modified based on feedback we get from our Zoom attendees.
However, away we went with Greg beginning with the toast and then welcoming our Guests Matilda Milewska, Sara Alexander and Chris Alexander. He then read out the apologies and raised the subject of how much the Club could afford to donate to the Syrian/Turkey Earthquake Appeal being run by Rotary Australian World Community Service (RAWCS). Funds that have been returned to us, plus the healthy balance in our Projects Funds and donations received in the buckets and spinners are all potential sources which will be decided on by the Board.
Tony was this week’s Chair and he called on Secretary Mark who announced the next Board meeting is scheduled for 7th March. He also noted that the Club had received an invoice of $153 to renew our P.O. Box and wondered if it is needed. He will take this question to the Board.
In an extravagant rearrangement of the normal meeting running sheet, Tony now called on Greg to deliver a TMG (Three Minute GIG).
Greg told us of his son working with 3D printing and giving him a challenge to extend the use of this method into practical engineering. As a result, his son developed 3D welding and has started a business called ADD+IT+TECH. Greg showed us a brief video which summarise this “Additive Manufacturing” and how it all works and said that the product is more robust (though he did use some technical engineering jargon. Ed.) than the traditionally created ones.
Having already thrown the running sheet to the wind, Tony now called for the Lotto draw. (I think Tonys’ excuse was to provide entertaining content for the Zoom attendees. Ed.) Ann won this week. There was no Fines session because the Sergeant and substitute Sergeant weren’t at the meeting and no one else wanted to be that “unkind”.
Tony now called for Directors reports:
- Joseph had to announce that the Car Show has had to be cancelled because of unforseen costs and competition. However, planning will soon commence for next year.
- Harry reported that a proposed DIK (Donations In Kind) meeting conflicts with a RAWCS meeting which he will report on at the next meeting. He also pointed out that the new Rotary Down Under Magazine has an article on attracting new members.
- Chris announced:
- that the Mt. Eliza club was undertaking a “connecting thru to Australia” project which required money ($4,000) for computers. He will take this to the Board;
- He also raised the subject of the deplorable state of the Dromana Community Garden (“it is a wreck”) and will take a proposal to the Board for the Club seek to get involved in fixing this; and
- The upcoming Market has more than the usual labour and logistics problems. This month there will be an information stall with Friends Of Rotary application forms being promoted.
- Harry mentioned again that we should be learning from other Clubs now that we have a Zoom facility.
- Charles reported on:
- the Southern Peninsular Laundry and Shower (SPLASH) launch. It was very successful and was attended by representatives from many organisations; and
- the Dromana Estate Winery Car Show have approached the Club to provide Parking Attendants over the Fri/Sat/Sun of Easter.
Tony thanked the Directors and introduced our Guest Speakers, Matilda and Sara, who were to talk to us about the Mittagundi and Wollangarra organisations and also the Alpine Walk of 2023.
Wollangarra and its sister Mittagundi where started by Ian Stapleton after he had worked at Geelong Grammar’s Timbertops. Wollangarra is a small outdoor education centre situated beside the Macalister River in Gippsland. He envisioned it as Timbertops for others and set about developing a 3 stage program at “Woll” and then a 10 day program at Mittgundi which is designed for struggling and deprived children.
Matilda talked us through the 3 stages at “Woll” and called it a life changing experience. She spoke about the value of outdoor education and sharing, not competing.
Next the talk moved on to the Alpine Walk which is 150K through remote and alpine country. This is a holiday program and the Board will review our sponsorship for the two education programs and the walk.
Tony passed back to Greg who thanked Matilda and Sara for a very informative and entertaining talk. He pronounced the Zoon a success but noted that we will continually “sweak” the format as we get more practice.
Thanks to all attendees and the meeting finished around 8:20.
