Hello, Members and our Rotary Friends receiving this eBulletin.
As we enter the 11th week of Sydney’s Lockdown, my thoughts go out to our NSW Premier, Gladys, who when declaring a Lockdown on Greater Sydney, is also imposing those restrictions upon herself, and like us, she cannot visit her parents and family, and friends, but must stay away isolating. This is an important point this week, as this Thursday, is the Australian ‘RUOK’ Day.
So I suggest to you all, that if you haven’t recently rang or spoken to a particular family member or friend, please take the time this Thursday to contact them and ask them, “are you OK?”. I think we all appreciate it when a loved one or family member asks us if we are ‘OK”.
Think Rotary!
Stay safe, enjoy your Lockdown week and keep in touch with your family and friends.
Last Monday we had a presentation from the organization, ‘So They Can’. (a not for profit organisation who supports education in schools in Africa, originally building schools in Tanzania and Kenya). They say “We Believe Education can change the world, it’s the only thing that can.
You can say ‘from little acrons big oak trees grow’ because since inception in 2007, So They Can has achieved so much! Crows Nest Rotary has assisted them in the past with donations, and we hope that we will again be assisting their cause sometime in the future! Another great presentation at our Monday meetings! Join us at Monday lunchtimes and click here at 12.30pm, ie next Monday 13th September.
Don’t forget to advertise our Melbourne Cup Trifecta Tickets! They are currently available to all non-profit organisations who want to raise funds for their causes. At $2 a ticket, the prize is $1,000 and the net profit to the organisation is $2,648. If you know any non-profit organisation who is in need of funds, please mention our Trifecta Tickets to them and refer them to our Trifecta Ticket Order form website!
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
Friday evening ‘Chinwag’
Last Friday 27th August, we held our first Chinwag, for members in our Cluster 2, and all other Rotarians and friends.
It was a good evening around a glass of wine or beer, and attendees waxed lyrical on all matters ‘Rotary’ and other issues! It was a casual get-together (virtual) and a casual chat,,, at the end of the working week ie Friday evening. Feedback from attendees was really positive and they asked for more frequent Chinwags. To that end a date of Friday 10th September 2021 at 6pm is booked.
‘Chinwag’ get togethers, are a bit like going to the pub for a beer - you never know who you will meet, what you will talk about, but you do know it will be fun. And in a Chinwag using ‘Zoom’….you don’t need an Uber to get home!
No registration, just turn up! Relax, and chat or just listen to the others.
Bring/invite a friend along and if you wish to talk about a particular subject (photo, project) or even wish to invite or know of a guest speaker to address our chinwag, just email to arrange; rotarycrowsnest@gmail.com
Angelo, member & well known for his Rotary work in the district & East Timor, will show us another side of himself.
His hidden talents & experiences with Australian wines. Bring a glass to the meeting !
Last Monday, the 30th of August - our Guest Speaker was Cassandra Treadwell from SoTheyCan
Our speaker last Monday was Cassandra Treadwell, co-founder of So They Can. SoTheyCan is a not for profit organisation committed to empowering children living in poverty through education....because every child matters.
A charity, whose mission is to work with local communities and governments to provide quality education to children living in poverty in communities in Africa. They will achieve this through improved learning conditions, teacher training and development, child well-being, women’s empowerment and community engagement and health. The main message was Education is the key in breaking the poverty cycle.
They have been in Kenya for 12 years. Cass was inspired to start this charity after visiting a Kenyan orphanage in 2007 after violence in an election left 600,000 displaced and 7,000 people living in a 16-acre camp. SoTheyCan is the 1st private/public school partnership with the Government, and now educate 1200 children each year. It is 1 of 58 (*from 700) charities DFAT accredited.
In Tanzania for 7 years, they have established a teachers’ college which produces 120 teachers each year. It is rank 1st out of 79 colleges.
In both countries there is 42 schools who have educated 28,000 students. There is a clear exit plan.
During COVID19 they had a comprehensive plan for Meals & water stations, 16,000 Home education pack & Centres for Child protection & social workers. Return to school plans incudes Hygiene measures & extra tuition.
Cass shared stories & photos of her experiences, including Daniel who they found living in & off a rubbish dump. Child wellbeing is a focus with a key issue being the treatment of girls, especially the practise of selling them off for marriage. SoTheyCan is an ambassador for the girls. It has links with Nakuru Rotary club. Ian & Howard will follow-up with Cass & her team.
We Thank Cass, and Emily for attending our meeting and giving an inspiring talk about their amazing work, as well as an insight into poverty in Africa.
News:
- Changeover & Pride of Workmanship dinner is on HOLD, subject to COVID restrictions. Once confirmed new Invitations will be issued.
- BBQs are on HOLD. Cyril will phone Bunnings after lockdown.
- Next D-Cafe is on hold, but steering committee will met on Monday 13th. .
- Melbourne Cup trifecta is slow. Angelo & Mark will re-email clubs this month.
- There is Membership Summit on September 12th. Mark to email details.
- Zoom will demand we use versions less than 9 months old, from November 1st. Details will follow.
- Crows Nest was awarded "Silver Award" by ShelterBox, for our donations over the last few years.
- ROMAC had their 1st patient since March 2020 into Auckland last week.
- Rotary Foundation has a tool for Fund Raising called "Raise for Rotary". Details to follow.
- Our Flag pole at Crows Nest still has no flag. Angelo to chase council.
Reminders:
- When Covid restrictions allow, a Pride of Workmanship Award Dinner, will be held at 6.30pm at the Northbridge Golf Club.
- 11th & 12th September Zone 8 - Virtual Conference
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
