The first meeting of the 2015/16 Directors took place last Wednesday, 15 June.
 
This was essentially an opportunity to review our current project list and “brain storm” new idea projects for later review
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE,
-Womens Refuge, Lane Cove (new)
-Tree of Joy,a good current project, need to reassess
-Community Centre Crows Nest involvement(new)
-Phoenix House,a long term involvement,need to reassess our involvement
-some flexibility required in areas local Community Service to take care of unplanned contingencies
 
INTERNATIONAL
 
CURRENT PROJECTS
 
Binxian in SW China
A historical project that Bjorn Kollberg an honorary member of the Club now living in Europe used to check out twice yearly on his travels between Australia and Europe. Bill Lee was also involved as he had Chinese contacts. Not much work has been done of late but we are helping some students- an historical legacy.
 
Dili Orphans Xmas Party
The Club puts $500 into a fund to which others donate - approximately $3000 is raised for the Xmas Party. About 1000 local orphans benefit. The local Dili Hash House Harriers Club provides and supervises the actual party.
 
Sister Genevieve and Students Tanzania
In the past we have provided Water Tank funding and the Club supporting the schooling of 2 orphans, cost approximately $1500 annually.  Ongoing
 
Days for Girls
We have support quite strongly ,having donated $7-8000 over the last 2 years through Walter Block.
 
Question is though how do we make this a project on top of the donation we already give.
 
 
NEW SUGGESTIONS from Tiffiny
  1. Livelihood Project : Zimbabwe – Chicken farming  project.  Assist and train villagers to be self sustaining
  2. Happy Villages, Kenya; – Agribusiness  training for water tank project.
  3. East Timor Pradet : Involved with helping mental health issues, depression, post traumatic stress  etc. Some relationship with a Women’s based prison for women convicted of gender based crimes. They run community based workshops
  4. VIETNAM : Water for Schools : Live skill education working with ethnic minorities.  Similar to Lau Project.
In all these new projects, the question of working through the local Rotarian Groups so that any project we take on is adequately assessed and, if implemented, monitored closely.
 
SHELTERBOX : emergency relief programme in Asia – a matter of buying two boxes per year at a cost of $2K
 
VOCATION
Pride of Workmanship have lost some of its emphasis  - gone into recess ? Could combine again with other local clubs for revival ?
 
YOUTH :
Club presently supports RYLA very strongly, RYPEN , Naremburn School and Cammeragyl High School.
 
FUNDRAISING
Melbourne Cup Trifecta : Could be expanded. Simon – Could be quadrupled. There is a lot of potential to increase this fundraiser.
Need to assess various Grants on offer,be they Global,within Australia or Local
 
MEMBERSHIP
Shirley  advised that membership in 2012 was 32 members and in 2015 was 43 members,with 10 new members this year. The Club has a further two prospective members and one prospective corporate member – The Butterfly Foundation.
Seems that the move back to Crows Nest,along with Jennifer’s Membership Night has helped this process.
.
 
Question remains why the Club has 43 members on its books but only 20 + members attend lunch time meetings.
The membership list was consulted and the reasons various members were not as active as desired noted. Some follow up required here.
 
One significant project for the Club this year will be our learning of ClubRunner to improve our communication, both inside and outside the Club as well as making the Administration far easier, so it becomes imperative that we are all “on board” so to speak.