Wednesday 15 September 2010
The President's Column
Last week: At our meeting last week we not only had a great guest speaker in Dr. Helena Popovic, but the club had the opportunity of welcoming our newest member, Chris Virgona.
Helena, who was School Captain of Meriden and a Rotary Exchange Student to Japan, proved to be an inspiring and an unforgettable speaker.
I was honoured to be able to induct Chris Virgona as a member of Strathfield Rotary. Chris lives and works locally, is married to Toni and has three daughters, Natalie, Lucy and Isabel. Chris has been appointed to the club’s Community Services committee and has the classification of Real Estate Management. I am sure that all members will make Chris most welcome.
This week: Our guest speakers this week are Dick Babb and Alex Borey from the Parkinson’s Support Group. Members will recall that Parkinson’s NSW are the Presidents nominated charity for 2010-2011. Tonight’s presentation will, I am sure, not only demonstrate how we can best help but why we should!
Australian Rotary Conference
I wrote recently of how much I enjoyed the recent Australian Rotary Conference in Canberra. The organisers have now produced the “bullet” points that came out of the 500 strong breakout/brain-storming sessions. As the bullet points are rather lengthy (in number) I will spread the report over the next couple of Newsletters.
How can we Increase the Number of Women in Rotary?
· Run a National promotion that debunks the myth that women can’t join or are unwelcome in Rotary
· Promote that Rotary is gender inclusive.
· Promote Rotary membership for women with a special brochure. Target women’s gyms and professions that are dominated by women.
· Plan a Club or Cluster group meeting focusing on membership for women.
· Celebrate 21 years of Women in Rotary with special dinners run by Rotary women members for women
· Promote Rotary through existing women members.
· Aim to bring new women members in to Clubs in small groups so they have some female company.
· Eliminate blokey inappropriate commentary.
· Target to have an attitude that we need to focus on addressing that we have 27,000 male Rotarians and only 6000 female Rotarians. Increasing our women’s membership levels could arrest the erosion of membership levels.
Celebrating Rotary on National basis in February each Year
· Create a unique theme that will identify Rotary on one day each year like – Red Nose Day – Daffodil Day
· Have a national fundraising collection on that day.
· Celebrate Rotary for a week in February so that all Club meetings can have some kind of event.
· Invite friends and family to Rotary that week.
· Wear a Rotary shirt or blouse to work.
· Present a book to every child born in Australia on the 23rd of February.
· Every Rotarian paint their little finger blue at the beginning of February and collect $1 every one who asks “what happened to your nail” – donate the money to ending Polio.
· Create a Rotary Postage stamp.
· Promote Rotary via Social Media.
Cowboy logic 4: “The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every morning”
Enjoy Rotary, have fun!
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President Pete