Welcome

What a party!!!!!!!

A couple of weeks ago many of us from Rotary District 9620 shared a weekend together at Caloundra. Our very first Conference, and it certainly lived up to expectations.

At a time when in so many districts around the world there has been a cancellation of face to face conferences in favour of either an on-line event or none at all till next year, we were able to go ahead: 380 of us on the Saturday ---- a great roll up in a year of COVID and floods. If you didn’t manage to make it along then I hope you’ve asked someone who did to give you a tale of what they enjoyed. From our cocktail party on the Friday night, through two days of amazing speakers who showcased Rotary activities and community service, to a Saturday night gala dinner where we all enjoyed laughter, eating and dancing.

Our Rotary International President’s Representative at our conference JB Kamdran and his wife Marlene who’d travelled from India to join our experience was won over by the emphasis on all things Rotary, the energy and the enthusiasm they experienced and the world class place that we enjoyed at Caloundra. Outside of our venue we could walk to where we wanted to go, share meals at plenty of the local restaurants and for some of the more active participants there was the time to go for runs along the beach front (looked good – but those days for me are in the past)

Please take the time to pass on your thanks to your committee who put the conference together – led very well by Jenny Smith of the Sumner Park Club and representatives of fourteen clubs in total – some of who never got to meet in person until the conference itself. Zoom used with great skill.

Most of this month’s newsletter is made up of photos – memories for us to cherish of the charter conference of District 9620. Do More Grow More.

Our work to help those affected by the floods in our community is ongoing. We have distributed the full $34,500 received from the Rotary Foundation thought a Disaster Grant and are making our way through the additional $25,000 we’ve added to that grant from the funds we keep from the District Disaster Reserve.

As well, we have received 200 x $500 cards as a result of the RAWCS Flood Appeal and are in the process of distributing those cards to families still struggling to find their way back from the natural disaster. Thank you to all – I’ve been privileged to see Rotary in action.

Wendy

Charter District Governor (2021 - 2022)