Rotary District 9800
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District Governor's Blog (DG's messages)
1st 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
24th 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
17th 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
10th 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 24th 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
3rd 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
27th 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
20th 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
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13th 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
District Governor's Annual Message 2010-2011 Iven Mackay and Marilyn
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
