President Peter Smith's Column

Last week: Our guest speaker last week was Cate Robinson who spoke to us about her visit to Iceland, following the GSE Team visit to Nova Scotia, in May this year. Read Ian Johnson’s Speaker Notes (Click)

Cate will be 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. Burwood Rotary have made our evening a “transfer” meeting so we are hopeful of over 20 Burwood members will be able to attend.

Meriden Interact: We are also pleased to welcome the committee of Meriden Interact to the club – Amy Duong (President), Tanya Mankarios (VP) Christine Yangoyan (Secretary) and Salima Jirani (Treasurer). The committee was accompanied by their teacher and Interact Coordinator Ms Karinne Bedingfield. All the girls spoke of their year’s activities which included a wonderful wall mural at Chambers Road School – and of course their tremendous efforts in raising $3,000 to enable the purchase of three Shelter Boxes. I was humbled to accept their cheque on behalf of ShelterBox Australia.

This week: Our guest speaker this week was to be Peter Wilson who was to talk to us about the Rotary Emergency Service Recognition Awards. However, Peter had his own emergency and has had to reluctantly cancel. However, we have rescheduled Peter as our guest speaker on October 20.

So tonight, while unscheduled, will be a fellowship evening – and with some encouragement we may have some voluntary job talks.

Resignation/LOA: Darrell Slater, due to increased work commitments, has had to resign as Club Service Director effective as from 1 October 2010. Darrell will also be on Leave of Absence until 31 December for the same reason. He has the club speaker and activity program well advanced – in fact except for some short term problems the calendar is booked right up until 31 March. Darrell has done a great job in the short time he has been a Director and his energy and expertise will be enormously missed. While Darrell will be on LOA for some 3 months he does hope to attend our meetings from time to time.

Pakistan - Overseas Disaster Resources: Sharon Bond, our ADG, has advised that Overseas Disaster Resources (who are well known to both Padstow and Revesby Wirrimbirra clubs through their recycled shoes/clothing program) are sending disaster relief containers to Pakistan.

ODR are a well respected agency who operate out of a complex in Mascot which was donated by Sydney City Council, they work closely with Qantas and use storage facilities provided a Parramatta Goal.

With the help of a government grant and sponsorship from several multinational companies Disaster Resources has already sent five containers – and is looking for finance to be able to send one more. The shipping and associated cost of each container is $4,000.

Our Zone (Burwood, Concord, Breakfast Point, Padstow and Revesby Wirrimbirra) has been asked to join together and sponsor a container as a joint project. So far Burwood, Concord and Revesby have indicated that they will contribute either $500 or $1,000 depending on their club size.

We have been challenged to match their contribution.

Cowboy logic: “Doing nothing is very hard to do, because you never know when your finished”

President Pete