DISTRICT GOVERNOR
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Jim and Carol Studebaker
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 Jim Studebaker Rotary Club of North Balwyn
A very active Rotarian for 17 years, Jim has fully immersed himself in the humanitarian philosophies and mission of Rotary International. A member of North Balwyn since 1991, Jim became its President in 2004-2005 and served as Chairman of virtually every service committee for the club. Added to this, he was a member of the District Public Relations Committee before joining the District RYLA committee, where he gave eight years’ dedicated service. Appointed Assistant District Governor of the Batman Cluster for 2006-2007, he was also named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006.
Jim’s passion for youth was clearly evident even before he joined the RYLA committee, having been an active member of the Scouting Movement. RYLA however, truly touched Jim. Seeing young people who lack in confidence being brought together and through their RYLA experience dramatically change and blossom gave Jim a strong desire to make a greater contribution to this program. He has been instrumental in the appointment of youth to actually run this vital program in D9800, further developing their skills and self-confidence.
Jim’s career has been in the banking and finance industry and professional practice management in accounting and legal practices, both in Australia and the United States. Although born in America, Jim is an Australian by choice and is more Australian than Crocodile Dundee! And, like many Australians, he has a true handicap in his enjoyment of golf. Probably better described as “Starship Enterprise,” Jim’s adventures on the golf course certainly see him go where no human has gone before! He and wife Carol also share a love of cooking. They have two adult children who are now living overseas.
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Click here for Contact details for Jim.
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District Governor's Weekly Message
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August is Rotary Membership Development and Extension Month
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Week beginning 1 September 2008
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Our District, Our Responsibility
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While District 9800 is small in geographical terms when compared to the geographical areas covered by most Australian Rotary Districts, numerically we are Australia’s largest district boasting 69 clubs and almost 3,000 members.
Large District... large responsibility. But even more than that, District 9800 is comprised largely of metropolitan clubs. This is unlike many other Rotary districts, such as D9790, where the concentration of rural clubs is greater. Our rural clubs stretch from the north-western metropolitan border of Melbourne to the Murray River at Echuca Moama. The most ‘outer’ of these are those clubs in the Goldfields.
Together with Carol, I recently spent a number of days in the Goldfields cluster area, talking to Rotarians and trying to understand the issues and concerns that confront their communities. And so it is the rural area of our District I would like to write about this week.
Rural Victoria and particularly areas in our Goldfields cluster have been in the grip of a severe and unprecedented drought. Not only has there been obvious material damage to farms and stock but there is the financial and emotional fallout which has, and still is, impacting hugely on the lives of rural residents within our District. Our people.
The stories are heartbreaking. Within our District there is a crisis that demands our attention... farming families and small rural businesses need our help. We are, after all, a predominantly metropolitan-based District. Most of our Club members are not directly affected by the drought and, I believe, that most would wish to help if a structure for assistance was implemented.
There has already been a start, some far-sighted Rotary clubs in District 9800 have already established partnerships with rural areas in Victoria. The “Boroondara Cares” program is a partnership between the City of Boroondara and the Rotary Club residents in the City of Boroondara and the rural shire of Moira together with the Rotary Clubs in that shire. This has proved to be a wonderful alliance that has provided a conduit for our metropolitan clubs to work with clubs and municipalities in the Moira shire in the delivery of support and assistance. Likewise, the “Stonnington Cares” partnership is being established to replicate this city-rural support program with the rural shire of Benalla.
These are magnificent and sorely needed support partnerships but, as District Governor, I would like to see every club address the task of confronting the rural crisis facing the communities located on the north western city fringe, through Bendigo and Campaspe Shires to the Murray River… Just think of the impact if every club in District 9800 takes up the challenge and makes a concerted effort to initiate community support programs specifically aimed at helping and supporting the rural communities in our Rotary District .
I have asked our Assistant Governor for the Goldfields Cluster, Hugh Wheeler, to establish a Rural Recovery Team to coordinate and direct the efforts of our metropolitan Clubs’ rural support initiatives for the next year. This involves significant detail and we will advise you soon of the directions and initiatives being planned.
Please make the support of our rural communities a priority. There’s so much to be done and, for many in the rural areas of D9800, only a small window of opportunity to make a real difference.
This is our Rotary District. Our rural areas need our help. The time to act is now.
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- District Governor, Jim Studebaker
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