At risk of being thought too pushy, I would like to strongly encourage you all to put the meetings for the next two weeks in your diaries and to make a point of registering for them at the earliest opportunity. These next two meetings are important for the Club, will be interesting to members and we really need a good attendance.

On Wednesday 30 August the speakers will be the Mayor of Strathfield, Councillor Karen Pensabene, and Strathfield Council General Manager, Michael Mamo. As you will know from previous my previous communications, this year I am placing a special emphasis on community engagement. This inevitably involves ensuring we have excellent relations with the Council and requires a good understanding of the Council's own priorities so that the Club can identify how best to complement local initiatives. To this end, I am separately arranging to meet shortly with Karen and Michael together with Community Service Director Nella and Past President Thaya. As a prelude to this meeting, I would very much like to ensure the Club creates a good impression by giving a strong welcome to Karen and Michael.

The following week, on Wednesday 6 September our special visitor will be our District Governor Tonia Barnes. A DG's visit is always an important event in the Club's calendar : it gives the DG an opportunity to meet our members and to get feedback as to how they feel about the Club and Rotary generally. On the other hand, it gives us a chance to demonstrate that the Club is active, vibrant and special. I would very much urge you to come along and give Tonia a warm welcome to our Club.

I cannot pass by the opportunity to mention that this Monday 28 August is the 60^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's monumental "I have a dream" speech. Whilst spoken in a different time and in a different country, Dr King's inspirational words of hope still resonate today and are as relevant in Australia, a land where although many diverse cultures rub along largely peaceably there are still fractures to be mended, as in other parts of the world where the wounds are deeper and less easy to heal. Amidst the breathtaking oratory of the speech, a couple of lines always stand out:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today."

 Let's make sure we continue to do our bit as Rotarians to keep that dream alive.

Best wishes,