Rotary Stawell Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HELLO to all members, friends, families, and those people in our local community, “it”, is getting ever closer hope our newsletter finds you all prepared. If not there is still time, but not Much!!

IT WAS GREAT to have an almost full house at our last meeting.  It made the place alive, great ..

A REMINDER to the members about the MOW Hampers for the lone folks, at this festive time of the year.  Pres Kim is the person driving this so please, contributions or  DIK at the very latest , by  NEXT WEEK, the 10 December to the Pres, we supporting 16 this year.

PLEASE DON’T forget the little ones at the other end of the scale, PDG Ted is looking after the Soft Toy, Christmas gift for the littlies in the community who otherwise may not get a present at all.  this also will finish on the 10 December 13.

NEXT WEEK IS NOW OUR CHRISTMAS BREAK OUT,  10 DECEMBER 2013, AT KIMBERLEY’S HOME , IN LIGAR ST STAWELL, GENTS PLEASE BRING A SALAD, LADIES A SWEET, AND WE WILL BE HAVING A BBQ AT THE PRESIDENTS HOME, SO DON’T FORGET INVITE ANYONE, PARTNERS , FAMILIES FRIENDS ETC.  PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR REFRESHMENTS AND PLASTIC GLASS SHAPED OBJECT TO DRINK FROM.

Tuesday 10^th is taking place of our planned day out at the races.  we have been offered the opportunity to sell raffle tickets for the Car, and  also man a BBQ for 3 or 4 hours, and as well as the ticket sales, we  have a guarantee of a three figure contribution to the Club, so we have swapped the days about

 

President Kim has been offered a trip to Vietnam as an escort to the youngsters and as a direct link to the Students and the Club.  The idea was put forward by Rtn Kaye Harris and adopted infamously, congratulations all round

 

SOME GENERAL NEWS, ON THE FIGHT AGAINST POLIO,  the latest Polo Figures have arrived in and are a mixed bag. At November 13 this year

Nigeria has 51 cases . That is down for YTD of 111

Pakistan     59             Up from 54  Last year

Afghanistan 9              Down from 27 Last Year

Ethiopia       6

Cameroon   2

Somalia      180                             no cases reported last year.

Syrian Arab Republic, 13

Kenya        14

SO LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AGO we had  334 cases, that is a rise of 256 YTD. So the eradication program is on the cusp of success, but we seem to get so close only to be thwarted again, we must  maintain the rage, if we are to succeed..  While our contributions to Polio+  are up 44.2% YTD  so congratulations to everyone,  not only in our Club but to other Clubs and supporters as well

ANNUAL GIVING has become a buzz word, such has its importance grown,  it is good to see that  we as a district are doing quite well at the moment  Zone 8, that’s us,  have an overall rating of $16.28 compared to $17.56 last year so there’s more than a bit of work to do. District 9630 has raced away into a handy lead with $51.03 Per head per annum, YTD  but 9780 at $33.67 is in the mix.  The rest need to take a good hard look at the  numbers and settle on a positive plan of action

HISTORY ANSWE

The four way test was penned by,  Rotarian Hubert J. Taylor in 1932.  It was written in response to a way or a method to save a struggling, Aluminium Company based in Chicago. The company had fallen on hard times due in part to war and the great depression, and so to invigorate his work force and those he dealt with he came up with the now famous 24 word 4 Way Test .  The test became the direction that the company took in all areas from Production to advertising, and in all relations taken with dealers and clients

NOTE [in part]  FROM PARRAMATTA  RISPPO, re the Philippines Problem , I am inspired by Rotarian’s helping the effort but I strongly suggest that you contact the DG’s leading the     Rotarian effort. Their needs are basic, resources for food, water and medicines.  Please contact them directly and see how you can work with them.   Most of the attention has been on District 3860 but District 3850 was also affected along with District 3830. Please contact the DG’s before attempting to send anything. We have good Rotarians wanting to send  containers of items they thought would be useful. As we found with Queensland floods last year items were sent that were not required. The items were not released into the community as it would have an economic impact on the area. On top of that they had to pay thousands of dollars to have them moved.

The comment above supports the Clubs activities exactly, well done folks.

REGISTRATIONS for convention in SYDNEY 2014

Inquiries from a number of Rotarian’s who have been experiencing difficulties with registering for Convention.    This is often because they do not have a unique email address registered in the RI database.  If a Rotarian creates a My Rotary account that is not linked to their club membership record, they will have difficulty.  This is usually because the email address they have used is not on file in their membership record.   It can be ‘fixed’ but it creates delays.

The best way for this to be avoided is for all club secretaries to ensure that  the Rotarians in their club has a unique (not shared with anyone else) email address that is correct and current in the RI database  If any member from Stawell wishes to go to the Sydney convention, in 2014  then please ensure that you are following the above advice, it is a great opportunity, and does not happen very often, so the recommendation is to get along to the Convention  if you can.

FINALLY in news from outside of the Club,  a note from State Parliament dealing with changes to  financial accountability

Within local government.

Local Government Amendment (Performance Reporting and Accountability) Bill 2013

• This Bill was introduced into State Parliament on 27 November and will be debated fully on or after 11 December 2013.
  It has been developed following 35 information sessions and consultation with over 1000 mayors, councillors and other stakeholders. Effective council performance reporting is essential to ensuring accountability to residents and ratepayers as to how public money is being spent and the quality of services delivered. The Bill introduces a requirement for councils to report against a standard set of performance indicators and prescribes the form of both recurrent and capital planning undertaken. Further, the Bill replaces the requirement for councils to produce ‘standard statements’ with ‘financial statements’ in the strategic resource plan, budget and annual report.

Additionally, the Bill replaces the requirement councils to identify ‘key strategic activities’ and ensures councils are accountable for major council plan and budget commitments. Finally, the Bill provides that each council publish their council plan, strategic resource plan, budget and annual report on the council’s internet website.

Bills are available online via the following steps:
1.        Type www.parliament.vic.gov.au
2.        Go to Legislation & Bills tab
3.        Click on Bills
This Bill has now reached the Second Reading Speech stage.  A transcript of the speech is also available online.

We will follow this up with PE Vaughan, and get his views on what if any effect, this may have on the Club and its dealings with the shire

And now we move in to the dark recess of Normans Nonsense,   he have gone all poetic this week

The computer swallowed Grandma,

Yes, honestly it’s true!
She pressed ‘control and ‘enter’
And disappeared from view.
It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.
I’ve searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I’ve even used the Internet,
But nothing did I find.
In desperation, I asked Mr Google
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found ‘online.’
So, if inside your ‘Inbox,’
My Grandma you should see,
Please ‘Copy, Scan’ and ‘Paste’ her,
And send her back to me.
This is a tribute to all the Grandmas & Grandpas, Nannas & Pops, who have been fearless and learned to use the Computer…They are the greatest.

 

THIS WEEK we had our last board meeting for this half year, and the Ed doesn’t know if the months are flying by or is he getting older and it just seems that way, but it all seems to be passing us by at a terrific rate,  we won’t tell him will we..

We received a report on the make up of the sub committee for the relief project for the people of the Philippines, and some idea of their forward planning as well, and is in good hands.

We were able to  ratify a few of those things held over, as seen on the proposed agenda, then of course we have two meetings in 5 Days, Tuesday 10^th,our Christmas BBQ,  ,  at the Stawell Christmas race meeting on the 14^th December .where we will be BBQ’ing and selling raffle tickets.[See notes above]

We have received comments  on various matters than cover areas such as  Permits to sell raffle tickets,  BBQ’s, and the like.  The Ballarat South car raffle,  the aid to the Philippines,  Distribution of Fine Money, is to remain as is, going in part to our payment to the Rotary Foundation.

PE Vaughan  named his team and positions for his term in office,   Vaughan as President and will retain the position of Treasurer.

He has PP Ken as an assistant Treasurer, PP Pauline, as PN who will have charge of Club Services and Membership., PP Kim is IPP  and is looking after Special Events & PR. PDG Ted will be Secretary & Club Administration.   International service will be looked after by Rtn  Robin, Youth and Vocation is under the guidance of PP John ‘L’, Community Service  is by PP Kevin,  Foundation  by PP John ‘A’ and Sgt  at Arms  PP Des Pickford

As can be seen there is some doubling of port folio’s however these are seen as streamlining the operations of the Club.  Thanks to PP Val Nicholson and to PP Wilton Wells, for their efforts, and hope they enjoy retirement from the Board,

Speaking of PP Wilton, He is suffering bruising to various parts of his body after his accident, nothing broken, but has a deal of pain around his kidney region, but has been given the all clear as to any damage. So we wish him well,  last heard he was in Lorne swanning about in the Sun shine, do him good too we suspect..

As we draw the bulletin to a close this week it would be remiss not to mention the generosity of PP Pauline, as we are all aware the offer was made to paint The front fence of Pauline’s beautiful home, in time for the open garden day in November. Long story short Pauline had not been well and it was right on the last few days that 3 Rotarians went to do the Job, We might add they were 3 of the 4 elders of the club, Tuesday 3 December PP Pauline presented the Club with a cheque for $500 for the job., it was a most gracious of Pauline to do such a thing, and extremely generous as well,  thank you PP Pauline, and although we are aware that she will disagree, we were happy to do the job for nothing, just for the sake of supporting a friend who had been in a poor state of health, however what is done is done and all we can now do is thank her very much indeed.

Finally a drop off point for the Art works, for the Easter Art show,  is still being considered, we have had some offers , but this is in the hands of President Kim , and a decision with luck will be made prior to the 14^th December.

That’s all from us this week , just a reminder that communications will remain open over the festive season, if any member, should have any reason to make contact or there is any news worthy items for the Bulletin.    Phone the Ed.  In the mean time

Remember,

 

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