Incoming President’s address for the 2018–19 year
Good evening and welcome Past District Governor John Lane and his partner Bo Morse, Assistant District Governor Wendy Gilson, Guest Speaker Mark Skinner and his partner Bev, fellow Rotarians, invited guests, friends and our families.
Firstly I would like to congratulate now Past President Peter Davis for a wonderful year in which he has steered the Club with the help of his Board into the IT world with the introduction of ClubRunner, an EFTPOS machine which is becoming quite popular at our Bunnings BBQ’s and useful at our meetings. Our constitution is still under review and should be finalized in coming months. Our members are coming forth with many innovative ideas to help with fundraising so that we can return these funds back into the Community not only here in Caloundra but the District of 9600 which takes in Papua, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Many thanks to you Peter it has been an honour serving with you on your Board.
I would like to give you an overview of what I have in plan to try to achieve during my year.
I am very proud and privileged to be standing here tonight and speaking to you.
My intention for the coming year is to cover as many aspects as possible in building an association and helping the youth of this beautiful City of Caloundra and also the youth in Remote areas in the district of 9600.
Our youth today are the leaders of tomorrow and Rotary has many Programs that can help steer young people to make decisions on what professional pathway they would like to continue. This would entail contacting our local schools and promoting the National Youth Science Forum, Conoco Phillips Science Experience, Youth Exchange Program, RYDA the Driver Training Program, Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment, Interact which involves the High School youth, Earlyact involving the Primary youth and Rotaract involving young adults. Our Club, along with the support of the Rotary Club of Caloundra Pacific, is sponsoring an Exchange Student from France, her name is Chloe Mear. Chloe will be arriving on our shores mid July and I ask every member to help make her time here as family focused as possible. Your support during her stay will make long lasting memories long into the future.
I would also like to have involvement with the Local Primary Schools in providing a Breakfast at least once a fortnight. We have seen in the past and this is still happening that many children who attend school attend without having breakfast. I will have more information on this in the near future however I will need your support as members to make this happen.
I have plans to coordinate with fellow Rotary Clubs in remote areas to initiate a week’s holiday on the Coast for the underprivileged children or children from properties whose families who do not have the means or wherewithal to have a holiday. I am hoping that with my Board and the Club cooperation that this can be achieved. However I will need your support and input to achieve this.
The Learn to Swim Program is gaining momentum and we are hoping that this will be in place for the coming Summer season.
A Photography Competition for the Children of Caloundra Community to enter is being organized. Through these initiatives instrumented by Chris Rees the Club has won a Total of $1,000 from Freedom Communities, Arts and Culture Grant - to go towards the fundraising.
Fundraising will be ongoing and our Major events will be the Hat Day, raising funds for Mental Health later in the year, which is vital in present day. Our spectacular St Patrick’s Day Golf Day in March next year, the funds raised will go into helping our youth. One of our Recipients being the Board Meeting, Surf Charity, Mark Skinner who is our Guest speaker tonight represents this Charity. Our Bunnings BBQ’s which has been ongoing for some years thanks to our stalwart team members. We have more fundraising ideas on the Board that will come into fruition during the year.
If it had not been for my husband Ron introducing me again to Rotary all those years ago and together we would have not had the experience of hosting the students in the Youth exchange program and meeting and caring for four wonderful girls from different parts of the world. Meeting some absolutely wonderful and caring people who have become lifetime family not just friends and sharing the wonderful world of Rotary. Thank you to my family for cooperating and sometimes joining me on my Rotary journey. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Caloundra for inviting me to join this very happy and vibrant club and I am looking forward to this coming year knowing that I have your full support in working together for the benefit of our Community and the future success of the Rotary Club of Caloundra
Bernadette Strong PHF
President
Rotary Club of Caloundra
I would like to take this opportunity to Introduce my board for the coming 2018-19 year.
President Elect – Christopher Rees
Secretary – Sue Robinson
Treasurer – Deb Taylor
Immediate Past President – Peter Davis
Membership Director – Christopher Rees
Rotary Foundation Director – Mark Ward
Public Image Director – Les Walsh
Projects (Community Service) Director – James Condon
Youth Service – Judy Clark
Vocational Director – Darryl Laing
Program Director – Megyn Carpenter
International Service Director – Genta Tsukimori
Welfare Director – Pam Snyman
Sergeant at Arms – Merv Paddison
Assistant Secretary – Anne Boland
Assistant Treasurer – Mark Ward
Assistant Public Image – Roger Todd
Assistant Welfare Director – Anne Boland