Along with Harold and Philip, I attended the District Conference last Saturday. There was discussion on Rotary’s position today (ie membership).
Rotary numbers in the western world are falling – in USA, UK, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Numbers are marking time in Europe and on the rise in India, Asia, Korea, South America and Africa.
In 1996 in Australia there were 42,000 Rotarians in 23 Districts, however by 2016 this number had fallen to 29,000 in 21 Districts. Various speakers stressed that Rotary had to change/ adapt/ transition to gain members to reverse this trend. Some recent changes have been initiated to ease meeting frequency and attendance obligations as part of that change.
Two demographics that obviously need to be targeted are younger members and women. Many of those who benefit from our programmes do not go on to join Rotary.
The entertaining speaker at the Conference was the Wildlife Man, David Ireland, a wildlife film producer. He has had his ribs broken by a giant groper, been bitten by sharks and had his back broken by a whale – but he enthralled us with his tales.
The good news story – Hopefully we can look to the eradication of polio in the near future – say 2 years? The eradication campaign started in 1985. Polio type 2 and type 3 viruses have been eradicated; leaving only Polio type 1 virus to be defeated.
The Rotary End Polio Now Fund has put a scheme to Rotary Clubs that if they contribute $2650.00; they will enhance it 7.5 times to achieve a total contribution of $19,875 per Club . This is with District Grant and a Bill and Melinda Gates contribution of $2 for $1. With such a good offer your Board has endorsed this concept as a forward contribution of our 2016-17 Giving Programme.
MONDAY 16th March 2017 - Our Speaker is Annona Pearce, speaking on "Dark Tourism" ,the interest in death, disaster and atrocity
Tourist interest in death, disaster and atrocity is a growing phenomenon in the late 20th century, and this has been labelled 'dark Tourism'. Visits to battlefields, the graves of the famous and infamous is a significant part of tourist experiences in many societies, and this brings in to question the nature of such attractions and the commodification of the tourism experience. This presentation examines media representations of events and the ways in which that representation led to the site becoming a destination of dark Tourism.
Annona joined the Rotary Club of Erin's and was President 2007-2008. She has served at District level as project chair in 2010-3011 and 2013-14. District 9685 Training chair of Erica Rotary Club. Part of a working team of 12 to East Timor in 2015 to renovate a birthing facility. Vocation - Tourism Research, completed PHD in 2004 in Sociology and Anthropolgy.
She is married to Ross member of Rotary of Woy Woy are the owners of the pharmacy in Umina and live in Avoca Beach.
LAST MONDAY's Meeting the 9th of March 2017 - the Speaker was John Saunders about life of science as a geophysicist
John started his career as an Atomic Physicist in London before becoming a Geophysicist, and in this role he has travelled and worked in many parts of the world including North Africa, Northern Europe, some place called Sydney, Houston, Texas, Norway before leaving the Corporate World and setting up his own company, to provide consulting services to energy exploration companies in Australia and New Zealand.
John explained some of the challenges facing the Oil and Gas Industry and the low success rate of finding commercial wells. In fact many of us were in tears hearing the plight of the poor multinational Oil Companies and the lousy tax concessions given to them by the Federal Government.
Please note that there will be no Rotary Meeting on 17 April (Easter Monday) and no meeting 24 April due to Anzac Day
Reminders
PETS 1 April 2017
An overview of the relevant documents and their requirements to create an awareness for President’s – Elect so that they have a basis to manage the responses of their respective Clubs.
District Assembly 23 April 2017
Club Board members and the Club Verification Officer should attend to hear a more detailed explanation about these important requirements and to receive guidance about their implementation.
Red Shield Appeal Day - 28th of May
FREE “Working with Children” workshop on 29 April 2017 in the District Office, Thornleigh, to expand on the DA.A representative of the Office of the Children’s Guardian will be present and the primary objectives will be to:
Explain more about WWC and why it is an important matter; and
Participate in a Q&A session at which any misconceptions or misunderstandings that may exist will be addressed.
And from last week's Board Meeting
At the Board Meeting on Tuesday the 14th,we have decided to stay at the Union Hotel for our regular Monday Lunchtime Meetings,which reflects the views of both Board and the majority of Club Members.
Also we will be having an evening Meeting on Monday the 10th of April, most probably at the Union Hotel, to be confirmed.
The Board has identified that the Club has not held a Pride of Work award for some time - this is a Vocational Service Award to recognize and promote valued people in the community doing their job exceptionally well.
No date has been set as yet, however Peter Coote has nominated three people and Ian Pocock has nominated another.
The procedure will be that the Board will review the list of nominations at our next Board Meeting to be held in early May and select suitable recipients. Then those awards will take place at a subsequent meeting probably at night
Please advise Mark Staples or Peter of anyone you would like to nominate.
