Rotary Club of Strathfield

Website: www.rotarnet.com.au/users/9/96933

Well from a great start of 40 to 42 members attending each week, we seem to have gone off the rails the last few weeks, with attendance dropping to around 34 on average.

Is it the food???? (more on that later).

Is it the meeting procedure or something specific, or are we all just busier as we come to the end of the year??

I’m at a loss, but one continuing problem is the continuing lack of apologies being notified to Eric Khu or very late apologies being received.

This last week we again had to pay the club $60.00 for people not apologising and not attending.

I need to remind you all that UNLESS you are on leave of absence or you advise Eric of your proposed non attendance for a specific period, you are OBLIGED to either attend, apologise by lunchtime Tuesday, or be prepared to pay the next week.

In the current circumstances if we reduce our ordering, we could end up with insufficient meals being provided by the caterer and members not being fed as has also happened recently.

PLEASE accept Peter Douglas has a very difficult and responsible position and he really doesn’t enjoy having to ask for payment from sometimes "recalcitrant" members.

Also on catering, the club have advised that if we remain unsatisfied with the current caterer we may provide our own caterer, subject to some hiring charges, which still require some negotiation.

Keith Stockall is looking at this prospect and also alternative accommodation choices. These matters will be raised at our AGM and club assembly on Dec 4th.

Tonight we very much welcome the members and partners of Burwood and Concord Rotary Clubs to our joint meeting at Strathfield Golf Club.

Tonight’s meeting is specifically to hear from the returning GSE team from Germany lead by President Duncan Berriman from Springwood.

I am sure we can look forward to an excellent presentation and an enjoyable dinner. Due to the combined evening, formalities will be minimised, however George Helou and John Mansour will, I’m sure, have an excellent raffle, including the well known "Mansour quilt" (which I still haven’t won).

On better news (and I needed some after last week’s prang and tennis cancellation) and with apologies to Graham True, the Strathfield Rotary cycle team of Keith and Lill Stockall, Euan Watson, Allan Taylor, Rod McDougall Kevin Freund, Rick Collins and myself completed the full distance (90km) of the "Sydney to the Gong" ride on Sydney.

Fastest rider was "elastic legs" Stockall, closely followed by Euan, with myself bringing up the rear to make sure everyone finished safely.

It was a great day, with big thanks to our driver Shirley and Allan and Kevin providing transport home.

Finally I wish to thank all members present for their attendance and enthusiasm and courtesy for the D.G’s official visit last week.

I think we left a very positive impression with John and Susan, and I especially thank Ray Wilson for his generosity in donating the fruit bowl to Susan Wakefield. Enjoy your free meal this week.

Enjoy tonight, and the rest of your week, and please all Board Members and I would welcome comment about your preferences regarding change of caterer or meeting location.

If you also have concerns regarding the attendance policy please ring me anytime.

Yours in Rotary

Tired but satisfied,

Steve

Peter Douglas,Treasurer,

Last Week’s Recorded On-Time Apologies:

G Hallworth, P Foss, R Horwood, J Watson, E Dutton, P Cipolla, P Harries, G Singh, T Ingall, B Carney, R Collins, F Hadden

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Raffle Winners: 1^st (basket of fruit) Ray Wilson (donated to DG John Wakefield) 2^nd (wine) Bob Templeman 3^rd (dinner tonight) DG John Wakefield (donated to Ray Wilson)!

kkkk

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DG John Wakefield

 

 

 

It was fitting that Linda and Denise Taylor were present, as Susan Wakefield was Linda’s counsellor in 1994 when she was an exchange student in Finland/Sweden.

We heard the District Governor relate that we are ‘the seeds’ to sow the love in 2002, the message from R.I. President Bhichai Rattakul.

John requested that every club have a photographic display of our projects at the District Conference at Homebush Bay, and the winning club of this competition will be given a Paul Harris Fellowship to bestow on a member.

He told us of the 4-Way Speaking Competition in the District, which will have prize money of $1,000 and encouraged us to explore the possibility of raising annual giving. [For the full text of John’s speech, please click

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Rotary Information

 

Roger Vince—"Rotaract"

What is Rotaract?

Rotaract is a program of RI and each Club has been chartered by a local Rotary Club who guide the Club when asked without interfering with their integrity.

The first Club was chartered in North Carolina in 1968.

Like its Parent, a Rotaract club is a service organisation but for men and women aged 18 - 30 and, like Rotary, encourages high ethical standards from its members.

There are more than 7,300 Rotaract Clubs in 153 Countries with a rough count of about 170,000 Rotaractors belonging to these Clubs throughout the world.

Our District 9690 has 5 Clubs with a membership of say 80.

The Rotaract Clubs in our District are Burwood, Gunargarang (Emu Plains/Penrith), Holroyd, Padstow, and Springwood.

[For the full text of Roger’s talk, please click.]

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HAPPY BUCKS

PP Euan Watson bragged on behalf of PDG David Croft about the award we reported in last week’s Bulletin. Once again, David, Congratulations from us all! And we believe Margaret has one or two photos of little Bronte should anyone not have seen them yet…Well done, Margaret.

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Christmas Puddings ‘n Cakes

These are on sale now at the Club, for $10.00 each. Buy up big-time…YUMMY! A commitment sheet will be circulating at the meeting, so grab your chance, now!

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Christmas Raffle

We will soon be starting to sell tickets for this fundraiser, and it would be really appreciated if Members could put their name down to sell tickets at Strathfield Plaza, even for only two hours, up until the raffle is drawn just before Christmas.

You know what they say about ‘many hands making light work’?

If everyone in the Club, and maybe a partner or two, volunteers a couple of hours, it is fairer for all concerned.

Go ahead! It’s quite fun, sitting there and ‘people-watching’!

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Stuff’d Alligator

Two alligators are sitting on the edge of a swamp. The small one turns to the big one and says, "I don't understand how you can be so much bigger than me. We're the same age, we were the same size as kids. I just don't get it."

"Well," says the big alligator, "what have you been eating?"

"Lawyers, same as you," replies the small alligator.

"Hmm. Well, where do you catch'em?"

"Down at that law firm on the edge of the swamp."

"Same Here. Hmm. How do you catch 'em?"

"Well, I crawl under a BMW and wait for someone to unlock the door. Then I jump out, bite 'em, shake the stuffing out of 'em, and eat 'em!"

"Ah!" says the big alligator, "I think I see your problem. See, lawyers are ‘so full of it’ by the time you get done shakin', there's nothing' left but lips and a briefcase."

Goodnight Irene?

There once was a girl named Irene,

Who lived on distilled kerosene,

But she started absorbin'

A new hydrocarbon,

And since then has never benzene.

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Dates for your Diary

Wed. 20 November

Jo Boyce -- "Generic Pharma-ceuticals"

Sat. 23 November

Ashfield Infants Home Picnic & BarBQ

Wed. 27 November

Partners’ Night

Denise Thomas -- "Reflections on Education"

Wed. 4 December

Past Presidents’ Night – Club Elections – Club Assembly -- No guest speaker

Sat. 7 December

Carols by Candlelight

Wed. 11 December

Christmas Party, "Angelo’s on the Bay", Cabarita. 6.30 for 7.00 pm $70.00 per person, includes beer, wine, softdrink

Sat. 21 December

Drawing of Xmas Stocking Winners

Wed. 8 January 2003

Informal Bowls Night

Wed. 15 January 2003

Chinese Meal

Wed. 22 January 2003

Normal Club Meeting

Wed. 29 January 2003

Normal Club Meeting

Thurs. 20 February 2003

Golf Day

Fri. 14 March 2003

Major Fundraiser, Le Montage

Weekend 21-23 March 2003

District Conference, Homebush Bay

Sun. 4 May 2003

Bike Ride

Weekend, 1-4 June 2003

Rotary International Conference, Brisbane

Sun. 22 June 2003

Fun Run

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Last Update Tuesday November 26, 2002