This week’s column calls for audience participation with positive suggestions. Our focus is on Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service.
Club Service: I have previously addressed our need for new members to strengthen the Club. International Service: We have a viable International Project in Kenya (with So They Can) about to happen.
Community Service: The Board would like to embrace a major local issue of value to our local community but we are still searching. This year, we have supported a number of projects: the establishment of a community Herb Garden alongside the Baptist Church at Crows Nest, the two local Women’s Refuges (Mary’s House and Delvina), the Tree of Joy and various other local organisations (Red Shield Appeal, Red Cross). We had a great idea of providing swags for the Homeless but found out that the Crows Nest Community Centre has only one regular who drops in for a shower every 7 to 10 days. They also already have a number of swags on hand, ready for distribution. Any suggestions, members?
Youth: Our involvement with RYLA is strong but our engagement with local schools is disappointing – largely due to the local schools disinterest or apathy? Hopefully as the pupils at Cammeraygal High School progress, we can introduce them to Rotary initiatives. Shore continues to be heavily involved with MUNA. Here we cop some flak because this is a privileged school, however they value Rotary’s Youth Programme. Phoenix House appears to have altered its structure under the changed Government funding structure to be more of an education provider than a home care provider thus not really needing our direct support of late. Any suggestion, members?
Vocation: The Club has not held a Pride of Workmanship Awards Dinner for some years. The Board has been in contact with neighbouring Clubs to suggest holding a Combined Meeting, as this has been proven to work well in the past. Two Clubs have expressed interest in joining us so far – North Sydney Sunrise and Chatswood Sunrise. The Board has two nominations with PP Ian investigating a third possibility. Any Suggestions, members ?
If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions, please contact either Mark Staples or myself.
Our Speaker is Craig McInnes. Life as a 747 pilot.
Craig graduated from High School in 1961 and enrolled in the University of British Columbia in Pre Med. He decided to leave that and proceeded to major in Math and Physics. At the end of his 3rd year he decided that this degree would limit his future, so he spoke to his father who was a captain with Canadian Pacific Airlines, based in Lima Peru. His father agreed to fund his flying training, so Craig proceeded. After he got his private license, he needed a total of 200hours of flight time and exams to get his commercial license. He went to Lima where a friend had a light plane which Craig flew around Peru to build up the required 200 hours. He then returned to Vancouver, did the flight tests and drove to Ontario and was offered a job flying a Cessna on floats. He then went back to UBC to complete his degree. Late in 1965 Qantas went around the world recruiting pilots and was hired to start training in Sydney in June 1966. Started as a second officer on the DC 4 flying to Norfolk Island and Auckland. Then the 707 and on to the 747 as a first officer in 1972. Became a captain on the 747 in 1984 and retired off the 747-400 in 2004 at 60 years of age.
LAST MONDAY's (June 19th) Meeting
Our Guest speaker was Greg Rappo is Program Director with Road Safety Education Ltd based in Sydney He works closely with Rotary Clubs, major sponsors and government agencies to promote continued growth of the RYDA road safety education program in Australia and New Zealand.
Greg has a background in sales and marketing that has included a range of senior management positions with multi-national corporations including Chevron, Abbott Laboratories and Sumitomo. He has been an active volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) for many years including a role as the Deputy Controller of the Sydney Ku-ring-Gai SES unit with specific responsibility for Media and Community Engagement. Greg has been a member of Rotary for over ten years and is a Past President of the Rotary Club of St. Ives and a Past Assistant in Sydney Rotary District 9685.
The RYDA programme has been running since 2001, starting in St Ives and last year, there were 264 youth killed on Australian roads compared to 435 in 2006, that is in the age group of 17 to 25, along with injuries affecting X20 this figure.
Statistics show that the worst time is in the first year of independent driving. Their research show that shock tactics do not work and while alcohol used to be the major factor for this age group, today it’s fatigue and mobile phones.
The RYDA programme is targeted to 16-18-year-old school student before they become independent drivers, and consists of a one day out of school excursion, designed for 150 students per programme, and students attend 6 interactive 30 minute sessions, a supportive environment for informed decision making with a police presence.5000 students from over 600 schools participate in RYDA last year. Cost is $40/student, who in turn only pay $20.
In Other News
International Toast by Tom Sweeney to the Rotary Club of Jaipurin India who meet at the Hotel Indiana Classic, starting in 2001 and now have 85 members
Guests include 5 members from the North Sydney Club. North Sydney Club currently meet on a Tuesday at the North Sydney Leagues Club, and are in the process of reviewing alternate venues, the Union Hotel being one.
North Sydney also spoke of their "sailability" program where disable people are taken sailing. Volunteers welcome.
Howard Sullivan received a Paul Harris pin from the Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisors
Howard advised that the new dates for BBQ duty had now been received from Bunnings and the roster would be emailed out promptly. It is important for all that ,that any known lack of availabilities when rostered are advised to Howard ASAP.
Claire Pryce, the representative from So They Can will be leaving the organisation immediately and as a result will no longer be attending our meetings. A replacement will be advised in due course
Jeff Hogan, a former Club member, as well as being a founding member, passed away on Sunday, the 18/06.
The BBQ went OK last Saturday on what was a quieter than normal BBQ day, with plenty of sausages, onions and bread left over.
Phil Smith, our intrepid explorer and all-round thrill seeker, is now on the home stretch of his circumnavigation of the Australian mainland, currently at Kakadu. Go Phil!!
Bill Lee has just returned from the Rotary International Conference in Atlanta.
This Thursday,2pm at Cyril’s house we start the processing of the Melbourne Cup Trifecta tickets. All helpers welcome
Reminders
President Changeover night is Monday July 3rd - 6.30pm. Venue will be the Union Hotel. Cost per head is $40. Please respond to John Saunders e-mail request..
