Rotary Stawell Inc.

A very happy & safe  Christmas and New Year to all our readers

From all of us, at Rotary Stawell.

Hello to all our readers out in the Land of Oz,  and we do wish everyone a very special time over the festive season. Our next exercise will be the manning of the Race day affairs  on Saturday 14 Dec 2013 at Stawell, and winding up with a breakfast at 502 Primary School for about 400 youngsters commencing at 7.30 AM  on 17 December, then we close for the festive season.

We had our break up at Pres Kim’s home on Tuesday 10^th December 2013, and a report on that shortly.

Our thanks to those who have volunteered to assist in these areas of PR and Making some hard earned, while they are about it via the Ballarat South Car raffle, and the BBQ at the Track,  and we hope there is a good day for all of the action on the day.

As mentioned prior, there will be updates continuing after the break up of the Club over the festive season, and any  results during that time will appear in one of those news letters .and from early information there seems to be some good news in the making, but we will get more on that news as it comes to hand.

In opposition to break up is the first night back, and providing there are no last minute changes that will be at Dr Norman and Noelene’s home on the early evening of the 14 of January 2014, and we will keep you informed of that as well a little closer to the time. One matter that has not been sorted was if we would prefer to have the first night celebration on the Tuesday the 14th evening or wait until Friday the 17th evening, Ed will have a ring around to establish the most preferred and publish that day date.

As well as these various things happening we have the second of the Overseas Trips happening, things seems to be in place and ready to go, in early to mid January, so we wish Rtn Wendy the organizer of the event and one of her helpers in PP Pauline and the rest of the Tour a great trip, in health and safety and look forward to their return to regale us with the tales from  Vietnam. And start preparations for Cambodia with the aid of Samaritans Purse, in 2015.

 The Hampers for our elderly folk on the Meals on Wheels  program, that  have no one to join them over the Festive season, has wound up and the packing and delivery is to happen this next week, at Pres Kim’s and will be assisted Hon member Mrs Gehan with that task.  The hampers to be picked up on Christmas eve by  Mr Roy Williams and delivered first thing Christmas Day,  so our thanks to Roy boy as well for his assistance in this activity.

Also to the Members that have made a donation of the Soft toys for the little ones in town, and that contributed to the MOW hampers thank you all again, it has been quite a strain on some , and we do really appreciate your efforts.

In thanking the members for their efforts, it needs to be underlined that the assistance that is given is done in the knowledge that you may never see the smiles of appreciation and the happy reactions of the recipients of your  goodwill, but please know that you are appreciated and that you have made someone’s Christmas just a little more special, than it otherwise would have been.

And now we enter the dark recesses of ……………… “ Norman’s nonsense”

After a tiring day, a commuter settled down in his seat  and closed his eyes.
As the train rolled out of the station, the young woman sitting next to him took out her cell phone and  started talking in a loud voice. “Hi sweetheart , its Sue, I’m on the train home,   yes I know it’s the six thirty

And not the four thirty but I had to work late.   No honey , not with  Jack from accounting, ,  with the boss
No sweetheart, you are the only one in my life……….yes I’m sure, cross my heart…………………

Fifteen Minutes later, she  was still talking and still very loudly.

At this point the man sitting next to her had enough, he leaned over and said into the Phone  “Sue hang up the phone and come back to bed”             Sue doesn’t use her phone on the train any more.

[Thanks to Norman and to our contributors over the year to his nonsense]

Not to much district news this week,  the papers  arrived for any Resolutions to be raised at Conference  in 2014April
Recommendations for the election of an attendee and a standby  to the 2016 council on legislation,  doc’s have also arrived  with a closing date of 9 February 2014.

Also reminders for RY LA with entries closing on Dec 20^th, 2013.

Heard on the grape vine that there is 1 application for RIPEN all ready.

The Australian Rotary Health annual report was received

And so back to our Christmas shindig ,  we had a really nice evening  we did miss a couple of members but  there is a great many reasons  for that and in both cases in particular we wish them both well, and hope for a speedy resolution in both cases.

But is was a good evening  with Yan Su Qin celebrating her Birthday, 24 years ??  Ahhhh  these girls , are a bit like fishermen they tend towards exaggeration, I mean look at our 27 year old Pres…  While mentioning the 27 year old Pres.  We should thank her for hosting the evening at her home , she has a great outdoor area with plenty of Grass around it , and a magnificent   Elm tree ,m  any way the catering manager out did himself on the BBQ with some lamb cooked to perfection , and a range of snags of varying flavors and some spiced as well,  topped off with some lovely salad and the required Boiled eggs .

For those that were at the function we should tell you that, Yes there was Boiled eggs on the Table, but one fang had two visits to the Table and when the Ed went to get some salad and a ½ egg,  all gone , so to all the rest at the turn yes there was eggs there for approximately 22.5 seconds before they disappeared.

But we really did have a wonderful spread and again our thanks to the gents for the salads , and Kim for the eggs,   we think.  But then well the Girls brought the sweets  and that was enough, to pay money for, the ladies absolutely out did them selves, what a table of sweets, they produced,  at the risk of  seeming unfair , it was death by chocolate that disappeared very quickly , home made by Pauline , it was a Tobler  Rone {sorry for the spelling]  chocolate  delight , that  was spectacular and tasted even better, Ed can say that there was no  opportunity of going back for seconds.  Have to say though that the water melon was juicy and sweet as well,  so from all of this it can be seen that it was a gastronomic delight.  Thank you to the Girls for a fantastic feast of sweets.

It was great to have’ JA’ and Judy back with us again, but was not prepared to ask John what happened to one of his fingers that was wrapped up,  we just hope it is OK ‘  but excellent to see them both back with us again after their holidays.   Pres Kim thanked every one for their attendance and the food, and asked that we get stuck in because we did not want any waste, no waste anywhere near Fang I can tell you that.  But everyone gave it the old college try.  Finally if the chatter and laughter was anything to go by we had a great night.

As this is the last official News letter for this 2013 year, Can I take the opportunity to thank the members for their in put and support of the Bulletin , we have tried to change it about this half of the year and for the most part seemed to be OK.  I must thank in particular a little circle of gents who get together of a breakfast time  and chew the fat, most of the time ending in laughter, and while  they are a great source of information, they  receive a bit of a hiding from the Ed over the smallest thing,  this is a case of not letting the truth get in the way of a good story, and to them , their sense of humour and forbearance. I thank them most sincerely, a cup of coffee with these blokes  is a great way to start the day.

I take this opportunity to thank all our members , and to wish you all a happy , safe and caring Christmas and New Year, and to that end I would ask you to read page three, as that empresses my thoughts.  Enjoy this time of year it is special to spend with family and friends , and if driving, take care on the roads.

And remember:   That virgin wool  comes from the ewe that runs the fastest.

MY CHRISTMAS THOUGHT FOR YOU.

 I have a list of friends I know, all written in a book,

and every year at Christmas time I go and have a look.

And that is when I realize these names are of my past,

Not in the book they are written in, but in my very heart.

For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path at sometime

And in that meeting they’ve become the rhythm of the rhyme.

 

And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,

I feel as though I am really composed, of each and every name.

And while you  may  not be  aware of  any special link,

Just meeting you has changed my life,  more than you can think.

For once I have met someone,   the years will never erase

That memory of a pleasant word, your smile  or your friendly face.

 

So never think of  my Christmas cards are mere routine,

Of names on a card list, forgotten in between.

For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,

It’s because you’re on that list,  of folks,  I am indebted to.

For you are but a total, of the many folk I have met,

And you  happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget.

 

So whether I have known you for many  years or only just a  few,

In  some way you have had apart in shaping the things that  I do.

For as every Christmas comes around, I realize  anew,

The biggest gift  that  life can give , is meeting folks, just like you

So may the Spirit of Christmas that forever and ever endures,

Leave its richest blessings, in the hearts,  of you and yours.

Have a great Christmas and New Year .  Ed