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President Philip's Weekly Message
We’ve
started the year with great gusto and it’s fantastic to see the
enthusiasm in the Club. I’m mindful however, that as the year
progresses, we need to maintain the momentum so that we do achieve
what we have set out to do. As volunteers and very busy people,
there are times when pressures of work or other aspects of our
lives mount, and at such times, it’s really easy to say: “I will
miss the Rotary meeting this week – no one will mind,” or “I’ll
get round to that task tomorrow.” And whilst this happens to all
of us, and it is quite understandable, what is important is to
never forget why we wanted to be a Rotarian, the determination it
sometimes takes to be one, and the commitment we gave to be
responsible for any project or task we put our hands up to take.
The poem below published in Humanity in Motion and written
by Garry Krischock really hits home for me and has reminded me
what being a Rotarian is about. It’s a bit like taking up an
exercise regime ... there are times when the rain outside provides
the perfect excuse not to go for that run, but when you push
through with determination and commitment, you feel so good that
you did!
As
professionals in our vocational fields, we share our time and
energy to help communities, but we also have fun and fellowship
doing so. I am very grateful to the Club Service team led by
Gordon Hastie for organising our first fellowship function for the
year, being the ten pin bowling and skirmish night this Tuesday.
It’s going to be a really fun evening - and I’m very much looking
forward to winning! (And, yes I’m throwing down the gauntlet!).
This
week saw our second “Breakfast with the Pres” with nine
participants in a very lively discussion on the invitation from
the Royal Melbourne Show to join with the Rotary Club of
Canterbury and run a stall at this year’s Show. We will have the
opportunity to sell 1,000 show bags, and our Club will do blood
pressure checks on people whilst the Rotary Club of Canterbury
will promote their eye testing program. This will be a tremendous
PR opportunity, as well as a good fund raiser.
Have a
great week!
Philip Archer
Club President 2009-2010
Why be a Rotarian?
It is
not for the money
It is
not for the fame
It is
not for any personal gain
It is
just for the love of fellow man
It is
just to lend a helping hand
It is
just to give a little of self
It is to
do something you can’t buy with wealth
It is
not medals worn with pride
It is
for the feeling deep inside
It is
the reward down in your heart
It is
the feeling you’ve been part
Of
helping others far and near
That
makes you a Rotarian.
Garry Krischock
Last Week's Meeting
(Thank you to Stuart for these
very nice scribe notes)
Meeting 494 Scribe Notes
 Chris
as sergeant started the meeting and toasted Australia and Rotary
International as usual followed by the Rotary Club of Kyneton (home
of out guest speaker, PDG John Wigley) although originally he
confused it with another club, for which he was fined later).
Chris then introduced
President Philip who welcomed a number of visitors to the club.
Bobbi Lehman-Horn advised
the club of an upcoming social function, being a visit to the
exhibition of Salvador Dali’s work at the National Gallery of
Victoria on 30th September (to replace our regular
meeting on 29th September as our room at Crown is not
available on that day.)
Charles reminded everyone
of the upcoming business breakfasts on social ethics
Richard reminded members
that the Rotary T-Shirts were now available and should be collected
/ paid for.
Steven introduced Roland
Dillon - District Ambassadorial Scholar Nominee and David Gorman –
Ambassadorial Scholar Co-ordinator (who thanked the club for
sponsoring the Ambassadorial Scholar program). Roland hopes to
go to New York on the program and spoke of his intentions while
there, being based on environmental energy efficiency for low income
households and developing suitable cost structures / funding
arrangements to allow this to happen.
President Philip then
introduced Immediate Past President Gabe Hau as chairperson who
promptly announced “I’m back!” who then reintroduced Sergeant Chris
for the fine session.
Chris and the club sang a
happy birthday to Nick & Carl and then proceeded with the fine
session.
Michael Glinski performed
his member’s moment speaking on his involvement in the Police
Mentoring programme. He has been in Rotary for 6 years. The program
to help raise the awareness of police in the needs of the business /
community sectors has assigned him mentors’ from the Rotary Club of
Balwyn North and Deloitte.
He also spoke of the
Victoria Police Street-Safe program, and highlighted that the
solution to this problem was beyond just policing, but need the full
involvement of the community / schools / government to address.
Chairperson Gabe returned
to the rostrum and introduced Past District Governor John Wigley (DG
2005-2006) who spoke on a number of Rotary Programs.
 He
is the currently the chairman of the Rotary Leadership Institute
program and on the steering committee for PACE which has resulted in
our club's involvement in the Homeless World Cup.
John apologised for not
attending our changeover as he was in Birmingham for the Rotary
International Convention. RLI is his current passion; part of a
program to educate Rotarians in Rotary knowledge, with the
expectations that clubs will be stronger and that the members in
turn will encourage more members to join.
RLI was started in zone 33
on the east coast of USA. 100 Rotarians in our district have now
completed part 1, many of those, part 2, with part 3’s starting in
September.
He also spoke of mentoring
/ education programs, encouraged the club to give every member a
responsibility (especially new members so that they feel a part of
the club), appoint a club membership “champion” and most of all, to
Have Fun!
He also encouraged the club
to target classifications not already in the club.
To increase the membership,
one good way to do this is to divide the club into groups of two
people and encourage each pair of Rotarians between them to
introduce a new member to the club.
‘Friends of Rotary’ is
another program that his club (RC Kyneton) is using to great effect.
President Philip returned
to the rostrum and brought the meeting to a close for another week.
See you all again next
week!
(L to R)
President Philip Archer, D9800 Foundation Chair Chris Don, RC
Southbank Foundation Chair Steven Aquilina, Ambassadorial Scholar
Roland Dillon, Ambassadorial Scholar Co-ordinator David Gorman and
Past District Governor John Wigley
Visiting
Rotarian Erminio Bosi from Varese in Italy with President Philip
Southbank Profile
Name: Lyn
Gill
Tell us about those important to
you:
My wonderful and
expanding family – Richard – my best friend and my rock, Kate and
Paul with our first grandchild on the way (I am not in the least bit
excited ), Brenton – who is currently travelling through England
and Europe for 5 months, Andrew who is just completing his
fabrication apprenticeship and Michael my quantum physics - sure to
be professor one day.
Tell us something that most people don’t know about you?
I absolutely love fishing
and boating – my biggest challenge is finding the time and finding a
fishing partner because Richard absolutely hates fishing.
I started my career as a
flautist before going nursing and after having the 4 kids I founded
a music school for small group tuition of primary students ending up
with around 120 students, we had fantastic fun and of course the
school had a very original name – ‘Lyn Gill’s Music School’.
Complete the following:
If you’re
going to a drink, your favourite drink is ...
Cointreau on the rocks
The last book I read was ... Secrets
of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed compile by Dale Beaumont.
Extremely interesting especially as I have met many of the women
featured.
My favourite movie is ...
this is a hard one, I have so many favourites
and love a good laugh – “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, “First Wives
Club”, “The Worst Week of my Life”, “Death at a Funeral” and of
course I can’t leave out my old favourite sing-a-long “Sound of
Music” (guaranteed to empty out the house and give me peace).
The biggest misconception about me is ...
my open and friendly nature compliments a strong
determined and entrepreneurial business mindset.
Happiness is ... being surrounded
by loving, like-minded friends and family.
Before I joined Southbank I thought Rotary was ...
a golden wheel in every country town
... but since joining
Southbank I think ...
I
am astounded at how many projects
Rotary Southbank successfully participates in locally, nationally
and internationally. I do a lot of exhibiting and always wear my
Rotary pin – without fail I am approached by other Rotarians and we
have a great old chat about our clubs.
I joined The Rotary Club of Southbank
because ...
I was invited to attend a meeting with Andrew
Jones and really liked the atmosphere of the club and was made to
feel very welcome and indeed I now have some amazing friends and I
have really enjoyed the fellowship, the fantastic speakers, the
amazing diversity of Southbank members.
The Club member I would least like to be stuck next to on a long
flight would be ... Wendy
... because ...
between the 2 of us we would end up arriving
hoarse – we both love talking and it would be a battle to see who
could get the next word in.
People should see me professionally if ...
they need to establish, develop and grow their
brand through networking.
My favourite quote is ...
“You can do and
achieve anything you want to, you just have to believe in yourself,
have faith in others, help those in need and strive for success”.
Rotary Foundation
Thought
This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought
is about The Annual Programs Fund.
The Annual Programs Fund is the primary source of
unrestricted support for the programs of the Rotary Foundation. It
funds programs in more than 160 countries on seven continents. From
digging clean water wells for villages in Africa to teaching basic
literacy skill to children in Latin America, during any given moment
in a day, thousands of Rotarians volunteer their time and expertise
to ensure that all contributions given to The Annual Programs Fund
are spent wisely on quality Rotary projects.
Only if Every Rotarian makes a gift to the Annual Programs
Fund Every Year, will we will be able to continue to do the
great work of our Rotary Foundation.
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