Perth Rotary Newsletter | 3 October 2022

Posted on Oct 04, 2022
Club Assembly
 
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent of a species that survives…. It is the one most adaptable to change”. This is a quote from a chap by the name of Charles Darwin – it is one of my favourite quotes.
 
 
Change is happening all around us and is escalating. We all need to be aware of this and ride the wave, not end up in the surf or on the rocks, so to speak to use a beach analogy. The Perth Rotary Club is a fantastic organisation because of the people who are or have been part of it. We hope and are dedicated that this will continue. We have a very big celebration in only a few short years, albeit a Century Celebration!
 
PRC had a great attendance at the Club Assembly held on 30/9 to see how we can engage in the community and increase member attendance at our meetings. Thank you to those members who attended and also to those who sent their feedback prior to the Club Assembly, or called me with feedback, which was greatly appreciated.
 
Firstly, we worked through the Challenges being faced – as Rotarians, and attending meetings. It was important to acknowledge that we are all very different, with varying constraints on our time, our interests and passions and how these fit with Rotary and that we all would prefer different meeting times.
 
We then spent time acknowledging the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats that the club and members are facing, by undertaking a SWOT analysis – this is a well proven tool to ascertain issues, to acknowledge the issues and to develop strategies to turn them into Opportunities.
 
We then worked on several questions in a World Café process – this is where participants brainstorm a particular question and then work on another question. Due to time constraints, the scribes moved instead of the people at the tables and we then brainstormed on another question. The results providing us with interesting feedback, the expansion of opportunities which go deeper and broader than normal basic brainstorming.  These results will be shared in an email with Members later this week.
 
The questions we considered gave us all the opportunity to reflect and share our ideas and suggestions about how to engage more into the future.  The responses will form the basis of a survey that will go to members in the next week or so – Rotarian Lisa Kazalac has kindly agreed to assist with this survey. Please watch your email inbox and respond.
 
I would like to offer my significant and very special thanks to our scribes, PE Linken Fragomeli, PDG Jon Bilson and our newest PRC member, Susie Staton who were able to capture the feedback from those present in a succinct yet respectful way. This was the first time some of these Rotarians had done this type of thing and they were outstanding. I am very grateful for their adaptability, dedication to a new process, and their commitment.
 
All in all it was a pleasure to be involved – thank you everyone for your dedication and commitment with a sprinkling of humour which always helps.
 
We scooted through what would normally take 3-4 hours in approximately 90 minutes and your dedication and enthusiasm made it both appealing and very worthwhile.
 
NOW…. We will endeavour to capture the feedback and share with you, then complete the survey and move forward, being directed by the Members – that is all of you.
 
We will do a budget on what we can achieve and allocate some resources- we will need YOUR HELP to connect, collaborate and inspire our members and the community. Imagine the possibilities !
 
Thank you. President Maree Gooch
 
June Oscar AO
A number of Perth Rotary Club members attended a very moving Sir Wallace Kyle Oration from Commissioner June Oscar AO on 23 August, 2022.
The actual transcript for Commissioner June Oscar AO’s Oration has been forwarded by the McCusker Centre and is now available at the link below:
 
On behalf of Perth Rotary Club, we are thrilled to continue our association with the McCusker Centre.  Special thanks again go to PP Ted Wilhelm for his ongoing support and project management which made it a wonderful event for all.
 
 
 
Shelter Box Initiative
A donation of $1,000 will help an extended of family 10 look after themselves for up to 3 months. If you can get 10 of your friends to put in $100 each, you would have achieved that. Families affected by the floods are relying on our word-of-mouth assistance as well.
 
From Wes Sims - here's an brief update from the ShelterBox Response Team on-site while I'm writing this email:
To find out more about ShelterBox:
 
 
 Yours in Rotary
Maree Gooch
President | Perth Rotary 2022/23
 
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This Week:

Friday 7 October | Leonora Flower, Guide Dog WA Information Session 

 
Next Week:
 
Friday 14 October | Perth Rotary AGM & Club Meeting 
 
 

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Regionalisation Pilot Project | 96% of D9455 voted YES for the Regionalisation Project.  More info to come in due course. 
 
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Rotarians overseas....Don & Maxine are currently on a fabulous overseas holiday.  This week they caught up with 2018/19 RYE Student - Chiara Colombo.  Chiara is thriving and sends all Perth Rotarians and D9455 friends her very best wishes.  Don and Maxine will also catch up with Gaelle Peigneux (2013/14 RYE) a little later in their travels.   Below is a snapshot of Don & Chiara along with a few throwback photos of when Chiara was here on exchange.   The RYE program will be up and running and again in 2023, more information is copied below from the District webpage. 
 
 
 

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE)                                                                                                         

The RYE Program is reopening on 1/7/2022. In D9455 Inbound Students will arrive in July 2023 and Outbound Students depart in January 2024 after suspension due to COVID. Expressions of interest may be registered through the RYEA Website or local Rotary Club.
 
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program provides for the selection and sponsorship of students in the 15 -18 year age group to travel to another country to spend twelve months attending a secondary school and living with host families in that country.  Rotary Youth Exchange students must be at least 15 years and have not yet turned 19 years on the date of departure from Australia which is generally mid-January of each year.
 

Eligibility:

  1. Rotary Youth Exchange students must be  between the ages of 15 and 18 years as of  1 January of the year of departure from Australia.
  2. Applicants must have above average academic ability and must have an outgoing and pleasant personality to fit them for the role as an Ambassador for Australia. They must have the ability to accept discipline and be capable of adjusting to new and strange conditions.
  3. Applicants must be of good character and reputation.
  4. Sons and daughters of Rotarians are eligible for Youth Exchange but receive no special preference in selection. All applicants are selected solely on merit.

Cost:

All exchange students on the School Year Youth Exchange program will be required to pay a fee of approximately AUD$6,800 (Figure subject to air fare confirmation). This fee has been carefully worked out to give maximum benefit to the majority of students involved and to make the administration of the program easier.

The fee will cover the following aspects of the exchange;

  • Air fare
  • Visa costs
  • Business cards and group photograph
  • Briefing sessions both before and on return from exchange
  • Group clothing items and accessories
  • Insurance
  • Youth Exchange medallion and certificate presented upon return at Rebound De-Briefing meeting

This fee is payable as follows:

  • Upon receipt of letter of acceptance from District Committee: $1,000
  • Balance due 30th September: $5,800
  • Total: $6,800
Deadline for application:  Applications must be submitted to the nearest Rotary Club by 31st March in the year prior to exchange.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware that the total cost of the overseas exchange could potentially be upwards of AUD$12,000, but can vary significantly depending on spending preferences and exchange rates. This potential total cost includes optional Rotary travel and personal expenses.

 
The WA RYE web site is http://www.youthexchange.asn.au/
RYE Australia web site http://www.ryea.org.au/
 
Chair: David Cleary (Perth City East)  
 
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Upcoming dates for your Diary: