All our rostered members were ready, willing and able for their duties at our breakfast this morning.  Iain made it back from his little vacation in Roma (testing out his latest BMW two wheeler) to man the desk.  The Chair position was ably filled by Judy and our resident clown, Darryl, introduced our guest speakers, who just happened to be clowns, as well.
Judy in full flight  
Darryl introduced the clowns
Our International Toast, proposed by Alan, took us to District 9910, in particular the Rotary Club of Noumea in New Caledonia.  Alan once again stunned us all with his incredible memory recall of the facts and statistics about the Club.  Thank you, Alan.
 
The "Three Minutes on Me" segment gave us all an intriguing insight into the life of our International Director, Genta.  Genta told us about his life in Japan, the US and how he found Dicky Beach.  Genta is a dedicated Surf Lifesaver and lover of Japanese Food and Culture.  You can visit his Restaurant in Dicky Beach and make sure you come along to the Japan Festival he organises every year, this year it's at the Currimundi School, on Saturday 12 August.
Our Guest Speakers were Koko and Rocco, who are clowns from the Coastal Caring Clowns.  Proudly, they spread and dispense smiles in hospitals and aged care facilities.  They showed us all just how important humour and a good laugh is to having a healthy life. 
Pam has devised a Buddy or Link List for all our Members.  This means you will always have "your buddy" to tell you what you may have missed, or you tell them what they've missed.  This system is designed to increase the inclusiveness of the Club.  Les has now posted the "Link Member" list on our Club Website, so please take the time to have a look and see who is your perfect match.
 
Don't forget, we have the opportunity to have a Bunning's BBQ this coming Sunday. If you work during the week, this is a great chance to discover the wonders of volunteering.  So contact Chris to let him know you're available to turn a snag or two, or register online.
In my Speech at the Changeover Dinner, I mentioned my goal, to ensure that our Club remains a Vibrant Club.  The best way to achieve this is to strengthen our current membership, which will in turn create an awareness of our Club in our community.  This way, we will attract new members.  Membership, however, is a lot more than just Breakfast Meetings.  Let's discover what a vibrant club and strong membership is all about.
 
"Membership is every Rotarians responsibility.  If you know someone who has all the qualities of a good Rotarian and you’re an active member of a Rotary club, consider proposing that person for membership".
 
Attending weekly club meetings allows members to enjoy fellowship, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community. 

Rotary Club Service:
By participating in local and international service projects, club members can volunteer their time and talents where they’re most needed. 

The Five Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:
  • Club Service: focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the clubs effective functioning.
  • Vocational Service: encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
  • Community Service: covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
  • International Service: encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.
  • Youth Services: recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities

HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME A MEMBER OF ROTARY?

A person being considered for membership is invited by an existing club member, or sponsor, to attend one or more club meetings to learn more about Rotary.  In this case, the sponsor submits the candidates name to the club's membership committee.  Nowadays, however, with the advent of the Internet and our fabulous Website.  The Club gladly accepts potential Members as guests.  I encourage all our members to extend a warm welcome to any guests that our club receives via this method.

New Members can get involved in their clubs, communities, and the world through Rotary.  New members, will get a chance to become more involved in the community and to provide aid to other parts of the world through the opportunities that our Rotary club and Rotary International offer.  Longtime Rotarians agree that involvement is the key to getting the most out of membership.  Volunteer to serve on a committee that meets your interests, to be a greeter for weekly club meetings, or to join a service project team.  These activities will help you get to know your fellow club members and better understand the work of Rotary.
 
More here
 

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP?

Members are encouraged to attend weekly club meetings, however there is now less emphasis on this requirement.  They must pay annual dues to their clubs, their Rotary district, and Rotary International, and they’re expected to participate in local or international Rotary club activities or projects.  Clubs encourage members to aspire to club leadership or committee roles. 
 
Most importantly, we should all remember that to be a Rotarian gives us a badge of honour.  We should wear our lapel pins with pride and serve the community we live in and treasure the friendships we forge with our fellow Club Members along the way.
 
Our Club will remain vibrant and strong and our work in the community will be recognized for it’s full worth.
 

Let’s all make a difference