Hello, Members and our Rotary Friends receiving this eBulletin.
As we enter the 10th week of Sydney’s Lockdown, time is standing still for a lot of us, and our NSW Government is suggesting the Lockdown will proceed through and into October 2021, awaiting the increase in the number of vaccinations. So once again, I reiterate, please help all of us, you, me and your families, ‘go get the Jab!’
Rotary continues regardless! Last Monday on Zoom we welcomed a presentation by Don from the North Sydney State Emergency Services (SES) branch. So interesting once again! We learnt there are 340 SES Staff across NSW, and 12,000 volunteers! So when you ring for SES help, you go through to a call centre in Wollongong, and are transferred to your local branch. What fantastic service, and 12,000 volunteers who each have a trade qualification.
Next Monday we will hear from ‘So They Can’ a not for profit organisation who supports education in schools in Africa, originally building schools in Tanzania and Kenya. So join us and click here at 12.30pm next Monday 6th September.
Think Rotary!
Stay safe, enjoy your Lockdown week and keep in touch with your friends.
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 night, 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
Cass is the Co-founder and CEO ,while Emily has only recently joined STC .So come along and hear their up-dates as to exactly what they are up to today .It's a long time between drinks ,so to speak ,so should be interesting .Apparently they are now involved with some 42 schools in Africa ,a big change from a few years ago
Last Monday, the 30th of August - our Guest Speaker was Don Lange from the SES
During the Meeting:
Don is a retired journalist and long term volunteer with the North Sydney Branch of the SES .Like many emergency services ,they grew out of a natural disaster ,going back to the floods of the Hunter Region in the mid 50's where more than a 1000 homes and 25 lives were lost in Maitland alone .
Starting off with an imminent weather threat as issued by the Bureau of Meteorology ,the SES are brought in to action, usually at the initiation of the Police Force and Emergency Services ,and become involved in rescuing affected people ,searching for missing people as directed ,emergency work to save property and equipment .They also help maintain the flood river warning systems that can by most invaluable in predicting floods downstream.
With their headquarters in Wollongong ,the SES has some 340 full time staff plus some 12,000 volunteers in NSW .For the volunteers ,they need to go through an extensive training process that can take 2-3 years .Note ,there is a lot of enthusiasm from the general public to join the SES ,especially following a natural disaster .Like today ,there is a waiting list of more than 50 people to join up .The North Sydney HQ is located at the Coal Loader at Waverton ,and typically get involved in unblocking drains following heavy rain ,especially combined with the flowers being shed from the numerous Jacarandas in the area .Also heavy trees falling ,damaging property or just blocking the road ,plus power outages ,skylights smashing and basements flooding .The SES work hand in hand with the local council ,the Firies ,as well as the police.
In all a most interesting talk, highlighting the dedication of the many volunteers involved ,and well received
by our Members
Discussion points around,
We had our usual discussion on COVID ,but the way forward is still not clear with case numbers in the community still being too high .Fortunately the vaccination rate keeps improving ,which has to be the way out .
Trifecta tickets slowly but surely being sent out.
George advising on Youth ,that the RYLA packs have arrived and District is requesting at least one rep from each Club to be sponsored for the week long RYLA conference for 18-30 year olds in January.
Phil will be issuing a note requesting all Directors prepare for the DG's Visit on the 20th of September ,only three weeks away.
Phil also appealed again for Members to join in the "Chin Wag" session ,which started last Friday ,and he's hoping to get another session going in a fortnight .Via Zoom for Clubs within our Cluster Group .So ,grab a bottle of your favourite beverage ,and join in the Chat Session .Zoom details to be advised shortly.
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.
- Melbourne Cup trifecta has had 6 orders already. Volunteers are required for stapling - talk to Angelo.
- All of the $100 Bunnings vouchers have now been sold.
- Obviously Zoom meetings continue during lockdown.
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
Recently, our new District Governor for 2021-22, advised our Club of a new rearrangement of Club Clusters into Areas, to remove imbalances of member numbers etc.
Crows Nest is part of Cluster 2, made up of two Clusters;
- the Lower North Shore and
- Riverside
Our Club is in an Area made up of 8 Clubs and we have an Assistant Governor, John Zhang.
Click on this Link to see the new spreadsheet and read on to read the DG’s letter to our Club;
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.
