Our meeting at the Smallbar was quite intimate because many members are still on holidays .The pre-eminent announcement was that “The Bulletin” is to be your main source for finding out what is happening in the Club; who is rostered to do what and should generally be regarded as your Rotary Diary.
Other announcements were – The Tree of Joy Thank You dinner at Roseville RSL Club - 8 February @ 6pm. The Rotary Polio Movie Night – ie a fundraiser for Rotary’s Elimination of Polio will be held at a future date at the Orpheum Picture Palace , Cremorne. We are waiting for a suitable blockbuster movie premiere and date to be announced. The 9685 District Conference to be held on March 11, 2017 ; is still seeking participants.
David Stewart from the Butterfly Foundation gave a very interesting talk outlining his earlier career in banking and financial services and how he then came to end up at the Butterfly Foundation which he described as a “really satisfying job”.
Well lately all eyes have been on Television; Mr Trump has been inaugurated as POTUS and managed to immediately upset many Americans and plenty of allied countries. Our own Gladys has become Premier of our State but with a much more diplomatic approach to the media and the position.
Next meeting will be at The Smallbar, Willoughby Road; 30th January , BUT remember we are trialling the Union Hotel on 6th February.
Our Editor thinks that we need humour.
An explanation of American Politics: The Difference Between Republicans and Democrats: “A woman in a hot-air balloon is lost, so she shouts to a man below, “Excuse me. I promised a friend I would meet him, but I don’t know where I am.”
You’re at 31 degrees, 14.57 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.” He replies. “You must be a Democrat.”
“I am. How did you know?”
“Because everything you told me is technically correct, but the information is useless, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve been no help.”
“You must be a Republican.”
“Yes. How did you know”
“You’ve risen to where you are due to a lot of hot air, you made a promise you couldn’t keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it’s my fault.”
A final item – our 1st January Subscriptions are due – please expect an invoice from the Treasurer. Subs are $120..00 for Members and $175.00 for Corporate Members. Bank Details WESTPAC BSB 032-298 A/c Rotary Club of Crows Nest 394298.
MONDAY 23rd January - Our Speaker is Graham Wilcox, speaking on the 'The Struggle for Unity - a story of the Federation of Australia
Graham is a genealogist and family historian. Since his childhood he has known that many of his ancestors had fascinating lives. As a member of the Society of Australian Genealogists he traced, as far back as possible, the family names of all his great great grandparents decendants that amounted to several thousand people. Eventually he wrote about his ancestors and wanted to share those stories with his extended family to ensure they were preserved. When he researched details of his great grandfather Sir Arthur Rutledge had made a momentous discovery. Sir Arthur was not only a Wesleyan Minister, lawyer, politician and judge, he played a crucial role in bringing together all the colonies on the continent to form one country of Australia. This led Graham to write a book of considerable historic interest for all Australians. It is entitled 'The struggle for Unity- A story of the federation of Australia. Graham lives in Pitt Town on the Hawkesbury River close to the area where to of his ancestor families settled 226 years ago.
LAST MONDAY's Meeting
MONDAY 23rd January - Our Speaker was David Stewart, Butterfly Foundation
David joined Butterfly in late 2015 and has worked in the trustee services sector for 25 years. Over recent years he has been heavily involved in philanthropy including being a volunteer board member on the ANZ staff Foundation for 10 years, assisting clients to commence their own structured giving vehicles. David is responsible for all areas of fundraising at Butterfly and is keen to utilise his skills to ensure its future is secure.
David presented the work of The Butterfly Foundatiion which assists people who have an eating disorder. The Butterfly Foundation is a member of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. David explained that there are several feeding and eating disorders that are recognised by the Diagnostic and Startistical Manual of Mental Disorders, amount these are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and other specified Feeding and Eating Ddisorders. Currently there are very few hospital beds available to suffers, and the cost of going 'Private' can be very expensive for families.
https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/ Explains that The Butterfly Foundation provide personalised and confidential support for the following:
People experiencing an eating disorder
People experiencing body image issues
Carers
Partners, family and friends
David thanked the members for the recent Club's contribution to the Butterfly Foundation.
Announcements & other News
Cyril Clark toasted the Rotary Club of Thompson, Georgia, USA. The distinction being every member is Paul Harris Fellow!
Please register for the District Conference ASAP. Registrations are low, and it maybe cancelled.
ROMAC is currently looking after a young girl from Vanuatu suffering from severe burns. She was discharged last Friday and is undergoing physiotherapy everyday for approx' 3 weeks. Phillip is still looking for Host parents!
We are still awaiting details of the movie night, in support of Polio.
Our loss, their gain! In November 2016 the Club suffered the hemorrhage of a member, Les Walsh, who with his wife Joy, took a ‘Sea Change’ and moved from Lane Cove to Kings Beach on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Les was an active member of the Club and is missed, however, our loss is their gain, because on 24 January 2017 Les continued his membership of Rotary! Les was inducted into the Rotary Club of Caloundra! We all wish you every success in your new Club Les! (and we’ll be up to visit!)
Reminders
District conference is a one day event, on Saturday March 11th at Penrith.
Our meeting on Monday 6th February will be at the Union Hotel, Cnr Pacific Hway & West St. This is a one-off trial
David joined Butterfly in late 2015 and has worked in the trustee services sector for 25 years. Over recent years he has been heavily involved in philanthropy including being a volunteer board member on the 
Our loss, their gain! In November 2016 the Club suffered the hemorrhage of a member, Les Walsh, who with his wife Joy, took a ‘Sea Change’ and moved from Lane Cove to Kings Beach on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Les was an active member of the Club and is missed, however, our loss is their gain, because on 24 January 2017 Les continued his membership of Rotary! Les was inducted into the Rotary Club of Caloundra! We all wish you every success in your new Club Les! (and we’ll be up to visit!)