Last week's meeting

We give thanks for the worldwide fellowship of Rotary, good food and friendship.
May we fulfil our Creed and place Service above Self in our daily endeavours.
That was the Invocation suggested by James & Merv for our consideration and repeated this morning.
President Bernie was in the Chair in a slightly removed room at our venue.  She again welcomed Ana Carolina and her desire to become a member shortly.
 
Past Governor Alan Still proposed the first of our Toasts to an Australian Rotary Club - which will be a feature of our meeting on the first Tuesday of the month.  The International Toast will he given on the third Tuesday.  So we were introduced to the Rotary Club of Sandringham, Victoria - the home of Immediate Past World President, Ian Risely.
 
President Bernie then announced:
  • The Official Visit by our District Governor, Wendy Protheroe will be next Tuesday, come along and meet her.  More details here
  • We are encouraged to hold a Rotary Day sometime this year in order to promote Rotary and our club to the community - see this brochure for details
  • Ken O’Connell has passed away - he was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2017 (see here).  Those attending his funeral are encouraged to wear their Rotary shirt.
  • Mark McArdle MP's 2018 Community Awards - details here
  • National Tree Day planting 29 July - see Roger Todd for details
  • A team needs to be assembled for the Calpac debate - Deb Taylor to email details
  • BBQ roster next week
  • RYDA days next week
 
 
The meeting was then handed over to Megyn for our Open Forum on the following topics:
  • There will be a 'Toast to Australia' or a 'Toast to Australia and her People' proposed at every meeting
  • The International Toast will be proposed on the third Tuesday, and on the first Tuesday there will be a Toast proposed to an Australian Rotary Club
  • The meeting schedule will take the form of:
    • 1st Tuesday     Speaker
    • 2nd Tuesday   Open Forum
    • 3rd Tuesday   Speaker
    • 4th Tuesday    Speaker
    • 5th Tuesday    Vocational Visit
  • The optimal size of the club was suggested as 45 with a target for new members aged 45 up to pre-retirement 60
  • The new membership fee and unchanged meeting charges was agreed
  • Some 'internal' fundraising was proposed most likely around social gatherings with the first being Arnaldo's International Dinner in September
  • A new invocation is to be agreed to replace 'Rotary Grace'.
Megyn's summary may be downloaded here.
Reports by Directors included:
  • Genta - Japanese Festival: needing volunteers to sell raffle tickets to raise funds for Japanese flood relief; $500 donation agreed
  • James - needs one more volunteer for the morning and afternoon shifts on 25 August
  • Neville re RYDA days 25-26 August: more volunteers needed
  • Ian Belcher - new roster details here
  • Roger - National Tree Day see Roger Todd for details
  • Judy - Chloé Mear, our incoming Rotary Youth Exchange student from France arrives at Brisbane international airport on the 17 July at 5.40 pm
  • Judy - Morning Glory High Tea at Pelican Waters Tavern next Tuesday - details here
The meeting concluded with a Heads and Tails session with the house winning!