An email has been sent to seek your approval to go to the next stage of discussions on the possible Merger of both Clubs. So far I have received 10 yes responses to go forward and 2 nos. Please respond to my email with your answer.

 

On Thursday I attended a meeting with Peter McDermitt, Gary Davis (Rotary Community Leader) and David Kenny (Regional Council Member for New Club Membership in Australia) based in Brisbane. David is an expert on how clubs could improve their membership and he gave a message that by engaging with the community this would allow the club to obtain a new member profile. This is what we can consider in the new year as a club merger is only delaying the decline in our membership profile.

 

We had 12 Members who came to the barbeque and we had a range of meats, salads and desserts for a lovely evening. Fortunately, it remained warm and everyone could relax and enjoy each other’s company.

 

There was a white Men’s hat left behind for the person who may have forgotten to take this with them.

 

The total cost to the club was $176.28.

 

We will meet at the normal time for a meeting at 12.30 at the Golf Club. The Speaker will be Peter Hoskin on Biera Patrol. Peter is Ex Australian and British Naval Officer and this will be the story of blocking oil to the then nation of Rhodesia in the 1960’s.

 

The new year brings the options of a merger and some new initiatives to increase our membership by Bill.

 

We will meet at the normal time of 12.30 pm on Thursday, 6 February, to hear from Peter Hoskin on “Biera Patrol”. Peter is ex-Australian and British Navy and this will be the story of blocking oil to the then nation of Rhodesia in the 1960’s.

 

To see the program of future meetings, visit: Rotary activities Spreadsheet.

 

As the Duty Roster is not needed under our current meeting arrangements, I will no longer be preparing it.

 

A very moving ceremony conducted on Tuesday, 10 December, starting at 7am, by the Zonta Canberra Breakfast Club. The purpose of the ceremony was to strike the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell once for each woman killed in Australia this year through domestic violence. Sadly, the bell was struck 79 times with each woman’s first name and age read to those gathered. 10 December is the United Nations Human Rights Day and concluded 16 days of action to say No to Violence against women.

 

The Peace Bell was also struck on behalf of indigenous women, New Zealand women, children and men killed through domestic violence. Sadly, more women were notified as having being killed through domestic violence on the day of the ceremony. When will this violence stop?

 

The Canberra choir “Rhythm Syndicate” sang to open and close the ceremony. Their last song “Bridge over troubled waters” seemed a very fitting way to complete the ceremony.

 

The Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin was very happy to assist the Zonta Canberra Breakfast Club in conducting this ceremony.