Wednesday 22 September 2010
The President's Column
Last week: Our guest speaker last week was John Silk, who while he is President of Parkinson’s NSW, spoke to us primarily about his own battle with Parkinson’s disease. John, by his own admission, was having a difficult day with his illness and medication – and could have easily and justifiably begged off his presentation. It was a credit to his sense of obligation that he persevered,
Earlier in the evening I was honoured to induct Naveed Chaudhry
as a member of Strathfield Rotary. Naveed lives and works in Bankstown, is married to Nusrat and has three sons, Shaheryer, Haris and Rafay. Naveed has been appointed to the club’s Community Services committee and has the classification of Solicitor-Immigration. I am sure that all members will make Naveed most welcome. Two new member inductions in consecutive weeks – it doesn’t get any better! A membership evening is being planned for early 2011 – so please give some early consideration as to who you might be able to personally invite as your guest. A brother, a sister, a neighbour, a friend, a work colleague ? They may have just been waiting to be asked!
This week: Our guest speaker this week is Cate Robinson (nee’ Thomson) who is well known to Strathfield Rotary as our candidate, and eventual member, of the GSE team that went to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in May/June 2010. At the conclusion of the GSE trip Cate took the opportunity, as you do, stayed on to make a vocational visit to Iceland – and tonight Cate will talk to us about her experiences in what is no doubt a beautiful, if financially damaged, country.
We will of course be welcoming Cate back again in a few weeks – when she and the GSE Team will visit us to report on their Nova Scotia/Newfoundland trip on 27 October. We have invited the Rotary clubs of Breakfast Point, Burwood and Concord to the meeting – and indications are that it will be a well attended joint meeting.
Meriden Interact: We are also pleased tonight to welcome the Interact committee from Meriden and their coordinator Karinne Bedingfield. Meriden Interact has been actively fundraising and will be in attendance to present Rotary with a BIG cheque for Shelterbox. The students will be introduced by Kevin Beltrame.
BMW Drivers Club BBQ - My thanks to PPs Kevin Freund, Keith Stockall and Grahame True for their efforts, last Sunday, with the barbeque at the BMW Car Show of Excellence at Silverwater Park. While not a roaring financial success (we did okay) it was a good opportunity to fly the Rotary banner. Most of the surplus stock will be put to good use at the forthcoming Spring Fair. The BMW Drivers’ club has indicated that the proceeds from their activities on the day (ie car entry fees, raffle and sponsorship) will be split between the Variety Club and Strathfield Rotary.
Rotary Celebrates Inspirational Women – DG Marilyn Mercer, along with the other seven DGs in NSW, have launched a special Rotary Awards Program to identify and recognise inspirational women in our community. It is expected that each club would nominate a local candidate for consideration for a special District award. The awards will be open to women from the eight Rotary Districts based in NSW. The eight Winners will be presented with their Awards at a special Celebration Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on 10 March 2011. Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith will be attending the Dinner and the Governor General, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce has been invited to attend.
This is a great opportunity for us to attract new women members and to demonstrate the commitment of Rotary in welcoming women as members. Each club would of course invite their nominated women to a club meeting to be recognised by the club. Nominations close on 19/11/2010
Cowboy logic: “Money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail”
Enjoy Rotary, have fun!
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President Pete
