Greetings Southbankers!

What a great start to our year!  Thanks to all who contributed to such a fantastic Changeover and 10th Birthday Celebration on 20th June.   And now our year begins ...

Tuesday night’s meeting revolved around our Leadership Group members delivering their vision to the Club for this year.  I’m sure everyone will agree that each delivery was excellent and that the plans presented were an exciting insight to our year ahead.  The questions asked by the membership for each area certainly highlighted that we have started our year on the right footing. Our scribe for the night, Nicholas Kane, has captured the essence of each presentation very well and you will find his notes in the bulletin.

On Wednesday this week, Michael Fingereth and I visited the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation (LMCF) to commence discussions re the establishment of the Rotary Club of Southbank’s Giving Fund.  Michael now has a draft Trust Deed on which he will be gaining further advice from experts within his own network as well as our District Governance Director Gary Goldsmith.  Once this has been done, Michael will go back to the LMCF to make changes before presenting the draft to our Board for consideration.

Also this week, Gordon, Narina and I had a productive meeting with the Crown during which we exchanged ideas on how we can collaborate with each other.  As a result, a further meeting is now being arranged with the Crown’s General Manager Marketing, Ann Peacock.

Over the coming weeks, we have some very exciting guest speakers.  On 8th September, Dr Judith Slocombe, CEO of the Alannah Madeline Foundation, will be speaking to us about managing

different priorities such as family, business, community, friends and self in a busy world.  The RC Chadstone /East Malvern will be joining us and I expect additional clubs to also join us on this evening. 

Next week the returning Swedish GSE team will be our guests to tell us about their fantastic time in Sweden.  The week after, our guest speaker will be Scott Bocskay, CEO of the William J Clinton Foundation, who will be discussing environment and sustainability, which is his Foundation’s global focus.

I think you will agree that we have much to look forward to with these speakers.

We have now applied for both a District Simplified Grant to help us fund our Street Soccer Campaign, and a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant to assist us finalise our Bali Trust work in Bali Taman.  My thanks go to Tracey, Wendy, Leigh and Steven for their efforts with these projects.

On Thursday, whilst it was still very dark, a few of us gathered for the first “Breakfast with the Pres” at the Observatory Cafe in the Botanical Gardens.  We had a really interesting discussion on the economy on which everyone had their theory as to how long the GFC would continue and how to contend with the battle ahead.  There were tips on credit collections, new opportunities, emerging markets, attitude and how to remain focused during these times.  It was an exceptionally lively and valuable exchange of ideas.  We already have some starters for the first Thursday in August.  Past members Alex Bialocki and a previous community partner of Southbank’s and a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow, Gordon Storey, former CEO of SHARC, have indicated they will join us.

I have to admit to being really energised and enthused by the start we have made.  I am now looking forward to the Committees meeting and commencing work on projects of their choice including our long-standing traditional work.

Philip Archer
Club President 2009-2010

Last Week's Meeting

(Thank you for Nick for these fantastic scribe notes)

Meeting number 489, 30 June, 2009 Crown

Commenced 6.33pm (Late start – what was the sergeant doing?) 

Announcements

Gabe announced that RC Southbank won 2 Awards at the District Changeover – for the street soccer program and the PR trophy for the Gill Hicks lunch.

Charles advised that the 1st of the Business Breakfasts will be held on 16/7.  Bookings via Narina

Gordon was proud to tell us that the YAA company has had its product approved.  The product is an environmentally friendly Journal

The Sergeant

Acting Sergeant Clinton conducted a pop quiz, primarily focussed n Michael Jackson.  Some members displayed a shameful depth of knowledge.  In a departure from traditional Sergeant behaviour,he then proceeded to fine members who had been discovered achieving positive things .

Club Assembly

Club Service - Gordon

Improve relationship with Crown.  Have as many meetings as possible at Crown

A/G visit 14th July

DG visit 15 September

Gabe will be responsible for I Care and Family of Rotary

Gordon is also responsible for On to Conference .  The District Conference is to be held in Perth in March 2010.  In a thinly veiled threat to waterboard the dissenters, he promised to be like a dripping tap to encourage all members to attend.

4 fellowship evenings are planned, the first to be ten pin bowling in August.

Breakfast with the President at the Observatory café.  First Thursday in each month, 7 am.  Initially this will be with president Phillip, however President Obama will also attend periodically.

Website - Stuart

Stuart has a renovation project in mind.  The website will be updated and modernised and will feature hot and cold running water in an attempt to again be the winner of the District website award

Bulletin - Gabe

Gabe is the editor.  Prime objective is to inform members.  Aim is to win the District Bulletin Award.  Page 3 girls perhaps?  He appealed to scribes to submit meeting notes by Friday PM (did I do good with these Gabe?) [Ed: you did great!]

Membership -Troy

Is planning to increase membership to 35.  The increased population in Southbank should provide many prospects, especially including retirees.  All members will be issued with RC Southbank business cards which will have an invitation to meetings.

A Friends of Rotary program will be introduced to enhance club profile, increase resource base and recruit members.

International/Community – Bettina

Plan to continue existing projects, introduce new ones.  Key is the management of our limited resources.  Aim to increase involvement by all members.  All projects need a champion, as well as footsoldiers.  (and a sergeant to discipline them)  Looking at collaboration with Soroptimist clubs.  Key focus:

• Street Soccer

• Kids Foundation

• Afghanistan

New generations/Vocational - Michael Fingereth

• Service Excellence Awards

• Business breakfasts

• RYLA

• RYPEN

• Enhance our involvement in STEPS

• Reintroduce FEAR

Foundation – Steven

• Continuing support of Polio Plus

• Rotary centre for International Studies

• GSE

• Ambassadorial Scholarships

• Fundraising:

  • Southbank Business Breakfasts

  • Giving Trust

  • Encourage members to become Centurions  (the more retirees we get, the easier  this will be – they’re closer to becoming centurions)

  • Paul Harris Society

  • District 9800 is part of a new grant system, which is being trialled.

Summary by President Phillip

New Initiatives:

• Business Breakfasts

• Friends of Rotary

• Hero magazine

• Giving Trust (long term funding model)

• CSR Package (this doesn’t need sugar coating)

• Service Excellence Awards

• Family of Rotary

Meeting closed at exactly 7.30pm