President’s Report for May 20, 2010

NEW VENUE – FRANKSTON LIFE SAVING CLUB

Please note that our new meeting venue is Frankston Lifesaving Club at the beach end of Wells Street, Frankston, where our next meeting is be held on Thursday 20th May.  Thank you all for your attendance at the trial meeting and your positive comments about the venue and the breakfast.

Our guest speaker at the last meeting on May 6th – at very short notice –  was Laura Bird, the soon to be (the next night to be precise) President of the Peninsula Rotaract Club. Laura gave a very interesting talk about her experiences at MUNA where she and Janelle represented Australia in a debate against Japan about the pros and cons of whaling. Needless to say the Aussies won the debate! And Laura and Janelle are now set on careers as Ambassadors to the United Nations. Laura’s talk once again proved how invaluable these Rotary sponsored programs are for our young people, and what an amazing group of young people they re too!.

Speaking of amazing young people, I am very pleased to announce that the Peninsula Rotaract Club is now official with their very successful Charter Night held at Frankston International on Friday 7th May 2010.  The room was full of dignitaries with a PDG, a DGE and a DGN and later in the evening even a DGEN popping in for a visit. It was also great to see the President’s of the other Nepean Clubs who were  in attendance, along with the  District Chair of Youth Exchange, Anne Cox; the incoming District Chair for Rotaract, and the President of Casey Cardinia Rotaract Club, as well as various Rotarians, parents of Rotoractors and friends.

PDG Janet McCahon saw the completion of her 4 year old  ’dream come true’ for a Rotaract Club in our area when she performed the official Charter of the club and inducted Laura Bird and Carlee O’Hehir, the driving forces behind the formation of the club,  as joint Presidents of the Peninsula Rotaract Club. DGE David Piper and DGN Kel Hobby had a lot of fun putting pins on the 12 Charter Members.

Joint sponsor, Rotary Club of Seaford Carrum Downs President Natalie Graham and President Elect Louise Welbourne presented the new club with the lectern that had been presented to Louise as President of the Seaford Rotoract club in 1974  and now inscribed with the name of Peninsula Rotoract Club May 7, 2010.  I was very pleased to present them with  a cheque for $400.00 to kick start their bank account.

Mike Badwi, President of Mount Eliza also presented them with cheque for $250.00 and I think they raised a lot of money from the raffle and a $5 donation which got you a free bag full  of Summer Rolls.

All in all, a very successful and enjoyable evening was had by the 68 people who attended.

I know that they will go on to bigger and better things – so watch this space for more news about the Peninsula Rotaract Club.

The Alternate Schoolies Program is also going ahead quite well with 14 students registered to participate in the trip to Cambodia and all eagerly putting their name on the roster for  Sunday’s fundraising Spud Scorch at the Seaford Farmer’s Market.  Russell Ardley, from Mornington Youth Enterprises, has allowed us to use his Spud Van to help the students raise money for their trip. A small profit was made on the day with the hopes that we will make more money next month.

We are  sponsoring two students to attend the RYPEN Camp and I expect that they will come and tell us all about their experiences at Forest Edge.  We are also sponsoring a student to interview for the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF).

I have recently received a letter from Kananook Primary School thanking us for the money that was used for the purpose of three awards at the school at the end of last year. They are certainly very keen for us to continue supporting these awards.

We have  committed $250 to Neil Black, rotary Club of Frankston towards the cost of sending a container of hospital equipment to Cambodia.

Diary Notes:

The last Board Meeting for the year will be held at Caesar’s Restaurant, Nepean Highway, Frankston at 6.00 pm on Tuesday 8th June, followed by dinner if you can stay. this meeting is for members of the incoming and outgoing committee.

The Changeover Lunch is to be held at Frankston Lifesaving Club on Sunday 27th June 2010 from 12 noon.  The cost is $35.00 per head with drinks at very reasonable bar prices.  This will also be the official farewell for Nici so please, please make the effort to be there to say goodbye as she leaves on the 4th July and I need you all there for an official farewell photo!  Nici has been an absolute delight to have around and I know our family will be very sad to say goodbye as I am sure will all her host families. She has been a wonderful ambassador for her country and the Youth Exchange program as a whole.Our next fundraiser is to be an ‘Africa Night’ to be held on July 30th or 31st . The venue is still to be decided upon. Money raised will go to Aimee Carter’s Orphanage in Ghana and Gwen Harrop’s Orphanage in Tanzania – a joint venture with the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise.

The next Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is to be held on Sunday, August 28th 2010.

Our guest speaker at this week’s meeting is Nicola Von Hobe who is going to tell us all about her experiences on the Rock to Reef Safari. So make sure you are in attendance on Thursday 20th May – that’s this Thursday!

See you all at the Lifesaving Club!

Cheers

President Judy