The President's Report

It was great to get together again in person for our first meeting of the year.

Our guest speaker Chin Wong, Chairperson of the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) gave us an interesting insight into the multicultural scheme in Canberra.

As I mentioned at the meeting, the Commonwealth Club is increasing the cost of meals from $30 to $35 and at our next board meeting we will have to decide what we are going to charge members for each meeting.

I would like all members to give some thought into how much help they can provide for the Peace Walk in March. We will need approximately 12 helpers both days. This event could give the Club much needed income which will be based on the number of helpers we provide.

Our next Board meeting will be held on the 10th of February and we need as many board members as possible to attend as we have several important matters to resolve.

Do not forget that next Thursday the 4th will be a ZOOM meeting with Terry Newman in China and should be very interesting. Be careful with the questions you ask Terry , remember we are dealing with China.

President Eric

Peace Project

A Peace Bell guide training was conducted on Saturday 30th January. We are seeking additional guides who would be prepared to conduct tours for schools taking them through Lennox Gardens to the Peace Bell. Notes and suggested comments are provided. Those that have conducted tours express great satisfaction from having conducted the tours. It is really a relaxed stroll through the park chatting to the students, hopefully they also learn something as well.

Sadly on Saturday there was a ringing to remember Stephanie Goulstone. Stephanie was the lady who created the ringing on Human Rights Day remembering those killed  through domestic violence in Australia. She was a member of Zonta and was the prime mover for the three years of ringing events at the bell. Sadly she passed away a few weeks ago.

Vocational Services

The committee is planning an Excellence in Vocation Awards Presentation - do you know a business person who goes the extra mile and deserves recognition? Please speak to or email Olek Gancarz: gancom@gmail.com

Social Activities

• A successful Fish and Chips Meeting was held at the Snapper, Yarralumla SC Yacht Club

(21 January).

 

• Sharon Green hosted an entertaining Rotary Women's Pasta Making Class (24 January)

Last Week's Meeting (Thursday, Jan. 28th)

Our guest speaker was Chin Wong, Chairperson of the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum. The CMCF was founded in 2006 and has representatives from 120 multicultural groups. It acts as an advocate for these groups and promotes cultural diversity in the ACT. Ms. Wong said that her organisation would like to work with our Rotary club to help recent arrivals to Australia in the area of enterprise. “Rotary Means Business” may be one way to network with CMCF.

This week will be a Zoom meeting

. Speaker: Terry Newman, life member, who will be speaking to us from China

  Topic: Experiences of working and living in China

  Zoom link:

     Here is the Zoom link for this week's Rotary meeting. Please note this is a new link number so do  not use old numbers as they will not work.

The link will be open from 12 noon to allow chat before the meeting begins at 12.30PM.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82168570619

Meeting ID: 821 6857 0619

One tap mobile

+61370182005,,82168570619# Australia
+61731853730,,82168570619# Australia

Duty Roster: None assigned as this is a ZOOM meeting

Other Upcoming Events

Welcome back to our New Year, new energy, new projects and new spirit!.

Whilst we are still very restricted in our activities due to the Virus, we can plan ahead with some confidence while we wait for our vaccinations.

Many plans are scheduled or in the pipeline particularly :

• Rotary Aussie Peace March (26-28 March)

• STOMP 2021 (probably in July)

• Marwonga Indigenous project as a result of successful fundraising in December,

• Hay War Memorial High School indigenous students visit (later this year)

• Peace Bell bookings which are currently flooding in.

On the Lighter Side

A few reality checks, mainly for "those of a certain age" :

To me "drink responsibly"  means don't spill it.

Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9.00 pm is the new midnight.

The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

When you ask me what I am doing today and I say "nothing" it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

I finally got eight hours sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.

I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

When I ask for directions, please don't use words like "east".

My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.