The importance of working with Rotaract successfully over the past eight years has been attributed to a number of factors. Originally when I joined the Rotary Club of Eltham I was generally closer in age to the Rotaracters than the Rotary members! The Rotaracters have worked tirelessly each year to produce a fantastic Youth Stage at our annual Festival. I attempt to make Rotary relevant to their club, provide advice and assistance to their club and individual members, and have a laugh with them too! One of the best outcomes from my involvement with the Rotaract Club was supporting Erin Dickinson receive the Youth Award at the Australian Day award for Nillumbik Council and my least successful venture has been going on a Pub Crawl with them! After 8 years I’m still waiting!
Sgt@Arms
According to the District Secretary’s Manual the function of the sergeant-at-arms is "...to help maintain an orderly, dignified, and effective Rotary Club meeting, one that will make the right kind of impression on club visitors and guests. You should be constantly on alert to prevent any occurrence that might detract from the dignity and prestige associated with Rotary clubs”.
That can be quite a challenge to the often raucous and unruly crowd at HGC. It requires keen hand-eye coordination to bash the hell out of the bell to try to maintain control. It seems over the past few years the necessity to ring the bell has a direct correlation to the increasing number of members wearing hearing aids! In this role the monthly Duty Team schedule is organized and published and then dutifully ignored, re-arranged and butchered. The same applies to the Fine Master sessions. If the expected person doesn’t arrive then it is the Sgt’s role to collect the cash.
