Dear Rotarians and friends of Rotary,

Even Presidents need a break once in a while and I lucky enough to spend last week up in far North Queensland with the family. It was a rare opportunity for us to spend time together and we took full advantage, experiencing the delights of the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforest, eating good food, trying in turn not to be eaten by crocodiles and coincidentally, but not unexpectedly, bumping into the Crofts in Port Douglas main street, appropriately close to Rotary Park. The photo is top and bottom of a Rotary welcome sculpture to the town of Kuranda .

I couldn't have chosen a better week to be away from a Rotary perspective ... no, that sounds bad and isn't quite what I meant! What I meant was that since last week's meeting was a 'hybrid' meeting, even though I was not able to attend in person, I could still join and enjoy the proceedings from the comfort of my own computer. I was therefore able to listen to Bradley Ayres' fascinating interview of Ying Ho: her upbringing in China; her family background and arrival at a young age in Australia; her musical education and practice regime (8 hours a day!); her experience of playing at the highest level; most important of all, her advice that students need to learn to love music. Unfortunately, listening remotely, I was not able to hear Ying play, but having heard her in concert previously, I know exactly how lucky those attending in person would have been to experience her recital. So here is an oppotunity to listen to her actual recital (click)  

Thank you and congratulations to Alexey on both leading the meeting and organising the technology for the hybrid meeting (as well as arranging for his mum to join the call!) I was keen to experiment with a hybrid meeting, something which has been regularly suggested as a means of improving accessibility to meetings for members who cannot attend in person. I was particularly delighted, and impressed, to see IPP Andrew attending from a beach in Greece and PDG Jeremy Wright attending from the countryside.  The Board will be reviewing the arrangements to consider if it is worth introducing them on a more regular, or maybe on a selective, basis. My own impression was that the arrangements were indeed functional - I could hear clearly (apart from the music) and participate actively - but there were still some logistical difficulties which prevented it from being a truly rewarding social experience. There are clearly some issues which need ironing out, but generally I thought it was a successful pilot.

However, I would really like to hear from members who were there as to what they really thought of the arrangements: Did it work? How was the interaction between those in the room and those on-line? Could you see and hear those on the other end? How did it affect the social experience of the meeting? Did my Hawaiian shirt interfere with the video communication? Is it something we should persevere with? Please let me have your honest comments. In any event, we are aware that there are still some practical issues that will need ironing out.

I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday evening when we will be hearing about Inner West Neighbour Aid.

Best wishes,

Nick Hamilton-Kane
President
19 September 2023