It was great to get back together last Monday, all refreshed and looking forward to the New Year.
It was a great pleasure recapping a number of key activities completed last December. The key item was that fact we had raised over $50,000 in Past President Sue’s year, and at the Giving night Sue distributed all of that money to a number of worthy charities. The Tree of Joy at Chatswood was also an outstanding success with hundreds of amazing gifts and hampers supplied along with double the normal cash donations, totalling over $8,000. The cream on the cake was the Crows Nest Community Centre letter of thanks for the ‘best Santa ever’ – member ‘Smithy’ was present when Santa gave Christmas presents to the regulars at the Centre.
What an effort for a club of less than 30 members. – THANK YOU MEMBERS!
Looking forward to this year, we have a number of volunteers happy to spend time on our new proposed project – The Dementia Café. But the news is, we need more volunteers to keep up the Roster for our main fund raiser throughout the year, the Bunnings BBQ ‘Sausage Sizzle’ Saturdays! If you wish to spend a few hours on a Saturday, or you know of a family member or friend, please let me know and our Roster Manager Howard, will allocate a day and time. Note, full training will be given, and remember it is a lot of fun!
I will be away in Melbourne next week, so PP Sue has agreed to run the next meeting.
Our Past President Ian has reminded me to remind you to bring your mobile phones with you to next Monday’s meeting, because our Member Swapna is presenting Facebook to our Club! So, ‘please bring your mobile with you’.
Our Speaker will be our own Member, Past President Swapna Prasad. Swapna will advise us how easy it is to apply Rotary or any news items to Facebook. So don't forget to bring your mobiles to participate.
Please note, we now meet in the Crows Nest Hotel Board Room, 1st floor, at 12.30pm Mondays.
REMINDERS:
Please note, we have changed location, back to the Crows Nest Hotel, upstairs in the Boardroom.
District Conference 20-22 March 2020
Next Year RI Convention will be in Honolulu, and as always our Club will be well represented.
Last Monday's Meeting 13th January 2020
Last Mondays Meeting was hosted by our President Mark. The Club held a Forum Meeting, during which members discussed what projects would be commenced or recommenced following our Christmas Festive Season break.
It was mentioned that our BBQ at Bunnings Roster needs more volunteers in order to continue to run at the same pace on a Saturday. This is considered a crucial matter, that every member must be aware of! Should you know of any family or friends who would like to spend a few hours on a Saturday running the BBQ with other Rotarians and volunteers, then please enthuse them to come forward so that Member Howard can slot them into the Roster. Its hard work, but a lot of fun working with other Rotarians!
Monday the 9th of December was our Christmas Party Giving Night!
Club members and families attended this one important night of the year, when funds raised throughout the year 2018-19 of $50,000 is handed back to worthwhile organisations.
Past President Sue Raveane, handed over Cheques totalling $50,000 to seven non-profit organisations, four who look after our local Community, and three who benefit communities in other countries.
Taudumande
Pheonix House
Canteen
Orange Sky
Shelterbox
School for Life
Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children
Past President Sue said "this is what Rotary is all about! Rotarians in our Community giving back to their Community."
A very pleasant evening was had by all who attended.
There is now a single Rotary National Bushfires Appeal entry on the RAWCS Home Page, allowing you to share this in all your newsletters, or Facebook or Instagram platforms as a potential opportunity for the many members of the public who are keen to make a contribution to the devastation.
For the direct link to the Rotary National Bushfires Appeal page use: Bushfire Donations
Funds from this account are channelled directly to the Districts affected to enable their support and rebuilding in the future.
I know some of you have already received enquiries internationally for donations, which is just amazing. These must take a slightly different path, and here are the instructions:
International bushfire donors to RAWCS can only donate by bank transfer to RARF.
SWIFT Code CTBAAU2S [all alpha except second last digit which is a two [2]
Any efforts from Rotary will be once the first responders – RFS/SES/Red Cross/Salvos/etc – have completed their good work, and we can start to help residents and communities to rebuild themselves and their communities. Some affected Districts have formed local work groups or been talking to Blazeaid – all good solutions when the time is appropriate.
ROTARY: 2019-20
Please see below website link for the ”The Rotary Clubs of Australia 2019 National Drought Appeal” GNBC "Let It Pour" Fundraiser website - now LIVE!