Four G’s Gazette

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District Newsletter | Edition 2 | August 2015

Inside This Month’s Edition

District Governor’s Message Official DG Visit Schedule Margie Abbott’s role as ROMAC patron Rotary Foundation 2014/15 Giving Update Rotaract Club of Ballina-Richmond Charter Introducing Rotary Global Rewards Invitation to Southport’s 70th Anniversary International Convention – Seoul 2016

Australian Rotary Health Scholarship winner recognised

The RYTS Opportunity ! Reminder : Presidents Elect for 2016 / 17 2017 / 18 Rotary International President Key Dates and Events Rotary International President’s Message Rotary Magazine Highlights

from Grafton to Glen Innes to Goondiwindi to the Gold Coast

www.rotary9640.org

Welcome to all members of District 9640 to Membership and New Club Development Month. Membership is everyone’s responsibility and not the responsibility of individual membership Chairs. If you truly love Rotary and love your Rotary Club then you would invariably want to share it. Membership of your Rotary Club is a gift that you can give to those you admire and respect within your community. Membership of your Rotary Club can also be a gift that you give to other community members with whom you wish to engage. It was heart-warming to visit the Rotary Club of Broadbeach last week. Their President has set a membership goal for 2015-2016 at the induction of 20 new members. The members are embracing that goal with enthusiasm and inductions have already commenced. During the course of my visit the President of the Club Bill Rex, suggested that they will extend to all other Clubs in the District a challenge to meet their membership goals. I put it to all Clubs to consider the same. I know that my own Club is going to take this challenge quite seriously.

During the month of August we also have the opportunity to meet out Rotary International Director Guiller Tumangan and his wife Lettie. They will be in our District for a very short period of 24 hours from approximately midday on Wednesday 26 August 2015 until midday Thursday 27 August 2015. Our International Director is keen to meet all members of the District Leadership Team and as many Rotarians as possible. He would also like to visit any Club Projects that may wish to welcome him at the time. The Rotary Club of Burleigh Heads is going to host a dinner for all Rotarians at the Burleigh Surf Club on the evening of Wednesday 26th. An invitation has been extended all members in the District and each Club has received such an invitation. The District Leadership Team will meet with International Director Guiller before the dinner meeting. Amazing news this week for all Australian Rotarians is the nomination of Ian Riseley from the Rotary Club of Sandringham in Victoria as the proposed Rotary International President for 2017-2018. What an amazing opportunity for Rotary in Australia. How proud we can be of our standing as International Rotarians that such an honour has been extended to our Australian Rotarian Ian Riseley. You can read more about this in the Newsletter

Yours in Rotary Anne

anne@egansimpson.com.au

0418 489 836

District Governor 2015-16 Anne Egan

Four G’s Gazette | District Governor Update

Listed below are the dates for upcoming official DG visits to clubs around the District -

Date Club Date Club

17 Aug Palm Beach 31 Aug Ballina

18 Aug Byron Bay 02 Sep Tweed Coast

19 Aug Mermaid Beach 03 Sep Maclean

20 Aug Lismore West 07 Sep Allora

21 Aug Broadwater –Southport 08 Sep Jimboomba

25 Aug Beaudesert 09 Sep Fassifern Valley

27 Aug Burleigh Heads 10 Sep Ballina-on-Richmond

Official DG Visit Schedule *

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Edition 2 | August 2015

* DG Anne will also be visiting Southport on 25 August for their 70th Anniversary celebrations and hosting Rotary International Director Guiller Tumangan and his wife Lettie on 26 August.

Margie Abbott new ROMAC patron PM’s wife to assist in raising awareness for ROMAC Well qualified and already making a difference ROMAC is proud to announce that Mrs Margie Abbott (wife of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott) has accepted the position of ROMAC Patron. ROMAC is a Rotary Charity assisting children from around the Pacific Rim and giving much needed treatment for conditions that cannot be treated in their home countries. Mrs Abbott has a background in child care and is well qualified to understand the challenges that babies and children face when requiring life saving and dignity restoring surgery. Mrs Abbott is delighted as Patron to be able to assist in creating a greater awareness of the work of ROMAC in providing life changing medical assistance and support to children and their families. Already, Mrs Abbott is making a difference by arranging to visit ROMAC patients, and their parents, in hospitals as well as planning a function for ROMAC at Kirribilli House to raise awareness and support for the life-giving work provided by ROMAC. She has already visited baby Fitzpatrick Unga at Canberra Hospital, who was operated on for a severe tumour by Professor David Croaker. Prof. Croaker excised the tumour completely and was very pleased with the outcome of the operation. After his operation Fitz spent one night in Neonatal ICU and only needed to stay in hospital for 3-4 days. ROMAC looks forward to a great relationship with our highly regarded Patron. If you would like a ROMAC presentation please contact ROMAC District 9640 Chair, Jill Ellis, on mobile 0415 753 713 or via email at hjellis@onthenet.com.au

Rotary Foundation Giving Update Overall contributions slightly down Other positive trends emerging though Despite the significant impact of the decrease in the value of the Australian dollar and the support for the Vanuatu and Nepal natural disasters, our contributions to The Rotary Foundation in 2014/2015, while down on the previous year were none-the-less quite pleasing. Annual Programs Fund (APF) Contributions to the APF totalled USD 141,119, a decline of 8.4% from 2013/2014 and slightly greater than the Australian average decline of 7.0%. On a per capita basis, our contribution level declined to USD113.71 (from USD 122.19) which while comfortably above the goal of USD 100 remains below the Australian district average of USD 116.40. Twenty six clubs (49%) exceeded the US$100 per capita goal. Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) contributors increased to a record 527 which is the fourth highest among Australian Districts. This equates to 42.4% of District 9640 Rotarians compared to only 23.3% Australia wide. Congratulations to every Club and Rotarian who contributed to these pleasing outcomes. Special congratulations to Beaudesert, Kyogle, Lismore West, Mt Warning AM, Mullumbimby and Tenterfield clubs which achieved 100% EREY status. Our top 5 contributors to the APF in total terms and on a per capita basis were – -continued -

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Four G’s Gazette | District News Edition 2 | August 2015

Club APF Total (USD)

Hope Island 10,309

Gold Coast 7,861

Surfers Paradise 6.691

Southport 6,623

Broadbeach 6,345

Club APF Per Capita (USD)

Tweed Coast 436.76

Surfers Paradise 290.90

Hope Island 271.29

Coomera River 215.69

Murwillumbah Central 207.85

Rotary Foundation Giving Update (continued) Polio Plus Contributions declined 20.8% to USD 47,816 compared with a national decline of only 12%. On a positive note these contributions attracted the two for one match from the Gates Foundation increasing the flow of funds for polio eradication to USD 143,448 Our top 5 contributors to Polio Plus were – In addition, our District contributed USD 10,000 from our district designated funds which was matched 50% from the world fund and then two for one by the Gates Foundation making a total of USD 45,000. Total contribution to polio eradication initiated from District 9640 was USD188,448. Total Rotary Foundation Contributions Finally and importantly we recognize our top ten overall contributors to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) in 2014-2015.- Once again, congratulations and sincere thanks for your wonderful support of “Our Charity”, The Rotary Foundation.

It is our contributions to the Annual Programs Fund this year that will determine the level of funds we have available in 2018-2019 for District Grants so we look forward to your continuing club and individual support. Neil Jones District Rotary Foundation Chair

Rotaract Club of Ballina-Richmond The Rotaract club of Ballina-Richmond held its Charter Dinner on Saturday 25 July. DG Anne & Jeff were in attendance, along with the Mayor of Ballina David Wright and several nearby Rotary clubs were represented by Rotarians and other Rotaractors from clubs attended showing their support. Ballina Rotary Club presented the Rotaract Club with the chains of office, Ballina-on-Richmond presented them with a gavel and Lismore presented them with a bell.

Introducing Rotary Global Rewards Rotary Global Rewards is a new member benefit program that offers discounts on products and services like travel, hotels, dining and entertainment. Rotary Global Rewards help Rotarians - • Do more good work - involve more members in or

expand the impact of Rotary projects with savings on truck rentals, airfare or hotels

• Build Rotary friendships - forge richer friendships with fellow Rotarians with your dining and entertainment offers

• Share your story with someone new - tell people about Rotary's work with discounts at coffee shops and restaurants

You can learn more and redeem Rotary Global Rewards at rotary.org/globalrewards

RotaryDistrict9640 www.rotary9640.org Page 4

Four G’s Gazette | District News Edition 2 | August 2015

Club Polio Plus (USD)

Broadbeach 4,750

Hope Island 4,448

Stanthorpe 4,046

Murwillumbah Central 3,936

Mt Warning AM 3,015

Club Total TRF (USD)

Hope Island 14,757

Southport 12,201

Broadbeach 11,095

Stanthorpe 9,374

Mt Warning AM 8,382

Ashmore 8,330

Gold Coast 8,213

Surfers Paradise 7,025

Murwillumbah Central 6,846

Surfers Sunrise 6,802

Southport’s 70th Anniversary Help the Club celebrate on 25 August RSVP to Marion Jones by August 21 President Lea Rickwood cordially invites Rotarians and friends to attend the Rotary Club of Southport 70th Anniversary. When: Tuesday August 25 at 6.30 p.m. for 7.00 p.m. Where: Southport Golf Club - Slatyer Ave, Southport Cost: $35 per head Dress: Cocktail dress/Lounge suit RSVP: Friday August 21 to Marion Jones either on 0406 040 039 or marion.r.jones@gmail.com

2016 Rotary International Convention 29 May – 1 June 2016 in Seoul, Korea Book now for the best rates You are not yet a true Rotarian until you have experienced a Rotary International Convention. This may sound a little provocative, but it’s true – simply ask any Rotarian who has experienced a Convention before. The key word in all of this is “International’. Whether it was in Melbourne in 1993, Brisbane in 2003 or Sydney in 2014 if you weren’t able to experience one of these Conventions or indeed any other International Convention, then you cannot appreciate the role it plays in being a Rotarian. Now is your chance ! “Touch the World in Korea” from 29 May to 1 June 2016. As Rotarians, we are travellers – often trying to spend our kids’ inheritance Next year, why not enjoy the excitement of an Asian trip and plan it around the International Convention in Seoul, Korea.

Enjoy the diversity of the country – the culture, the architecture, the people. Come see for yourself – spend five days out of your life to meet with other Rotarians from over 200 countries and geographical regions. Hear World leaders speak and attend informative workshops. Enjoy the fantastic world class entertainment that Rotary International will provide. In addition, be part of the fabulous shows and events that are being organised by the host city. Book your trip to Seoul by clicking on the register link on the image, visit www.riconvention.org or simply contact PDG Brian Heaton via email on val.22@bigpond.com or mobile on 0409 007 848.

Australian Rotary Health Foundation Scholarship Winner Recognised Dr Gemma Johnston awarded key honour Ties in with DG Partner Project

At the recent National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Awards Night, University of Western Australia (UWA) Graduate, Dr Gemma Johnston was awarded Tertiary Scholar of the Year for 2015. Gemma graduated from UWA in March 2015 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She is currently an intern at Fiona Stanley Hospital and is one of the first Torres Strait Islander doctors to qualify in Western Australia. During her studies at UWA, Gemma was a role model for other Indigenous students, especially those in Medicine or planning to study Medicine at UWA. In 2008 Gemma was awarded the AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship and later, an Australian Rotary Health Foundation Scholarship. While studying, Gemma was on the national committee of Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) as a student representative. She has been a role model for the other students in Medicine and as an Indigenous medical student, represented other Indigenous medical students on the WA Medical Students Society (WAMSS) as well as AIDA. Over several years, Gemma participated in the School of Indigenous Studies’ Outreach program especially in the Year 10 Science camp to encourage Aboriginal high school students to consider Science and particularly Medicine as a career. Sourced from http://www.news.uwa.edu.au

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Four G’s Gazette | District News Edition 2 | August 2015

CONNECT WITH KOREA – TOUCH THE WORLD

The RYTS Opportunity ! Applications are now open ! Closing date is 30 October 2015 The Rotary Youth Transition Seminar (RYTS) Committee is looking for applicants for this years RYTS program. RYTS is a one-week residential camp for students in Years 11 or 12, or those who have left school and are aged 16 – 18 (19 year old also possible). This year, the camp runs from 28 November to 4 December and will be held at Tyalgum Ridge Retreat in Tyalgum. RYTS is a 7 day Rotary Youth Program. The program contains a range of incredible guest speakers that talk on a number of topics and issues relevant to young people. It also includes extremely fun team building and personal development sessions. The aim of RYTS is to provide students with valuable life skills and the confidence to pursue their dreams when they leave school. RYTS provides practical advice on topics such as renting, budgeting, goal setting, career choice and self-confidence. Applicants need to complete an application form and be sponsored by a Rotary Club. Sponsorship costs $550. To download the application form and find out more information on the program head to the District website (http://rotary9640.org/SitePage/ryts)

President-Elect for 2016 / 17 As a result of new training program being trialed by DGE Michael Irving, all clubs are reminded that they will need to have their 2016/17 Presidents Elect finalised by October 2015 This allows the first pre-PETS training to be conducted on Saturday 31 October 2015.

2017 / 18 Rotary International President Ian H.S. Riseley, of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2017-18. He will become the president-nominee on 1 October if no other candidates challenge him. Riseley says that meaningful partnerships with corporations and other organizations are crucial to Rotary’s future. “We have the programs and personnel and others have available resources,” says Riseley. “Doing good in the world is everyone’s goal. We must learn from the experience of the polio eradication program to maximize our public awareness exposure for future partnerships.” Riseley is a practicing accountant and principal of Ian Riseley and Co., which specializes in advising local and international businesses, and has a strong interest in international affairs. He received the AusAID Peacebuilder Award from the Australian government in 2002 in recognition of his work in Timor-Leste. He also received the Order of Australia medal in 2006 for service to the Australian community. “Governments see Rotary as positive representatives of a civil society,” he says. “We should work with them to advocate for peace and conflict resolution, just as we are advocating for polio eradication.” A member since 1978, Riseley has served Rotary as treasurer, director, trustee, RI Board Executive Committee member, task force member, committee member and chair, and district governor. He is also a former member of the Australian Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign and a recipient of The Rotary Foundation’s Service Award for a Polio-Free World. He and his wife, Juliet, are Multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, and Bequest Society members.

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Four G’s Gazette | District News Edition 2 | August 2015

District Calendar Mark your diary for the following key dates, including training dates. Don’t forget you can get more details on these events as well as what else is going on, via the District Website.

Date Details (Location) Type

20 Aug 5th Annual Australian Rotary Health Early Psychosis Symposium (Bond Uni) Event

25 Aug Rotary Club of Southport - 70th Anniversary (book through Marion Jones on 0406 040 039 or marion.r.jones@gmail.com)

Event

29 Aug Boonah Charity Golf Day Event

29 Aug – 30 Aug YEP – Outbounders Camp (Quality Inn, Mermaid Beach) Youth

12 Sep – 13 Sep YEP – Inbounders Camp (Lake Ainsworth) Youth

10 Oct Rotary Surfers Paradise Charity Race Day (book via Sue Brown on 0400 480 357 or visit www.surfersparadiserotary.org)

Event

24 Oct Kyogle Bush Turkey Charity Ball (New Park Fields, Kyogle) (book through Leanne on 0432 330 952)

Event

30 Oct RYTS Applications Due (for details refer to http://rotary9640.org/SitePage/ryts) Youth

31 Oct Pre-PETS Training (32 Hinde St, Ashmore) Training

28 Nov – 04 Dec RYTS Camp (Tyalgum Ridge) Youth

05 Dec – 06 Dec YEP – Outbounders Camp 2 (Lake Ainsworth) Youth

05 Mar 16 PETS Training (Saint Stephens College, Coomera) Training

06 Mar 16 District Assembly (Saint Stephens College, Coomera) Training

06 May - 09 May 16 District Conference Event

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Four G’s Gazette | Events & Key Dates

www.trybooking.com.au/IAJI

Edition 2 | August 2015

28 November - 4 December

2015

Tyalgum Ridge Retreat

Tylagum Ridge

Applications Close 30 October 2015

In the 1930s, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a Danish carpenter, had a wooden sign hanging on his wall that read, Det bedste er ikke for godt: "Only the best is good enough." Today, Christiansen is remembered as the inventor of Lego, the colorful plastic bricks beloved by children around the world. But in the early days of the Lego company, its signature product was a wooden duck – one built to the highest standards, out of aged beech, with three coats of clear varnish. Lego's company history tells how Christiansen used his ducks to teach a lesson in quality to his son, Godtfred Kirk: One evening, when I came into the office, I said to my father: "It's been a good day today, Dad. We've earned a little more." "Oh," said Dad, "what do you mean?" "Well, I've just been to the station with two boxes of our toy ducks for the Danish Co op. Normally they get three coats of varnish, but since it's for the Co-op, I only gave them two. So I saved the business a bit of money." He looked at me in dismay. "Godtfred, fetch those boxes back. Unpack them and give the ducks another coat of varnish. You're not going to bed until the work's done – and you'll do it all on your own." There was no arguing with Dad. And it was a lesson for me about what quality meant. Today, Lego's quality standards are legendary, and its products are the most popular toys in the world: Lego pieces outnumber humans 86 to 1.

We all recognize that this success stems directly from Lego's business practices – its insistence on quality, efficiency, and innovation. I compare this with our efforts in governance and accountability in Rotary, and realize that sometimes we fall short of the standards expected. The leaders at the Rotary International, zone, district, and club levels have to maintain the highest standards in governance. The RI president and directors must serve the membership in a meaningful manner; zone leaders must deliver on the investment Rotary makes in them; district leaders must provide dynamic leadership in the district and focus on transparency in accounting and timely reporting of financials; and club leaders must adhere to proper reporting functions and get their clubs onto Rotary Club Central. Just as Christiansen refused to consider sending a lesser product to any of his clients, so should we refuse to consider giving a lesser effort to any of our work. We must always demand the best of ourselves – in our professional lives, and especially in our Rotary work. For in Rotary, what is our product? It is not wooden ducks or plastic bricks. It is education, water, health, and peace. It is hope, and it is life itself. For this work, only our best is good enough. I ask you all to remember this – and to do your very best to Be a Gift to the World.

Rotary International President 2015-16 K.R. (Ravi) Ravindran

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Rotary Magazine Highlights | August 2015

The Rotarian

Four G’s Gazette | The World of Rotary

Rotary Down Under

www.rotary.org/myrotary/news-media/magazines/rotarian

Have a chat to save a life It’s time to talk about organ donation

A mighty milestone School of St Jude celebrates first graduates

Club confidentiual Membership engagement

Global outlook A dozen ways to make a difference

digitaledition.rotarydownunder.com.au/?iid=124930

From success to significance The lost girls of South Sudan

and the Rotarian who found them

A conversation with Caryl Stern San Diego students tackle

vaccine controversy What happens when what you

know turns out to be wrong Out of tragedy, some people

create something good

Edition 2 | August 2015