What a dynamic Club we are! There’s always some project on the go and we are no sooner over Festival than attention is turning to the next event on our busy calendar. Whilst all eyes have been on Festival, the Community Committee has been busy churning out sausages for extra BBQs, and the Youth Committee has been busy with the next student exchange and potential new projects. Alison and the Program Committee have also been hard at work organising the Christmas party and the Program for the next 6 months. And Sally continues to promote our Club through regular Facebook posts which have been very effective in spreading the word about both Festival and Club projects. Thank you to all the hardworking members of committees for your ongoing commitment and enthusiasm.
Last week I was very proud to be able to join with Montmorency Interact President - Bridget Dorrizzi - to present cheques for over $12,000 to Wheelchairs for Kids. This represents some 58 chairs for kids in third world countries. Congratulations to Bridget and the Interact Club on a most successful project, to Montmorency Secondary College for supporting the Interact Club, and to Ian Toohil, who has championed the Club for many years. Thank you too to the many Eltham Rotarians who donated to this most worthy project.
Many thanks to Vicki Ward for donating the meat tray which was auctioned at last week’s meeting and raised $143. I echo her encouragement for everyone to support the Bolton Street traders who are finding trading tough whilst the Bolton Street works are happening.
There was sad news at the end of last week with news of the passing of Marjorie Beecham, wife of a past member and long term supporter of the Club. For many years, Marjorie handmade the pottery pots given to guest speakers as thank you gifts. The funeral will be on Friday 24 November at the Warrandyte Mechanics Institute Hall at 1pm.
Cheers, President Judy
Lower Eltham Park BBQ 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
You are responsible for finding a replacement if you are unable to do your rostered duty and to notify Lyn Truran ljtruran@bigpond.com
What another informative meeting we had last week at Heidelberg Golf Club. Our speakers - Donna and Cecil from "Only Just" - explained how buying fair trade goods are making a difference to communities that would otherwise not have jobs or money for their families to improve their lives. Their shop is in the Coles Arcade, Eltham and has some really different Christmas presents for those people who are hard to buy for. Go and have a look.
This Thursday we are NOT at the golf club but instead having a night out at Eltham Little Theatre - "Murder's in the Heir" production. The show starts at 7.30pm and members can arrive earlier to find their table and set up BYO nibbles and drinks. I know personally I am looking forward to great night out and supporting the local artists.
For your Diary, the club meetings for the rest of the year are:
30 November - AGM and Mr & Mrs Snags night (Heidelberg Golf Club)
7 December - Rotarian Behind the Badge: John Roberts and Ernita Songahid (Heidelberg Golf Club)
14 December - Eltham Rotary Christmas Party (Heidelberg Golf Club)
Christmas break - first formal meeting back in 2018 will be at the Heidelberg Golf Club on 1 February 2018
Alan McCleary: Stage now has RCE logo. Thanks to John O’C, Graham M and Maurie for their work on this. Thanks also to Howard for the servicing of the trailer and Paul K for re-stocking all the extra BBQ’s.
Brett Linsell: Next Rotaract meeting first week in December. Please support ‘Movember’ – flyer will be in Bulletin throughout the month.
Alison Cooper: Next week we meet at Eltham Little Theatre at 7pm for 7.30pm. BYO drinks and nibbles. The following week is the AGM and ‘Mr and Mrs Snag’. ‘Behind the Badge’ with John R and Ernita. Xmas celebration at Heidelberg Golf Club on 14 December in the main room.
Jill Ramsay: RCE’s reputation now enhanced by the ‘beef and brawn’ tug of war winners! Will show footage of this at another time. Thanks sent out re the Festival – please complete and return the survey for members and partners. Only takes 5 minutes – hard copy or email.
Lou Bolzonello: Reminder that some subs are way overdue and club needs to pay its own subs for District and International. Preliminary figures from Festival not yet confirmed but all looking very good. Query re cost of concession tickets for rides if anyone can help.
The Rotary Foundation is the philanthropic foundation of Rotary International. The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into grants to service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
In 2016-17 the Rotary Foundation received US$304 million in total contributions worldwide: that included $140 million to the Annual Fund, $28 million to the Endowment Fund, and $108 million to PolioPlus. The Foundation approved 494 district grants and 1,260 global grants, with a total of $111 million in funding.
There were 17 grants in our District 9790 in 2016-17 including $1500 to Eltham Rotary for CAVE scholarships to assist families to meet the additional costs of primary students moving to secondary school. In this current year we have already received a grant of $2000 to support purchase of PC’s for Diamond Valley Learning Centre students.
Polio eradication is the number one priority of Rotary and the Foundation. In 2017 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation increased its commitment to the polio eradication initiative, and will match 2:1 all Rotary contributions up to 50 million dollars for the next three years. If Rotarians raise $50 million per year, the Gates Foundation will match this with $100 million resulting in $150 million for polio eradication in each of the three years.
In 2016, 37 children were paralyzed worldwide by the wild polio virus. So far in 2017, that number stands at 13. We are on our way to zero! We have to keep doing everything we can do to End Polio Now, not only until the last case is reported, but until eradication is certified by an independent commission. It is expected that will happen at least three years from the last time wild polio virus is found in a child, a water supply, or anywhere else. Only then will we celebrate the end of polio—and the greatest work yet of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation.
Mark your diaries now for our next Eltham fundraiser for the Rotary Foundation:
On Sunday 11th February 2018, all Eltham Rotarians and partners are invited to a ‘Summer Luncheon on the Deck’ at Graeme and Lyn Hardiman’s beautiful home at Rye, overlooking the waters of Port Phillip. A delicious smorgasbord will be generously catered by our hosts in true Hardiman's style for just $30 a head and BYO drinks. Enjoy the beach, the views, the raffle and fun. You will receive a personal invitation with full details shortly – but mark your calendars now – this is a day not to be missed with proceeds to the Rotary Foundation.
Come along to the North Eastern Regional NDIS Service Providers Expo on Tuesday 21st November, hosted by MetroAccess at Nillumbik Shire Council in partnership with the cities of Banyule, Darebin, Whittlesea and Yarra, and with Brotherhood of St Laurence, our regional Local Area Coordination team.
Over 50 disability providers will be exhibiting to support NDIS plans or your required disability services. There will be information sessions at 11am and 12pm with disability justice advocates and from the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
These sessions will give you the direct opportunity to ask your questions or raise your concerns about the NDIS.
George and I would just like to express our appreciation for being included in the amazing 2017 Rotary Eltham Festival which was a huge success judging by the crowds and the appreciative feedback we heard from the people we spoke to during the event.
What an amazing effort on behalf of your club members. As vendors of produce, we participate in a number of other major community events throughout the year, and they vary in style and quality considerably but I would have to say that your club is the most efficient and well organised of any of them - that's not to say the other events are not well organised, but just that we were as impressed as heck with what we saw at your event.
The layout and location works well and you use the space to maximum effect - even running buses to the Miniature Railway! I took a couple of breaks from selling and went for walks to see as much as I could and was just blown away - the festival just seemed to go on and on, yet was all well under control, and the crowds were thick everywhere - every feature area seemed to be well used and appreciated.
Everyone at Rotary was so kind and easy to deal with, and endlessly patient and helpful to us. It tickled my fancy to listen to people walking around wearing walkie-talkies saying "Roger" and "Out" but the proof of its efficiency was when we needed additional change and a radio call was put out that quickly resulted in someone sprinting to our tent to collect cash and returning a few minutes later with coins. God bless the walkie talkies! We also requested help to re-charge our EFTpos machine and it was no issue and help was immediately offered. Club members and volunteers wearing easily identifiable uniforms made our life easier too - we knew who we could approach for assistance at any point. I especially want to thank the members and their spouses who took on the jobs of cleaning up litter and rubbish - it makes such a difference when everything looks clean and tidy, and its a relatively unseen and thankless task - but does make a difference and is noticed by the likes of me. Also, we drive past the site every day on the way to and from our office - and by Tuesday the park was pristine! The Council must love you!
This event is a testament to the club's hard work and planning, and also might I say the quality of your people - I am the President of a not for profit organisation and understand better than most that volunteerism is a dying thing.
George and I benefited financially from the event and would like to give back a part of our profits. We have EFT'd $750 in cash, and also donated $150 worth of wine to your raffle prize.
We look forward to participating in future events, and thank you again for allowing us to be part of this year's Festival.
You should all be very proud of yourselves.
Kind Regards,
George Apted & Jan Miles
Shaws Road Winery 225 Shaws Road, Arthurs Creek 3099
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