October is Economic and Community Development Month. Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities. The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to invest in people by creating sustainable, measurable, and long-term economic improvements in their communities and livelihoods.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings! At last week's Board meeting we asked ourselves an challenging question: has our biennial Lift the Lid lunch run its course? After a good discussion, the answer is yes. It has served us wonderfully, and now it's time to find its successor.
So I'm turning to the best resource we have: YOU.
We're looking for a new signature fundraiser to support our local and international projects. Ideally it will:
• Be distinctive enough to stand on its own and draw in both members and the public
• Give every member a way to contribute
• Become something Rotary Hawthorn is known for
No idea is too big, too small or too unusual. Some of the best fundraisers started as a 'what if' over coffee. I have a couple of thoughts of my own, but I'd love to hear yours first so I don't steer the conversation. Please send me your ideas by reply email, a phone call, or a chat at our next meeting. Thank you for helping shape what comes next. Onwards and Upwards, Dorothy
NEXT MEETING – 27 October by Zoom
Bek Herron, Squadron Leader (Rtd) Artist, Veteran Experiences 'Bek Herron served in the Royal Australian Air Force as a nursing officer for 20 years until 2023. In the course of her career, she served across a number of clinical and leadership roles in Australia and overseas. As an aeromedical evacuation nurse, Bek's work included supporting Middle East operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, transporting civilian and wounded military personnel and working as part of a multi-national mission with the USNS Mercy hospital ship. Since leaving the RAAF, Bek now works as an artist whose work explores veteran experiences. Through art, she commemorates and shares the challenges of military service and her passion for supporting veterans'. Bek is also a Governor of the Shrine of Remembrance. (Words/photo: Shrine.org.au)
UPCOMING CALENDAR
27 October:
Zoom Meeting TBA
3 November:
Melbourne Cup Day (no meeting)
10 November:
Member Behind the Badge – Anne Scott
17 November:
No Meeting (Epic Adventure Trip to Portland)
24 November:
DG Graeme Hope, “Create Lasting Impact” District Priorities
1 December:
Honorary Thai Consul Teresa Sullivan OAM
8 December:
Christmas Dinner
16 December:
Fun! Members Entertaining Us!
LET’S SUPPORT OUR ‘Hawthorn Walkers”
Invite friends and family to donate to this increasingly important International Project.
Charlotte England, Dennis Shore and Andrew Crockett are stepping out as our inspirational team “Hawthorn Walkers” this year. They are challenging themselves to walk throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world. Please support them in this important cause to End Polio Now! https://www.rotarywalkwithus.org/fundraisers/hawthornwalkers
AVEO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN Eleven members and partners visit the AVEO Fountain Court Residence last week, and here we are around the table enjoying their morning tea after a tour of the facilities. Of course, Big Mac won the raffle again and immediately donated it to our Christmas Dinner in December. We thank AVEO for their sponsorship at the Lift the Lid lunch and the $500 they presented to us during our visit. It all helps our project facilitation.
WHY INCLUSION MATTERS: Four benefits for our club
While some may believe that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are a series of buzzwords, they are actually values that are directly embedded into Rotary International’s Action Plan.
As People of Action we are inclusive, engaging, compassionate, and ambitious on behalf of the world.” (Rotary International, Action Plan)
Since its inception over 120 years ago, Rotary has progressively embraced diversity, welcoming members from varying cultural, social and economic backgrounds. By becoming a more welcoming place for people to connect, grow, and lead change, we open ourselves to new members and greatly improve our ability to effect meaningful change.
Do you know where Min Bell and I spent last Thursday evening?
We were invited to the annual production by Somebody’s Daughter Theatre, performed by the women of the Dame Phyllis Frost Detention Centre at Ravenhall.
I am no stranger to the prison. Years ago, in my professional capacity, I visited many times to debrief prison officers after a serious incident, and on one of those visits I had the privilege of seeing a Somebody’s Daughter production for the first time.
What a transformation since then. I remember a windswept yard without a green leaf or flower in sight, and a forlorn children’s climbing frame and slide rising out of the dust. Today the grounds are modern and garden-like, though there is no mistaking that this is still a prison.
Before we arrived, we were reminded of the rules: no watches or cameras; no hoodies, scarves or belts; no insignia or protest slogans; no medications, confectionery or drugs and many more “ No… No!”
DID YOU KNOW? Our Club had one of the first Vocational Service committees in the 1970’s that began the endless task of urging members to exemplify the spirit of Rotary. It suggested that each Rotarian should bring a non-Rotarian member of his vocation to lunch once or twice a year.
One popular development from this suggestion was the introduction of secretaries' meetings where members invited their secretaries to be their lunch guests! How times have changed for the better!
Our Club had one of the first Vocational Service committees in the 1970’s that began the endless task of urging members to exemplify the spirit of Rotary. It suggested that each Rotarian should bring a non-Rotarian member of his vocation to lunch once or twice a year.