Welcome

"Alone we can do so little – together we can do so much." (Helen Keller)

This month I was regularly struck over and over again by how much Rotarians and Rotaractors achieve by doing things together.

Much of my time was spent out west – a new group of clubs for me to visit in this our big District… and I chose not to do it alone. As we’re modelling the strength of our service clubs when we recognise the power of doing things together I asked the Immediate Past District Governors (Neil Black and Patrice Robinson) to join me for both trips.

Then we asked Mary and David from the Karana Bellbowrie Club to join the visit to Chinchilla, Dalby and Saint George Clubs – and finally were surprised when Paul and Jane from the Carindale club joined us at the St George DG visit. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Mary and David are landscape architects. I had simply believed that David was an environmentalist when I asked that he continued with the coordination of our annual tree planting - it will happen in April 2022. Both were more than a little interested when we visited the botanical garden in Chinchilla.

In Chinchilla we joined in the Gala Celebration – Under the Stars – a fantastic night of celebration of 100 years of Rotary and a great fund raiser coordinated by Jodi and Kevin of the Chinchilla Club. It was attended by many local Rotarians and community members and a great contingent of the Nomads – many on their way to help out at one of their major fund raisers - the Millmerrin Camp Oven Festival. Loads of laughter, dancing and AG Bryan was the first to win the pig at auction. He pleasantly offered it to me – but sad though it was, I rejected her and she became the star of the fund raising as she was auctioned twice more before anyone said they’d take her home. Neil took home a chain saw. Everyone shone in their 1920’s gear.

Partrice had organised all of the extra visits and on the Sunday quite a number of us joined together for a visit to places around Chinchilla (never knew that water skiing was a feature) and lunch at Condamine. It was quite funny when some of the many grey nomads (not of the Rotary kind) staying at Caliguel Lagoon came out to see what was going on when we descended. They were concerned that we had arrived for a loud and raucous party and were about to disturb their caravanning holiday.

In Roma we had the first meeting of Drought Committee – Bryan Payne, Wendy Byron and Terry Salmon – and discussed our way forward, recognizing that all groups look to meet changes as they emerge and that there is a need to keep learning. At the meeting we welcomed Peter and Nicki Thomas who gave us a perspective from The Farmer. There was a lot of similarity between what they said and what I discussed with the Dalby President, Ian Laylor, who had met with me as I was passing through. We have much to learn by seeing the views of each other – rural and urban clubs – and understanding how we can help all communities. I learnt later that Peter Thomas is an Uncle of our Board member Phoebe. The tendrils that bind Rotary are spread wide.

I’ve always wanted to see the Muckadilla BUP (Pub) and it was a gift to have a joint visit of the Roma and Mitchell Clubs there – an outstanding new facility – we shared laughter and fellowship as the members joined together.

"Strength lies in differences, not in similarities." (Stephen Covey)

As well as the visits out west I managed to spend time with some of our urban clubs – Balmoral, Woolloongabba, River City, Rotaract Pride, Sunnybank Hills, Centenary, Nambour and Nambour 76..and that’s not all.

RAWCS – Rotary Australia World Community Service

On 25th September the first of four District RAWCS updates took place at Bostock House. While not able to be there I’ve been pleased to hear that there was a good roll up and the various aspects of RAWCS were explained to those who went along.

John Paskin of the South Brisbane Rotary Club is the District Chair of RAWCS and can easily be approached for details of each of the programs if you’d like further information.

One of the RAWCS programs that you may well know is Donations in Kind (DIK). I visited DIK during the month – it’s the home of the satellite club attached to the Bribie Island Club - Environmental Repurposing. It was a hive of activity on the Thursday morning and I was assured that it is like this each Thursday – and on the Saturdays when Rotarians also visit to help with packing. We seem to have a regular supply of materials that our less well developed countries need but the missing link is the money that enables us to purchase and forward the containers.

Council on Resolution (COR) and Council on Legislation (COL)

Rotary International legislation operates on a three year cycle. The meeting of the COR takes place on line and makes recommendations that the Rotary International Board give consideration to – the COL meets in person (we will need to see if it can occur in that format in the first half of next year). Papers have been circulated for consideration and our representative – PDG Chris Wright will be voting on behalf of 9620. All matters for consideration through these processes must be proposed by Districts.

Chris will be discussing the papers with the Board during October/November in preparation,

Insurance for items held by Clubs and valued at more than $10k

The Rotary Insurance policy provides blanket coverage for most of our assets though in instances (usually for trailers/cars) when the Club values an item at more than $10k there will be a separate invoice for that item. Most of those invoices have already been distributed and the remainder will be with the clubs within the next week or so. This has been a long standing process and one that is adhered to across Australia. We’ve had feedback that the invoice for the item is below that accessed by seeking coverage outside of the Rotary policies.

The September 9620 Board meeting:

Along with our other business the following were decided/discussed by the Board -

• The AGM of the District will occur on November 7th (Sunday) in hybrid form. Members may join us at Bostock House or on line. The same process will occur for the Foundation seminar that will follow;

• Draft financial statements for District 9620 have been forwarded to the auditor in preparation for distribution;

• A financial management process for District 9620 finances that include those held for the purchase/organisation of a meeting or storage venue as required when the use of Bostock house in no longer available;

• The process of moving assets previously held by the individual districts has progressed;

• The Incident Report Form and the Risk Management Checklist are now loaded on the 9620 website under the Insurance heading; and

• The final versions of the Whistleblower and the Conflict Resolution policies are on the web site.

Just so you know:

I’m starting to get very excited about us coming together in Caloundra on 18th – 20th March, 2022 to celebrate our 9620 Conference. I hope you’re getting your accommodation organised.

Remember:

TEAMWORK GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN VISION INTO REALITY (John Maxwell)

Wendy Protheroe

Charter District Governor