Christmas at the Buckingham - Monday 20 Dec 2010

RC Waikiki – The Friendly Club

Photo 4: Syd and Chris ordered a red Mustang to travel around the island of Hawaii. Somehow this is not what they were expecting
Photo 3: Revisiting THAT bin again placed by RC Waikiki at the top of Diamond Head. Other people usually scale Diamond Head for the excitement and the views. To a Rotarian, it's things like this that promote the good work that we do that gets them excited!

Photo 2: Handing over of the Rotary banners

Photo 1: Rotary Club of Waikiki

On the 24th November, I had the pleasure of visiting the Rotary Club of Waikiki in Honolulu – “The Friendly Club” – for a lunch meeting with Hawaiian shirts and a “hang loose” attitude prevailing. RC Waikiki meets at 12 noon each Wednesday at the Pacific Beach Hotel, 2490 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, for lunch…..and what a lunch they provide, groaning boards of food available for all at the princely sum of $17 under President Gene Gelfo. Met some very interesting Rotarians, including a Sydney-sider Rotarian who spends three weeks in Waikiki every three months and lives in the Pacific Beach Hotel, he quipped that he attends more meetings than some of the locals! The club has in excess of 100 members. A nice touch is that members will often to pay for someone else lunch as part of their fundraising or sergeant at arms session. The presidents table is something to see, raised above the floor and decorated in true Hawaiian form. (Photo 1)

You will be glad to know that I contributed to their version of the “copper pot” as it was 45 years to the day that I had first visited Honolulu having my birthday there whilst en-route from Britain to Australia.

I had the privilege of presenting the Moorleigh-Moorabbin banners and our National Flag to RC Waikiki in exchange for their “Friendly Club” banner. (Photo 2) During a brief chat with the president, I learned that RC Waikiki would like to “team up” with an overseas club for information sharing and opportunity to meet”, we certainly could do no better. We are assured that should any of our members visit Honolulu, they would receive the warmest of Hawaiian welcomes. Have a quick peek at their website for further information. http://www.waikikirotary.org/

A little later, Chris and I scaled Diamond Head crater and I revisited the refuse bin placed by the RC Waikiki in 1992. (Photo 3)

At our last RC meeting, I was – at long last - able to emulate some of our members in claiming a “Make Up” at some exotic, foreign location…..RC Waikiki certainly qualifies on both counts!

Aloha!

Syd and Chris Gallagher

Melbourne Cup Eve Social Night Photos

Girls Night Out to Eat Pray Love Raises $1262 for the Cancer Council

(Photos By: Maria Triantos)

Brighton didn't know where all these women had come from when they gathered at the Dendy Palace Cinema on the night of 7th October.

They were here to catch up with the special women in their lives, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends for the charity movie event "Eat Pray Love" on its nationwide opening night.

Organised by Helen Blunden of the Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin, the event was part of the Australian Cancer Council October 'Girls Night' Campaign that encourages women to host events to raise funds and awareness for womens cancers. This year, the Cancer Council hopes to raise $1 million towards cancer research and this small event contributed $1262.00 towards the goal through ticket sales and raffle prizes.

It was a special night out, not only to support a worthy cause but it was an event that was shared with the special women in our lives.

A Multicultural Concert in Esperanto?

Syd responded to a competition through a local community flyer and he got SECOND PLACE! Here's his entry...

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"I have been reading the leaflet about the Multicultural Concert Series and would like to offer a name for the event. The words used in the "ideas" section of the leaflet relate, in one way or another, to a one-ness of people as does the expression "multicultural". As a play on words, the alternative meaning of concert is 'acting together for a common purpose."

Consequently a very simple translation for all these togetherness words and the series itself would be: "one people in concert". I have taken the liberty of translating the phrase into Esperanto, which is regarded the world language and this is my entry into the competition....

"UNU POPOLO en KONCERTO"

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Toward A Stronger Australian Rotary Conference, Canberra, 21-22 August 2010

Over 400 Rotarians across Australia attended the national membership and marketing conference called, "Toward a Stronger Australian Rotary" at the Hellenic Club in Canberra on Saturday and Sunday 21-22 August 2010.

The focus of the conference was to look at ways to make Rotary stronger and more effective. It was also to look at how to improve Rotary awareness nationally and locally as well as focus our services to best serve our communities.

RI President Ray Klinginsmith opened the conference and asked cowboys to apply "cowboy logic" and make Rotary clubs, "bigger, better and bolder". The fundamental principles of cowboy logic was to take pride in your work, talk less and say more.

His strategic priorities were:

* Develop Leaders (through effective leadership programs; succession planning; mentoring; education on Foundation programs)
* Extend Rotary (create new clubs)
* Encourage strategic planning at club and district levels (through club visioning of a 5 year plan; develop action plans; follow up with club assembly; have an elevator pitch; and develop a club leadership plan)
* Focus on and Increase on Humanitarians service

Throughout the 2 days of the conference, participants had plenty of opportunities to share ideas about what they do in their clubs in these areas and to learn new ideas, tips, hints, techniques, tools to take back to their own clubs.

To support and strengthen Rotary clubs some ideas suggested were:

* foster club innovation and flexibility
*review club meeting structures
*promote diversity (get more women in the club)
*improve member retention and recruitment
* have fun
*gree visitors

For Enhancing Public Image and Awareness:
*Celebrate 23 February - Rotary Day for the whole week
*Publicise club projects through local media and radio
* Build relationships with local media and community service groups and agencies
* Get a Facebook page: use social media
* Engage with businesses in the area
*Update your website
* Have a marketing plan
*Wear your Rotary badge

Overall, the three themes that came out of the weekend are:

CONNECT PEOPLE
SHARE IDEAS
IDENTIFY RESOURCES

You can read Twitter updates on the conference at: www.twitter.com/moorleighmoorab

Club Raises Money for the RSPCA Through Cupcakes

As part of the RSPCA's national campaign to raise awareness into the protection of animals, our Rotary Club held a Cupcake Day. Thanks to all those Rotarians and their partners who showed their baking skills and create the most delicious cupcakes for our immense pleasure and enjoyment. Everyone got into the spirit and delighted in eating one or three of these beauties after dinner.

The money raised was $56.00 to the RSPCA. Now loosen those belts, and hope to do it again next year....

Vocational and Social Visit to Zests Training Restaurant

On Monday 9th August, our club visited Zests, which is a training restaurant for vocational education students at the Glen Waverely Holmesglen campus. It was a great night for fellowship but also to support the learning of the Year 11 students who were undertaking their studies. This was the second time they had served to a large group and the Rotary Club was proud to have been the diners of such wonderful, fresh food that was beautifully presented.

Limoncello Ladies

On Saturday, 7th August we were invited to Susan's house to make limoncello which is an Italian lemon liqueur. Using the lemons from her tree and a secret recipe, our afternoon was spent grating and stirring and sampling the alcohol. Although we cannot divulge the recipe, in one month's time, the liqueur will be ready for consumption - and we can't wait!


Here we are enjoying our limoncello. Cheers!

The artistic shot of the lemons, the frosted limoncello glasses and on the left is the store bought limoncello, on the right is the home made stuff. I prefered the home made limoncello by a long shot!

Susan showing us the lemons from her lemon tree. Feel how soft they are! (There's a secret there as to why they are so soft but we're not telling).

Mario the Cat watched us with curiosity and wondered why the place smelt like lemons!

Girls Night In - Raising Money for Cancer Research

It's not strange to find that many of us have been touched by cancer whether personally or through family or friend.

Every year, the Cancer Council holds the annual fundraising event called 'Girls Night In' and inspires women to get together to stay in, or hold an event that gets them to donate the money they would have otherwise spent on going out, to this worthy cause.

The Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin instead will organise a movie night to raise funds for the Cancer Council instead. It will be a night to be shared with the special women in your life, your mum, your daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, and girlfriends.

We are proud to announce that we have booked the event on Opening Night of the new movie, "Eat, Pray, Love" starring Julia Roberts based on the best selling memoirs of Elizabeth Gilbert. It's a quest of one woman and her spiritual enlightenment, a story about her battle with depression, divorce and heartbreak.

See the trailer on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZzmqHJ0gPU

Details of the Movie Night are:

Time: 5:45pm for 6:00pm Drinks & Socialising (TBA); 6;30-7:00pm screening (TBA)

Date: Thursday 7th October 2010

Place: Palace Cinema, Dendy Brighton, 26 Church Street, Brighton
(see map at: http://www.whereis.com/?id=EB75E4E62CB00

RSVP: By email on: moorleighmoorabbin@yahoo.com.au (include your name and how many tickets you want) or call 0438 884 730.

Cost: $20

How To Pay:

Cheque: Mail your cheque made payable to RC Moorleigh Moorabbin Girls Night. (Include details of your name and how many tickets you want so that you can collect them on the night).
Send to:
RCMM Girls Night, 411 Chesterville Road, Bentleigh East VIC 3165

Cash:
In person to any member of the Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin

Bank Transfer:
BSB 063 148 Acc 0090 3840
(Include 'Girls Night In' subject line, your names and number of tickets required in comments area)

There will be raffle prizes drawn on the night and all ladies will receive goody bags.

So what are you waiting for? Save the date in your diary today and spread the word to the special women in your life to enjoy a lovely night at the movies and raise funds for a worthy cause.

Youth Learns To Lead and Excel in Rotary's Leadership Program

(Bentleigh, Victoria, 11th July). Forty young people ages 18 to 26 had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of leadership, effective communication skills, problem solving and conflict resolution during a one week Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), an annual global program sponsored by Rotary that educates and trains young people with outstanding community service and leadership potential.

Nick Bonett (19) of Cheltenham participated in this year’s RYLA camp on 3rd to 10th July at the YMCA Lodge at Lake Dewar, Myrniong. He is currently in his first year of an Engineering degree at Monash University.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin, Nick was chosen to participate in this year’s RYLA where he learned how to speak publicly, work with a team and gain a broader awareness and exposure to a variety of global and community issues. The program also taught Nick the value based leadership, ethical behaviour and how to become a good corporate citizen.

“The program was amazing”, he said. “It has been the best week of my life and I have many new friends. RYLA strived to get me out of my comfort zone and gave me a ‘tool bag’ of skills and experience to use and reflect on what I want to do and how to achieve my life goals. It allows me to put into practice what I have learned and taught me that if you have passion, you can take it anywhere.”

But it wasn’t all work. Nick took part in fun group leadership activities such as canoeing and flying fox designed to build self confidence and esteem with other young people all of whom were sponsored by Rotary Clubs throughout the south eastern suburbs.

RYLA participants receive training from successful professionals and community leaders. Group activities are led by team leaders who are previous participants of RYLA. All RYLA participants receive special emphasis on the importance of ethics and community service and often become leaders in their schools, communities and career paths.

The Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin is part of Rotary International’s global network of more than 32 000 clubs in 166 countries. Rotary International consists of 1.2 million professionals who volunteer to improve the quality of life in their home and world communities. Through service efforts, Rotary club members help promote understanding and peace throughout the world. Rotary Clubs support programs that address today’s most critical issues, including hunger, the environment, illiteracy and youth development.

For more information on RYLA, or how to join Rotary, please see www.d9810.rotary.org or call 1300 4 ROTARY (1300 4 768 279).

RYLA History

The RYLA experience was developed in Australia. The first program was held in 1960 in Brisbane and the program flourished throughout Australia. Rotary International officially adopted the RYLA program in 1971 and each year; thousands of young people take part in the program worldwide.

RYLA aims to:

* Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth
* Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
* Encourage leadership of youth by youth
* Recognise publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.

Hedley Elected As President for Rotary Club Moorleigh Moorabbin

Parkdale resident Philip Hedley was elected president of the Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin, to serve for one year beginning 19th July. A Rotarian since 1991, Philip recently retired as a Chartered Accountant acting as a consultant working with businesses in their financial and commercial activities.

As president of the 22 member club which received its charter from Rotary International in 1984, Philip Hedley will be responsible for strengthening the group’s participation in the local community and international service projects while attracting new membership.

The club meets every Monday night at the South Oakleigh Club and is made of up a cross section of small business owners, professionals, managers, and businessmen and women who collectively use their knowledge, skills and networks for humanitarian projects locally and internationally through service programs that address concerns such as poverty, illiteracy, health, hunger and the environment.

“This year, our club will concentrate on Rotary International’s theme of Building Communities, Bridging Continents using our close relationships with the local primary and secondary colleges as well as supporting several international projects. We will explore the matching of local school with one in the Orbost area of regional Victoria. Several projects overseas are also in the pipeline including sanitation projects in Africa and South East Asia as well as a micro credit opportunity in Uganda.”

The Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin is part of Rotary International’s global network of more than 32 000 clubs in 166 countries. Rotary International consists of 1.2 million professionals who volunteer to improve the quality of life in their home and world communities. Through service efforts, Rotary club members help promote understanding and peace throughout the world. Rotary Clubs support programs that address today’s most critical issues, including hunger, the environment, illiteracy and youth development.

For more information on Rotary, or how to join Rotary, please see www.rotary.org or call 1300 4 ROTARY (1300 4 768 279) for your nearest club.

Club Changeover Photos Friday 16, 2010

Here is a snippet of photos from the Club Changeover Night on Friday 16th July 2010. Apologies that the photos are not in order as the blog cannot upload powerpoint presentations. If you would like to see the full photos, refer to our Facebook album. Apologies for the order too as for some reason, the blogger software doesn't upload the photos in the order selected!