Our travelling pharmacist President was seen working in Cooroy and tells us it's a long term gig!  So the pressure is on President Elect Bernie to keep us moving forward - and she did just that fresh from her visit to Japan.  On that subject, apparently there is more to tell so come along next Tuesday.  She is also coping with her ill mother, so keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
 
Bernie reminded us about District Assembly training on 27 May and encouraged all club officers and interested members to attend.  It was highly recommended also by Gerry so REGISTER NOW please.
 
We have also been informed by the University of the Sunshine Coast that the club's name is going up on their Donor Recognition Wall acknowledging our financial support over the years.
Sergeant Major Arnaldo was the Chair of the meeting and did he carry out his duties with great alacrity!  We almost finished early too!  Without a Guest Speaker, a number of members took the opportunity to bring us up to date with current projects and events.  This will be a feature of our future meeting schedule (may be with time for active discussion?) so as to give proper time to planning, brainstorming, and executing our projects,  In fact, next Tuesday is another opportunity as we do not have a scheduled speaker.
Arnaldo & Bernie welcomed our visitors Vicki Kadnikoff & her sister Lara.  Vicki is looking to help us and will be with us again next week.
 
Past District Governor Alan Still OAM (now that is formal isn't it, but he's getting used to it) proposed our International Toast to a Rotary club in France.  His French pronunciation was commendable but the toast was to the Rotary Club of Amiens, Somme.
 
Noel Begley took advantage of a very full three minutes to tells us a lot about his life in Rotary and his nomadic membership dictated by work relocation.  We thought his membership dated only from 1996 but he told us that prior to that he joined in 1990 at Stones Corner, moved to Auckland for a couple of years, then returned to Stones Corner, and in 1996 to Keilor East, Victoria for a couple of years.  Back to Stones Corner until he retired in 2005 and moved to Caloundra.  In his usual style, Noel slipped into a bit of poetry from his closing days at one of his clubs.  Poetry in Motion!
 
Chris Rees took the floor and updated us on:
 
  • Membership Survey - your last chance to complete the survey has arrived: Download the form here
  • Rotary Peace Garden project - the indicative plans have been finalised and submitted to Council via Cr Dwyer.  This is a $50,000 or so project on public land, so it is vital to have Council on side and to raise the funds to complete the various stages.  Genta added that six Japanese Rotary clubs are keen to assist and he will update us more next week.  Learn more here
  • Swimming Scholarships - a project to teach 3-7 year olds how to swim where financial hardship is a barrier; planning is underway with the John Wallace Swim School (JWSS).  Our objective is to engage with parents who want their child to swim but the ongoing cost is prohibitive to enable the child to become proficient.  Our scheme provides another option to get children swimming and be coached by experts at JWSS.  The cost is estimated at a maximum of $440 a month.  Learn more
  • Photo Competition - a project for 7-15 year old children to upload their favourite nature/environmental photos in a competition that will cost $20 per four photos.  250 entries would raise $5,000 and we can expect 1,000 photos to judge.  Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each category, so a total of 18 prizes for which sponsorship will be sought.  An embryonic project that is coming together nicely.
He was followed by:
 
  • Alan Still talking about the history of Women in Rotary (prompted by Noel's talk) and on PALZ - Professionals with Alzheimer's about which you can learn more here.  If you are interested in starting a group in Caloundra, PALZ would love to hear from you!
  • Pam Snyman encouraged us to attend the joint Rotary and the University of the Sunshine Coast dinner on Wednesday 23 May - more information and registration information here.  Our meeting on 22 May has been cancelled so you can attend.
  • Pam also reminded us that Deb is collecting prizes for the raffle on the night that we are conducting.
Gerry Swan - fresh from a weekend of very successful Bunnings BBQs - told us about:
 
  • A BBQ to celebrate the re-branding of the Golden Beach Pharmacy to Star Discount Chemists is being held on Thursday 10 May 10.15 for 11am to 1pm; details here
  • At Rotary Park, Duck Holes Creek on 31 May at 10.30am Unitywater will be celebrating the community artwork project that is underway on the newly built sewage pump station.  A good Rotary presence would be appreciated given the location at Rotary Park.  Let us know you plan to attend
  • The worth of attending District Assembly (see above)
Genta gave us the good news about support from Japanese Rotary clubs for our Peace Garden (see above) - come along next week for the next instalment.
 
Sergeant Deb got an early gig competing with the boys setting up the next event and later told us a little more about the planned picnic for Teddy Bears.  We need to get that into our calendar but are awaiting a lot more information.
 
Meghan exhorted us to attend our meeting on Tuesday 15 May wearing our best tiara - and Graham offered to loan her one of his; Meghan already has one so we are sure to hear more of the plans for the day from her.  Oh by the way, the occasion is to celebrate that Royal Wedding a few days after our meeting.
 
The aforementioned kerfuffle was Roger and Mark trying to get River's maiden TV appearance at Roger's Lighthouse up and running so we all could be amused and enlightened.  We were!  You may view it here