Presidents Notes

President Usha's Notes

10 March 2021

Dear fellows,

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

William James, Philosopher and "Father of American Psychology (1842-1910)

Many people often feel bemused by this culture of profuse thanking and appreciation in Rotary meetings. This happens notwithstanding the fact that all volunteering and contributions made by people are in the spirit of service and rarely performed with the desire to seek recognition. It takes time, sometimes years to absorb the significant positive footprint of this simple regular ritual of appreciation. And this happens in 35,000 Rotary club meetings worldwide among 1.2 million Rotary members. Let us imagine the impact if we could extend this ritual of appreciation to 7 billion people of the world!

International Women's Day

This week we celebrate International Women's Day (IWD), a day of appreciating the achievements of women in society, politically and economically. The journey to where women are today has neither been easy nor too soon. The roots of this day lie in painful struggles and mass protests to raise awareness of inequality. We have come a long way from 1908 when the first 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote.
IWD was first celebrated in 1911, in many European countries and this year we are celebrating the 110th IWD. Surprisingly, it was only in 1975, that IWD was first declared by the United Nations and only in 1996 that the first theme was adopted (by the UN) which said "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future".
#Choose to Challenge is the theme for IWD 2021. Every individual has the ability and the responsibility to 'call out' gender inequity in every day situations. This can come through voicing dissent or challenging perceptions and bias, including in oneself. When we challenge the status-quo, we start the process of change and then transformation. Through this process women can reclaim their own original person.
Let us all raise our right hand high to show we are in and we choose to challenge inequality.

The idea of this wonderful evening which we have gathered together to celebrate was originally conceived in the fertile mind of a man, none other than our president-elect Thaya Ponniah. However it did not take long for all of us to jump on the bandwagon and our newest member Rtn. Ying Ho passionately took on the onerous responsibility of organising this evening. Thank you team IWD10MARCH21 (P-e Thaya Ponniah, Rtn. Ying Ho, PP Rod McDougall, PP Roy Ellis, Dir. Jan Barrett and Sgt Nick HK) for all your imagination and hard work.

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Rotary International news

The Rotary Award of Honour

This year, on 25th February, Rotary presented the United Nations and its agencies, the WHO and UNICEF, with its highest recognition: The Rotary Award of Honour. Receiving the award on behalf of WHO, Director-General Dr. Tedros tweeted, "Very humbled to receive the Rotary Award of Honour. The world is on the cusp of a historic victory over polio due to the remarkable perseverance of Rotary & other partners, along with communities. Together we will travel the last mile to End Polio". Lessons learned from the Polio programs are now assisting efforts to control COVID19 worldwide.

World Wild Life Day

Last week March 3 was World Wild Life Day. Rotarians all over Australia are helping save endangered species by volunteering and raising funds. Here are some of the wild life stories.

The Rotary Club of Bordertown, South Australia, recently built shelters for Bordertown Wildlife Park's famous mob of white kangaroos.

The Rotary Nest Box Project (ROBIN) has provided more than 5000 nesting boxes to help animals that have lost their nesting hollows in trees through land clearing or fires.

The Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species (RAGES) has projects aimed at helping some of our planet's most threatened animals: rhinos, gorillas, orangutans, and the African and pygmy elephants. Rotary clubs are helping rapidly disappearing hairy nosed wombats at Rocklily Wombats, a wildlife refuge in North West Shelf, Australia.

Rotary District 9675 news

Rotary District 9675 Conference is coming up on 19-21 March at Sydney Masonic Conference and Function Centre, 66 Goulburn St Sydney. Booking details are on the District website. There is an urgent call for Volunteers at the Conference to help meet the COVID19 distancing requirements. If interested, you can register as a volunteer (for $75) for one or more shifts. For more information, go to the district web page.
Many programs that had to be suspended last year are all scheduled to be held this year. Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) is back in 2021 and will be held at the Parliament House with reduced numbers to allow physical distancing. Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment (RYPEN) also returns on the weekend of 7-9 May. Police Officer of the Year will return on the 5th of November 2021. There is much more happening, so check out the district website.

Back to our home base

I take this opportunity to thank members for diligently carrying out the obligations and responsibilities as required for this year and ensuring that we move forward. Many projects and activities are happening and some of them are mentioned here:

Graffiti Removal action comes up on 28th March. As happens every year, PP Peter Smith is co-ordinating the event assisted by PP Rod McDougall. Many Interactors, Rotarians and friends are expected to participate. If you are interested, please contact them for more information.
PP Peter Smith also informs me how the HBHS Interact Club boys are working hard - they will be having their annual World's Greatest Shave, in support of the Leukaemia Foundation on 11 March. Last year they raised in excess $1,000. This year their funds will be boosted by a bucket collection at the previous two Concord Rotary Markets
Vocational Service Director Jan Barrett has a meticulously planned Anzac Day Service coming up on Sunday, 25th April. This will be followed by a delightful breakfast, a rare morning meeting for us. We welcome members of the public to join us in this poignant service and breakfast.
Tentatively, Strathfield Youth Awards have been scheduled for 7th May at Strathfield Town Hall and Rtn. Bradley Ayres and PP Peter Smith will no doubt have their hands full when preparations start for this event. More details would be available soon.
Our grand Strathfield Rotary's 50th Anniversary Dinner and Celebration date is now confirmed for 29th May this year. A great day for our Rotarians to catch up with the members they have not met or heard from for some time. We expect this to be a grand evening and enquiries can be directed to PP Roger Vince.
We are thankful to Strathfield Council for granting permission to hang our 50th Anniversary outdoor banners at strategic locations in Strathfield. With thanks to sponsors PP Roy Ellis. PP Peter Manenti and Rtn. Dominic Alvaro, preparations for the banner are moving rapidly forward.
The Strategic Planning Committee chaired by PP Rick Vosila is continuing with regular meetings and working towards an early draft expected to be circulated in the coming weeks. This will be discussed in the face to face club meeting on 7^th April.
Last week we celebrated Rotary International's 116^th birthday. Many thanks to President-elect Thaya Ponniah for the surprise 116th Birthday Cake. Fancy singing a birthday song for Rotary, yes we did it!
Our International projects with SriLanka, Colombia and India are proceeding smoothly. Last week we shared the zoom meeting with the President and Secretary of the Rotary Club of Fusagasuga, Colombia, with whom we signed and exchanged sister club agreement.
Concord Cancer Survivorship Centre is a place where cancer survivors have access to a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals to support their individual needs following a cancer diagnosis. Last week they received a donation of $3000 from our club.
Wisdom-Connect, a videoconferencing facility in development by two young entrepreneurs received a donation of $2100. This charity project aims to help residents of Aged Care Residential Facilities connect with their loved ones, each other, and the outside world.
This week PP Rod McDougall is attending the P&C meeting at Chalmers Road Public School as a community member, just another example of our service to schools.
In between all these activities, our weekly meetings continue to be interesting with a broad range of speakers organised by our Program Manager, Janelle Watson. And we are grateful to Rtn. Gulian Vaccari who never fails to remind us through his weekly email of the upcoming meeting and what we can expect.
As you are reading this Bulletin and perhaps enjoying the updates, special thanks to Rtn. Bradley Ayres for editing and publishing this important communication channel every week. And by the time this Bulletin reaches you, PP Raymond McCluskie would have completed the web updates - including my blog.
The current pattern of alternate Zoom and in-person meetings will continue for the time being as most members seem to have comfortably settled into this pattern.
Last week we heard from our own Rotarian Ed Dunlop who had missed some meetings as he was busy completing his MBA. Now he has made a great start towards a new career and we wish him well.
This week we raise our right hand and say "WE CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE INEQUALITY" as we celebrate IWD10MARCH21

Usha Garg
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