This week I want to talk about teamwork, commitment and the importance of these to achieve our goals this year.  Rotary, as we are all well aware, is a voluntary organisation.  It’s therefore a fantastic opportunity for real teamwork that has rewarding outcomes.   Our Club is a team; each Avenue of Service is a sub- team, and each project also requires a team effort.  If we are to work effectively as a team to achieve our objectives, we need to commit to a few basic principles:

• Effective communication – from the team leader to the team members and back the other way;
   

• Loyalty – support for one another needs to be maintained, even when things are going wrong or you disagree with an action, an approach or an idea;
   

• Reliability – if you say you are going to do something, then it’s important that you carry through.  If circumstances make it impossible not to deliver on a promise, then enlist the support of someone else, but give them time and a clear set of instructions; and
   

• Recognise and value the input from team members.

Rotary provides us with a great opportunity to be part of a team striving to do good in the world.  It does at times mean an extra workload, but the rewards are numerous.  Four that come to mind are:

1. Friendship – in an increasingly complex world, Rotary provides one of the most basic human needs; the need for friendship and fellowship.  It is one of the two reasons why Rotary began in 1905.
    

2. Personal growth and development – Membership in Rotary continues our growth and education in human relations and personal development.
    

3. Leadership development – Rotary is an organisation of leaders and successful people. Serving in Rotary positions is like a college of education.  Leadership: learning how to motivate, influence and lead leaders.
    

4. Citizenship in the community – Membership in a Rotary club makes one a better community citizen.  The average Rotary club consists of the most active citizens in the community.

I want to extend a big thank you to all who helped out today at the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation Lake Attack.  PP Rhys Maggs, the project champion, and Lilian; Chris and Helen Trueman, PP Gordon Hastie and Graham Schorer who provided the logistics all had great fun and fellowship, and also made some money along the way!  I greatly appreciated the work they all put in early on a Sunday.  Congratulations team!

Have a great week.

Philip Archer
Club President 2009-2010

Last Week's Meeting

(Thank you to PP Gordon for these superb notes)

Meeting 497 Scribe Notes

The meeting opened at 6:30 pm with Sergeant-at-Arms Chris proposing toast to Australia and Rotary International and on this occasion in honour of our guests the Rotary Club of DiRaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  He then introduced a rather off-colour President Philip Archer who nevertheless received a spirited welcome and conducted a lively meeting.  President Philip introduced the following visitors and made or introduced the following announcements:

VISITORS

Rizal Sardon, President of Rotary Club of DiRaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jenny Sardon, Rizal's wife

Bob Slater, Rotary Club of Carlton

Richard Walpole, Rotary Club of Melbourne

John Jacob, Managing Director, YAA company, “Bright Ideya”

Lachlan Chislett, Sales Director, YAA company, “Bright Ideya”

Sian Slade a guest of Gaby Abelskamp.

Jo Hopkins from Parks Victoria accompanying the Guest Speaker, Gerard O’Neill.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Philip announced a project to man a stand at the Royal Melbourne Show.  This is being conducted with the Rotary Club of Canterbury.  Volunteers are needed and anyone who can assist should contact Gaby Abelskamp.

Bob Slater (RC Carlton) spoke on Stroke Awareness and encouraged us all to monitor our blood pressure.

Richard Walpole (RC Melbourne) gave us a brief overview of the YAA program

PP Gordon Hastie introduced John Jacob (MD YAA Bright Idea) and he introduced Lachlan Chislett (Sales Director) and together they introduced their product of an environmentally friendly notebook.  More than 20 orders were taken after the meeting.

Chris Trueman reminded us of the Balibo Film Evening to be held on Tuesday, 1^st September and proposed that it would be a very informative evening with Bailey the Honorary Consul General for Timor Leste speaking.

SERGEANT

Sergeant-at-Arms Chris conducted a spirited session and reminded several members of events they had forgotten, or would have liked to have forgotten!

CHAIR

Michael Glinski was our Chair for the evening and introduced the Guest Speaker.  Because PP Gabe Hau was ill and had to leave the meeting early there was no Members Moment.

SPEAKER

Gerard O’Neill is the Deputy Chief Executive at Parks Victoria.  Gerard is responsible for the Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP) project at Parks Victoria and showed and discussed the range of outdoor activities that are available to all Victorians.  He also discussed a convention that is to be held in Melbourne in 2010 and to which he invited Rotary to take part.  There were many questions from the group and these were moderated ably by Michael.  At the conclusion Gerard was presented with a “Penny for Polio”  

CLOSING

Michael then reintroduced President Philip who closed the meeting with his usual inspirational Thoughts for the Week viz:

Volunteers are not paid -- not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. ~ Unknown

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart. ~ Elizabeth Andre.