District Governor's Blog (DG's messages)

20th January 2012

DG Weekly Message

Etymologically speaking, the month of January comes from the name of the Roman God Janus, historically depicted as a God with two faces, one looking to the past and one looking to the future.

With January marking Rotary Awareness month and the halfway point of our Rotary year, like its namesake, January provides us with a great time to both look back into our recent past and forward to the future ahead.

In the past 6 months we have achieved plenty together – Networker has been kept busy with a myriad of Club projects and events while our District’s clubs have combined together on a number of projects of significance. As I have previously noted, we should be proud of our District’s efforts in sending a Vocational Training Team to Timor Leste and GSE teams to India and the U.S.A. Looking back, much hard work and preparation has been conducted to enable these efforts, yet looking into the future, I am sure we all look forward to hearing how these voyages have changed lives, both at home and abroad. 

We should never underestimate the power of Rotary to change lives and indeed to save lives – the Vocational Training Team project providing midwifery training to nursing teams will doubtlessly be responsible for saving the lives of many mothers and children.

This is what WE do, this is what WE are part of.  

As you plan and review your own Club’s future initiatives this January, I encourage you to look back at what has previously worked in your Club – what has worked in terms of attracting new members, increasing your community profile,  bringing in support, helping the community and improving your club?  By looking at what’s worked (or even what hasn’t worked or what has been missing) in our clubs in the past, we can enhance our Clubs and our initiatives as we move into the future.   

And we have plenty more to “look forward” to this year as well. The District Conference is fast approaching and promises to be an amazing one. In a gathering in the heart of our District we will be celebrating our achievements, drawing inspiration for the future and developing the relationships that will drive our next achievements.   

So join with your fellow Rotarians and come to our 80^th District Conference to get together and celebrate the past as we look to the future.

Yours in the spirit of the Family of Rotary,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

Dear Rotary friends,

I would certainly like to welcome you all back after the holiday season to what should prove to be an exciting and prosperous year ahead in 2012.  With our 80th District Conference coming up, it’s with much pleasure that on behalf of Conference Chair Victor Sullivan and the Conference Committee I can announce several terrific new developments in relation to our 2012 Melbourne Conference.

New Conference Ticket Price

Thanks to the support of our 2012 Melbourne District Conference Sponsors, we have been able to reduce the standard Conference registration rate from $495 down to the Earlybird rate of $450.  This provides a great incentive for all Rotarians who have not yet registered for the Conference to get on board and register at this special rate. For details download the flier here.

Target 1000

Given this new rate and the central location of the Conference, this year I really want us to aim for a target of 1000 delegates for our 80th District Conference. With just over 40 days remaining, the Conference on our home soil and accessible to more Rotarians than any Conference in recent times, it’s our best opportunity yet to get us all together to celebrate the past and commit to the future.  A massive gathering of Rotarians is a terrific way to show the public who we are, what we do and why we do it – and in the course of doing so, encouraging them to join us in changing the world for the better. That’s why we ask every Rotarian to register today to make it our best Conference yet.

Non-Rotarian Gala Ticket

Another development that we are very pleased to announce is that we will now be offering a special non-Rotarian Partner ticket to attend the Opening Gala Cocktail Party (Friday Night) and the Gala Dinner Ball (Saturday Night).  For details download the flier here.

Show Them Why, Show Them Rotary – Plenary Session Tickets for Non-Rotarians

Finally, you will also see in the flier attached that you can now purchase tickets for each of the 4 Plenary Sessions for Non-Rotarian friends, family or colleagues.  There are few better introductions to Rotary than to see our organisation in action and hear the inspirational words of our guest speakers at the Conference – the opportunity to see some of Australia’s leaders converse with Tony Jones in our own Q&A session will surely be a highlight to bring friends along to. If you want to show someone why you are a Rotarian, show them Rotary at one of our inspirational Plenary sessions.

Celebrating The Past While Committing to the Future

We plan to have some of our oldest Rotarians, all over the age of 90 and still active in their Clubs , make a special appearance on the Big Stage of the Plenary Hall at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Supported by some of our youngest members from our youngest Club, the Rotary Club of Melbourne Park and our current Youth Exchange Students, we will pay tribute to those experienced members of Rotary who have given so much over so many years. If you have a Rotarian in your Club who can be part of this tribute, please let us know.

It’s OUR Conference - Get On Board Today!

There’s a great quote by William Shedd, “A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for”.  It’s a bit the same with Rotary – we can choose not to bother, but what sets us apart is our willingness to do something and be part of something great through the vessel of opportunity that is Rotary.  

I hope you will join us as we celebrate the past and commit to the future and hit our target for conference attendance in our 80th year – “Target 1000!”

To be part of OUR Rotary celebration, simply visit the Conference Website at www.2012melbourne.com.au to register for what we believe will be a wonderful showcase for the very best of what Rotary and Melbourne can offer.

Warm regards,

Keith Ryall (Gabrielle)

RC of Carlton
Rotary International D9800
District Governor 2011-2012

For Issue 22 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

19th December 2011

DG Weekly Message

So this is Christmas...

So this is Christmas And what have you done? Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas For weak and for strong For rich and the poor ones The world is so wrong And so happy Christmas For black and for white For yellow and red ones Let's stop all the fight A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear. Listen here

When John Lennon wrote this song, he really got it right!  What better wish could there be than to live in a world without prejudice, fear or war?  This is the kind of world we in Rotary work towards−a world of peace. At this very special time of year, I want to extend my sincere thanks to you all for the effort you have put in to your Rotary work throughout the year.  We should never lose sight of our mission − to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. I wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and I hope the New Year brings much peace and joy.  Both Gabrielle and I look forward to seeing you in 2012 and to continuing to work alongside you in the service of Rotary towards a better world. Keith Ryall District Governor 2011-2012 Rotary District 9800

 

For Issue 21 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

2nd December 2011

DG Weekly Message

Firstly, Seasons Greetings to all Rotarians as we move into Summer and Family of Rotary Month.

Family of Rotary  Month is a great time to reflect on our support of the Family of Rotary who support us.

In the past few weeks, our District has played host to the opening of our newest Rotaract Club, The Rotaract Club of Melbourne University and the staging of the RYLA Camp at Mt Evelyn. These two events give us a clear indication that Rotary has a strong indication that the Rotary has a continued important role to play in the lives of young people who are part of our “Family of Rotary”.   

The RYLA program will skill young people to become leaders of their communities, equipping them with the leadership and social skills to lead with integrity, courage and a sense of self-efficacy and I congratulate all the attendees and the magnificent hosting team for their work in making it happen.

I also congratulate New Generations Chair Vanda Mullen and her Rotaract Chair Ros McMorrow for all the hard work they have put in to make the new Rotaract Club at the University of Melbourne happen.  It was great to see a number of new Rotaractors from the University helping us volunteer at the City2Sea run recently and we welcome them to the Family of Rotary with welcome arms.

I have also been busy recently with the 2012 Zone Institute in Brisbane as well as the Future Leaders Seminar and Pre Institute Training. The theme of the 2012 Zone Institute this year was “The Magic of Rotary” and I can say with assurance, that seeing us extend our Family of Rotary has been provided a certain magic spark which is great to see.  Seeing more people brought into Rotary and then seeing it change their lives )and the lives of others) for the better is really something special.  I implore you all to think of who you know that you could invite to be part of our Family.

In the season of giving, sharing something positive and special with someone close to you is a gift that truly means something and is a gift that gives back to many.  

I’d like to finish this message with a speech I picked up on the Internet: it is attributed to a former CEO of Coca Cola, Bryan Dyson:

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some 5 balls in the air. They are WORK,FAMILY, HEALTH, FRIENDS AND SPIRIT and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that WORK as a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other balls, FAMILY, HEALTH, FRIENDS AND SPIRIT – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.”

Look after your Family this Festive Season and know your Family will be there to look out for you.

Seasons Greetings from Gabrielle and I!

Yours in Rotary service,
Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

For Issue 19 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

25th November 2011

DG Weekly Message

I’ve this week been in Brisbane at the Rotary Institute joining other Rotary leaders as we learn more about how Rotary can play a leadership role in our communities. Part of this learning opportunity has been a visit to the Lockyer Valley in Queensland to survey the recovery from the disastrous floods that left the region awash. To hear from those that have worked hard to help these communities, including our Friend of Rotary, former Australian of the Year  and 2012 Melbourne Conference speaker, Professor Patrick McGorry, who has been working to help locals rebuild, is truly inspiring.
 
What is so particularly heartening about seeing this recovery is witnessing the first-hand difference that Rotary has made in helping communities affected by floods. It has really impressed me to see the way Rotarians from across the nation came together to help communities in need when they needed a helping hand.  Along with the on-the-ground support provided by  so many Districts, the contributions individual Rotary Districts have each made reflect a sense of generosity, care, mateship and “service above self” of which we should be proud. Our District’s substantial contributions were joined by districts like Tasmania’s District 9830, who donated $900,000, including $150,000 contributed by the Tasmanian State Government.
 
The contributions Rotarians like you and me have made to help flood victims are helping to construct a new community centre in the township of Murphy’s Creek (about 10km East of Toowoomba ) that was not there beforehand – a solid foundation and focal point of community engagement, support and solidarity much needed as the locals  work to restore and their sense of community with a sense of togetherness and mutual support.
 
We should be proud that not just in the worst hit areas of Queensland, but also in our own District in Rochester, the power of Rotary has made a huge difference in local towns, helping to alleviate the burden that so many would have otherwise faced without such support.
 
This is truly humanity in motion and to each who contributed, I pass on the thanks of grateful communities for doing what we do as Rotarians – giving what we can to help those in need.
 
Well done.

Yours in Rotary service,
Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

For Issue 18 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

18th November 2011

Celebrate the past and commit to the future

Dear Rotarians and Friends of Rotary,

Last Sunday saw Rotarians from District 9800 partners, families and friends come together as volunteers working side-by-side in a team effort to support the City2Sea fun run.  This event was in fact organised by The Fairfax Group in support of Movember and cancer research.  But it was Rotary showcasing what we do so well in volunteering to help others in the true spirit of service above self.  Together we provided 495 volunteers who acted as marshals and provided support to the runners.   It was simply an awesome effort and a huge amount of fun!   Well done to all the clubs who got behind this initiative and congratulations to AG David Pisterman, PP Sandi Fulcher, President Peter Shepheard and all those who assisted.  Given the number of Rotary events on throughout the District on Sunday, the level of participation from the clubs who were able to assist was remarkable.

Congratulations also needs to go to the Rotary Club of Central Melbourne Sunrise who put on another fantastic Annual Rotary Foundation Paul Harris breakfast.  The keynote speaker, Professor Patrick McGorry, AO addressed the audience on a 21st Century approach to mental health care and there will be a summary of Professor McGorry’s notes in next week’s Networker.

You will all know by now that I have a catchcry – “celebrate the past and commit to the future.”  Well, we’re doing just that this evening in chartering the new Rotaract Club of Melbourne University, which will have as their regular meeting venue the wonderful Royce Abbey Room at International House.  What a great way to celebrate the past in this room with its amazing historical records and memorabilia from our own Past RI President Royce Abbey’s collection.  At the same time it is a wonderful opportunity to show commitment to the future with the induction of the new Rotaract members!

Yours in Rotary,
Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

11th November 2011

The Rotary Foundation and its programs

Dear District 9800 Rotarians,

I have been really impressed with all the activity around our Clubs for Foundation Month and congratulate every Club that has participated in Foundation initiatives for their great work.  Last week I attended the District Foundation seminar at Graduate House in Carlton and again it was great to see so many attendees from our Clubs gathering for this terrific educational opportunity. One of the best summaries that came from the event was provided by Rotary Club of Glenferrie President Don Heath to his Club. I’d like to share an edited extract of what Don wrote as part of my message, as I think it gives a great overview of what the Foundation does and how it works.

The Mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance World understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, education and the alleviation of poverty. The following is a summary of the many different Foundation programs in which Rotary Clubs around the World are involved.

District Grants

These are for Humanitarian projects in Australia or Overseas. The maximum value granted by the Foundation is $4,000 and this is matched dollar for dollar by the Club applying. The Grant is paid by the Foundation after completion of the project and appropriate reporting of the outcomes.

Global Grants

These are for larger scale International Humanitarian Aid projects. The minimum project cost is $30,000 and maximum $200,000 and the Club has to contribute 25% to this. The Rotary Club of Glenferrie for example has applied for a Global Grant with the Club’s Sumba Eye project. The Rotary Club of Altona City was the first Club in our District to succeed with one of these – Project Uganda, which involves supplying clean water to a village about 25 km from Kampala and has just been completed. These may involve several Clubs coordinating internationally, for example, the Rotary Club of Celle (Germany) have just succeeded with a global grant partnering the Rotary Club of Brighton with an Indigenous Australian project.

Rotary International Foundation Fund

There are two parts to this: The Annual Program is for today. This is the main source of Foundation Grants. The Rotary Club of Glenferrie (like many District 9800 Clubs) contributes $100 per member per annum. Another great way the Rotary Club of Glenferrie is contributing to the Annual Program is by donating all of the Club’s fines from Foundation Month in November to this program.

The Permanent Fund is for the future. This is never spent. The interest is used to fund Foundation programs such as the eradication of Polio. Rotary International plan to have $US1 billion invested in this fund by 2025. Our Club supports this through the EREY program – Every Rotarian Every Year (this used to be called the Centurion program) where members agree to contribute $100 per annum.

The Royce Abbey Award

Named after District 9800’s own Rotary International President, the purpose of the Royce Abbey Award is to encourage members who are relatively new to Rotary to further develop and benefit from using the talents they have demonstrated in furthering the object of Rotary at Club, District and International level. The award encourages Clubs to contribute US$1000 through the R.I. Foundation to the Royce and Jean Abbey Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship, a program that is available to assist the training of young men and women in developing countries.

Post Graduate Scholarships

These are the old Ambassadorial Scholarships. We can nominate a student to study at a University overseas and be looked after by a local Rotary Club. These are paid by the Rotary Foundation and are worth $25,000 p.a. to the student.

Rotary Peace Centre Scholarships

Many people argue that this is the most important initiative by Rotary, as without world peace we can achieve nothing. Even our polio eradication program is severely restricted by war in 3 of the last 4 countries that still suffer from viral polio.  Every Club should be encouraged to investigate finding a candidate to nominate for this Scholarship.

Group Study Exchange

Teams of 6-10 younger professionals travel to study how their vocation operates in another country. Our District has two teams travelling to other Districts around the world this year, one to D5230 in Southern California and one to D3030 in Nagpur, India.  Clubs and Rotarians fortunate enough to have hosted our recent teams from America, Spain, Sweden or Turkey will fondly recall their visits, while we can be proud of the individuals we have sent overseas in these cultural exchange teams, a number of whom have come back to go on to join Rotary.

Group Fellowship Exchange

Teams of 6-10 Rotarians travel to another country to learn more about it. The Rotary Club of Glenferrie organised to host a visit from Canada two years ago through Norm Fary, the experience being a highly rewarding one for all involved.

There is no doubt that the money we raise to donate to our own Rotary Foundation is being put to incredibly good use and it is being done by Rotarians and their Clubs who are very similar to us – together we achieve something special.

Finally I would like to share Rotary International’s story of Arch Klumph, our ever R.I. President.

In 1917, RI President Arch C. Klumph proposed that an endowment be set up “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000, it was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International.

Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to “hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property . . . as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of RI.”  Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of $500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. Fast forward to 2011 and support of the Foundation has grown tremendously. Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, it has received contributions totalling more than $1 billion. To date, more than one million individuals have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows – people who have given $1,000 to the Annual Programs Fund or have had that amount contributed in their name.

The decision of just one man, Arch C. Klumpf, to create something lasting for the betterment of the world, today stands tall as the Rotary Foundation  continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace. Today, you too can help create something lasting by donating to the Foundation and seeing your money work to do good in the world in perpetuity – have a great Foundation month and keep up the great work!

Yours in Rotary,

Keith Ryall

District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

4th November 2011

District Governor’s Message

There are times as a Rotarian that it dawns upon you just how greatly our efforts really can change the world for the better, in both tangible ways and ways that we may never even fully realise. One of those times occurred to me this week.

This week the Vocational Training Team (VTT) left Australia to upskill the midwives and maternity service providers in the Baucau area of Timor Leste. With the maternal and child mortality rate in Timor Leste one of the worst in the world and seeing 1 in 35 mothers die in, or as a result of, childbirth, this initiative to provide midwifery up-skilling is of critical importance and need.

Given that Maternal and Child Health is one of The Rotary Foundation Future Vision’s 6 Areas of Focus, I am intensely proud to see our District along with District 9550 supporting this tremendous initiative which will make a clear difference where it counts most.

The project will involve 5 visits over the next 3 years, with 12 Clubs from our District together with District 9550 helping to contribute the US$113,630 necessary to make it happen.

The team will be led by Professor Jeremy Oats, a member of the Rotary Club of Melbourne and the Chair of the Victorian Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity as well as the Medical Co-Director of the Northern Territory Integrated Maternity Services and Professorial Fellow at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne.

Jeremy will be joined by the following specialists:

• Professor Susan McDonald, another Rotarian from the Rotary Club of North Balwyn who works at the Mercy Hospital for Women whilst holding the position of Professor of Midwifery at La Trobe University;

• Professor Caroline Homer, Director at the Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health at the University of Technology, Sydney;

• Doctor Fiona Cullinane, Consultant Obstetrician at the Royal Womens’ Hospital, Melbourne.

• Doctor Ingrid Bucens, Paediatrician, currently in Dili, Timor Leste.

We thank the team for their time, skills and dedication to make this project a reality.

This is truly a lifesaving initiative and one that will grant many more children the gift of having a mother to care for them, thus impacting greatly on infant and child mortality rates as well as having immeasurable impacts on developmental, social, financial, educational and family outcomes for individuals and the great Timor Leste society.

I would also like to thank the dedication and hard work of PDG Ian Knight, the District 9800 Rotary Foundation Special Projects Chair (VTT) as well as Kirsty Sword Gusmao (wife of the Timor Leste Prime Minister), Daryl Mills (our Rotarian representative in Dili) and everyone else who has worked so hard behind the scenes to make a difference in the lives 

Congratulations one and all on showing the true spirit of Rotary!

Keith Ryall

District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

27th October 2011

DG Weekly Message

Foundation Month almost upon us!

With our Foundation month of November almost upon us, I would like to congratulate Rotarians in our District for their support in helping us again put forward two successful nominations for the Rotary Peace Fellow Scholarships for study in 2012. Fresh from the recently held Foundation Seminar, the Foundation team in particular should be given special acknowledgement for the wonderful work they have contributed to Foundation programs this year.  

In terms of the Peace Fellows nominated by District 9800, following their interviews in June 2011, it was both Natasha Holt and Zuleika Arashiro who were successful in their applications.

Natasha Holt was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gisborne and lives in New Gisborne herself. Natasha has been selected as a first pick Peace Fellow of the University of North Carolina to Study for a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict resolution/social work. Natasha has a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and has worked as a researcher with Child Wise and in social work with Berry Street Victoria. Natasha is very grateful to be the recipient of a Rotary Peace Fellowship, which will support Natasha across the 2 years of her study. We wish her all the best!

Zuleika Arashiro was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Melbourne and is District 9800’s successful nominee to attend the 3-month Professional Development Certificate program at Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand. A former Rotary cultural ambassador, Zuleika is a Brazilian national who was living and working in Australia at the time of the selection process. Having grown up under a military regime in Brazil, Zuleika has been driven to help reduce the effects of fear, poverty and oppression in the world, along the way obtaining a PhD from La Trobe University and a Masters Degree from Georgetown University. Again we wish Zuleika the best of luck with her studies.

I believe this makes it something like 14 years in a row that our District has been successful in nominating candidates for Rotary Peace Fellowships. This is a fantastic result for our District as this means that we have not missed a year since the Peace Fellowships were conceived in terms of successfully putting forward representatives. We should be immensely proud of this record – our support is assisting the furtherance of world peace by providing the means for those most passionate about the subject to pursue their goal – a better and more peaceful world. I would like to thank in particular the Chair of the Rotary Peace Scholars Committee Dr Bob Fels and PDG Foundation Director John Davis as well as all those on the Committee for their tremendous efforts.

Foundation programs are the backbone of Rotary International’s achievement around the world and really speak for the soul of Rotary – as Rotarians we seek to give back and to leave our community and our world in a better place than we found it.  The Rotary Foundation does just that.

I urge each of you to get behind our Foundation programs this coming November and show your support.

The impact we can have on lives is truly tremendous and we should never underestimate just what the power of a little support to a dream can achieve. Two more programs I would also like to draw your attention to have a similar impact – the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN).

The RYPEN team did an amazing job recently with the latest RYPEN program with the Rotary Club of Melbourne South putting together a weekend that has doubtlessly changed the lives of a number of young people. Putting the program together, executing it and then also feeding 50 hungry mouths is not always the easiest thing to do, but from the feedback I have heard, it sounds like it was certainly one of the most rewarding. Congratulations to all involved.

RYLA in 2011 will be held at Camp Oasis, Mount Evelyn - Sunday November 27th through Saturday December 3rd.  If your Club is looking to make a difference in a young life, this is the perfect opportunity to sponsor a young person and watch them grow. Applications close November 1st – applications can be downloaded via http://www.ryla9800.org.au.

I again urge you to support a young person by sending them along to the RYLA program – you are investing in not only a young person, but also a potential community leader - and maybe someday, a future Rotarian.

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

21st October 2011

DG Weekly Message

Rotary District 9800 partners with the City2Sea run.

Below is a message from Assistant Governor David Pisterman regarding a very important initiative Rotary District 9800 are undertaking in partnership with The Fairfax Group, the City2Sea run.

I’d love you to give it your urgent support as nothing would help us more in developing Rotary District 9800’s emerging partnership with the Fairfax Group than to show them and the public just what Rotary is capable of when it comes to mustering support in the community. This is an opportunity for us to showcase Rotary in style whilst helping a great community event, a charitable cause and raising funds for our own Clubs.  Our participation is also vital in terms of developing our long term relationship with the Fairfax Group who have enormous potential to help us, particularly when it comes to upcoming events like the 2012 Rotary District 9800 Conference.

Rotary needs your urgent help!

A major community event with around 10,000 people taking part in the race itself,  The City2Sea fun run is coming up on Sunday 13th November and presents our District with one of the largest public relations and fundraising opportunities of the year.

As part of our partnership with the Sunday Age (through which we have already received promotion benefitting our clubs), Assistant Governor David Pisterman has arranged to have 500 Rotary volunteers take part in helping with the event as course marshals and volunteers, with $30 donated for every Rotarian who spares a few hours to help out.

That means if your Club can get 20 volunteers along, you will make $600 for your Club from a few hours of interacting with the public – a perfect way to promote your Rotary Club whilst being part of a huge community event that benefits men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression, via the Movember initiative.

This is a great way to show Rotary in action – getting behind a great cause, being part of the community, getting together to have fun and make Rotary visible in our community while raising funds for our Clubs to do further good with. If we have a full complement of 500 Rotary volunteers, that’s $15,000 going to Rotary Clubs in our District!   

What you and your Club will get back:

• $30 per volunteer for your Club
• A City2Sea t-shirt for every volunteer
• Muffins, a gourmet sausage (courtesy of the Rotary Club of South Melbourne) and drinks for volunteers
• An opportunity to put your Club and Rotary in front of the eyes of 10,000 participants who are interested in community-based activities
• A great day of fun!

How we can best promote Rotary on the day:

• Wear your Rotary caps, badges or other identifying accessories – let them know who we are!
• We will be placing information on how to be part of Rotary in every participant’s goodie bag that they will receive at the end of the run
• Join in the BBQ at the end of the event with the Rotary Club of Melbourne South – it’s a great opportunity for fellowship and meeting your fellow Rotarians and (famished!) participants who upon completion of the race will be in a positive spirit and proud of having accomplished something – maybe they will be looking for a new positive-minded challenge??

What sort of volunteer help is needed on the day? We need:

• Course Marshals = 70
• Start/Course drinks stations x 4 = 160
• Hydration Station = 10
• Start marshals = 50 (inc. clothing pick up)
• Start baggage = 20-30
• Info booths start/direction = 15
• Volunteer t-shirts distribution @ start = 1
• Volunteer t-shirts distribution @ finish = 1
• Finish baggage = 60
• Finish drink station = 40
• Finish marshals = 30
• Medal distributors = 30

Not difficult work, and you don’t need a degree, diploma or even calluses on your hands to help!

Who should you get on board to ensure your Club gets as many volunteers as possible?

• Club members
• Your family
• Your close friends
• Your Club’s Friends of Rotary – those who can help out – Club Alumni, GSE & Youth Exchange Alumni, those who have offered to help out
• Your  Club’s community and business partners

How to get involved:

• We need to know by the 31st October 2011 the names of your volunteers and their T-shirt sizes. Please complete the attached form and return to Sandi Fulcher at email sandi_fulcher@hotmail.com  at your earliest convenience.
• So far we have 121 volunteers from 9 Clubs – WE NEED YOU!

So please, let’s get on board – we need your help today!

Yours in Rotary service,
Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

For Issue 13 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

14th October 2011

DG Weekly Message

Ethics are at the core of Rotary’s principles!

For Rotarians, ethics - and especially as they relate to vocation - are at the core of Rotary’s principles.  These principles are enshrined in the stated Object of Rotary.

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

To assist us in achieving these aims, apply the Four-Way Test.  Created by Herbert Taylor, it has become assimilated into the genetic code of Rotary.  The Four-Way Test is a moral compass based on “the might of right.”  It will help guide you with your decisions, actions and words in all aspects of life.

Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I would love to see you at the Ethics Forum this Sunday. Details on this event are: 

When:            Sunday, 16th October 9.30am -1.30pm

Where:           “Re Sauce”, Morton Pavilion,
                       Junction Oval, St Kilda West

Cost:              $30 entry.

Speakers will include District Governor Keith Ryall;  Dr Joanna Flynn, President, Medical Board of Aust; Professor Bob Wood, Melbourne Business School; and Mr Michael Stillwell, of the Stillwell Motor Group.

Yours in Rotary service,
Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

 

For Issue 12 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

5th October 2011

DG Weekly Message

An amazing opportunity!

It’s not often that a great opportunity lands in your lap, but our District has recently been handed  a terrific chance to shine on a public stage while earning (easy!) fundraising dollars for each and every Club in our District.

Further to our Networker notice regarding the City2Sea Fun Run on Sunday the 13th of November, I am pleased to let you know that District 9800 has agreed to assist in providing 600 volunteers to act as course marshals and officials at the event.

Your Club will be contacted shortly by Assistant Governor of the Batman Cluster Group, David Pisterman to obtain your Club’s support in filling these volunteer positions with Rotarians, family and friends of Rotary. David’s email address is agbatman@rotarydistrict9800.org and his phone contact details are 9819-1861 (h/o) and 0418-345-607 if you would like to get in touch with him early and make his job easier.

What does your support mean? The Fairfax Group will provide a minimum of $30 to each volunteer going directly to each Club. Across our District this equates to over $20,000 in support. That’s a lot of good that can be done in our community for a couple of hours work!

We really do need an “all hands on deck” approach to fulfil our obligations so anything you can do to assist will be greatly appreciated.

In last Sunday’s Age, we obtained some great publicity on the front cover in regard to our volunteering, and with more PR expected for Rotary as the event approaches, this is a great opportunity for our District to engage with and attract the public to Rotary. With our 2012 Conference in Melbourne on the horizon, it is also a great opportunity for us to establish an ongoing  corporate partnership with a Melbourne institution read by hundreds of thousands in our community.

Our Batman AG David Pisterman is being supported by PP Sandy Fulcher (Chadstone East Malvern) and President Peter Shepheard (Altona) who will be on hand to help you and your Club as the event approaches. Please give them the support they need to make this opportunity a great success – for your Club and for our District together.

Let’s get on board, invite your friends and make it a great day for Rotary!

Gabrielle and I will be attending along with several friends of Rotary so we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, November 13.

Yours in Rotary service,
Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

 

For Issue 11 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

28th September 2011

DG Weekly Message

Next month, October, is Vocational Service month.

Rotary prides itself on its culture of service and leadership.  This culture has been formed through maintenance of high levels of ethics, integrity, respect and unity as well as a commitment to fostering goodwill and assisting development of both our own members and the wider community.

The achievement of our goals within Rotary is largely dependent on how we go about following and protecting the standards of leadership we know our success rests upon.  These standards are well reflected in Rotary’s 4-Way Test and are exemplified within the past achievements of Rotarians world wide as well as within our own Club’s efforts.  Look back upon any group who have combined together to achieve highly.  Look at the great sporting teams that are in the finals this year, or any year, look at leading teams within the business world.  Within them are individuals prepared to be self managing, not needing to be told to do the obvious, but instead setting the standards and taking personal responsibility for ensuring that standards are met and raised further again.  

I come across great examples of leadership in all of my Club visits.  It is great to see Rotary well and truly leading the way by example, such as through the Vocational Service Forum on Sunday 16th October.   I encourage everyone to attend this Forum, in particularly Club Vocational Service Directors.

 

For Issue 10 of Networker please click on the links below for the version you'd like to read.

         

20th September 2011

DG Weekly Message

Celebrate the Past... Enjoy the Present... Commit to the Future

September is New Generations Month, and it was last year when New Generations became the Fifth Avenue of Service – a vital one for developing future leaders and creating positive change towards our goal of fostering world peace and understanding.

Rotary has a wealth of wonderful programs for youth and young adults that have an enormous impact on their lives.  Powerful programs such as RYPEN, RYLA, RYDA, Youth Exchange, INTERACT, MUNA and the various Science programs all enrich our young people and prepare them for strong futures.  

Being involved in these programs is rewarding and I encourage every Club to ensure a sound New Generations program is in place.  Clubs also need to look to our youth programs for the future of Rotary itself.  As our Founder Paul Harris wrote in 1935, “Youth is enthusiastic and determined and contributes much to the movement.  Youth, middle age, and old age all have their parts to play, and all can profit greatly in their contacts with each other.”

Indeed, we need to move towards our Clubs being attractive to younger people and to engage them in their own ‘space’, reaching them through appealing websites and social media.  We need to be open to their ideas and embrace the change they bring.  After all, they are the future!   Again, Paul Harris saw this in 1935, saying:  “A nation’s most valuable asset is its youth...  How can the lives of young men and young women be so directed as to make sure of their future welfare and happiness and of the stability of the government that will come within their control?”

In RI President Kalyan Banerjee’s message this month, he talks about the importance of looking at our youth programs for identifying future Rotarians.  This makes so much sense, and it should be incumbent upon every Club to maintain contact with young people who experience our youth programs to ensure they remain in the Rotary Family.  As Kalyan Banerjee says:  “ We owe it to our Rotary family – past, present, and future – to make sure that our generation of Rotarians is not the last.”  

Celebrating the past, enjoying the present and committing to the future is key to strengthening and growing our Clubs.

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

13 September 2011

DG Weekly Message

Rotary has many great programs for young people in our community, but one of my favourite programs has to be RYLA, simply for the sheer impact it has on young lives.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a one-week residential leadership and personal development program that brings together young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to gain a better understanding of their own strengths, and the unique qualities and abilities of others.  

A home-grown program that has spread internationally since the 1960’s, RYLA is aimed at young people aged 18-25 and helps them become community leaders. It equips them with the abilities, knowledge and leadership skills to not only lead and serve others, but to do so with confidence, ethics and values. These are the hallmarks of the type of leaders our community is crying out for – whether at community, business or political levels.

This is where Rotary influences the direction of our society and future.

This year, RYLA will be held at Camp Oasis, Mount Evelyn from Sunday November 27th through Saturday December 3rd.  With applications closing November 1st, each Club should challenge itself to find a young person to sponsor in the coming month.  This program is the perfect opportunity for your Club to engage with the community and get out and tell them what we are doing to help young people.

Why not:

• involve the community in helping your Club fundraise, select and support a young RYLA attendee?
• speak to local community businesses and corporate partners who can help you sponsor more young RYLA attendees?
• use social media to promote RYLA, find attendees and gather community support and donations?

With New Generations month in full swing, this is a great program for us to get behind and be proud of – let the public know about it and let them see the difference Rotary can make!

RYLA is hosted by the Rotary Club of Yarraville, with wonderful Co-Directors Alick Weber and Caley Otter deserving our applause for their terrific job assisting our RYLA Chairman and champion, Wayne Hunter in providing an engaging and life-changing program.

Clubs and prospective participants can find out more information on RYLA via the website at www.ryla9800.org.au , by watching the great video at www.vimeo.com/28964031, or by contacting Wayne Hunter on wayne.hunter@cvgrp.com or 0408 398 927.

Participant applications can be downloaded from www.ryla9800.org.au/downloads/RylaApplicatonForm_2011_v4.1.pdf

On To Conference Chairs Cocktail Launch Party Evening
On Thursday September 29th, On-To-Conference Chairs from each District 9800 Club will be on the list to attend our 2012 Conference Cocktail Launch Party for On-To Conference Chairs at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.  This event is important for every Club to have their representative at to collect all the information about the 2012 Conference for their members and to find out just why the 2012 Melbourne Conference will be the ultimate getaway weekend in the heart of Melbourne.

If any Conference Chairs have not received their invitation as yet, please contact Conference Chair Victor Sullivan on V.Sullivan@unicol.unimelb.edu.au  

If your Club’s On-To-Conference Chair cannot make the evening, please find a deputy from your Club to attend – we’re sure they will enjoy the complimentary dinner, drinks and hospitality provided as the Melbourne Exhibition Centre gives us a taste of what to expect come March 2012!

Thanking Our 2012 Major Sponsors Motto Fashions
I’d also like to take a moment to thank our 2012 Melbourne Conference Major Sponsor Motto Fashions for their tremendous support.  As major sponsors to the Rotary Club of Richmond and now Rotary District 9800’s 2012 Melbourne Conference, we are truly appreciative of Motto’s support. Over the coming months you will see a lot of initiatives in joint promotion with Motto as we work together to further our partnership.  For those wanting to see the latest range of Motto Fashions, you can check out their website at: www.motto.com.au
 
One of the great things about Rotary is our ability to harness and direct good will, service and beneficence in the community.  We are fortunate to have such great support from businesses in our community to help us along our way as we in turn support others in communities at home and abroad – truly humanity in motion.

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

01 September 2011

DG Weekly Message

Rotary’s New Generation!

This September marks Rotary’s New Generations Month – a month in which we celebrate Rotary’s work in fostering positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs.

Our District has for many years been a leader in New Generations service, getting behind such wonderful programs as Rotary’s International Youth Exchange, the drama and theatre initiative Storm the Stage, the National Youth Science Forum, Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA), our District’s youth sailing programs,  the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN), Roadside Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA), the Victorian Agricultural Show Rural Ambassador Award, Portsea and Lord Somers Camps and of course Interact and Rotaract.

Our Clubs have been terrific in their support of these ventures helping young people and I could talk for many hours about the great outcomes each produce. Congratulations to every Rotarian who has been part of supporting these programs.

I’d like to highlight three more New Generations initiatives however that I would love our District’s Rotarians to get behind – they’re easy to be part of and support, they have profound influences on the youth they help and they are terrific representations of what Rotary is all about when it comes to New Generations.

RYLA
The first is The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA is a weeklong residential program for 18 to 25 year olds. The program develops leadership skills, personal development and social skills and will be held from 27th November to 3rd December at the Oasis Centre, Mt Evelyn.

I encourage every Rotary Club to sponsor a young person to attend this life-changing experience – many a young person has cited this opportunity as a turning point in their lives – the point at which they began to understand and gain confidence in themselves as they developed leadership, communication and team skills giving them new foundations on which to build their personal aspirations.

RYLA applications and information can be found at www.ryla9800.org.au or by contacting RYLA Chairman Wayne Hunter via:
wayne.hunter@cvgrp.com

The First Steps Youth Job Search Program
The next initiative I would like to point out is the The First Steps Youth Job Search Program. This program is aimed at building self-awareness and confidence for young job seekers as they prepare to start the job- hunting process.

Providing insider tips to help them prepare and build their first resume, The First Steps guides young jobseekers through the process step by step in language they can understand. Best of all the program is all online and easy for Clubs to help young people with – they need only be referred to the First Steps Website at www.job-first-steps.net to access this terrific guide to the job search process – one which can otherwise be a daunting proposition for first-timers.

For more information on The First Steps Youth Job Search Program, visit our District page dedicated to the First Steps at www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au/projects_youth_new_generations_job_first_steps or contact either of the program’s Co-Chairs, Nicholas Kane nick.kane@rotary.to or Fabienne Nichola fabes.n@bigpond.net.au.  

Youth Suicide Awareness
The third initiative I would like to point out is a significant one – Youth Suicide Awareness. In Australia, Suicide is the largest single cause of death of teenagers, and represents 19% of all deaths between the ages of 10 and 24. This is not to mention the impact of the even greater incidences of suicide attempts and the mental illnesses impeding the enjoyment of life of so many young people throughout our nation.

Since 1996, our District’s Youth Suicide Awareness Committee has sought funding from Rotary Clubs for professionals like teachers, police officers, youth and social workers, school nurses and corrections officers who work directly with young people to complete a Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Welfare through the University of Melbourne in conjunction with the Royal Children’s Hospital. Since its inception in 1996, more than 120 graduates have received scholarships or financial support from Rotary. No doubt many young lives have been saved and helped through the intervention of these individuals now better equipped to help those most vulnerable.

If your Club is looking for a cause to get behind and support, there are few better than this lifesaving program.

You can find out more by visiting http://www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au/networker_010_youth_suicide_awareness or contacting Youth Suicide Awareness Chairman Phil Wheatley via wheatley22@bigpond.com

Each of these terrific Rotary programs and many more Rotary Youth programs are just crying out for a corporate or business supporter to get behind – imagine how much more we could achieve with the support of those businesses in our community that share our passion for the next generation and want to be involved in helping them.

So spread the word! Find out how you can make it happen through your Club and get involved in changing lives this September!

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

22 August 2011

DG Weekly Message

Rotary’s Group Study Exchange

Every Rotary District Conference, one of the highlights is inevitably seeing the impact of the Group Study Exchange (GSE) on its international participants.  The spirit of learning, friendship and cross cultural understanding on show is always one to delight and remind Rotarians that what we do really does help bridge continents and foster good will across borders.

For those uninitiated, the GSE is a program of the Rotary Foundation providing young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 with a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity to see how their own vocation is practiced abroad whilst living, participating in and learning about another culture.
This year our District will send off two Group Study Exchange (GSE) teams to Rotary Districts on opposite sides of the world, District 3030 in Maharashtra, India and District 5230 in California, USA.

District 3030 in India is situated in a region with well developed industry, part of the richest state in the nation.  The exotic region offers a wide variety of tourist attractions for those interested in history and culture, including hill stations, forts , wild life sanctuaries, cave temples, carvings and historical monuments including world heritage sites like Ajanta and Ellora caves. The region is known to culinary experts for its delicious Varhadi or Saoji Cuisine whilst cricket aficionados will recognise the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground (VCA) in Nagpur where the cricket-mad locals flock to see international test matches. Set within an emerging economic powerhouse, the District encompasses a range of industries, including thermal power generation, paper, food, cement, steel and other manufacturing industries, as well as engineering, IT, aviation, scientific, pharmaceuticals, digital marketing, agriculture, agricultural processing industries and viticulture.  The region is a peaceful one and a model or religious and multicultural tolerance, with large communities or Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims living together and languages including Marathi, Hindi and English being spoken commonly.

District 5230 in California is located in the centre of the San Joaquin Valley and runs from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the cool ocean breeze of the Monterey Peninsula, including the urban centre of Fresno. This region includes vast agricultural industries, oil and petroleum, military installations, correctional facilities and a range of other industries associated with urban enterprise.

With applications closing on September 19, 2011 and Team Member Interviews taking place on October 23rd, I encourage every Club to get out there and find a young professional who you would be willing to support and nominate for this life-changing exchange.  As you will have seen from recent years, the caliber of recent candidates has been very strong, with the District sending away a number of fine individuals with Rotary Team leaders who together have represented our District with aplomb.   

Several of these GSE Team Members have even since gone on to become Rotarians themselves – I urge you to look for high quality individuals outside of Rotary who work or live within your Club’s area and who exemplify the qualities of Rotary in their professional and personal lives. GSE team members should be articulate, confident in presenting in public, community minded, excellent representatives of their vocation and fine ambassadors of their country and culture.   If you know someone like this who meets the criteria, be on the front foot in having them nominate for the GSE through your Club.  Give particular thought to the industries in these regions – is there someone you know who could particularly benefit from seeing their vocations in these regions?

The GSE Teams will also require Rotarian Team Leaders with similar qualities who are able to guide and lead teams of young professionals to these destinations.  Applications for Team Leaders close September 9 – if you think you have what it takes or know someone who does, please visit the District website to find out more and download application forms.

There is nothing like the experience of living with local families and learning a culture whilst participating in it to promote understanding and friendship. Many a lifelong friendship has been made through the GSE.

Finally, I would like to leave you with a thought about the Essence of Rotary.

The Essence of Rotary is that our organisation is a worldwide network of inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in communities.

I hope that in the coming week, your inspiration to change lives in your own community and others shines through – the opportunity is there – reach out and take it!

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

12th August 2011

DG Weekly Message

Being a Leader

Last Saturday our District held our annual Membership and Marketing Seminar at Trinity Grammar College to provide clubs with new ideas on how to boost club membership and profile.

For those fortunate enough to attend, we heard some terrific insights to equip Clubs to tackle membership and marketing challenges.

A Guest Speaker on Leadership
We were fortunate to hear from Trinity Grammar’s Headmaster, Rick Tudor, who spoke to us about authenticity in leadership.  Rick conveyed a philosophy on leadership that was centred on providing real and genuine leadership rather than going through the motions.  Leadership, Rick suggested, is a force grounded in a consistent code of morals and values, articulated and communicated regularly in everything a leader says and does, and is demonstrated not only in the leader’s own words and actions, but in how it inspires and compels others to also “walk the talk”.

The Servant Leader
Rick further spoke of the concept of the “servant leader”, the leader who looks to the needs of his or her team and walks with them guiding and developing them so that they can take the lead effectively.  This is particularly relevant to leadership in Rotary – each year we change our club leadership positions, so it makes sense to place leadership emphasis on empowering and developing the leadership of all within a club to engage in taking the club forward.


Fixing The Holes in Our Buckets
We heard about the reality of membership from District Membership Director Murray Verso.  Murray presented the hard facts of Rotary membership - yes we are attracting new members, but we’re also losing members through a process of attrition – be that retirement, ill health and death, resignations or otherwise.  It’s these “holes in the bucket” that we need to fix to lift membership numbers.  So how do we do it?

Murray encouraged the audience to challenge ourselves to think about the attractiveness of our Clubs.  What do people think of Rotary?  What attracts them to Rotary?  What puts them off Rotary?  What vibrant new initiatives can we create to bring people in?  How will our plans reflect strategies drawn from our understanding of these questions?

Murray further compelled us to think about how we can innovate and move with the times to become more relevant and embrace new technologies like social media which can help attract more Rotarians.

Figure of 8 Leadership
The Seminar also heard from District Marketing and External Relations Director Philip Archer.  Philip spoke of the concept of “figure of 8” leadership, whereby upon arrival into a leadership position, a leader first checks that all is ok with the club’s situation, then checks in that all is ok with the club’s individuals.  The “walk-through” process is then repeated, with the leader informed by continually monitoring and evaluating the club’s climate and efficacy.  The feedback mechanism keeps a finger on the pulse of the club for the leader, ensuring that attention can be paid to its most pressing needs.  The functional, happy and active club is then one of the best marketing tools possible – an attractive club attracts members.  

Philip also spoke of making use of our 4 Way Test in leadership when it comes to marketing and membership.  He explained how the 4-Way Test is a brilliant leadership tool.  It asks us to act with integrity, it prompts us to check in with others affected by our actions and words, it asks us to consider whether an action will benefit everyone concerned and asks us to question whether what we do will help broaden positive connections.  When it comes to marketing and membership, each of the four questions of the 4-Way Test is relevant in determining our strategy and can help us plan more effectively with our entire audience (including prospective and existing members) in mind.

Embracing New and Different Membership
Albert Park President Kerry Kornhauser gave a fantastic talk on diversity in Rotary.  She illustrated convincingly that reaching out to those different from ourselves, whether that be in terms of gender, ethnicity, age or otherwise, brings skills, ideas and opportunities which would otherwise be unattainable.  Similarly, that first step opens up new channels through which to further recruit membership and enhance club prosperity, allowing us to reach whole new audiences who share a common passion of helping the community.

Partnering For Success
Engaging corporates in innovative ways was the focus of Past President of the Rotary Club of Malvern, Lucia Cardamone.  Lucia explained that the sky was the limit in terms of how we can come up with imaginative initiatives in collaboration with corporates who are keen to show they are playing their part in the community too.  We only have to get out there and talk to them to realise what’s possible.

The Take Home Messages
The “take home” messages from the seminar were:

• Plan strategies to succeed
• Be out and about in the local community
• Make sure everyone “walks the talk”
• Make sure that Club Service is leading to a vibrant club
• Consider using the Figure of 8 test
• Embrace social media

And finally...The Yellow Boat Road
Before I finish this weekly message, I wanted to draw your attention to the “Follow The Yellow Boat Road” event that our District is supporting.  Robert Pennicott has circumnavigated Australia for Polio eradication and conservation and arrives in Melbourne on Saturday 20th of August.  The Batman Cluster Group will be supporting the celebrations of Rob’s arrival in Melbourne at Docklands , with the Rotary Club of Docklands organising a flotilla to escort Rob in and the Rotary Club of Albert Park hosting a BBQ on shore.  Rob will also be joined from disabled and abled bodied sailors from Sailability, an initiative that many Rotary Clubs in our District have helped support.  I urge you all to get down to Docklands on the 20th – details can be found on the District 9800 website.

Leading by example is what we’re all about and I hope that  each of you will truly step up to take the leadership reigns in hand this year rather than go through the motions – make your year something special, make your Rotary Club somewhere special, make your leadership something special.  With August Rotary’s Membership Extension Month, I encourage you to think how you can do something special as a leader to develop your Club’s membership.

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

5th August 2011

DG Weekly Message

With so much on this membership month, I’d like to take a little time to draw your attention to two events in our 2011-2012 Rotary Calendar that I would like all to save a date in your diary for.

The first date is our District Conference in Melbourne on the 9th - 12th of March, 2012. It’s a great opportunity to meet new friends, socialise and enjoy the fellowship of your fellow Rotarian whilst learning from fabulous world class speakers in an inspiring setting.  Please visit the Conference website to find out more: www.2012melbourne.com.au

The second is the 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, held on the 6th - 9th of May, 2012. Just as the weather is starting to cool off over here, you have the perfect opportunity to getaway to the warmth and wonders of Thailand where the Rotary world will converge. If you have never been to an RI Convention, this is your big opportunity with it being held in our neighbourhood.  Imagine the feeling of being in a city gripped by the good will of thousands upon thousands of people from all nations and walks of life who are just like you – they are committed to spreading good will, peace and community service across borders.  Please have a look at the website at:  www.rotary.org/convention  and consider if Thailand might just be the perfect place for your next overseas holiday.

Both these events are amazing opportunities to learn from the good in the world that Rotary creates.  If you ever wanted to see just what your participation in Rotary means in the world around you, these events will show you what the power of an idea backed by action can achieve.  Rotary in action is really something to behold and something every Rotarian should take some time to share a little pride and joy in – you deserve to reflect upon the smiles you bring to others and in turn smile yourselves when you look at what you’ve helped to do.

This Membership Development and Extension Month, I encourage you all to get out there and invite someone else in to Rotary and allow them to experience how Rotary can change lives – not only their own, but the lives of others too.  

What a gift you can give that has so many recipients and can bring so many smiles.  

So please, share the gift of Rotary this August.

Yours in Rotary,
Keith Ryall
District Governor 2011-2012

29th July 2011

DG Weekly Message

Engaging and Retaining Members

We often focus a substantial amount of effort in Rotary upon finding new members, and with good reason, as without them our Clubs would not only dwindle in size, but become stale too.

But I wonder if we spare quite the thought or effort we really should to the retention of our existing members – after all, if we don’t keep them engaged and wanting to be part of our Club, again our members will become stale and with them our Clubs head the same way.

We can’t MAKE anyone stay in Rotary.  But we can give them reasons to WANT to stay.

Perhaps the best binding agent that keeps a Club tight and enjoyable is a sense of inclusive friendship. If we make sure we open ourselves up and extend our friendship and fellowship to everyone in our Club, they feel welcome. I recall Rotary Club of Southbank Past President Barbara Adams once talking about her Club and explaining why it meant so much to her.

“These are my people...this is where I belong”.  

If we can find the right fit, I believe the chances of retaining that members increase substantially.

The next ingredients as I see it is keeping your Club aligned to its purpose. A Club that is active and engaged in doing great activities that give a sense of worth and value to its membership is a Club that rewards its membership. We all feel good when we achieve something important to us – so we need to make sure we are doing things that are important to each and every member. What are the passions that got your members involved in Rotary in the first place?

In a fantastic Youtube video that asks the question “What in the World is Rotary?”, Australian newsreader Roger Climpson states:

“The essence of Rotary is the joy of working and socialising with others who are interested in helping others and not just themselves – professional men and women who are prepared to give back as much as they receive in life... Rotary is fun, constructive, rewarding and extremely satisfying.”

This says it all.

Rotary should be fun. It should be engaging. It should give us an opportunity to enjoy working alongside others who want to do good in the world.  So I encourage you to get out and do the things you’ve always meant to – to do the things that give you a great sense of what it means to be a Rotarian.

After all, when we make the world a better place, we make it great to be a Rotarian.

We’re presently at the dawn of August, our Membership Month – let’s do the very best to make the world a better place by identifying “people like you and me” and inviting them to a Club meeting within the month.

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

21st July 2011

DG Weekly Message

From Kirksville, Missouri USA to Vapi, Gujarat State, India.

We have a unique opportunity in 2011-2012 to increase our awareness about two fascinating countries; the United States of America and India. As mentioned several times in despatches, we will have two GSE Teams in 2012; with District 3030 in Maharashtra State, India and District 5230 in the State of California, USA. Full details appear on page 32 of the current District Directory. This Message will focus on India in general and District 3030 in particular.

So what do we know about India?  I’m told by a reliable source that it is home to almost 1.2 billion people, second only to China and an economy expanding at the rate of almost 9% a year. Some of India’s 28 states are actually growing much faster than that; propelled in part by ambitious local governments that encourage foreign business. Maharashtra accounts for 15% of India’s industrial output and more than 40% of its national revenue. The leading city, Mumbai, is the financial capital of India and also the home of Bollywood, now the world’s largest film industry. The largest City in D3030 is Nagpur, home of India’s highly regarded National Cricketing Academy; equivalent to our own Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. District 3030 encompasses an area of 20,000 sq. kilometres and has 3,800 Rotarians and 85 Clubs; so about 20% larger than D9800 in terms of both Club numbers and membership. Overall, India has 3,048 Clubs with a total of 113,339 members.

India’s annual per capita income of US$3,400 ranks 163rd among the world’s countries. 25% of the population lives below the poverty line, but India has the second largest labour force-478 million people. About 52% of Indians work in agriculture, which accounts for 16% of the country’s domestic product. About one third of the people work in service industries, which account for 55% of GDP. 14% work in Industry which represents 29% of GDP.

There was a Report in today’s Age ( Friday July 15, Business Day Page 7 ) that was less than flattering about certain aspects of bureaucracy and government paralysis that is slowing down the economy, written by a Delhi based Indian journalist. However I think it is fair to say that many countries in Europe and North America are facing severe financial challenges so we should not single out any one particular country. There are some journalists who are predicting that Australia may not be immune from the aftermath of the global financial crisis which had minimal impact here at the time. We have a golden opportunity to increase our own general knowledge of the largest democratic country in the world through 2011-2012. Governor Alex Chernov at the highly successful Business Breakfast conducted by the Rotary Club of Glen Eira on June 8 referred to the Australia-India Institute of which he is Patron. We will be exploring ways that D9800 can strengthen its links with India through this Institute as well as supporting our Outbound GSE Team who leaves for India early in 2012 and then welcoming the Inbound Team from D3030 in late February/early March 2012.

I can see many opportunities to “Reach within to Embrace Humanity” ahead of us.


Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

13th July 2011

DG Weekly Message

Celebrate the Past, Commit to the Future.

Welcome to another Year in Rotary in D9800; it all started back on April 21 1921 with the Charter of Club #1 in Australia, the Rotary Club of Melbourne; so we celebrated with gusto at the MCG on May 23 and now we look forward with confidence to our 91st year and the 80th Rotary District 9800 Conference here in Melbourne from March 9 to 12 2012.

Gabrielle and I have been fortunate to have attended some 22 Changeover Ceremonies where there has been a real Celebration of some remarkable achievements, the presentation of many Paul Harris Fellowships and Royce Abbey Awards, RI Presidential Citations (20 with Distinctions), District and Club Awards. We have listened as each President Elect (now President) outlined their own Plans for 2011-2012 as well as introducing their Boards who will help deliver those Plans and Objectives.

At the District Changeover, we congratulated the Immediate Past District Governor Iven Mackay (ably supported by Marilyn) who led the District superbly well as we did indeed “Build Communities and Bridge Continents”. Now our challenge is to “Reach within to Embrace Humanity” under new RI President Kalyan Banerjee from the Rotary Club of Vapi in Gujarat State in India. Gabrielle and I were able to attend the RI Convention in New Orleans from May 22-26 and heard an inspirational address from Kalyan as he outlined his Vision for 2011-2012. I commend to you his Editorial in the July edition of Rotary Down Under; however in case you missed it, may I remind you of his three key points:

1Our first emphasis in this Rotary year will be the family. The family and the home are at the core of all our work-all our service begins here. And through the family, we approach all of our community and indeed, all of humanity, as an extended family, in which all members care for each other. In times of joy, and in times of need, no-one is ever alone.

2Our second emphasis will be continuity-finding the things we do well and taking them to the next level. We must build on our successes, expand on them, and strive to do even more. Of course, our greatest obligation is to Polio Plus, where success is now so close.

3And our third emphasis will be change. We must understand that true change can only begin with each of us, and start within us. We cannot share peace with others if we do not have it to give. We cannot look after the whole world without first looking after those closest to us; our families, our clubs, and our communities.

At the District Changeover Luncheon at Moonee Valley, I highlighted many words beginning with the letter “C”; Commitment, Change, Continuity, Consistency and Credibility; partly because when I joined Rotary in 1999, I was impressed by the then RI President’s theme which was simply “Act with Consistency, Continuity and Credibility”. That seems to tie in nicely with much of what Kalyan Banerjee is urging us to do this year; Continue doing the things we do well and take them to the next level; then be prepared to Change those things in our Clubs that need to be changed for the good of all concerned. It is a simple but very powerful message; keeping in mind, that it all begins with the family; I just love those words….In times of joy, and in times of need, no-one is ever alone.

We encourage you to continue to Celebrate whenever appropriate and maintain your Commitment as we “Reach within to Embrace Humanity”.

Yours in Rotary service,

Keith Ryall
District 9800 Governor
2011-2012

4th July 2011

DG Weekly Message

DG Iven and Marilyn say Farewell and Thank you D9800.

On Sunday, 26 June, 2011, District 9800 conducted its Changeover Lunch, held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Moonee Ponds. It was a wonderful afternoon and enjoyed by the large crowd in attendance. Well done Roger Leask and team who hosted.

I would like to share with you part of what I had to say on the day.........

“My friends, Good afternoon, I started my talk this time last year with the words “I can feel the weight of office already”!

I would like to start my address to you today with the words........ I can definitely feel the weight of office & maybe that shows, looking at some of those photos on the slide show that we have just seen showing some highlights of our year together!! Thank you very much Andrew Hunter for preparing that wonderful snapshot of 2010-2011, to the music of “Cowboy Logic’, which is the theme song of RIP Ray Klinginsmith. It has been adopted by his Governor’s around the World and was also heard during our District Conference in Adelaide.

A little earlier we presented our District Awards for the year. Congratulations to all the District Award winners and all our Clubs that have done so much this year. You are all winners and have helped improve the lives of so many this year.

Welcome to you all once again and in particular, our partners & friends, who have come here today for our DG Changeover lunch. We value your support.

Firstly, most importantly, and number one......I want to thank my wife Marilyn, who has been by my side at Rotary over the last 27 years...thank you Marilyn. You have been a wonderful 1^st Lady and it’s been great for us to have enjoyed this busy year together. Our son Ashley, who is studying at University in Sydney, has come down with his girlfriend Shayne to be with us on this special day & it’s great to have them both here. A very big thank you to our sponsor DAA (Disaster Aid Australia).....bringing all the pieces together. They do such good work.

The GSE (Group Study Exchange) with D5840, Texas, USA, was a very important part of this year and many of us individually and as Clubs have bonded with our new friends from The Lone Star State, Texas. Our outbound Team returned home to D9800 on Friday. They are here today. Please stand Team Leader Ross Butterworth and Team Members Christine, Liam & Paul who have made a special effort to be here (apologies from Tinika). We do appreciate it and look forward to your Official Welcome home dinner in August. Well done on representing our District so well.

Youth Exchange needs our support and I think we all know just how wonderful it can be and the bonds of lifelong friendship that can develop between Students, Club members & host families. We also know the other side of the coin that brings with it challenges & sometimes a few headaches. But no matter what, whether it’s an immediate realisation, or one that takes a few years to develop, the exchange program for the student & all who become involved is life changing & contributing to world understanding, tolerance & peace. We reintroduced USA this year (D5520 New Mexico/West Texas) with great success and I thank all Clubs who have got involved in this program. We have also had a good year with International House ( home to the D9800 Board, DLT & many District Committees meet here) and at our wonderful District facility Camp Getaway, at Axedale.

I would like to thank my Club, the RC of Toorak, who have always given me total support and they were kept very busy this year. Along with RC Brighton Beach and members from another 7 Clubs in the District, under Conference Chairman Alan Freedman (the man in the yellow jacket), delivered a very successful District Conference in Adelaide. Thank you to all those who attended and we are delighted you had such a great time.

To be DG in D9800 is indeed an honour & privilege and Marilyn and I thank you all very much for giving us this opportunity, of which I must say, we have loved every moment. I have been asked what the highlight of the year is, and it is of course the people, the Rotarians & partners of our Wonderful D9800, who do such amazing things..... year after year!  We have been warmly welcomed wherever we have gone.

Thank you Koren Harvey for being our MC (and what an outstanding job she did at our District Conference) & contributing to the smooth running of today’s event, it’s very much appreciated. Koren is to be inducted into the RC of Central Melbourne Sunrise on Tuesday 28^th June. It’s wonderful to see so many PDG’s here today , who served the District so well in past years & continue to do so.It is also an absolute delight to have PRIP Royce Abbey & Jean here with us. We are so lucky to have them so involved and connected with our District. They continue to inspire us all.

This year, Clubs all over the world have been Building Communities Bridging Continents. We have 70 Clubs in our District, and 41 of these received a RI Presidential Citation (18 with distinction), which is wonderful result. Well done. Could I ask that all Presidents 2010-2011 stand and we recognise them with a round of applause & thank them for their outstanding year of service to Rotary? I thank them also for their leadership, friendship and support over our last 3 years together.

The DG could not function without a team. I could not have asked for more from such a dedicated, friendly & supportive Board & DLT (District Leadership Team).I would like to thank all those who have served on District Committees this year for their commitment & service to Rotary. We brought in many new faces this year and had a number of experienced Rotarians  who had not been on District before. I hope more Rotarians out there in our Clubs, put their hand up for a job on a District Committee. It’s fun and will increase your Rotary knowledge, and is very rewarding. Many lifelong friends have been made from joining a District Committee and working together with our fellow Rotarians from other Clubs.

We come from a great District & have such diversity between our City & Country Clubs. Let’s all continue to support & encourage participation in Rotary programs, communicate with each other, and leave our Club, District & the community, in better shape for the future.

RIP Ray Klinginsmith gave his class of 2010-2011 Governors a clear message sometime ago, that we need to bring about many changes in Rotary, starting with Districts & Clubs, and I think we have delivered that message throughout our District this year. He asked us to have Bigger, Better, Bolder Rotary Clubs and we have all worked hard to achieve that result.                                                                                                                           

The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is our Foundation. The wonderful work of the Foundation requires the support of all Rotarians and I would like to thank you all for the very strong support you have given to TRF this year. The many programs of TRF cannot operate without funds. This hard working District Committee, under PDG John Davis, has guided us well through our 1^st year of the Future Vision pilot.

“Thank you” Rotarians of D9800 for all that you have done for Rotary during 2010-2011. I hope our Clubs in District 9800 continue to grow in membership & remain healthy & active members of Rotary International.  We must keep trying to get younger men & women, who are active in their vocation, which will bring fresh new ideas & energy to your club AND to your club members. Our Clubs must get stronger. Let’s particularly try to increase our female membership (and in District/Club roles) in all Clubs across the District. As Rotarians and members of these Clubs, let us all give what we can, help where we can, & above all enjoy the wonderful fellowship that exists worldwide in Rotary. The Family of Rotary is a very special Family indeed and we all belong to it.

I wish incoming Governor Keith Ryall and Gabrielle, and the entire 2011-12 team, all Clubs and D9800 Rotarians, a very happy and successful year of Rotary service both locally & internationally. Only 5 more sleeps...... and the NEW Rotary year begins. The future of our District is in very good hands.  I have no doubt you will enjoy the next Rotary year as you....Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. I thank DGE Keith & DGN Dennis for all their support this year and the 3 of us have enjoyed a very close & friendly relationship. DGE Keith will make an excellent District Governor and Dennis moves a year closer to the day. We welcome Ross Butterworth as incoming DGN (District Governor Nominee).

Last year I read a quote from our new Prime Minister Julia Gillard & it sums up quite well the year that was & it goes like this “There will be some days I delight you, there may be some days I disappoint you. On every day, I will be working my absolute hardest for you”!     

That certainly is a good way for me to finish, as we say goodbye to Rotary year 2010-2011!

Thank you all for sharing this year with us”.                                                                          

That concludes part of the Changeover address.

DG 2011-2012 Keith Ryall & DG 2010-2011 Iven Mackay.

Incoming District 1^st Lady Gabrielle and Marilyn Mackay.

In closing this final Networker DG message from me, I would once again like to thank all Rotarians in District 9800. We can all be proud of what this District has achieved in the past, what it is currently achieving and what I have no doubt it is capable of achieving in the future. On behalf of us all, a very big thank you to Clarice and all the helpers who produce the “Networker”, our vital communication link between us........week after week!!

Let us now look back on the year with the satisfaction of knowing that we have all done our best and enjoyed many fun times together. Rotary friendships and the family of Rotary is such a wonderful thing. Marilyn and I wish you all a safe, healthy and happy 2011-2012.

DG Iven and Marilyn.

Signing off..... “That’s all folks” and “bye y’all” J

Thank you & Goodbye Rotary year 2010-2011.....DG Iven and Marilyn

24th June 2011

DG Weekly Message

It’s Changeover season....... Well done Clubs of D9800!!

It’s late June and that time of the year again. At this time of the year all 34,000 Rotary Clubs around the World conduct a Changeover ceremony which brings NEW leadership, NEW ideas, a NEW theme and renewed vitality to each Club. This changeover of leadership occurs throughout Rotary at Club, District and International level. Our own District Changeover will take place this Sunday, 26^th June, at Moonee Valley Racecourse, where we will reflect on our year together in 2010-2011, and welcome with open arms our incoming DG Keith Ryall and Gabrielle, and the District Leadership Team for 2011-2012. We will be in excellent hands next year and we all wish them well. They have the total support of the District.

It’s been a week of many Club Changeovers and they continue well into July. I hope you all thoroughly enjoy these very special Club nights. Many of our dedicated and hard working Rotarians are being recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow at Changeover events and we congratulate them on their outstanding service to Rotary. It is not until 1^st July when all positions in Rotary officially change and our new theme for 2011-2012 “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” can be displayed and the new Rotary year begins in earnest.

PP Bryan Goodwin, DG Iven and PP Ivan Board at RC of Altona City
Changeover.

RC of Echuca Moama President 2011-2012 Chrissy Weller with DG Iven

DG Iven, PHF Phillip Evans, PHF PP Rick Reid & President 2010-2011
Alan Whitten.

New Board, RC of Echuca Moama.

AG Virginia Turner, President RC of St Kilda Andrew Ashdown, Micahel
Perusco (Sacred Heart Mission), DG Iven & PE Chirstina Siciliano.

I visited RC of St Kilda on Tuesday 21^st June, where the Club presented a significant cheque to the local Sacred Heart Mission. I was also delighted to be able to award them a Presidential Citation for 2010-2011, in company with AG Virginia, for their fine efforts during the year. Well done RC of St Kilda. Congratulations to RC of Point Gellibrand (The Gellibabies) who celebrate their 25^th Anniversary on Friday 24 June.

Finally, remember that The Rotary Foundation, our charity of choice for Rotarians,  depends so much on the generous giving of Clubs at this time of the year, so that it can continue to do good in the World, to help others in need and fund its many activities. Please Club’s dig deep......and thank you.

Good luck to Clubs for the District Awards, to be announced at the DG Changeover on Sunday 26^th June. All our Clubs have contributed to the Community in so many ways. Well done all.

Have a great week, as we continue to be BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS,

DG Iven

20th June 2011

DG Weekly Message

Steam Rally...... well done RC of Echuca Moama. Another busy weekend in D9800.

Yes it was another busy weekend in D9800. RC of Echuca Moama held its annual Steam Rally, RC of Castlemaine and RC of Bacchus Marsh held Art Shows, and other Clubs had various functions as well. It’s great to see so much activity going on in the last weeks of this Rotary year.

Marilyn and I attended the RC of Echuca Moama’s 48th Steam Rally, held 11-12 June, over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. How lucky they were with the weather. This event had a very successful show this year and ably assisted by members of The RC of Central Melbourne Sunrise in the Country Kitchen, which provided scones, tea/coffee and soup. The RC of Rochester also did an excellent job at the Camp Cooking stand, with the stew & damper particularly popular.

DG finds AG Mark Schirmer, in disguise, enjoying
a day out with Dawn & the Grandchildren.

Marilyn finds Thomas the Tank Engine.

A District 9800 Rotarian enjoying the scones at
the Camp Kitchen.

Disaster Aid Australia stand.

Well done RC of Central Melbourne Sunrise and all who have been involved in the wonderful Police Mentoring Program for 2010-2011. The Rotary International Theme for this year has been Building Communities Bridging Continents. It fits very well with what we do in Rotary, both locally & around the World. The Police Mentoring Program is also very much about Building Communities. I have followed the path of this unique programme since its birth in 2007 & have closely watched it successfully grow. The idea of linking together the resources of the Victoria Police, many of the Rotary Clubs of our District 9800 & leaders of some of the largest business corporations, meets all the ideals & ingredients of a Rotary vocational - based program. It has been a brilliant concept & one in which all the participants derive enormous benefits & a lasting experience.

I have been greatly impressed from the outset by the quality of management & strategic approach to this total project. The objectives & progress of the program is very well communicated to our Rotary Clubs on a regular basis & the participants change every year to ensure more people have the opportunity to be involved. The program has expanded to over 20 Rotary Clubs in our District. I sense that Rotarians feel they are making a worthwhile contribution to the development of this state’s law enforcement body by passing on their many experiences in community & business leadership. Through the Police presentations at Rotary Club meetings that many of us have heard, Rotarians have learnt & now appreciate more than ever, the enormous challenges & dangers that our dedicated & caring Victoria Police members face each day!  
                                                                                                                                                
Well done to all those hardworking people who have managed this Victoria Police Mentoring Program & I congratulate the Police members, Rotary Mentors & Business Mentors on a wonderful year & thank them all for being involved this year. I’m sure they all made the most of this unique opportunity to “build goodwill & better friendships” through the personal relationships during this program. Next year’s program begins in July.        

DG Iven with Assistant Commissioner Andrew
Crisp & President Anne King.

DG Iven, DGE Keith and DGN Dennis.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,

DG Iven

10th June 2011

DG Weekly Message

MUNA...........What a wonderful New Generations event!

MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly) was conducted last weekend, 3-5 June, at Camp Getaway. What is MUNA you ask? The MUNA experience offers International awareness of UN member States attitudes, it provides the opportunity for young 15-17 yo’s to gain confidence in public speaking. It encourages our youth to grow intellectually as well as expand their understanding of the cultural, social and political issues that affect the world at large. It has been developed to involve year 11 students in a hands-on live-in weekend experience that will increase international understanding & goodwill.....one of the main aims of Rotary International.

A team of 2 students is allocated a UN member country to represent, and are presented with a set of topical resolutions to investigate, research and come prepared to debate the issues.....from the point of view of the country they represent. To add to the authenticity of the occasion all students are encouraged to wear their country’s National costume. A Secretary- General (in our case Brett Lefebvre, RC of Kyneton) chairs the Assembly and UN rules of debating are followed with “bloc” meetings of like-minded countries negotiating to have their positions approved or ratified. Resolutions cover issues such as Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Nuclear Proliferation, Poverty, Terrorism and World Peace. President of the Assembly was Neville Page (our District MUNA Chairman). Well done Neville and Brett, who have been conducting these for many years now.

MUNA was held at our Districts own “Camp Getaway”, at Axedale, which has great facilities. Host Club was RC of Hawthorn, with Rtn David Owen, ably in charge. Looking after catering needs for the weekend was RC of Bendigo Sandhurst, who provided all meal requirements, to the delight of all. Congratulations to both these Clubs on working together to provide an excellent outcome for MUNA.

MUNA President/Chairman Veville Page & Secretary General Brett Lefebvre.

DG Iven with Hawthorn Rotarian Kevin Rose.

Barry & DD New Generations Vanda Mullen with Hawthron Rotarian David Owen.

Thank you to the following Clubs (18) who sponsored our 40 delegates, RC’s of Footscray, Melbourne, Albert Park, Hawthorn, Richmond, Kyneton, Kangaroo Flat, Melbourne South, North Melbourne, Kew On Yarra, Bacchus Marsh, Carlton, Altona, Bendigo, Hoppers Crossing, Eaglehawk, Bendigo Sandhurst and North Balwyn. Let’s try to have more Clubs involved at the next MUNA!

Don’t forget applications for The District Awards for 2010-2011..... they close early next week. See details elsewhere in Networker. Thank you to our Clubs that have not forgotten that this is the time of the year that The Rotary Foundation, our very own charity, needs all the financial contribution that we can give it. Please dig deep so that it can continue to do good in the world.

Have a great week and keep warm as winter sets in,

Building Communities Bridging Continents,
DG Iven

3rd June 2011

DG Weekly Message

Page 217!!  We have arrived at page 217.............. What does this mean?

Let me tell you what this means. Our well worn District Information Directory has 217 pages. We are on the last page! This wonderful year we have had together is coming to an end, and in the final weeks remaining, Clubs and your District are preparing for the change of the guard. The current Presidents and District Leadership Team are finalising 2010-2011 plans & objectives. It’s a very busy time of the Rotary year. Club Changeovers also start to take place a little later this Month and continue into July. Good luck to you all in the weeks ahead.

The Cake (yes I had a small slice) at the Charter night for RC of Essendon’s 76th, held on 24 May

RC of Keilor East holds Victorian Flood Relief Fundraiser, at Taylors Lakes Hotel, on Friday 27 May, with Beatles music played by The Melbeats..... a great night!

DG Iven attends Rotaract Southern Region Club Officers Training Seminar, held at Greenvale, on Saturday 28 May, hosted by D9800 DRR Grant Godino

Well done RC of North Melbourne, who provided lunch for the Rotaractors

Well done to RC of Daylesford, who held a brunch at The Lake House in Daylesford, on Sunday 29 May, with Guest Speaker Hon Bernard Teague, talking on Bushfires, Murders and Media

Yet another cake ( and another small slice ) this time RC of Melton Valley’s 20^th Anniversary of Charter, held at a lunch on Sunday 29 May). During the meeting, we talked/cam with GSE TL & Club member Ross Butterworth in Texas on Skype

The RC of Richmond 22^nd Ainger Public Speaking Awards, held on Monday 30 May. Well done President Jo Cowling and Rtn Ben Hosking

Our D9800 Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) team here at Birds of Eden Pletlenburg Bay, South Africa

June is Rotary Fellowship Month. We hold MUNA this weekend, at our Districts wonderful facility, Camp Getaway, at Axedale. More about that next week. The month of June also has final District/Club Board meetings, final District/Club Committee meetings, the Rotary Art Show in Castlemaine and then the start of the Changeover season. Our GSE team in Texas is having a ball and enjoying some Texas sunshine and hospitality in D5840. Finally, this is the time of the year for Club Board’s to be thinking........ The Rotary Foundation! Please dig deep and thank you.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,

DG Iven

30th May 2011

DG Weekly Message

We celebrated 90 years of Rotary in Australia....... well done RC of Melbourne!

What a night it was. In the presence of her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, a wonderful evening of celebration held on Monday night, 23 May, at the MCG. Some 400 attendees thoroughly enjoyed the company of our hosts, and mother Club to us all, the RC of Melbourne. Congratulations to them for organising this highly successful evening and thank you to all those who attended, from far and wide.

RC of Melbourne President Philip Endersbee

Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce

GG Receives PHF recognition from President Philip

Rtn Rt Rev Dr Peter Hollingworth with DG Iven & Marilyn

Ambassadorial Scholar Katie Stjernholm enjoys the evening, here with President Philip and DG Iven

                                                                                                          
Our D9800 GSE Team departed from Melbourne Airport on Thursday 19th May, following the very successful Farewell Dinner hosted by the Westside Cluster, on the Tuesday evening. The team will be fortunate enough to drop into New Orleans and see the RI Convention, before heading to D5840, Texas. We wish them well.

Departing Melbourne Airport, GSE Team Leader Ross, with Team members Christine, Liam, Tinika and Paul, with DG Iven.

Remember that May is Australian Rotary Health Research Month and many of our Clubs are recognising this in their weekly meeting programs. Many of our members are also away in New Orleans at the moment, at the Rotary International Convention, which is a huge event attended by Rotarians from all over the Rotary World.

Our Clubs continue to be extremely busy as they finalise the year’s Plans and Objectives. Our Club Presidents Elect are a week closer to taking office and are also doing their final preparations. Keep up the great work and before you know it, we will be in a new Rotary year......it’s just around the corner!

Finally, another reminder, to dig deep and lets have our Clubs give a final burst of funds to our very own charity, The Rotary Foundation, so that it can continue to do good in the World.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,
DG Iven

20th May 2011

DG Weekly Message

A busy 6 weeks remaining............BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS

All Clubs, Rotarians and those in the District Leadership Team in our District are extremely busy at this time of the year. Presidents are finalising their plans & objectives for this year and Presidents Elect are on hold, prepared and ready to launch into “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity”. Our extremely hard working Rotarians on District are also doting the i’s and crossing the t’s, ensuring that their portfolio is ready to hand over to someone else, or that it’s ready to move smoothly into Rotary year 2011-2012. Good luck to you all at this important and busy time of the year.

It was great to see many of you at this year’s District Assembly, held around the District half way mark, at lovely Kyneton, last Sunday 15th May. Well done to DGE Keith and Gabrielle, District Trainer Elect Philip Archer and next year’s DLT for providing excellent training to our incoming office bearers for 2011-2012.  I’m sure that next year under District Governor Keith, the Leadership Team, Presidents & you all...... that the future of Rotary in D9800 is in very good hands!

These events are so worthwhile. It’s a pity more of our Clubs don’t send more of their Rotarians. Why you ask, because as we all know, EVERY year in Rotary is different, with different focuses, themes and leaders. Another benefit of these events is of course meeting your fellow D9800 Rotarians. Well done to all and thank you RC of Kyneton, for a job well done.

I attended the 5th Boroondara Papers breakfast meeting held by the Yarra Cluster (hosted by RC of Kew), and held at Kooyong Tennis Club for breakfast on 12th May. The large crowd of 130 plus thoroughly enjoyed the talk by Brigadier Nick Jans, on Marysville and Leadership.

Guest speaker Brigadier Nick Jans

President Jonathan Shepherd, RC of Kew thanks Brigadier Jans

DG enjoys a very pleasant visit to Rotaract Club of Tullamarine, 11 May

A very important dinner is being held next week. The RC of Melbourne & Rotary in Australia celebrates its 90th anniversary on Monday 23rd May at the MCG. I hope this receives huge representation from our District as we support the mother Club for all of us.....RC of Melbourne!

And finally, in the weeks remaining in this Rotary year, don’t forget to enter your Club in the District Awards ( by 13th June), and remember to dig deep for our Club contributions to The Rotary Foundation, our charity that does so much good in the World, that needs our support every year. We wish all those going to the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans a very safe and enjoyable trip. Farewell also to GSE TL Ross Butterworth and his team who leave for D5840 in San Antonio, Texas this week. We know they will be outstanding representatives for us and will have a life changing experience.

Have a great week,

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

DG Iven

13th May 2011

DG Weekly Message

Cafe International... another fabulous night!

International House held its annual fundraiser “Cafe International” last Saturday night, 7th May. This year’s theme, based on a 1920’s murder mystery, thoroughly entertained the large crowd, with an increased attendance from D9800 Rotarians this year. I’m sure word will spread, and we will have even more attend next year. This night provides first class entertainment, all by the IH students, and wonderful food and ambience held in the main dining hall. Every year a percentage of the money raised goes to a charity, and this year 50% of the funds raised form Cafe will go to its sister campus, International House in Queensland, which was severely damaged by the recent floods. IH Brisbane has been forced to close down for the entirety of the first semester this year and their goal is to reopen in July.  

Well done to the IH students on yet another outstanding night.


Opening Cafe International 2011
                                                                                  

Student President of IH, Sophie Wade at Cafe  


Marilyn Mackay and IPDG Colin Muir at Cafe


DG Iven, AG Alan Freedman & District Treasurer Stephen Smith

The Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s charitable organisation. Its motto is “Doing good in the World”. Our District Foundation Committee is an outstanding group of dedicated Rotarians. Many Clubs and Rotarians have given wonderful contributions to TRF this year, and with just 7 weeks to go in this Rotary year, we hope that all Clubs will now make a final and worthwhile contribution for 2010-2011. At this year’s District Conference, over $230k was contributed with $176k being directed to the Annual Giving Fund and almost $62k to the Polio Plus program. This was an increase of 100k up on last year. Well done to you.


DG of D5840 in the USA takes the wheel

D5240's Good Bye Polio vehicle... this would look much better on an Audi from Penfold Burwood

There is 14 months left (30 June, 2012) to complete the Polio US$200 Million Dollar Challenge and so far Rotary has raised about US$168 Million. Our District has exceeded its expectations in the Polio Plus Challenge.

Let’s see if we can finish the year off with further, much needed, contributions to our own charity, The Rotary Foundation. Remember our target set at the beginning of the year of AU$180 per capita. Could I please encourage each Club to give as much as they can, to ensure that our great humanitarian & educational programs of TRF can continue to help all peoples of the World.

I know we can do it.........let’s make this a record year!! Thank you.

Don’t forget the party of the year....The Rotary Club of Melbourne’s 90th Anniversary Gala Dinner celebration, at the MCG on Monday, 23rd May. This will be a memorable occasion. I hope to see you there.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,
DG Iven

10th May 2011

DG Weekly Message

Peace Fellowships... District 9800 leads the Rotary World!

The Rotary Foundation have advised us that not only does D9800 hold the record of any Rotary District in the world for the number of scholars awarded a Peace Fellowship, but D9800 is the only Rotary District to have had a candidate selected for the Peace Fellowship each year since the inauguration of the fellowship in the year 2001. Well done D9800, our Foundation Committee and of course we must also thank our own Bob Fels.

DG Iven welcomes our students back from safari.

On Thursday 28 April, our Youth Exchanged students returned from their 16 Safari, and all had a wonderful time, especially in Central Australia and at Uluru. We welcome them back.

I was interviewed, like all DG’s of past, by Brian Bloomer, from RC of Canterbury, on Community Radio 3WBC, 94.1FM on Friday 29 April. This is a very worthwhile Community Service and does allow Rotary to spread its message throughout the Inner East. Well done Brian on this excellent Community Service.

 
A very comfortable and capable Brian at the mic.


DG Iven on air.

Marilyn and I attended this year’s Shine on Awards on Sunday 1st May, hosted by RC of Bayside Geelong, District 9780, at Deakin University, Geelong. This annual presentation recognises the achievements of those who do so much in our community, despite having a personal disability themselves. This is always truly inspirational. DD Bob Slater was in attendance and I thank the RC’s of Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Wyndham, North Balwyn, Melbourne, Camberwell, Keilor East and Hoppers Crossing.


DG Iven with stalwarts of the Shine on Awards, Judi Chipman and Dawn Watson.

May is Australian Rotary Health month, and I know many of our Clubs give great support to this, ensuring healthier minds, bodies and community through research, awareness and education on Friday 20th May is Hat Day for Mental Research. To find out more or how you can become involved visit www.hatday.com.au or call 1800 781 878.

Keep up the marvellous work that I see happening every day in our wonderful District. Clubs are reviewing their Plans & Objectives for 2010-2011, with only 8 weeks remaining in this Rotary year. Club Presidents are preparing Presidents Elect and our ever busy and hard working Assistant Governors are making final visits to Clubs. It’s an exciting time of the year.

Have a great week,

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS.
DG Iven

29th April 2011

DG Weekly Message

To all Clubs not involved in Youth Exchange: please urgently reconsider!

To our many Clubs that are currently hosting and sponsoring Rotary Youth Exchange students, thank you on behalf of the students, their families and Rotary. We all know times have changed and travel is less special. But nothing compares to a Rotary Youth Exchange, living with families, experiencing different cultures, food and customs, and introducing a young person to the ways of Rotary International.

Clubs please don’t worry if you feel your members are past home hosting or feel they have done their share in the past. We have a desperate need for host Clubs as we have more students wanting to come here to D9800 than we have Clubs willing to put their hand up.  We need to act now. A club needs only to facilitate the exchange and can find ready host families amongst friends, neighbours, and the school community. A Youth Exchange student makes a club feel younger and really hits home the internationality of Rotary. To all Club Presidents, Club Presidents Elect and Club Boards, please think about this and help these students fulfil their dream of coming to Australia. We have applications now waiting for host Clubs. We have students wanting to leave Australia on exchange, and they also depend on our clubs receiving an inbound student. Please contact the Youth Exchange Committee via Chair Graeme Bird email graeb@bigpond.com who will assist you with any questions or concerns.  This is an urgent request and Clubs can jointly host or even a Cluster could decide to be involved. Over to you and it would be wonderful if we could rise to the occasion and ensure that young overseas students are not turned away from D9800. Thank you.

The RC of Keilor East presented 5 local business/community people with Pride of Workmanship Awards at a special meeting held on 18 April. The Mayor of Moonee Valley also attended.

It was a pleasure to visit the RC of Daylesford

last week on Wednesday night. The Club inducted 2 new members and presented  a PHF recognition. It was good to catch up with Danny Moynihan, a fellow President from Rotary year 1990-91.

I hope you all had a nice Easter break and are now full of energy and revitalised as we head into the final busy couple of months left in this Rotary year. Finally, if it is at all possible for your Club to help us with Youth Exchange..... Then please act now!

 

 

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,
Have a great week,

DG Iven

13th April 2011

DG Weekly Message

The GSE Team from The Lone Star State of Texas, RID5840, departed Melbourne Airport, at lunchtime on Sunday 10th April. What fun they had. What fun we had. This District has had a ball with the Texans. They arrived on 12th March and have been kept extremely busy. I would like to thank our District GSE Chair, Adrian Nelson. Adrian is a PP and member of the RC of Glen Eira. Adrian produced an outstanding Program and Directory for both the inbound and our outbound, GSE teams. This took considerable work and it made for the smooth running of this exchange. Well done and thank you Adrian.

                                                                                                                                    
I would like to thank the host Rotary Clubs, of Canterbury, Brighton North, Richmond, Melton Valley, Echuca-Moama and Bendigo Sandhurst, and in particular, the host families from those Clubs. The GSE team talked in glowing terms about your hospitality and friendship. They reported that you did so much for them and they have made new and wonderful friends. This is the beauty of Group Study Exchange. The exchange included a Welcome Dinner (hosted by Yarra Cluster) and a Farewell Dinner (hosted by Goldfields Cluster), as well as many cultural & vocational days for the team. The GSE team were able to get a taste of how we live and do things here in Australia. Without doubt, a life changing experience for them and for us. Thank you to all who contributed to making this such an outstanding exchange. DG Stephanie Macchia (D5840) and I arranged this GSE back in 2008, when we were both District Governors Nominee, and we are now delighted that we have bonded our two Districts in long term friendship. I hope our D9800 Clubs continue to work on bridging continents by maintaining/establishing contact with their matched RC in District 5840. Well done.

                       
Don’t forget Cafe International 2011, being held at International House, 241 Royal Parade, Parkville, on Saturday 7th May. This annual fundraiser, black tie event, will be an outstanding night, including entertainment, 3 course meal and free flow of beverages. It will be an intriguing night of performances and mystery. I always enjoy attending these and encourage you to come along for a lovely night which will support International House and showcase many of its students. You won’t regret it. For details see Networker or email ihcafe2011@gmail.com.

Have a great week, and remember that April is Magazine Month in Rotary.
                                                                                                               
In Building Communities Bridging Continents!

DG Iven

8th April 2011

DG Weekly Message

79th District Conference in Adelaide... what a beauty!

Firstly, may I thank all delegates who attended our 79th District Conference held in Adelaide, from 31st March to 2nd April. The weather was ideal, the Adelaide Conference Centre at its best, the Conference Committee prepared and well planned, and all the delegates were certainly “Bound for fun Bound for South Australia”.

Welcome Cocktail Party at the Adelaide Town Hall

As District Governor, I could not have wished for more. Our 3 years of planning were over and the conference ran just as we had hoped it would. Conference Chair Alan Freedman and I have held meeting after meeting and talked everyday about this important District event for the last 3 years. My Club, the Rotary Club Toorak, RC of Brighton Beach (who ably assisted), and all the members of the District Conference Committee (representing 7 other Rotary Clubs) had all worked so hard to ensure that we had everything just right. I think we did and I thank them all so much for not just all our Committee meetings, but also for getting to Adelaide early, to ensure that when delegates arrived, we were ready to go. Their hard work continued throughout the conference and then again, when it came to pack up and head home. I would like to make special mention of Keiran Cromie and Julie Avery from RC Brighton Beach who were wonderful deputies to Chair Alan, ensuring that all those little jobs got done. Our Conference MC Koren was just what we wanted, and she did an excellent job. It’s so nice to see our Foundation Alumni (a returned GSE member in Koren’s case) giving something back to Rotary. The team all worked so well, and in many cases missed conference speakers due to their commitment to the smooth running of the conference. Thank you all very much for your dedication.

Conference Chair Alan Freedman and DG Iven

Prize donated by Audi Penfold Burwood

To the delegates, thank you for making the decision to join us in Adelaide. We hope that you learnt some more about Rotary, that we inspired, touched the emotions, that you made some new friends and that you enjoyed a few days break from your normal routine. The speakers delivered us wonderful messages of hope, inspiration, challenges faced, and I’m sure like me you gained an enormous amount from them. We will place a District Conference photo album on our D9800 website soon, which will showcase the conference, and highlight all of the program/speakers/social events, including many of you enjoying some wonderful fellowship.

Conference Deputies Keiran Cromie and Julie Avery

Our Wonderfull MC, Koren Harvey

Many Conference attendees are still enjoying some sightseeing and fellowship on the way back home to D9800. Some did this on the way to Adelaide. I would also like to thank you all for your outstanding contributions to The Rotary Foundation given at the Conference, and also for your support of our Conference Raffle 2011, for an Audi Penfold vehicle. We had wonderful sponsors, and in particular our major sponsors Audi Penfold Burwood, Dealer principal Gareth Bryant & Ass. Sales Manager Chris Sayer who stayed and enjoyed the entire Conference with us. We are very grateful for their support.

DG Iven and Marilyn
                                                                                                               
In Building Communities Bridging Continents!

Have a great week,

DG Iven

1st April 2011

DG Weekly Message

RC of Melbourne, Tullamarine Rotaract, RoCan Bike Riders to Conference, Pets in the Park Malvern, Rypen & SE Region Multi District Ambassadorial Scholars & Peace Fellows Orientation Day... D9800 is a busy and active District!

The GSE Team visited the RC of Melbourne (Oldest Club in Australia) on 23 March and met the Governor David de Kretser.

GSE Team with Governor & D9800 DG

Well done Tullamarine Rotaract with 5 inductions on 23 March. I was also fortunate enough to hear a presentation by Rotaractor Tanayah, on the outstanding work done by 3 of its members raising $8k (Tan, President Caterina & DRR Grant) constructing a water tank in Cambodia.


Tullamarine Rotaract induct 5, DG Iven & President Caterina
                                                                  
At 8-00am on Saturday 26 March, the Riders to Conference left from the Royal Yacht Club, Williamstown, on their 1000km ride, for the benefit of RoCan to our Conference in Adelaide. We wish them a safe and happy trip.


VIP rider Crackers Keenan at the morning briefing... yes he is big!


Youth Exchange Student Riders Raul (Brazil) & Adrian (Germany)
 
RC of Chadstone East Malvern & Malvern each participated in different ways at Pets in the Park, held at Central Park, East Malvern, on Saturday 26 March. A very successful day for all concerned.


Youth Exchange Student Anders (Norway) helping out.

District Conference Chair Alan Freedman sold 40 raffle tickets for "End Polio
Now", and the opportunity to win a beautiful Audi vehicle from Audi Penfold
Burwood.


RC Malvern hard at work.


RYPEN Saturday night club dinner with RC of Keilor East.


SE Region Multi District Ambassadorial Scholars & Peace Fellows Orientation
Day, 27 March held at International House.
 
The District and RC of Toorak, with Brighton Beach and the Conference Committee are on their way to Adelaide to prepare for our 79th District Conference which starts on Thursday night. May we wish you all a safe and happy trip west and we look forward to seeing you there. Thank you very much to all those that are unable to join us but have sent messages of support....much appreciated.
NEWS.....Congratulations to District Director Community Service Ross Butterworth and Annette, two very committed Rotarians. Ross was successful at the nominating Committee interviews for DG held on Sunday at International House, for DG in 2013-2014. Well done Ross who is from the RC of Melton Valley and he becomes DGN Designate.

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS,                                                 

Y’all have a great week,

DG Iven

23rd March 2011

DG Weekly Message

Well done Yarra Cluster...  Welcome Dinner to the Texans of D5840 and we launch RYDA for the 1st time in this State in D9800!!

The Yarra Cluster Clubs under direction of AG Neville John did an outstanding job of holding our Official District Welcome for the GSE (Group Study Exchange) Team from D5840 - Texas, USA. US Consul Michael Thurston delighted the audience of 165 guests with his talk. The GSE team gave an excellent presentation and we look forward to seeing them at our District Conference in Adelaide next week. They have won the hearts of our District already and are loving the time with our D9800 host families. Congratulations GSE Chair Adrian Nelson for all your preparation and planning for this GSE visit.

Our District became the 1st in the State of Victoria to launch the RYDA (Roadsafe Youth Driver Awareness) program on Tuesday 22 March at Aitken College. The program exists in most other States. RYDA is a not for profit Community initiative comprising a road safety education program for youth which is delivered by professional facilitators and assisted by Rotary Clubs in Australia. This is a very worthwhile program and at Aitken College in Greenvale Year 10 students rotated through classroom sessions and practical outdoor activities, covering hazards, distractions, risk, police session, stopping distances (practical), crash survivor talk, my wheels and discussions. Well done to our RYDA Chair Paul Tanti, for this outstanding day as part of our New Generations programs.

   
 
Our District is saddened at the passing of PDG David Wills (on 16 March), RC of Williamstown, DG D9800 from 1988-89. Our deepest sympathy to Olwen and family.
Finally, we look forward to seeing many of you in Adelaide next week, for our 79th District Conference, where we are Bound for fun Bound for South Australia.

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS,                                                 

Y’all have a great week,

DG Iven

17th March 2011

GSE Team arrive from Texas D5840 and our Youth Exchange Students go to Echuca Moama..........

We are delighted to have the D5840 GSE team now with us. They arrived on Saturday 12^th March and are visiting and staying with Clubs in our District until 10th April. They will be in Adelaide at our District Conference.

Texas GSE team from D5840 arrives at Melbourne Airport, on Saturday 12th March, with PDG John Davis, Chair Adrian Nelson, D9800 GSE Team Leader Ross Butterworth and  DG Iven.

A Club welcome BBQ function was held on Sunday night, 13th March, by RC of Canterbury, who is initially hosting the GSE team. President Kyle Wightman presents a Club banner to Texan GSE Team Leader John Dierksen.

D5840 GSE Team, Youth Exchange Student Ana Tribaldos (from D5520, El Paso, Texas, being hosted by RC of Malvern) and DG Iven.

The District Youth Exchange Committee took our inbound students to Echuca Moama for the weekend. We are indeed lucky to have these outstanding and friendly young people with us in D9800 this year, and I hope Clubs are inviting them to come and speak at your meetings. To meet them will dispel any doubts you may have as to the wonderful benefits, to the students and to us, of Youth Exchange. They will be at our Conference in Adelaide so why not make a point of saying hello to them (chances are they will be saying hello to you first)!

Our inbound Youth Exchange Students with Chair Graeme Bird, Dep. Chair Emanuel Tumino, Chris & Mary Parks (Committee), and DG Iven in Echuca, 12th March

RC of Echuca Moama President Alan Whitten prepares a BBQ lunch for his Club members, Youth Exchange Committee & Students plus DG Iven.

We are all shocked by the devastation in Japan, and wish them all the very best with the massive recovery ahead. The world has had many disasters already this year, and let’s hope that we have seen the end to these terrible earth shattering events. Our thoughts and best wishes go to our Rotary friends in Japan and its people. Many of our Clubs have strong relationships with Rotary Clubs in Japan.

Our District Conference is drawing closer now with the end of the month not far away. For all those attending we are in for some wonderful times together as we are Bound for fun Bound for South Australia. Don’t forget to buy a raffle ticket (limited number of 1700) to be in the running to win an Audi A3 Hatch vehicle valued at over $40k. Proceeds go to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Challenge. Please support this as we need to sell all these tickets. Why not as a Club buy some tickets, and should you win, turn it into a wonderful fundraising opportunity. For information contact Conference Chair Alan Freedman on 0419 357 864. The odds are very good to win this fabulous vehicle. Thank you also Audi Penfold Burwood, our major Conference sponsor, who have been a pleasure to work with.

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS,

Y’all have a great week,

DG Iven

10th March 2011

DG Weekly Message

Our District, our Clubs, and our Rotarians are indeed busy this time of the year!

So far, 2011 has been an extremely busy time for us all. Starting with the devastating Floods around our country and disasters happening worldwide, so many of our Clubs and Rotarians have been working so very hard to do good in the world. They all need highlighting, but I will just be able to cover a few. Thank you for all that you are doing.

The RC of Melbourne presented a substantial cheque direct to the RC of Rochester at a club meeting on 2 March. This is a wonderful gesture from one of our clubs to another, which will mean so much and be able to do so much good in the local community. Thank you RC of Melbourne, to you and your Rotarians for helping your fellow D9800 Rotarians in this meaningful way.

Heather Watson, President Philip Endersbee, DG Iven, President Russell Anderson & Graeme Nelson

The RC of Balwyn on 1st March presented the 2011 Rotary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Scholarships (RATSIT) to 3 young awardees. This major financial contribution allows these students to attend University and follow their dreams. Well done RC of Balwyn. Guestspeaker from WA was none other than Fred Chaney. What an inspirational evening and congratulations to these indigenous students.

A welcome function for our Ambassadorial Scholars was held on 3 March in D9800. We wish them well and look forward to seeing many of them in Adelaide at our District Conference. The RC of Richmond held a lunar banquet on Saturday 5 March, even booking out an entire Chinese restaurant, which raised considerable funds for ROMAC and Australian Rotary Health. This dinner was complete with Lion dancers and entertainment, what a night!

On Sunday 6 March, District 9800 participated in a multi District PETS training day at Moonee Valley Racecourse. A special dinner was held that night, with many Rotarians from within Victoria. We were very fortunate indeed to have with us in the District, from 6-8 March, RIP Ray Klinginsmith and his wife Judie.

RIP Ray and AG Batman Cluster Alan Freedman at the Dinner 6 March, Moonee Valley

On Monday, 7 March, I attended the official opening of the Kinglake Youth Centre, known as “Ellimatta”, by RIP Ray. Our District and PP Mev Connell, have much to be proud of for their involvement with this project to help the Kinglake Community, and newly formed RC of Kinglake Ranges.

   
On Monday 7 March, RIP Ray Klinginsmith continued the tradition of dedicating a tree at Rotary Park in his honour. The RC of Melbourne initiated this in 1935, and the first recognised tree was planted by our founder Paul Harris, followed by Angus Mitchell. Some 22 President dedications and numerous distinguished Rotarians have taken place in Rotary Park, and I recommend you all go and have a look. Its located Anderson St, Domain Rd and Birdwood Ave area, in South Yarra.

RIP Ray at Tree Dedication, Rotary Park, 7 March, 2011 

PRIP Royce and Victorian DG’s observe just how fast and big Royce’s tree had grown.

Monday night, 7 March was the 2011 Multi District Paul Harris Society Dinner held at the MCC, for Society members and Major Donors to TRF. RIP Ray and Judie enjoyed the night and many Districts, including our own, made significant presentations.

RIP Ray, Bob Fels (recognised on the night) and DG Iven

Finally, on RIP Ray’s last day with us here in D9800, the Victorian Rotary Districts held a breakfast on Tuesday 8 March to celebrate the centenary of International Women’s Day, and to recognise 21 years of Women in Rotary. This was held in Moorabbin and then RIP Ray and Judie departed for the airport.

Our 1^st Rotary Lady in D9800, PP Joan Daniels, RC of Melbourne South

Have a great week in Rotary, as together we are BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS,

DG Iven

2nd March 2011

DG Weekly Message

Rotary 106th birthday on 23 February, Flood relief, and a visit to Rochester & Echuca Moama.

Many Clubs, all around the world, celebrated 106 years of Rotary in many different ways. Our District was no exception; many clubs in D9800 held special events and during the week at their clubs meeting, raised a toast to our organisation.

Last week on 23 February, I attended the Rotary Club of Melbourne luncheon meeting. We can all be very proud of this wonderful club, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. The RC of Melbourne was the 1st Rotary Club in Australia. I enclose some photos from that meeting.

(Mev Connell, DG Iven, Rodney Smith and David Jones)


(DG Iven, Ambassadorial Scholar Katie Stjernholm and Spencer Bock)

(President Philip, DG Iven, Jean & PRIP Royce Abbey, AG Alan)

The Port Phillip Cluster of Clubs held a Flood Appeal dinner, on the occasion of the 106th Birthday of Rotary International, 23 February, at Werribee, attended by nearly 200 in a very successful event. Some photos are attached.

(MC for the night President Peter Shepheard, RC of Altona)

(Irene Verso, Genny Knight and Gabrielle Butler display 106 years)

(AG Murray, DGE Keith, DG Iven, Professor Patrick McGorry and President Paul)

I was delighted to visit our Clubs in Rochester and Echuca Moama. The RC of Rochester held a Flood relief event in its main township on Friday night, 25th February, and it was a great night for all to relax and enjoy some entertainment, food & drinks together. The RC of Rochester had a stand and good presence on the night.


(President Russell, DG Iven and Rtn Noel at Rochester)

The Rotary Club of Keilor East enjoyed a fellowship weekend with the RC of Echuca Moama, and enjoyed the great fellowship that exists between these 2 Clubs.

(Dawn, AG Mark, DG Iven, AG Alan, President Cherrie & exchange students from Brazil)

Our Clubs in D9800 remain extremely busy at this time of the year, and March is a particular busy month with so much going on. We are now in March, World Literacy Month. See what your Club can do to address this during the month.

Have a great week, as together we are Building Communities Bridging Continents,

DG Iven

23rd February 2011

RI President Ray Klinginsmith is coming to District 9800!

Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith and Judie will be visiting our District next month. There are 531 Districts in over 200 countries in the Rotary world, and to have a visit from the current World President is a special event. We are lucky that in this Rotary year of 2010-2011, the Rotarian who gave all Rotarians around the World the theme BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS, will be here in D9800 (another Rotary burgundy jacket in town!)
 
There are 2 functions that you are all invited to where you will have the opportunity to see and hear first hand, our RI President Ray and Judie.

1. An Inspiring Dinner on the night of Sunday, 6 March, to be held in the Celebrity Room, Moonee Valley Racecourse, McPherson St, Moonee Ponds, at 6-30 for 7-00pm start,until10-30pm close. The cost is $57 pp, drinks at bar prices. This multi District event will also have Greg Champion (as MC and entertainer) plus keynote speaker Max Walker and of course special address by RIP Ray. Bookings/cheques (made payable to RC of Strathmore) to PDG Jennifer Coburn, 3 Walbrook Drive, Vermont South, 3133, or online at www.trybooking.com/7895. Enquiries 0407 689 777  RSVP by 27 February.
2. A multi District breakfast (for men & women) to celebrate 21 years of Women in Rotary, to be held on the centenary of International Women’s day, Tuesday 8 March, at 7-00 for 7-15am start to 9-00am finish, at $35 pp. It will be held at Hemisphere Restaurant, 488 South Road, Moorabbin. Special guestspeaker RIP Ray plus also Dr Helen Szoke, Commissioner and Chair of the Board of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Register with Helen Blunden, Rotary IWD Breakfast co-ordinator, 411 Chesterville Rd, Bentleigh East, 3165. Enquiries 0438 884 730 or email Helen.blunden@yahoo.com.au RSVP Wednesday 2 March.

I will be at both these functions and look forward to seeing many of you there. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet our RI President Ray and Judie while they are here in Melbourne.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,

DG Iven

18th February 2011

DG Weekly Message

District Governor 2013-14.........nominations open!

Clubs are invited to nominate a candidate for the position of District Governor District 9800 to take office in Rotary year 2013-2014. The position of DG for any District in Rotary International is a very special one. To serve as a District Governor is indeed an honour and a privilege for any Rotarian. The District Governor leads the District, the Presidents, Clubs, Leadership Team and Rotarians to achieve plans & objectives and promote the RI theme.

Our DGE (District Governor Elect) Keith Ryall, RC of Carlton, will take office 1st July 2011 and become DG for year 2011-2012. The following year, our current DGN (District Governor Nominee) Dennis Shore, RC of Hawthorn, will be Governor 2012-2013. This District now seeks nominations from Clubs in D9800 to nominate a suitable Rotarian to be Governor for Rotary year 2013-14. The successful candidate will become our DGN next Rotary year.

All Club Presidents and Club Secretaries were sent nomination details last month. Also sent was an attachment outlining the qualifications of a District Governor Nominee and the qualifications and duties of a District Governor as detailed in Article 15 of Rotary International By-Laws (MOP 2010). Nominations should be forwarded to DG Iven Mackay, PO Box 280, Bentleigh, Vic, 3204, in the format outlined together with a letter from the proposed candidate agreeing to serve if successful.

Nominations will close on Friday 4 March. We will conduct interviews at International House on Sunday 27 March and will announce the successful Rotarian the following day, on Monday 28 March.

If you are interested in becoming a District Governor, please look at the Qualifications required in the MOP (Manual of Procedure) or contact the District Secretary. One basic pre-requisite is that a Rotarian must have served as president of a club for a full term or be a charter president of a club having served the full term from the date of charter to 30 June, provided that this period is at least 6 months. The Rotarian must also have been a member of one or more Rotary clubs for at least 7 years, along with all the other qualifications and experience required.

And so, the many eligible committed Rotarians in this highly active, skilled and experienced District of ours should give serious consideration to putting their hand up, for this extremely rewarding and satisfying role. This District has a long and proud history of outstanding District Governors, who have got this great District to where it is today. We should rightly acknowledge and thank these past Governors for their significant contribution to RI and in particular, our District 9800. They continue to give valuable service to this District.

Rotarians throughout the District continue to be busy with an enormous amount of activity happening in our clubs at this early stage of 2011. This is the time to review your plans & objectives and for club presidents to review the Presidential Citation, and see how your club is tracking with its requirements. I’m sure you are closer to achieving a Presidential Citation than you may think. Good luck. It is recognition of all that your club has achieved this year.                                                                              

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,

DG Iven

11th February 2011

Rotary banners - have you seen these displayed at your Club or are they hidden away?

All Rotarians are aware of the small club banners that exist in Rotary Clubs around the world. Your club’s banner may reflect a picture or symbol of your local city, town or community.  These banners are small and colourful representations of our clubs identity. Some clubs display them proudly, others hide them away never to be seen again!

Rotary is indeed full of change in many areas at the moment. This year all aspects of our policies, practices and procedures are being looked at to see if they can be modernised and improved. We are bringing ourselves up to date.

Change in Rotary is happening at all levels. Rotary International does recognise that there are some things that we do that will not change and are held dear by our membership, they are indeed sacrosanct. They are our core values or put another way, our DNA. These are fellowship, service, integrity, diversity and leadership. These are the words of RI President Ray Klinginsmith and form our RI Strategic plan. RIP Ray also states that persistent progress is another prestigious part of Rotary’s DNA.
Now, let’s get back to our club banners. When a club member goes interstate or overseas, they often take a banner or two from their own club as a symbol of friendship and goodwill, to the club in which they do a make-up. They receive a banner in return to bring back home to present to their club. When a visitor comes to your club here in D9800, there is also often a banner exchange. This is an old custom, and in many ways highlights visually, the internationality of Rotary. When these are displayed at clubs, they represent a visit/memory from one of your members to another club and also show that a Rotarian, from one of over 34,000 Rotary Clubs around the world has been to your club.

Let’s display these banners in our Rotary Clubs. Let’s find out where they are, dust them off, clean them up, give them an iron, and find a way of displaying these in our meetings. Let’s respect the fact that one of our members collected these on one of their travels or that a Rotarian took the time and effort to present it to us at one of our club meetings. These colourful banners all hold a story of our organisation and of International friendship & goodwill. If your club’s banner is old fashioned and looks like something from the fifties, then it’s time to design a new one. You might also need to buy or build something that will nicely display these banners. Most of our club meeting venues will not welcome hooks or any other interference to their walls or fixtures.
Too proudly show off these banners at our meetings is a tradition to be encouraged and will brighten up any Rotary meeting or event.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,

DG Iven

4th February 2011

DG Weekly Message

Camp Getaway - Ever visited? Heard about it? Want to help out... here’s how!!

A general working bee will be held on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th February, commencing at approx 8.30am. The Camp Site will be empty that weekend. If you can possibly help, please contact Camp Getaway Chairman Paul Kirkpatrick at paulk@accessemployment.com.au or  P: (03) 5445 9801  M:  0419 368 430.  

Here are some of the jobs that might be undertaken:

• Install sheet metal guard over height differential gap on the exit ramp
• Dorm 2; Hand dryers x2, and clothing hooks to be installed
• Dorm 2; Mirrors to specified height for disabled bathrooms to be installed
• Games Room - Security mesh doors may be able to be installed in front of some non-complying glass panes.
• Place gravel from stock piles to fill-in ‘wash-away/potholes’ in main driveway
• Weed any newly emerged weeds from garden/planted areas around new units and dorms.
• Removal of small dead trees from garden beds
• Straighten the flag pole support structure and re-establish flag pole.
• Collect fallen branches around the lawn and around the toilets and the Jennings plantation
• Fallen trunks that were moved to the tennis court/car park need cutting, chainsaws required
• Bring chainsaws and cut-up large tree fallen in adjacent to stock water tank. Then take the blocked firewood to stack near tennis court and stack some near double entry doors to hall
• Basketball back boards need repaint
• Ground levelling in the NE corner, near small water tank where trees have been removed
• Ground levelling and rubbish removal alongside future games room and around tree trunk adjacent
• levelling/removal of dirt mounds behind new cabins now that concreting has been completed
• Wire fence repair alongside the mini golf cyclone wire fence on the eastern side of ‘Wimbleton Courts’ needs repairing.

Some more substantial jobs to be done are:

• “Lords” oval, beyond the mini golf, requires rubbish removal i.e. concrete slabs, remnants from bonfires, large tree trunk sections etc. It may require a front end loader & large rubbish skip.
• With plenty of manpower it would be a good time to install the cyclone wire to the fence poles around water tanks.
• Supply and fit steel ‘heat reflector’ steel plate to back of fireplace in recreation hall.

Here is a wonderful opportunity to help out. Let’s see if we can get some of these jobs crossed off their list!

Clubs are getting back into the swing of things and our District Conference Committee are working harder and harder with each week, as 31 March- 2 April draws closer and we are all “Bound for fun Bound for South Australia”. I hope Clubs have arranged something special for the traditional Friday night “Club Night”, which is meant to be a fun night, for the Club members to go out together and have some fellowship. There is still plenty of time for the on to conference chairperson to find that special restaurant, Adelaide is full of them, but they should get on to it now. Some clubs have joined with other clubs in past years on this night, and whilst that is fine, this night is a really good opportunity to get to know your fellow club members, rather than turn it into a larger function with other clubs, which you can always do back home anytime.

Finally, welcome back DGE Keith Ryall & Gabrielle to D9800 from the International Assembly training for incoming District Governors worldwide, held in San Diego.  It’s good to have you back home.

Have a great week,

DG Iven

28th January 2011

Shine On Awards

It’s time for Clubs to seek out & nominate a worthy recipient!

All Clubs in D9800 should consider finding a suitable person to nominate for a Shine On Award. This is an outstanding program that recognises the abilities of those with a disability who, despite their own situation, help and assist others in the community.

The Shine On Awards will be held on Sunday 1 May at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Campus, near Geelong. This multi District program, involving 5 Rotary Southern Districts (Victoria), is to be hosted this year by D9780, with D9790, D9800, D9810 and D9820 participating. Information has been sent to all Club Presidents and I encourage Club Vocational Service Chairs/Directors to discuss this in their Committees and get involved in this very worthwhile project, which is easy to do, will cost no money, and the small amount of effort will be rewarded by the acknowledgement of someone, a quiet achiever, in your Community. I have been to many Shine On Awards, and in my 3 years as District Director Vocational Service, I witnessed just how much this award meant, to those who day after day, regardless of their own situation, do so much for others.

Eligible nominees are people who are actively involved in Community Service for the benefit of others and have demonstrated a significant level of achievement whilst managing a specific medical disorder/disability. For further information please contact D9800 Shine On Awards Chair PP Dawn Watson, email dejewats@y7mail.com or mobile 0408 471037. PP Dawn is to be congratulated on the successful running of this program over many years now.

In last week’s Networker we welcomed home our YE Students from Rotary year 2010-11, who had been away for 12 months. This Networker we say goodbye/tchau to our YE Students who have been with us 12 months from Brazil and we say farewell to our 2011-2012 outbound YE Australian students, who head off to other Districts in the Rotary World, for the year of their life!

Our best wishes continue to go to all those affected by floods. Thank you to all those Rotarians that continue to “lend a hand” so willingly. Also, please remember to REGISTER NOW for the 79^th District 9800 Conference in Adelaide, Bound for fun, bound for South Australia.

Have a great week,

DG Iven

21st January 2011

What’s the best job in Rotary?

Membership of a Rotary Club, wearing the Rotary pin, to us all, is something special in its own right. However, what’s the best job in Rotary?  Ask that question to any Rotarian and you are likely to get a different answer each time. Then ask that same Rotarian that same question some years later, and you may well get a different answer. Rotarians are able to take on different roles each year if they wish to do so.

Could one of these possibly be the best job in Rotary:

CLUB PRESIDENT:  a sign that your fellow club members have selected you and have faith in you to lead your club for 12 months.

COMMITTEE MEMBER: be it in a Club or on District, you are adding ideas and contributing to the outcome of a project, idea or task.

GSE: team member or leader, with the opportunity to spend 5 weeks living, learning and experiencing a different culture.

RAWCS: involvement in any International Service activity.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR: the privilege of leading your District, the Presidents, Clubs, Leadership Team and Rotarians to help achieve plans & objectives and promote the RI Theme .

CLUB BULLETIN EDITOR: a position in the club that requires constant information sourcing and publishing/distributing to members. As a bulletin editor or even editor of our District Networker, a week comes around very fast.

DISTRICT DIRECTOR: in a position to encourage Club Directors/Chairs in whatever the Avenue of Service may be. An opportunity exists to implement new projects across the District.

CLUB SERGEANT: controlling the conduct of meetings, holding fine sessions, able to be serious/funny in the same meeting, the challenge of variety and interest each meeting.

RIP: President of Rotary International...... you have reached the top! The choice of RI Theme for the year is yours, and all Rotarians look to your direction and leadership.

CLUB PROGRAM CHAIR/DIRECTOR: Adding the balance of Rotary/non Rotary speakers, local business people and the various topics of the guest speakers at your club.

- Or could it be........?

The answer to the question “What’s the best job in Rotary” is of course.........   ALL OF THE ABOVE and many others.

I'd also like to welcome our new inbound Youth Exchange students, farewell our Outbound Australian YE Students going away for a year of adventure, and let us say goodbye to those returning home after being with us, and calling “Australia Home” for this last 12 months. Congratulations, well done, and our best wishes to you all.

Please see these recent photos taken at Melbourne Airport of our returning students.

    

    

Finally, our thoughts and very best wishes continue go to all those affected by the floods, that have extended from Queensland into parts of our own District 9800. We wish all those involved the very best with all the recovery and clean up activity that is taking place. Rotarians are ready to help...... BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS.


Have a great week and take care,

DG Iven

14th January 2011

Rotary District 9800 Australian Flood Disaster Appeal

Rotarians in District 9800 from Melbourne and Country Victoria, along with fellow Rotarians all around Australia, have been shocked by the devastation of the floods occurring presently in significant parts of Queensland, as well as NSW, WA, the NT and now it would seem here in Victoria. Our thoughts are with all those affected and with those Australians doing an outstanding job of recovery and assistance at this time of emergency.

As the tragic consequences of the floods emerge, instinctively many Rotarians in District 9800 will want to offer help to those affected, just as soon as we possibly can. 

The District Board met this week to discuss, plan and initiate a coordinated response from our District, with ongoing coordination to be handled by an investigative Disaster Relief Committee.  The Committee, to be chaired by Past District Governor John Wigley, has been set up with the purpose of raising funds for the District 9800 Australian Floods Disaster and distributing those funds to Rotary Clubs, Districts and projects, as quickly as possible.

Ably supporting PDG John on the Disaster Relief Committee will be District Director of Community Service, Ross Butterworth and District Governor Elect Keith Ryall (who will be deputised by District Governor Nominee Dennis Shore for the coming 2 weeks while Keith is away).

Drawing upon our on-the-ground experience gained during the Victorian Bushfires, it is important for us to be reminded that we are not a first-line response agency – we can’t fix the problem, but we are well placed to support the recovering community and provide required assistance when the time comes for us to play our hands-on role. This Rotary does best. It helps build communities into the future and restores community spirit and goodwill.

In the interim, the Disaster Relief Committee has established 2 Funds to direct financial support to Rotary projects and charities facilitating recovery from the floods:

Option A: Rotary District 9800 Australian Flood Disaster Appeal
(Direct Distribution Fund, Non-Tax Deductible Donations)

• This fund is the preferred option (please use this fund unless you require a tax deductible receipt)
• Non-tax deductible
• Rotary has full control over the distribution of the funds to projects

Please make donations through your bank or forward your cheque payable to:

Account Name: Rotary International District 9800 Inc. Australian Flood Disaster Appeal
Account BSB: 033181 (Westpac)
Account Number: 377982        
Bank Address: 360 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000
Swift Code: WPACAU2SMEL

Option B:     Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund Rotary District 9800 Flood Appeal
(LMCF Directed, Tax Deductible Donations)

• Fund in partnership with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Rotary which will provide funds as determined by District 9800 to charities registered as Deductible Gift Recipients with the ATO.
• Tax Deductible – a receipt will be issued for all donations.

Please make donations through your bank or forward your cheque payable to:

Account Name: Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund Rotary D9800 Flood Appeal
Account BSB: 083 004 (NAB)
Account Number: 589 440 307        
Bank Address: 330 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000
Swift Code: NATAAU3303M

As the Disaster Relief Committee identifies more opportunities for District 9800 to become involved in lending a hand to the affected regions, we will communicate the opportunities in special email bulletins to Club Presidents and regularly in Networker. Please ensure this information is relayed in your own club bulletins. It is important that our Rotarians are fully informed.

Both the Committee and the District Board will be working in close liaison with Districts in the flooded areas to ascertain how we can assist them in their flood recovery projects. I ask that you lend your support wherever possible to the Committee and if you have suggestions on how we might be able to help, please contact Committee Chair PDG John Wigley via email jawigley@bigpond.com – if we are able to carefully coordinate our responses as a District, we are likely to be much more effective in offering the best help to those in need.

Due to the logistics involved, the D9800 Flood Disaster Relief Committee is not in a position to assist in areas of Donations In Kind, the transport of donated goods or the organisation of volunteers. For interest in Donations in Kind please contact our Donations in Kind Store and the Store Manager Laurie Fisher at laurencefisher@optusnet.com.au.

Should you have an interest in Volunteerism, direct contact with an affected District or Club would be the best approach. Our Committee Chair PDG John Wigley may be able to assist in supplying contact details.

There will soon be online links / graphics provided on the District 9800 Website which can be used in your own websites and emails to direct donations to our relief funds. Meanwhile, please encourage your members and supporters to direct their support via the Relief Funds. If you are making a donation, please let us know at jawigley@bigpond.com or butterworth@smartchat.net.au and leave your contact details so that we can update you on progress as a result of your kind donation.

Thank you for all the concern and interest you have shown for our fellow Rotary Districts and Australians in their time of need.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

DG Iven

14th January 2011

Happy New Year... District 9800!

Welcome back to all Rotarians, partners, Friends of Rotary, Rotaractors, Interactors, Youth Exchange students and Ambassadorial Scholars in D9800, and of course to Clarice and her team at Networker.

We hope you all got to have a break over this festive period and that you were able to catch up with family and friends. At this time of the year, we still have many Rotarians away camping, travelling interstate & overseas, on leave from work, relaxing at the holiday home and simply resting at home. Our Clubs and Club activity has also been on holiday and will start to fire up again during this month.

Marilyn and I have had a quiet time at home, catching up with many (dare I say) non Rotary friends that we have not seen for a while. I think we should all remember that Rotary membership is not for everyone, and as busy as Rotary life is to many of us, we should make time for old and dear friends, who are outside the Rotary circle. As they say, all things in life should be balanced.

Rotarians here and elsewhere in Australia have all been extremely concerned about the devastating floods that have caused so much damage and hardship. This District has kept in touch with the District Governors in those affected areas and DD Community Service Ross Butterworth has been co-ordinating our response. In co-operation with the Lord Mayors Charitable Fund, a Floods donation account will be established and dispersement overseen by the District Disaster Relief Fund Committee. Please contact DD Ross for further information.

This month we farewell our 2010-2011 Youth Exchange Students, 18 in total, to the following countries, Brazil, Germany, Sweden, France, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Finland and USA. The following Clubs are sponsoring, RC’s of Bendigo, Brighton, Castlemaine, Central Melbourne Sunrise, Chadstone East Malvern, Footscray, Glen Eira, Keilor, Kew, Kew on Yarra, Kyneton, Laverton Point Cook, North Melbourne, Toorak and Williamstown. We will also welcome 4 inbound YES from Brazil. Thank you to the District Youth Exchange Committee, and all those Rotary Clubs, Counsellors and host families that contribute to the success of this program. It would not happen without you and the students and this world are the better for it. In fact, all those involved will be touched by an exchange.

I hope that you are all aware of our VTT (Vocational Training Team) initiative to Timor Leste this Rotary year. I would be grateful if your club, as soon as possible, consider making a contribution, to our District Rotary Foundation initiative to assist in funding our “Maternal and Child Health” volunteer VTT to Timor Leste. Our planning team who visited Timor Leste found that maternal deaths in childbirth are as high as 1 in 35. Our volunteer team lead by Professor Jeremy Oats, RC of Melbourne, will assist in up-skilling the local medical staff and midwives.

PDG Ian Knight, Chairman of our Rotary Foundation VTT Committee, recently wrote to all clubs requesting support, with details about the project. The proposal has been approved by The Rotary Foundation, to be supported with Club contributions. I wholeheartedly support this and therefore encourage your Club to send your cheque, made out to The Rotary Foundation, Timor Leste Global Grant 25323, and post to PDG Ian Knight, 17 Henderson Street, South Melbourne, 3205. A special thanks to Clubs & individuals who have already agreed to contribute. Here is the perfect opportunity for some Clubs, who have not been involved in International Service before, to easily become a part of it.

Once again, welcome back to you all, as we continue the 2010-2011 Rotary year of BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS.

Have a great week,

DG Iven

22nd December 2010

DG Christmas Message

To all Rotarians, partners, Friends of Rotary, Rotaractors, Interactors, Youth Exchange Students & Scholars in District 9800

We wish you all the very best over this festive holiday period and hope that you are able to have time with your family and friends, and reflect on what great things we have all been able to achieve in 2010. Our Rotary Clubs and Rotarians have been BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND BRIDGING CONTINENTS with the many activities done locally and in other countries. At this time of the year, we have Rotarians travelling overseas, to the beach or country holiday home, camping, cruising, driving or just relaxing at home after a busy year. Keep safe and well, and thank you for all that you have done for Rotary in our first half of this Rotary year.

Marilyn and I also wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and thank you for your friendship and support this year... we have a wonderful District with so many committed and hard working Rotarians.

I look forward to seeing you at your Club in 2011, as we continue to work towards achieving our plans & objectives for this year. Thank you to all at Networker who have kept us connected every week all year.              

DG Iven and Marilyn

15th December 2010

DG Weekly Message

Interplast, RYLA and Youth Exchange - what a week!

INTERPLAST is a multi-District program, established in 1983 as a joint venture of D9800 and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. It provides expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery, through voluntary teams of surgeons & nurses, going to South Pacific and South East Asia. The medical specialists donate their own time but other costs are met by donations. The surgery is totally free in the hands of recipients.  In October this year, Interplast delivered its 100th program to Fiji, and Kylie-Anne Rich, from RC of Docklands, was a Rotarian observer.

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) was held from 5-11 December, at The Oasis Centre in Mt. Evelyn. The week long program is aimed at encouraging and developing leadership, personal development and social skills, for 18-25 year old’s. We also had quite a few of our Rotaractors in attendance, including DRR Grant Godino. Camp Co-Directors were Chrissy Waugh and Alick Weber and the Camp is fully run by Rylarians, who do an outstanding job. It was inspirational to watch them in action. They took a group of individuals on a week’s journey, and when they arrived at the end of the week, the destination was a future of hope, increased confidence and a feeling they perhaps had not experienced before. What a gift you gave them. Everyone was walking tall. The RC of Southbank hosted the Thursday Club night dinner and farewell lunch on Saturday and did an excellent job. We had almost 60 students who arrived at the Camp not knowing each other, and left on the following Saturday with many new friends and life skills. Thank you to those D9800 Clubs that supported RYLA and please continue to do so, for without doubt, this is a wonderful and meaningful program, that does make a difference in the lives of many who attend. Be sure to invite them back to your Club to speak. Well done RYLA Chair Wayne Hunter and Committee for all your hard work. To the RYLA-rians - Congratulations and thank you.

YOUTH EXCHANGE information session and presentation night was held at International House on Sunday 12 December. Almost 100 attended, including the YE Committee, students, parents and Club representatives. DD New Generations Vanda Mullen and YE Chairman Graeme Bird did an excellent job of providing a day of important information to our outbound students and then a lovely Presentation Dinner, where the students received their Blazers, name badges and Rotary business cards, to big smiles all round. Rotex provided advice and handy hints from those who had “had been there done that”! The outbound students leave in January and the District wishes them the very best of luck for a safe and successful 12 months exchange. They will return more confident, more worldly and more grown up. Thank you to our sponsoring Rotary Clubs.
   
In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,
DG Iven

8th December 2010

Rotary International Zone 8 Institute held in Perth along with RIP Ray

RIP Ray, Marilyn and DG Iven

Barry Hickman, DG Iven, David Smyth (both from RC of Brighton)

Marilyn, DG Iven and Trustee TRF DK Lee, PRIP (Iven was a GSE T/L to South Korea)

I had not been to Perth in over 20 years, and yet last week I found myself there for a 2nd time this year. Our 78th Rotary District Conference was of course held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre this year from 4-7 March, with its theme “Where on Earth but Perth” and last week I was in town for Pre-Institute training followed by the Rotary International Zone 8 Institute. The Institute’s theme was “Discover the West, Enjoy the Rest” and there were over 400 attendees.

The beginning of last week was the start of The Pre-Institute, which involves Training for DGN’s, DGE’s and for District Trainers. This provides wonderful training and discussion for appointees from all Districts in Zone 8. The DG’s conduct a symposium and are able to discuss many issues between themselves that involve Rotary in Australia and beyond.

On Friday, 3 December, a number of AGM’s were held. Firstly, Rotary Down Under (RDU), where thanks were given to past Chair, PDG Vance Hilton, on an outstanding job. And then Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) AGM thanked PP Gary Gunnell, as past Treasurer, for all his work.  

The AGM for Australian Rotary Health (ARH) followed, and PDG Judy Nettleton was thanked for being a Director for the last 3years. Well done Judy, great effort. It should be noted that PDG Des Jones, also a past Director, received the highest award of Life Membership. PDG Des is also a Rotary Ambassador. Well done to you also Des. Our very own PRIP Royce Abbey remains a patron of ARH.

The last AGM was for ROMAC, which had D9800 Rotarians Richard Groom (Secretary) and John Benger (Southern Region Director) in attendance. And so, as you can see, D9800 has been a great contributor.

The Institute brings past, present and future officers of RI from within the Zone, together for an update on Rotary around the World and in Zone 8 Districts. A presentation on the Family Violence Programme was given by David Smyth and Barry Hickman from RC of Brighton.

Well done to all those in D9800 who are making a difference within our Zone. All were delighted to have RIP Ray Klinginsmith & Judy with us for the entire week, along with RI Director Stuart Heal and Adrienne. We were also visited by Trustee, Rotary Foundation, PRIP Dong-Kurn Lee and Young Ya.

It was a very motivational and inspiring week, and not only good to catch up with fellow Governors, but it becomes a real think tank with the past, present and future Officers of RI, all working together.

Remember, its December, time to book for the District Conference in Adelaide, and a time when we enjoy the Family of Rotary Month.

In Building Communities
Bridging Continents,

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

1st December 2010

DG Official Club visits to our 70 Clubs in D9800      all completed!!

One of the roles of a DG is to officially visit each Club in their District, in the 1st half of the Rotary year. Marilyn and I have now just done this and it has been an absolute pleasure and privilege.

Our Clubs are all so different and yet all conduct themselves in a style that represents our District. We are indeed a great District. Our Clubs meet for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper all days of the week, every week.  Some are in the city and some are in the country. Each club has its own history, own culture, own way of doing things. Some are formal, some are casual, and some do grace, loyal toasts, sing the National Anthem and toast Rotary International. I am very pleased that almost all of our clubs, even those that have discarded much of the past formality and protocols, always toast our wonderful organisation, Rotary International (RI). All of our clubs are doing such good work and our Rotarians are having an impact on helping others in their local community and overseas. Well done to you all and thank you for all that you are doing, juggling your family, work & social life around helping and giving service above self to others.

Thank you for the warm and friendly welcome we have received at absolutely every club in the District. We have made many new friends and have caught up with many old friends (old in time that is....of course) along the way. We look forward to attending any special events or activities that you may wish to invite us to during this 2010-2011 Rotary year.

ROMAC (Rotary Oceanic Medical Aid for Children)....

We had the pleasure of attending the RC of Richmond last week and meet Marcel de Jesus who is from East Timor, and who has just received urgent surgery on a malfunctioning heart, due to the excellent work of ROMAC. An initiative of D9800, ROMAC is RI approved and is a multi-District program run by Rotarians. It changes the lives of children from developing countries. Congratulations to John Benger, Richmond Rotarian and Southern Director of ROMAC for all your hard work and in particular Monash Heart cardiologist Assoc Professor Andrew Cochrane who conducted the operation (see photos).

DG Iven, Dr Andrew Cochrane and RC of Richmond President Jo Cowling	DG Iven and ROMAC patient Marcel de Jesus

ROMAC is assisted by many eminent Australian surgeons who generously respond to requests for help. This humanitarian program has provided urgent medical treatment for over 300 children from 20 countries. For information see www.romac.org.au.

Don’t forget to register soon for the District Conference!!

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES
BRIDGING CONTINENTS,

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

24th November 2010

RC of Castlemaine Truck Show - a great event!

Marilyn and I attended the 22nd annual RC of Castlemaine Truck Show, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November, held at Campbell’s Creek Sports Ground. This was a really fun event and I thoroughly recommend it to you all for a visit next year. The event drew a very large crowd and was well organised by RC of Castlemaine in absolutely perfect weather. The DG was delighted to see country music and a rock n roll band on the program and if you like trucks, this is the place!

Long time Rotarian Ron Rice mans the entry gate every year to the Truck Show, and explains the ropes to DG Iven	RC of Castlemaine President Paul Reed & DG Iven

Annual Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Breakfast (since 1992)

I was very pleased to attend with Marilyn, my 18th PHF breakfast, held in Foundation month and organised so well by RC of Central Melbourne Sunrise. Special guestpeaker was Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria, who talked on ‘‘The Biological Revolution”. Over 200 Rotarians attended, many who were PHF’s, along with Foundation contributors & recipients. An excellent Foundation report was delivered by Foundation Chairman PDG John Davis. Well done President Anne King and RC of CMS.

DG Iven, PRIP Royce Abbey & Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.

Launch of RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) in D9800

RYDA is a road safety education program aimed at equipping young people (16-17 year olds) with the knowledge to stay safe on Australian roads. This program is already operating in Rotary in ACT, Qld, SA, TAS and WA. D9800 has now launched this as a 1st here in Victoria, and to complement other Driving programs, such as ROADEC. This New Generations program is chaired by Paul Tanti and was launched at RC of Tullamarine on 18 November. This has been well supported by Gateway Cluster, RC’s of Keilor & East Keilor

Launch of RYDA at RC of Tullamarine

Just 3 examples of the many projects and activities that happen every week in our Clubs and District 9800. Keep up the good work and it’s almost that time, just a few weeks away now, for Club Christmas parties and end of year break-ups.

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES
BRIDGING CONTINENTS,

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

17th November 2010

Attendance - it’s important and easy to do.

Good attendance at your Rotary Club is vital for the club and holds so many benefits for you, the Rotarian. Your fellow Rotary Club members look forward to seeing you each week and each week is different. Some weeks you will be on the roster and involved in setting up the meeting or on the front desk, welcoming all members and visitors. Rotary is a participatory organisation which highly values regular attendance. Being present at the weekly meetings is considered a vital part of the operation and success of a strong and active Rotary Club. It keeps you current on Club, District and RI news and events. For this reason, attending your Clubs meeting is one of the basic obligations we accept upon joining. The meetings should be fun, value for money and time, informative and worthwhile. If you feel they are not, what will your visitors be thinking?

We are all busy and at times this means you will not be able to be at your Clubs regular weekly meeting. Our District has 70 Clubs, all meeting at either breakfast, lunch, dinner or even supper. There details are in the District Directory. They would all welcome you warmly. A quick search on the internet will find you a club, somewhere in the world, that would welcome you. I think many Rotarians overlook this, and think only of their availability each week at their club.

We are members (our Clubs) of Rotary International, and each week only have to find ONE Club out of 34,000, in which to attend. It’s really as simple as that. And so, next time you give an apology at your own Club, why not decide to do a “Make Up” at another Club, and enjoy the diversity of our organisation. Do it once or twice and you will never look back, and wonder why you never did it in the past. This has been my philosophy since being inducted in 1985 and I have thoroughly enjoyed visits to other Clubs, when unable to attend RC of Toorak.

Let’s try to lift our personal attendance record, and get out there in the Rotary world and see how other Rotary Clubs operate. This will, without doubt, make you a better Rotarian.

Thank you to all those that attended the District AGM, held on Thursday 11 November. Congratulations once again to IPDG Colin Muir and his team who last year in 2009-2010 showed us that “The Future of Rotary is in your Hands”. (Photo attached)

Well done to those Rotarians that Graduated from RLI (Rotary Leadership Institute) on Sunday 14 November. They will be an asset to their Clubs, the District and will have a much better understanding of Rotary. The RLI is a fun, interactive 3 part course, and highly recommended.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

10th November, 2010

District Conference - now is a great time to book!!

Please consider booking now for our District Conference next year from 31 March to 2 April, 2011, in Adelaide, held at the fabulous Adelaide Convention Centre.

The Conference will open on Thursday night by His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia. An inspiring array of nationally and internationally acclaimed speakers will ensure this Conference will be enjoyed by all. The conference will live up to its theme “Bound for fun.....bound for South Australia”.

Just look at the speaker’s diverse range of talents so far:-      

• This author has book sales of over 250 million copies
• A Decorated Military peace keeper, survived under fire in a war zone
• Vietnamese boat arrival now Lieutenant Governor of SA
• Bali Bombings victim of 2002, OAM in 2006, and South Australian of the year in 2010
• Australia’s most controversial commentator/columnist
• A young SA woman...planning to blast off into space
• A Rotary Polio Plus Ambassador who will inspire you, all the way from USA
• Since 1862, this leading SA business, is run by the families 5th generation

 

You can put names to these outstanding speakers by visiting the website. Plus of course, many other interesting speakers, including the inbound GSE Team from D5840, Texas, who will be wanting to meet Y’all.

Our sponsor, Audi Penfold Burwood, will host our Early Bird function on Thursday, 10 February, 2011. We are very thankful for their support .On sale from December widely throughout the District, will be raffle tickets at $50 each, the prize being an Audi A3 five door 1.4lt hatchback turbo, valued at approx $46k. Only 1700 tickets to be sold and the draw will take place during the Gala dinner in Adelaide on Saturday 2nd April, 2011. All profits to The Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Challenge.

Remember, that for $1000, any individual, Club, Rotarian or non-Rotarian with businesses, who may or may not be able to attend the Conference, can become a CONFERENCE SUPPORTER. This helps to minimise many Conference costs and you will be given considerable exposure, such as noted on Conference website, in the Networker, shown on pop-up banner at Conference, displayed on overhead screens, listed in Conference Directory and included in the Conference satchel. Please give this some thought and for further details contact Conference Chairman Alan Freedman.

Thank you to all those Rotarians that have already registered and to all those who will do so shortly. It’s going to be an amazing Conference with fun and fellowship assured. The ON TO CONFERENCE Chairs and BULLETIN EDITORS have been doing a fabulous job standing up at meetings spreading the word, and ensuring that it gets a mention in Club bulletins. Thank you and please keep this up!!

Registration and all information is on our website www.rotarydistrict9800.org. We would really appreciate all Rotarians that are intending to register, to please do so as soon as possible. The Early Bird bookings of $450.00 are open until 31st December, however this may be brought forward to 1st December. Registrations will close at the end of February. If you are able to register ASAP, this will be a big help to the Committee and ensure that all arrangements can be made well ahead of time. Thank you.

The Conference is going to be memorable; Marilyn and I hope to see you there.

Have a great week.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

DG Iven

3rd November, 2010

The Rotary Foundation’s motto “Doing good in the World”

November is Foundation Month. I hope all Clubs are having a speaker on The Rotary Foundation (TRF) this month, and it’s also an excellent time to take a look at the many activities of TRF. The mission of TRF is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of Health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.

The Rotary Foundation was created in 1917 by RI 6th President Arch C Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary “doing good in the World”. It is through the Foundation that we bring hope and dignity to the lives of many less fortunate than ourselves. I encourage all clubs to focus on giving to TRF so that it will continue to grow and be able to carry on effectively with its work in Australia and around the World.

This year, D9800 has become a Future Vision Pilot District. There are 531 Districts and 100 were selected to be part of a pilot program for the next 3 years. Only 4 Districts, out of the 22 in Australia, were selected, and we are one of those. Future Vision aims to increase the effectiveness of TRF and to test new guidelines. This District is very fortunate indeed to have PDG John Davis as our Foundation Director, as we move into unchartered waters and many changes to the way we have always done things. We are also lucky to have PDG Jim Studebaker heavily involved as our Humanitarian Grants Sub-Committee Chair.

May I encourage you to consider becoming a sustaining member of the Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) club with a suggested yearly contribution to TRF of AU$150. This is the old Centurions, and for those that wish to become part of this please contact Trevor Mackey (whose details are in the District Directory).

The Paul Harris Society of D9800 is open to anyone who contributes a minimum of US$1,000 per year to TRF, ongoing. A personalised Certificate & Insignia will be issued to the PHS member by the District Governor. Special recognition events are scheduled throughout the year to highlight the Society.
Please consider joining the EREY or Paul Harris Society this year. Both are wonderful ways of giving support. Make the Foundation, our Foundation and YOUR Charity of choice.

The D9800 Foundation Committee is indeed a busy one. Some of its activities cover Group Study Exchange (GSE), Vocational Training Teams (VTT), Ambassadorial Scholarships, Rotary Centres for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Humanitarian Grants Programs (District & Global Grants), Annual program Fund Contributions ( such as EREY Sustaining Member Fund & the PHS, both of which we referred to earlier), Permanent Funds Gifts (Benefactors/Major Donors), Polio Plus and the US200 Million Gates Foundation Challenge Grant, The Royce Abbey Awards Program, The Royce and Jean Abbey Endowment Fund, Special Projects and promotion. See the District Directory, page 57, for details.

Let’s get to know our Foundation better, and ensure that we spend time this month on its promotion, understanding and education. The District Foundation Committee is there to help, all you have to do is ask!

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,

Have a great week,

DG Iven

27th October, 2010

Camp Getaway - it keeps getting better & better.

I hope all Rotarians in our District are aware of Camp Getaway.

Camp Getaway started as a camp for special needs people, however it is now available for people of all abilities and mobility. The camp is wheelchair friendly, with accessible toilet & shower facilities and wide accessible pathways. The kitchen, dining room, lounge and games room are separate from the sleeping quarters. There are 2 dormitories that can accommodate 30 people each, in 6 rooms, sleeping 2-6 in single beds. There are also 3 units, each with 2 bedrooms & 2 accessible bathrooms, plus sitting room & veranda.

Camp Getaway is only 15 minutes from Bendigo, surrounded by natural bushland. The upgrading of the caretakers cottage and the 2nd new 26 bed dormitory are close to completion. Thank you to the work done here by RC’s of Keilor, Essendon North and Bendigo Strathdale. In fact, many Clubs in Bendigo and elsewhere in our District do outstanding work at the Camp. The next major project will be to modernise the kitchen and cooking facilities.

Considerable work continues to have the 2nd stage of the camp completed as soon as possible. The 1st stage was opened on 21st February 2005, by the D9800 Governor, Judy Nettleton for Rotary’s 100th anniversary celebrations. Clubs in our District can take considerable pride in all that has been achieved so far at Camp Getaway. Many more clubs in our District should get onboard and become involved and help complete this facility.

All Clubs in the District are asked to help secure funding and donated/ discounted building materials/ equipment in order to complete this project and gain accreditation with the Camping Association.

The Camp Getaway Committee would be happy to come and talk at your Club, please feel free to contact them. Camp Getaway is located at 161 Eppalock Road, Axedale, Vic, 3551. For information contact Ken Maxfield, Camp Getaway Committee on email kmaxfiel@bigpond.net.au.    

Thank you to all the Rotarians and Clubs that continue to support and conduct working bees at Camp Getaway. This provides a wonderful opportunity for Club fellowship.
Finally, last weekend was a busy one in the District. We conducted another very successful RYPEN at Camp Weekaway, hosted by RC of Brighton North, PETS 1 for Presidents 2011-12 held at Braemar and hosted by RC of Woodend, and also GSE Team member interviews were held at International House. Many Clubs also held events. This District indeed keeps busy and continues to “do good in the World”.

In BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS,

Keep up the great work,

DG Iven

20th October, 2010

Goldfields Cluster..... Gold indeed!!

I have just spent last week in Bendigo, visiting our Rotary Clubs in the Greater Bendigo area. These Clubs are: RC of Kangaroo Flat, RC of Bendigo, RC of Bendigo Strathdale, RC of Bendigo Sandhurst, RC of Eaglehawk, RC of Bendigo South.

The Rotary Club of Bendigo is the 2nd oldest Club in the District, Chartered in 1925, and sponsored by RC of Melbourne.
The RC’s of Echuca Moama and Rochester, also in the Goldfields Cluster, will be visited next month.

It’s been an absolute pleasure to visit these Clubs in the lovely City of Bendigo. I brought with me the rain, and it rained and rained and rained most of the week, much to everyone’s delight. On each of my DG visits, I read out, at some length, all the many significant things that each Club did, locally and internationally. Like all Clubs in our District, it’s simply amazing what you all do for the good of others. It was wonderful to catch up with PDG Gordon McKern, Rob Layton, Leon Scott, plus the many others with partners who filled the meeting room at their very own Mechanics Institute Building (Clubhouse). It was also nice to catch up with Howard Osborne & Vivienne, who was a fellow President in 1990-91.

The RC of Kangaroo Flat have also done an enormous amount of work at their venue, Rotary Gateway Park, which is getting better and better, and even laid new carpet just in time for the Governors visit.    

The RC of Bendigo meets at The Bendigo Club, full of history and mother/sponsor club to so many in this area. Exchange student Alina Kemper from Germany has settled in there so well.

The RC of Bendigo Strathdale meet in the large All Seasons Hotel, and with torrential rain and a storm outside, the meeting went on in true Rotary fashion.

The RC of Bendigo Sandhurst conducted their early morning annual “Ride to work” BBQ on Wednesday morning, and despite the rain had a good turnout from the public with some great egg& bacon rolls, yoghurt etc being supplied to the cyclists (and to DG’s). A wonderful fellowship activity for the club and appreciated by the many people gathered. The

RC of Bendigo South provided another great night of Rotary fellowship, with some lively questions for the DG.

And so, all in all, Rotary is very much alive and well in Bendigo and the Goldfields Cluster are doing such a variety of service activities. Please visit them sometime when you can. We all wish AG Linda Barrow & Wayne the very best for her recovery, and appreciate the continuing dedicated work by PAG Hugh Wheeler, who has stepped in for the time being. Thank you Hugh and Sue, you are highly regarded not just within Goldfields, but within our District.

What a great week it has been.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents,
DG Iven

13th October, 2010

DG Weekly Message

Shine On Awards....... an outstanding Vocational Service multidistrict activity focussing on the abilities of those with a disability.

Has your Club been involved in the Shine On Awards before? If it has, then you will be aware of this wonderful annual program by Rotary Southern Districts (D9780, D9790, D9800, D9810 and D9820). This is truly an inspirational program and not only is it easy for a Club to become involved; it comes at no cost with priceless outcomes.
The Awards recognise the outstanding community service by people with disabilities who, by their actions, serve as “Shining Examples” to the community. Through their commitment to helping others in the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self” they provide a significant contribution to the quality of daily life of others in the local and wider community.

The first awards originated in D9600, Brisbane, in 1993. From 1993 to 1996 all Clubs Australia wide were invited to nominate candidates for the awards, with the presentation ceremony conducted in Brisbane. In 1997 and 1998, under the auspices of D9600, the Shine On Awards presentation in Victoria was held at Moonee Ponds, hosted by our District. The Rotary Southern Districts Committee has administered the Awards in Victoria since 1999, with recognition of two separate age groups; Group 1(age 15-24 as at 25th February, 2011), and Group 2 (age 25 and above).

For nomination details, you can download forms from District 9820 at www.district9820.org or contact our District Chair Dawn Watson, RC of Brimbank Central, Tel 9337 4710 email dejewats2@y7mail.com

Clubs should be looking now, in Vocational Service month, for suitable candidates. Nominations will close on 25th February, 2011. Information on the ceremony and the venue will be furnished with the invitations next March. The Shine On Award Presentation Ceremony will be held on Sunday, 1st May, 2011, hosted by the Rotary Club of Bayside Geelong, D9780.

Have a great week,

DG Iven

6th October, 2010

October is Vocational Service Month.

Vocational Service is the basis of our entry to Rotary membership. October is Vocational Service Month, a time when Rotarians are asked to focus on Vocational Service and an excellent time to look at Vocational Service activities in your club. Many clubs do just that

Vocational Service is basic to our organisation. The use of the classification principal assures that each club has among its members a cross section of a communities business and professional population. When we join Rotary, our Rotary dinner badge gives our “classification.” When we do a make- up, we introduce ourselves proudly such as “Iven Mackay, Rotary Club of Toorak, classification Maps & Travel Guides.”

Rotary’s philosophy is to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve. These values are expressed in the 4-way test.

Paul Harris wrote “each Rotarian is a connecting link between the idealism of Rotary and their trade or profession.”

Hands on Vocational Service in the community is the best possible public image Rotary can give to the community. The side benefit is its ability to attract new members. RIP Ray Klinginsmith this year affirms that Rotary’s greatest strength lies in its grass roots network of more than 34,000 Clubs. He emphasises the opportunity Rotarians have in BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS with use of their vocational skills. Upholding high ethical standards and maintaining supportive professional relationships are goals toward which Rotarians should strive.

On Sunday, 3rd October, Vocational District Director Bob Slater, along with his Committee and a number of facilitators, ran a successful Vocational Service Forum at Glen Erin winery in Lancefield, followed by a delightful lunch. Thank you to the Clubs, Club Presidents, Club Vocational Service Chairs and Rotarians that attended. Well done to RC of Brighton Beach who did an excellent job (once again) of hosting this day.

Let’s generate some Vocational Service activity in our Clubs this month!

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

29th September, 2010

DG Weekly Message

District 9800..... we can all be very proud of our District. Our Clubs do amazing things and achieve amazing results. Here is just one example.

The Rotary Clubs of Laverton Point Cook and Wyndham have been hosting 16 teachers from the Mt Hagen area of Papua New Guinea. They arrived on 12 September and returned 26 September, after a wonderful stay. The Clubs held a joint meeting recently that was attended by District Foundation Director PDG John Davis and AG Murray Verso.

The RC of Laverton Point Cook received the 1st District Grant awarded to a Club in our District under the new pilot Future Vision. This Vocational visit has been immensely valuable to the teachers and a close bond has developed between them and our Rotarians here. The teachers also met members of the local PNG Community and were hosted by Rotarians and friends of Rotary. The Teachers leader Anna Eboty Barr reported an outstanding stay here. A farewell BBQ was held by RC of Laverton Point Cook on Grand Final Day, Saturday 25 September, which was a most enjoyable day and something very different for the teachers to watch an Aussie rules Grand Final footy match. There was support for the pies and the saints and what an outcome!! Marilyn and I had a marvellous day and appreciated the invitation from the Club to meet them all. Well done to RC of Laverton Point Cook and RC Wyndham. Our Clubs are doing great things. This is indeed Building Communities Bridging Continents.

Marilyn and I continue to enjoy our Official DG Club visits and thank all the Clubs for the very warm welcome that we receive. As I always say, our Clubs are all very different and have their own character and personalities. It’s simply outstanding all the work and effort that you are all putting into giving Service above Self.

Keep Building Communities Bridging Continents, and, should you be a Collingwood or St Kilda supporter...... may one of you win next Saturday!

DG Iven

22nd September, 2010

Victorian Agricultural Shows “Rural Ambassador”

Outstanding young country Victorians

This weekend I was involved in a new initiative run by the Royal Melbourne Show in conjunction with the 5 Victorian Rotary Districts. Rotary is an event partner to the Show for the very first time this year, and I was fortunate to be the DG involved in this event and was one of the 3 judging panel.

For over 150 years the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has been involved in all facets of rural life in Victoria. It is strictly a not-for-profit organisation with enthusiastic members that have helped to establish the RASV as one of Victoria’s most cherished organisations. From its early origins in colonial Victoria, which saw its commitment to agricultural excellence by organising the first competitive ploughing match in 1848, through to current day activities, the RASV is also home to Victoria’s biggest public event, the Royal Melbourne Show.

The Victorian Rotary Districts (9780, 9790, 9800, 9810, 9820) have agreed to support the co-ordinators of the Awards at Local and Group level; and a seat on the Rural Ambassador Committee.

The objectives of the Rural Ambassador Award are:-    

1. To highlight the talent, creativity, and ingenuity of young rural Victorians and in doing so, to encourage entrants to be role models across local communities.
2. To encourage and reward enthusiastic, skilful, and illustrious young people living or having an involvement in rural and local environments.
3. To assist entrants to develop strong communication and leadership qualities.
4. Enable applicants to gain greater proficiency in their chosen field and to also develop applicant’s stature and reputation in that chosen field.

At the State final, competitors are assessed on their communication skills, community involvement, rural & general knowledge, ambitions & goals, plus grooming and confidence.

The 2010 Victorian Agricultural Shows Rural Ambassador Award Finalists were:-

Maida Anderson, Central & South Gippsland Region   .....RUNNER UP
Claire Bibby, Midlands Region                                                                                                                  
Scott Langley, Gippsland  Region                                                                                                                   
Sophie Hester, South Western Region                                                                                                           
Ricky Ferris, Port Phillip Region                                                                                                           
Kerry Cossignani, North East & Murray Valley Region                                                      
Samantha Adams, Central & Upper Goulburn Region                                                            
Jessica Davis, Goulburn Valley Riverina Region                                                                                  
Benjamin Holmes, Wimmera Region....... WINNER

Congratulations to all these outstanding and inspirational young country Victorians, who are all an absolute credit to their communities. I hope some of them will go on to do RYLA, GSE or become Ambassadorial Scholars. I hope they will keep in touch with Rotary Clubs in their area and also find some time for Rotary someday.

As our connections strengthen with the Ag Shows, I hope Clubs will endeavour to connect and assist these fine Australians.

Have a great week,

DG Iven

15th September, 2010

DG Weekly Message

RLI.......Rotary Leadership Institute

Have you attended RLI? If the answer is yes, then you will know just how worthwhile and rewarding this can be. If the answer was no, then let me tell you a little about it.

They are fun, fast paced, interactive one day courses run by experienced and formally trained Rotarians in our District. The participants contribute their experience and ideas in facilitated conversational small discussion groups, sharing knowledge, ideas and opinions. They learn how Rotary operates differently in clubs and learn from these differences. It builds confidence in a Rotarian.

This multi-District leadership development program seeks to have Rotary clubs identify potential future club leaders (not necessarily as club presidents) who want to be more effective leaders in their vocation and club and increase their Rotary knowledge. RLI gives you a perspective about where Rotary has been, where it is going, and a vision of what Rotary can be.

The program consists of 3 full day sessions, which run from 9.00am to 3.15pm, held on Sundays, with venues in South Melbourne and Bendigo, thus enabling all Rotarians in the District the opportunity to attend. You must complete part 1 before proceeding to part 2 then graduating on completion of part 3. All 3 parts can be completed at your own timing. The cost is $55 and it is usual for the club to pay this for their members. We are encouraging all clubs in the District to send at least 2 Rotarians to RLI each year. Those clubs will be rewarded with Rotarians that have refined their leadership skills, increased their Rotary knowledge, and will bring back to the club many new and fresh ideas. They will be motivated and in a much better position to understand their own potential as a future leader in your club. 

RLI Part 1 
Sunday 19 September 2010                                                                           

RLI Part 2
Sunday 17 October 2010                                 

RLI Part 3
Sunday 14 November 2010

To register for any of these please contact RLI Registrar Vicki Teschke, RC of Albert Park at vicki.t@tacobill.com.au 

RLI Chairman is PDG John Wigley, RC of Kyneton 

Clubs, please identify members within your club who would benefit from RLI.

Rotarians, please ask your club to support you attending RLI.

Congratulations to all those who have Graduated from RLI and I’m sure you would agree, that it has made you a better Rotarian.

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

8^th September, 2010

District Partners up with Texas...all Clubs matched

Many of you have been eagerly awaiting the start of this new initiative, giving your club the name of its buddy/mate Rotary club in D5840, Texas. This idea came about from talks between DG Stephanie Macchia in D5840 and me when we met in San Diego earlier this year at the 2010 International Assembly. We had spent the previous 2 years as Governors Nominee and the Elect arranging a GSE between our two Districts. Upon hearing the RI theme for this year “Building Communities Bridging Continents “, it occurred to us that an opportunity existed to not only encourage friendship between our clubs in the same year that we would send each other a GSE team, but we could also “Bridge Continents” by partnering up each of our clubs, and then just see where that would lead. Clubs could start relationships and learn from each other about how Rotary operates in each other’s part of the world. Many clubs already have sister club relationships that are very successful and work well for both clubs. We hope that all clubs will embrace this opportunity to bond and have some fun getting to know our GSE District a little bit better.

D5840 is in South Central Texas, the Lone Star State, and centres on the City of San Antonio, a city rich in history. Remember the Alamo...William Travis, James Bowie and Davy Crockett. The Texas State motto is “Friendship”.

Take a look at the D5840 website and you will discover more information about this District and the club with whom you have been partnered. On their website is the District logo & theme “Give of Yourself”. This District has 56 clubs and nearly 3,000 Rotarians. Its District Conference will be held on a carnival cruise ship, which departs Galveston from 16-20 June, 2011, headed for Cozumel, Mexico on a trip of a lifetime. What a fun conference that will be and our GSE team will be there to enjoy every minute of it. It’s time to apply for GSE. Remember that our GSE Committee Chairman Adrian Nelson has put out applications for a GSE team leader from one of our clubs and for clubs to nominate suitable applicants for team members - see www.rotarydistrict9800.org

The Rotary Club of San Antonio has been the largest Rotary Club in the world with over 700 Rotarians, and still has numbers exceeding 500 today. It was chartered on 11th January, 1912. Our Rotary Club of Melbourne was chartered on 21st April, 1921.

And so the challenge is now out there. The list appears here in Networker, it will be on our website (and the D5840 website), and will be emailed to all club presidents. Will you be the champion in your club, the one who gets this rolling, establishes contact, starts an exchange of bulletins, starts to build friendships? Let’s see what develops between you and your new found Texas friends in D5840.  Have fun with it and let’s make some new Rotary friends.

Clarice looks forward to hearing all about it and publishing your stories.

In Building Communities Bridging Continents, Have a great week in Rotary!

DG Iven

1^st September, 2010

YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENT arrives from Texas

YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENT arrives from Texas and continues our long friendship with USA D5520. Our newest inbound Youth Exchange student arrived from the USA last week. This is the 1st YES (Youth Exchange Student) from USA in over 10 years. Ana Sofia Tribaldos, is from D5520, which encompasses West Texas and New Mexico. She lives in El Paso.

Our inbound midyear students this year are;

Anders Carter (Norway) hosted
by RC of Chadstone

Victoria Petersson (Sweden)
hosted by RC of Brighton

Marco Simmini (Denmark) hosted
by RC of Kew

Julie Neergaard (Denmark)
hosted by RC of Footscray

Adrian Rodemeister (Germany)
hosted by RC of West Footscray

Alina Kemper (Germany) hosted
by RC of Bendigo

Ana Sofia Tribaldos (USA)
hosted by RC of Malvern

The following students arrived in January this year and return home January 2011:-

Cecy Perez (Brazil) hosted by RC
of North Balwyn

Isadora Martins (Brazil) hosted
by RC of Footscray

Ana Slavaa Anandrade (Brazil)
hosted by RC of Camberwell

Maria Clara Bravo (Brazil) hosted
by RC of Melton & Melton Valley

(The YE Committee are looking for host Clubs for 2011 arrivals from Brazil)

Our next intakes of students for this Rotary year arrive in January 2011 from South America, and Japan is also on the agenda. Thank you to all those Clubs that are hosting our students. This is a wonderful program that changes the lives of those touched by it. What a difference a Youth Exchange Student can make to a Club!

You’ve seen the Texan Connection on our District’s fabulous website. The partnership we have between District 5520 and District 9800 is extremely special and goes back many years. Here’s a list of our collaborations:

• 1984 – 1985 - GSE (Group Study Exchange) with Team Leader Graeme Lockwood, RC of Melbourne South.
• 2004 - 2005 - Group Study Exchange with DGN Dennis Shore as our Team Leader (Dennis is over in D5520 holidaying at the moment).
• 1990 – 1991 - Youth Exchange with D5520. We hosted an American Indian, Kevin Shendo, from Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, and Marilyn and I were the first host family. We have kept in touch and Kevin has been Governor of his Reservation and remains heavily involved with American Indian Affairs.
• The Youth Exchange Committee Chair in D5520 is a long time friend also, who has been involved on and off in Youth Exchange since our dealings with him in 1990. He came with his wife to the RI Convention in Melbourne in 1993. We have also visited them. It was this long term friendship that has brought an exchange between D9800 and D5520 back this year.
• We will send them a student in January, 2011.
• Our District is also involved with a Rotary Friendship Exchange with D5520, from 15-29 October, 2011.
• The current DG of 5520, Tim Parker, who I became friends with following our training in San Diego this year is a former GSE team member who went to D9670 in NSW some years ago, and he has been to Melbourne.

What a fabulous friendship between our Districts. Past GSE’s and now another Youth Exchange with D5520 in West Texas/New Mexico, plus a GSE, Youth Exchange, and a Club to Club partnering with D5840 in Texas, is a wonderful way that in this Rotary year 2010-2011 we are BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS!

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

24^th August, 2010

August is Membership Month

August is Membership Development and Extension Month... Membership in Rotary is all about giving Service Above Self.                 

August is Membership Development and Extension month. However, as we all know, every month is really Membership month. Rotary members are the life blood of our organisation. If we do not have members, how can we hope to achieve all that we need to achieve. How can we help all those that are depending on our help.  We must grow or we will die. All Clubs, all 34,000 of them, would welcome new members, dynamic men and women, who are ready to give Service Above Self and give back to the community in which they live, and to people around the world, of whom they have never met, and may never meet. Membership of Rotary is very special and very unique. It’s a special type of individual that gives up their time, their very valuable time, in this busy lifestyle we lead today, to join a volunteer organisation such as Rotary. They will receive no payment for their time. They will bring skills and vocational expertise to a Club. It is indeed, all about Service Above Self. It’s about giving rather than taking.

For those that attended the Membership & Marketing Seminar on Sunday 15 August, held in conjunction with The Foundation Seminar, I hope you gained many new ideas, initiatives and have embraced the many ways that we can now connect with people. This District has an outstanding new and developing website that can be viewed at rotarydistrict9800.org.

Marilyn and I are into our 3rd week of Official DG Club visits, and are enjoying the very special privilege of visiting every one of our 70 Clubs in the District. It’s refreshing to say that all our Clubs are different, all have their own history, own customs and own way of doing things. This is a good thing, what works for one Club in one suburb and area may not work for another, and each has developed its own style and personality. I encourage you all to get out into your District, and do a Make-up at any one of these wonderful Rotary Clubs. You will find, as we have, a very warm welcome awaits.

GSE applications are now open for a Rotarian in the District to apply as Team Leader for D5840 San Antonio, Texas, in May-June, 2011. We are looking for 4 Team Members, non Rotarians who are professional/business people aged 25-40 in the early stages of their career, and ask Clubs to seek and nominate suitable candidates for this once in a lifetime opportunity. For more details, see the District website.

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

17^th August, 2010

Your Rotary Badge

When inducted into Rotary, we say “these badges are loaned to you during your membership of this Club and should be worn at all times with pleasure to yourself and pride in this Club”. These are good words indeed.

How often do you wear your Rotary badge?

Do you remember it on Rotary day, and spend some time looking for it, perhaps thinking to yourself if I don’t have it, I might get fined by the Sergeant!

Or do you keep it in the glove box, ready to pullout and put it on each week as you drive to your meeting.

Perhaps you keep it in your briefcase, handbag, or in the bedroom, hidden away in a drawer that you go to once a week, and you know it will always be there for you, when needed.

Do you put it on as you head to a meeting and take it off the moment you leave?

Maybe you have even lost it, and don’t have a Rotary badge at all.

If you have lost your badge, your Club Secretary will be able to get one for you. In this month’s Rotary Down Under (RDU) - Issue 520, August 2010, there is an insert Merchandise Catalogue, that will show you an enormous range of products that as Rotarians you can buy, including the humble Rotary badge.

I am a strong supporter of wearing the badge. I have simply always done so and it often opens up a conversation from those that are not members. What better way to promote Rotary, and invite questions, than to be wearing it proudly. On the badge are the words “Rotary International”, and they remind us that we are one of over 1.2 million other Rotarians, in over 200 countries, who belong to one of the 34,000 Rotary Clubs. The wonderful work that we do needs to be told. We, Rotarians, need to wear the badge and be prepared to answer the question “What’s that Badge?”

Past Rotary International President Bob Barth (1993-94) said that we should wear our badge with pride, every day and not just to meetings. He said that a Rotary pin should say this about the wearer “you can rely on me, I am dependable, I am reliable, I give more than I take & I am available”. I can’t think of a better reason to wear it at all times.

Think back, to that moment when you joined Rotary and the badge was pinned on you. What a proud moment that was. Let’s all try to wear it more often, everyday if you can. Swap it from suit to jacket, from jumper to shirt. If one Rotary badge is not enough, buy another and wear it knowing that it will be seen, and it will show that “you” are a Rotarian.

Have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

10^th August, 2010

Y’all in District 9800 are about to be connected with District 5840 Texas!!

We are about to link y’all in D9800 with a Rotary Club in The Lone Star State, Texas, USA. We will match our 70 Clubs with 56 Rotary Clubs in D5840, which is located in and around San Antonio, deep in the heart of Texas. We will also be doing a GSE (Group Study Exchange) together.

July is an extremely busy month for all Clubs and a time when we are all settling into a NEW Rotary year. Now into August, we can start to think about this exciting International opportunity to make contact with a Rotary Club elsewhere. Our fabulous new District website has a link “Texan Connection”. During the year, we will post stories from you on any relationships developing between your Club and a Club in Texas. It may be between Club President and Club President, or bulletin editors, or Vocational Service Chairs. Once your sister Club has been given to you, why not send your Club bulletin and a note from the Club, giving Club positions/names/contact emails and let them know who is doing what in your Club. It’s then a simple task of matching up Rotarians in the various Club appointments with those in the D5840 Club. I hope this will create some new friendships and an exchange of how you do things in your Club, and how they do the same things, but perhaps differently, in their Club.

I am very pleased at the level of interest and excitement with this Club partnering concept. It developed from talks between myself and District Governor Stephanie Macchia (see photo) in San Diego this year. It was our hope to make the GSE experience between our Districts even stronger, by encouraging our clubs to find a “mate/buddy “in each other’s District. This also fits in perfectly with the RI Theme for 2010-2011, BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS.

This is indeed, BRIDGING CONTINENTS!!

Some Clubs are already embracing the Texas Connection. This notice appeared in RC of Werribee’s Club bulletin last week. Well done RC of Werribee.

Charter Anniversary - Bigger then Texas

Our anniversary night is planned for August 24^th and it will be held at Santini's Restaurant in Watton Street. The theme for the evening is "Bigger than Texas" in view of the relationship between our District and D5840 in Texas, USA as part of the Texan Connection program. Members and partners are encouraged to get in the spirit of the night by wearing something with a Texan theme but it is not compulsory. Suggestions include scarf, ten gallon hat, cowboy boots, spurs, whip, six-gun (minus the bullets) and lasso.

The Group Study Exchange Team from District 5840 will spend a month in our District next year and they will also attend our District Conference in Adelaide. Our Team will then visit them in May/June 2011. Wonderful opportunities exist for Clubs to put forward a Rotarian as Team Leader, sponsor GSE Team members, host a District Welcome/Farewell function or home host the Texas Team for a week. Please contact GSE Chair Adrian Nelson whose details appear in the District Information Directory.

Finally, can I remind you of the Speaker Bank Committee, which is in the capable hands of Jill Weeks. Please let them know if your Rotary Club has had an interesting speaker. The DG Official Club Visits have commenced, and whist I’m not expecting to make the Speaker Bank, Marilyn and I have thoroughly enjoyed the warm welcome and hospitality. Thank you.

Y’all have a great week in Rotary,

DG Iven

Read more about the District 9800 / District 5840 Texan Connection

3^rd August, 2010

What is District?

This week Iven speaks about our Rotary District and the people.

Rotary International is divided up worldwide into Districts – in fact 532 Districts in 210 countries.  In Australia we have 22 Districts, 5 in Victoria. These Districts are 9780, 9790, 9800, 9810, and 9820. Our District, whilst not the largest in geographical area, it does have the most number of Rotarians of any Australian District. Let’s keep it that way and work on our Club membership this year.

All Districts have a District Board and District Leadership Team (DLT). If you take a look at your District Information Directory, and I hope that you have all received your copy by now, you will see the District Organisation Chart on page 16. In this District, and in all Districts, there are many District Committees that fulfil a very important role of preparing, informing and sometimes conducting the many wonderful programs in which Clubs have become involved. These Committees meet each month and exist within all the 5 Avenues of Service. Some of these Committees are small and others quite large. In all cases, Committees are made up of both City and Country Rotarians from within our District that allows a mix of experience and location. I am sure you are all familiar with many of these Committees, particularly ones such as RYPEN, RYLA, The Royce Abbey Awards program, International House, Youth Exchange, RAWCS and  Shine On Awards  to name but a few. Once again, a look in your District Information Directory will show them all, tell you a bit about them and let you know who to contact for further information. Many of these Committees, apart from having their own meetings, will have a Chairperson who will attend a monthly meeting with the District Director responsible for that Avenue of Service. In this way a District Director is fully informed on all that is happening within his or her area and is then able to report this back to the DLT each month. It’s an excellent system that allows information to flow right throughout the District so that everyone knows what’s going on.

Who are these people on District?

They are committed Rotarians just like you and me who belong to Rotary Clubs, but they look to contribute further by joining one of these Committees and assisting in the co-ordinating and running of Rotary programs. Sometimes these Rotarians are not at their weekly Club meeting due to a “District” commitment, but most times they are and they put in considerable extra time into their Rotary life. I’m sure we can all think of Rotarians in our Clubs who are doing just that - it may even be you - and we thank them sincerely for helping the District to function to the high standard that it does. If you have not tasted District life before, may I suggest that if there is a part of Rotary that interests you, or if you simply want to get more involved in activity beyond Club level, which in fact will complement your Club membership, then consider putting your hand up for District.

Last week I attended RAWCS, one of these District Committees.  The meeting was held at Woodend and a photo is attached.

Have a great week in Rotary!

DG Iven

 

27^th July, 2010

A Guide to Better Communication Within Rotary

There is no doubt that we live in an increasingly hectic world and one where communication is critical to ensuring an effective and efficient flow of information and understanding.  When I think about the various written methods we use to communicate in this day and age, it is easy to be misunderstood.  The misuse of  a word, the perceived tone of an email or text message or ambiguity in what we write can lead to all sorts of misunderstanding by the reader, no matter how well intentioned we are being.  It is important therefore to consider carefully what we put in writing and how the recipient may interpret what we have said.

We all receive hundreds of emails from work, friends, and of course Rotary.  We need to be aware that what we say to one person,  may not be appropriate for another.  Emails have become an easy, if almost casual way of conversation and we all need to be mindful of their content.  It is also important to think about forwarding emails on to others, or replying and adding others to the email.  Sometimes, it may be best to start a new conversation/email and leave the last conversation in the computer.

Communication within Rotary also comes in the form of our various publications and gatherings. Networker is a ‘vehicle’ for District news for the benefit of all.  Club bulletins provide an avenue for more localised club matters, activities and rosters.  Rotary Down Under is for the bigger Australian and International Rotary outlook.  And then we have the many meetings in Rotary that confirm verbally all is understood and that allow plans to be made.  We have a District Board that meets monthly, and a DLT (District Leadership Team) that meets monthly. Both of these are held at International House.  Any concerns, issues or matters that Rotarians would like raised can be done easily via your Assistant Governor, who attends the DLT meetings.

Communication between us all, at all levels, is very important in this fast moving world!

Another important matter I would like to talk about this week concerns “goodwill”. As Rotarians in D9800, let’s ensure that we have goodwill not only in our Clubs but between us all. We are all trying to do our best and as volunteers, some are able, at different times, to do more than others.  I think we should all respect this and perhaps think twice before we react too hastily, as we sometimes do. Let’s respect our fellow Rotarians and try at all times to be courteous, friendly, helpful and kinder to one-another.

The glue that binds a Club together is indeed fellowship.  I would like to squeeze this glue beyond our own individual clubs and out to all the clubs in D9800, so that we all bond together in this great District.

Have a great week in Rotary!

Iven

20^th July, 2010

Camp Getaway, Youth Exchange and Every Rotarian every Year (EREY)

Dear Rotarians and Friends

It’s been another great week of Club change overs and District Committee meetings.  I’m so impressed to see the new year start off with such enthusiasm and purpose.

Of special note for me was the selection of this year’s Outbound Youth Exchange team members at Camp Getaway.  A record number of 17 students were selected to be this year’s Youth Exchange ambassadors to Brazil, Germany, France, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the USA. These young people will now have six months to get ready for this life changing experience prior to their departure in January 2011 for 12 months.

Our District is receiving the following inbound students, the first of whom have arrived already with the others not far away. 

• Anders Wilhelmsen Carter (Norway) to Chadstone E/M
• Victoria Petersson (Sweden) to Brighton
• Marco Simmini (Denmark) to Kew
• Julie Neergaard (Denmark) to Footscray
• Adrian Rodemeister (Germany) to West Footscray
• Alina Kemper (Germany) to Bendigo
• Ana Tibaldos from the USA

I’m sure you will join me in welcoming our Youth Exchange Program students to Victoria and don’t forget to invite them to your Club for a speaking engagement.

At the start of this new year, I would like to encourage you to support the Foundation through the Every Rotarian Every Year program. This program has been known in our District for several years as the Centurion program, however Internationally it is more widely known as The Every Rotarian Every year program. Any members who were part of the Centurion program will automatically become members of the Every Rotarian Every Year program.

Early in the new Rotary year support to our Foundation is critical to help grow our community chest. When you make your Club's Every Rotarian Every Year program a success, you help change the world.   All money raised through EREY goes to the Annual Programs Fund , which supports The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian and educational programs. This includes humanitarian grants that Rotarians use for projects across literacy, health, sanitation, homelessness, clean water.  

While giving US$100 per year through EREY -- less than $9 per month -- may seem like a small amount, the Foundation helps that money have a big impact.  As an example, it can help provide four cataract surgeries in Third World countries.  Also, when you give US$100 you automatically become a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member.  I urge you to seek out your Club’s Foundation Director and support EREY.

Finally, I’d like you to consider attending the District’s joint Foundation Marketing and Membership Seminar on the 15th August. Details will be sent out to all Club Presidents and Secretaries later this week, please look out for it and I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a great week in Rotary.

DG Iven

13^th July, 2010

Change Yet Continuity..

Each new Rotary year signals something quite unique in leadership terms ... change yet continuity.  These are two concepts that are not often found together, as they almost seem in opposition.  Yet, every year, Rotary clubs have a change of leadership that sets its plans and objectives and within a year, achieve great outcomes through continuity, consistency and consensus.

Such short term leadership tenures are certainly different from business or government, yet the achievements are quite staggering.  In fact this phenomenon has come to the attention of Professor James Sarros, Head of Monash University’s Department of Management who, with the assistance of District Governor Elect Keith Ryall will be conducting a study on the Rotary model.

Over recent weeks I have been visiting Clubs throughout the District, attending leadership changeover events and have come away every time inspired by the vitality with which the year’s plans and key objectives have been set and the preparation for their implementation well underway.

Every Club, whilst autonomous in its culture and annual mandates, is still intimately linked to the overall goals and objectives of Rotary International; every Club adheres to the Four Way Test; and every Club takes forward a consistent approach to service above self.

And while we celebrate our achievements, we also align with our Founder’s philosophy:  “Rotary is not an organisation for retrospection.  It is rather one whose worth and purpose lie in future activity rather than past performance.”

I have also been impressed by the number of Rotarians who have been recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow for their contribution to the ideals of Rotary and service above self.   It is humbling as well as a great source of pride to know about the amazing work the recipients have undertaken in serving their community.

From what Marilyn and I have seen so far at the meetings we have been privileged to have attended, I know the Clubs in our District will “build communities and bridge continents” this year.  Keep up the wonderful work being done in your community.

Have a great week in Rotary.

Annual Message

Rotary Distict 9800 District Governors Annual Message

My fellow Rotarians and friends,

Rotary membership is very special and unique. Every year is different. Rotary year 2010-2011 will not be the same as 2009-2010 and next year will be different again. Each year brings a new theme, new directions, new ideas, new challenges, new members and new opportunities for service.

RI President Ray Klinginsmith gave his class of 2010-2011 a clear message sometime ago that we need to bring about many changes in Rotary, starting with Districts & Clubs, about how we do things & how we have always done things. I hope you agree with this change philosophy and it should send a clear message to all Rotarians that we want more of them to experience a role on District.

I wish all Clubs and Rotarians in the District a very happy and successful year of Rotary service both locally and internationally. I hope our Clubs in District 9800 continue to grow in membership and remain healthy and active members of Rotary International. As Rotarians and members of these Clubs, let us all give what we can, help where we can, and above all enjoy the wonderful fellowship that exists worldwide in Rotary. The Family of Rotary involves us all, and it is a very special Family indeed.

The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is our Foundation. It is through the Foundation that we bring hope and dignity to the lives of many less fortunate than ourselves. The wonderful work of the Foundation requires the support of all Rotarians particularly in this next year. I encourage all Clubs to focus on giving to the Foundation so that it will continue to grow and be able to carry on effectively “doing good in the world”. Marilyn and I look forward to visiting your Club during the year and to share in your Club’s aims, objectives and dreams. On the Official visit of the District Governor, I will share with you my aims, objectives and dreams.

Finally, “thank you” for all that you are doing for Rotary.

Together in 2010-2011 we will be “Building Communities Bridging Continents”.

Have a great year,

Iven Mackay and Marilyn

District Governor 2010-2011

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Rotary Theme 2011-2012

Reach Within to Embrace Humanity
The words describe Rotary's current mission and highlight our achievements.

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