What a week we have had in our fundraising circles. The effort that everyone has gone to in supporting our initiative to raise funds for Youth Mental Health, has left me in awe.
Thank you to all the teams that have come onboard this year. Pam Wood will give a final summation of the event when we have concluded, and all moneys have been accounted for. Thank you Pam. It is a huge effort to get the website organised, but it is so much easier for all our participants to come in and look at what has been achieved. All the information is there, and our joining with the Rotary Clubs of Macquarie Park and Ryde, has been fantastic. Our Local, State and Federal politicians also came onboard. Fantastic support.
Some of our Club's Board members and Avenue of Service Chairs, attended the District Assembly on Saturday 4 May and the fourth was truly with us. We belong to an amazing group of people. To speak with and make new friends along the way was so exciting for me, as the outgoing president.
I am continuing with the Youth portfolio, sharing with Mandy Van. I attended the Youth breakout group, chaired by Greg Keirnan. There were about 6 people there, who have not been involved in the Youth portfolio before, and it made me realise, that I do have knowledge now about the Youth programs, that we could speak to each other about, shared experiences, all the different initiatives that Clubs have, and how they go about including the youth of their areas in the everyday life of their Clubs.
We are surrounded by the leaders of the future, and if Rotary is to evolve and survive, it is these youth we need to be including in initiatives of Rotary. Starting at school level, with the RYPEN program, the Science Experience, leading into RYLA, and Rotaract. Then continuing into full Rotary membership. Most importantly was Greg letting people know where and how to find information. It is all there on the District 9685 website. If anyone has any further Youth initiatives, they think we should look at, lets chat.
Our Youth Exchange program is going to continue within the club, although in a different format. We will be joining with the Rotary Club of Ryde, to host a young lady from Japan. I was thrilled to hear we have our 4 host families organised, and the student will be arriving in July 2024. Ryde Club will do the organising, and we will partner with them, under the guidance of Dr. Juliet Chen. I am personally, very grateful that we can continue this valuable program. Just ask any person who has experienced an exchange program, and they exude the excitement and the benefits of this program.
We will also be having a Friday night roster, where our members will be asked to take our student out and about or involve her with a family dinner. This will help keep the student involved in our clubs and give her a truly Rotary cultural experience.
We will be having our combined Board meeting on Tuesday 28 May 2024, for the outgoing and incoming Board. Please have all your reports ready for that time. If there are any points of discussion for the incoming Board, please let me know.
I am now calling for reports from all the Avenues of Service too. Please send to our Secretary, Bob Selinger. We need these collated and ready to print in the Annual report by the end of May 2024.
The planning for our annual celebration dinner for my presidential year, is coming along. May I ask that all club members reply and pay for the dinner please. Let me know any dietary requirements with this reply. Thank you.
As our year draws to an end and the exciting new year approaches, it is a very busy time for all. I thank you all again for your support throughout this last year.
Until next time,
Bernie.
