ROTARY OF PERTH PRESIDENT-ELECT UPDATE - 21ST NOVEMBER 2017
Neurogastronomy. A new word for me. What were we to expect for lunch this week? A science teacher speaking at lunch? (Alright... not a science teacher but a science communicator... but my teacher from decades ago would have considered himself a communicator too!) Will I have to do any homework after this? ..............
 
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ROTARY OF PERTH PRESIDENT UPDATE - 21ST NOVEMBER 2017
It looks like I’ve missed out on a great guest speaker! I was unfortunately away on travels for work but am back this week! And what a busy week it will be!
 
This week at lunch we’ll be formally welcoming back a former member of our Club who has been overseas for
the past five years: Jurgen Baumhoff and also inducting a new member: Minh Dang, a dynamic young professional and leader and former Rotaract Club of Perth member!
 
 
In addition to these inductions, we’ll be hearing from not only our scheduled speaker but also PDG Ron Geary who will share with us on the work of the The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Did you know that during the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects? Ron will be presenting on what TRF means within the Australian context and will be available to answer specific questions from you after the lunch meeting.
 
I’m pleased to report that earlier today our Cambodia House Building Team made up of Scouts, Rotaractors and a Rotarian made it to the airport to kick off their exciting week long experience. Over the past 2-3 months the team has been working collaboratively to fund raise $10,000 for the houses. The intent of this project was as much an exercise in each group mentoring their counterpart group (i.e. Rotary to Rotaract, Rotaract to Scouts) through an exercise of fund raising / philanthropy as it is to provide acts of “selfless service” for others in need. Through the collective generosity of many people, the team has not only successfully raised its target monies through raffles, speaking engagements at a number of Rotary Clubs through the metro area, and even a fundraising dinner. I believe that the ‘lessons learned’ and the overseas experience will be a life changing experience for each member of the team. Many thanks are also in order for Rotarian Mike and Corrine Gurry who continue to serve the Cambodian people through this great project.
 
As the end of the year seems to rapidly come to a close, there are still a number of initiatives and projects that our club is undertaking … with many opportunities to continue to serve:
- Stiches of Hope (Sleeping Bag) Project. Alta Terblanche, Minh Dang, Ashley Whitworth, Wesley Sim, Jacques Phillips, and David Martinich are continuing to work with the Rotary Club of Swan Districts on fund raising initiatives for the sale of 500 sleeping bags to benefit Perth’s homeless for the winter of 2018. Please contact Alta if you would like to assist: aletta.terblanche@gmail.com or M: 0416 452 896
- Vienna Pops 30th Annual New Years Eve Concert – This annual event is scheduled for a new venue this year (Winthrop Hall @ UWA) while the Perth Concert Hall receives a refurbishment. This year we are trialling two concerts: a 2.30 matinee and the traditional 9.30 New Year's Eve concert. This is our club’s major fund raising event of the year! Please book online for tickets…we need to sell more matinee tickets so please consider this as a family friendly event!
 
I trust that as the year winds down, you celebrate on the good things we have in our lives, as well as to reflect on how we can use those to benefit those less fortunate.
 
Join Leaders. Exchange Ideas. Take Action.
Yours in Rotary, Stephen Inoyue - President - Rotary of Perth 2017/2018
 
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ROTARY OF PERTH PRESIDENT-ELECT UPDATE - 21ST NOVEMBER 2017
Neurogastronomy. A new word for me. What were we to expect for lunch this week? A science teacher speaking at lunch? (Alright... not a science teacher but a science communicator... but my teacher from decades ago would have considered himself a communicator too!) Will I have to do any homework after this?
 
With over 17 years of Science Communication and Science Education experience under her belt, Emma Donnelly, winner of several science awards including the WA Premier’s Science Award, BHERT, iAwards and most recently a Eureka Prize, proved to be more a treat than an threat. So, thankfully, apart from having to participate in a live laboratory experiment straight after my main course, I was pleasantly entertained by the possibility of a scientific rationale behind each marketing effort in hospitality, food and beverages. I'm now curious about a whole lot of other things to do with food and marketing. If you've ever wondered why your desserts at the Parmelia always come on a white plate, now you know. It tastes sweeter!
 
What else did I learn... the colour of the room makes food taste better; you sell more beer if they drink out of straight glasses; seafood taste better if you can hear the sea; if you don't like the bitter taste, just add salt. You eat more when there's variety. Also, you eat more when there are more than 7 people at your table! Perhaps this is a good reason to have quite dinners with your family (doesn't really apply to the Inouyes).
 
My wife, Grace, should have been at this meeting. She would have learnt that it would've been easier reduce my sugar intake at breakfast by playing the right music rather than hiding the sugar-bowl. This would have saved me much cleaning up after knocking over all the little bottles of spices in the pantry in my search for sugar.
 
To think that this is all legitimate science supported by research... "The environment in which we are has an impact on our experiences of that which we are drinking and eating." - Professor Charles Spencer, Oxford University . Emma Donnelly, the only Culinary Scientist that I now know on a first name basis... please tell me what music I need bring on my next trip to make the in-flight food taste better... or is there an app for that?
 
We often get asked these days: "What is one thing you can take away from this talk?" For me, I think it would be to stay away from bars, restaurants or shops that have red décor and play high pitched, tinkling classical music in the leadup to Christmas. That way, I will get start 2018 in the same or better state of health.
 
If you're curious to learn more or pick up some interesting and delicious recipes, have a peep into Emma's web site on Culinary Science: http://culinaryscience.com.au/  
 
I look forward to enjoying lunch with you all again next Friday.
Yours in Rotary, Wes Sim - President- Elect- Rotary of Perth 2017/2018