Rae Guyder is a member of the Rotary Club of Bribie Island and is the Rotary District 9600 Chair for Interplast.
Interplast sends teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to provide life-changing surgery and medical training in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region.
Interplast does this in partnership with local organisations, including hospitals, universities and local NGOs. Its mission is to ‘repair bodies and rebuild lives’ and Interplast does this through providing surgical services to those who could not otherwise afford or access these, and by building the capacity of local medical systems through our training and mentoring programs.
One hundred thirteen years ago this month, the four members of Rotary’s first club held their first meeting. Although no minutes were kept, it’s unlikely anyone talked about service; the club did not begin focusing on the needs of the community for another few years.
The meeting was held not in a hotel or a restaurant, but in a member’s office; there were, so far as we know, no agendas or announcements, no committee reports, speakers, or nametags. The meeting would have failed today’s usual standards for a productive Rotary meeting most resoundingly. It was, of course, the most productive Rotary meeting ever held.
Conflict and violence displace millions of people each year. Half of those killed in conflict are children, and 90 percent are civilians.
Rotarians refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
Through our service projects, peace fellowships, and scholarships, our members are taking action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
Through academic training, study, and practice the Rotary Peace Centres program develops leaders who become catalysts for peace and conflict prevention and resolution in their communities and around the globe. Graduates of the program are reintegrating refugees in Sudan, creating jobs for disadvantaged women in India, and supporting reconstruction in devastated regions of the world.
Peter in fact sent his apologies from Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. Since most of us had a nice relaxing holiday over the Christmas period, some (including Peter) in the hospitality, service and retail industries worked their butts off. So it's Peter's time for his holiday. Narelle and he will return in a few weeks after a circumnavigation of Tasmania.
Ahead of his Indian touring adventure, Ian Belcher took the chair in his new shirt and in a very accomplished manner.
PDG Alan Still OAM took us to France, specifically to the Rotary Club of Lannion, France in District 1650 where our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Jess is based.
We welcomed Honorary Members Alf, Keith & Jan (for the last time this trip) and took other apologies; Gordon reported that Norm does not appear well.
President-in-waiting Bernie covered a number of matters in her report - a successful Australia Day BBQ at Gerry's (see the photos here, or later in this bulletin), application has been made for a Rotary Youth Exchange student from France or Japan, and snippets from The Rotarian which prompted Gordon to relay his experience being detained in the UK for six months because he had lost his passport.
Rotary e-clubs are not 'virtual' Rotary clubs. They are real Rotary clubs comprised of real living, breathing, working Rotarians doing real Rotary projects. E-clubs simply use the Internet as a tool to manage the club and manage projects. Use of the word "virtual" in the Rotary context is deemed to be inappropriate, because Rotary works in the real world, not in the virtual world. A Rotary e-club is part of the real world of Rotary International.
A pure Rotary e-club conducts 100% of its Rotary business on the Internet. Typically, members have one face-to-face dinner meeting per year, usually at the RI Convention. Members are likely to come from a wide geographic area which may be global. Rotary service is undertaken in the community where a member lives, or groups of members collaborate and work together as teams on service projects in needy communities where no member resides. Rotary E-Club One is a good example of a pure Rotary E-club.
When Rotary E-Club One received its charter on 4 January 2002, the Board of Directors of RI prescribed 5 key goals, all of which now apply to every Rotary e-club:
Use the Internet to retain Rotarians who would otherwise be lost to Rotary.
Use the Internet to attract new Rotarians.
Use the Internet to facilitate meetings.
Use the Internet to manage service projects.
Use the Internet for fellowship by creating a friendly community of like-minded Rotarians.
A hybrid Rotary e-club conducts most of its Rotary business on the Internet, but meets face-to-face once a month for a dinner meeting. A hybrid Rotary e-club is a good option when all the members live within a relatively compact geographic area that enables them to travel to the monthly face-to-face meeting. Rotary service projects are undertaken within the geographic area and beyond. Rotary E-Club of 3310 Singapore is a good example of a hybrid Rotary E-club.
In some cases, a common cause is the catalyst for a Rotary eClub : the Rotary E-Club of World Peace was established bringing together leaders to take the achievements of the Rotary World Peace Conference 2016 - read more
Every Rotary club may be an E, Hybrid E, or a Traditional club
Following the 2016 Council on Legislation, the Standard Rotary Club Constitution (which every Rotary club must adopt, including e-clubs) was amended to allow for:
Regular meetings once each week as set out in the bylaws
Attendance may be in person, through an online meeting, or using an online connection
Alternatively, a club shall hold a meeting once each week ... by posting an interactive activity on the club’s website.
Importantly, the Constitution allows the club to amend this clause (and certain other clauses) but a club must meet at least twice per month.
The impact is to give clubs a great deal of leeway in how they structure themselves to fill the purpose of a Rotary Club - which is now stated as:
The purpose of this club is to pursue the Object of Rotary, carry out successful service projects based on the Five Avenues of Service, contribute to the advancement of Rotary by strengthening membership, support The Rotary Foundation, and develop leaders beyond the club level.
This club's Constitution and Bylaws are being reviewed with a view to adoption by club members in the near future.
We are again looking for volunteers to help setup and assist in the running of another two successful RYDA days preparing our young people for life on the roads.
Separate invitation emails have been sent; if you have not yet registered, please use the links below:
Rotary’s strategic plan provides the framework for our future, ensuring that we continue to be known as a respected, dynamic organisation that advances communities worldwide.
The strategic plan evolves with the aspirations of Rotarians. It is shaped by regular input from members through surveys, focus groups, committees, and meetings, so it can continue to help us achieve our goals.
In June, Rotary’s Board of Directors and Trustees approved a new vision statement for the organisation:
“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
The new vision statement helps us set a future course so that Rotary can thrive in the years ahead. It reflects the impact Rotary aspires to have on the world and our members.
Rotary is developing a plan for implementing the new strategic plan this year.
Are you considering going to the 2018 Rotary Convention in Toronto, 23-27 June? With an expected attendance of more than 20,000 members from around the world, this convention promises to inspire and enlighten.
Get the most out of your convention experience by attending our general sessions, where you'll hear outstanding speakers from around the world, or engage in stimulating breakout sessions to learn new skills and exchange ideas with your peers.
If you haven't registered yet, be sure to check out this year's program and the Host Organization Committee's exciting events.
We are again looking for volunteers to help setup and assist in the running of another two successful RYDA days preparing our young people for life on the roads. 
