David Grant spoke about the Centurion Club and how a personal commitment of at least $100 per annum is required to join it.
The money collected from Centurion members goes to the Rotary Foundation to support its' efforts to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
Once a Centurion has donated the equivalent of US$1,000, they are eligible to receive a Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF). They may however, allocate the PHF to someone else.
Payments are tax deductible and receipts will be issued by the Rotary International Parramatta Office.
David advised that we currently have 48 active members and of these 34 (71%) are Centurions.
To join, or renew membership, it is necessary to fill out an application form, copies of which David had available. This allows for three different payment methods. His preference, for administrative reasons, is payment by credit card.
PE Isobel Caulfield reminded members that a fund-raising barbecue will be held at Bunnings Fountain Gate on Friday 3 May from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Sausages have been ordered and the set up will begin from 8:00 am.
Although we have several volunteers for the morning shift, more help is needed for the afternoon shift. Therefore, if you can help at the BBQ, it would be greatly appreciated.
Isobel also advised that she, Bob Lay AM and Rob Wingrave had attended a presentation of Federal Grants that was organised by Jason Wood MP for La Trobe.
A variety of organisations were there to receive their grants including the Men's Shed, and Rotary Club of Casey.
Our Club received a $2,000 grant for the purchase of several Walkie-Talkie radios and steel boxes for storage in The Shed. The presentations were followed by a pleasant morning tea.
Isobel also advised that she had attended the District Assembly and Avenues of Service in Warragul at the weekend. The District Protection Officer spoke about Child Protection and Insurance. She also learned about the many projects that Rotary is involved in.
Di Double then reminded everyone about the upcoming Progressive Dinner. Details are included later in this bulletin. Note that RSVPs should be sent to Kay Rankin.
David Collyer, President of the Berwick & District Benevolent Society, invited me to join him when he attended the Cardinia Presbyterian Church on Sunday 28 April, for their Harvest Festival service.
I am guessing there was around 20 maybe 30 people at the Church and we were made to feel welcome. I felt like I was in a very rural old fashioned Church and it was great. It was the Harvest Festival and I could see a table in front of us all with all kinds of groceries and vegetables on it and under it.
When we got to the end of the Church Service, David was called upon to take all the gifts that the people had brought for the Berwick & District Benevolent Society. David together with a couple of other gentlemen loaded all the food into David’s car.
In the meantime, I was asked to come up to the front of the Church where a gentleman told me he was going to give me cheques and cash that people belonging to the Church were giving to the Benevolent Society. All of this was put into a large envelope which I put into my handbag and later gave to David. The donations totaled $1,500.
Then the ladies put on a very nice morning tea. All handmade fruit cakes and little tarts etc. I was offered tea or coffee and everyone there made me feel most welcome.
I believe the parishioners are farming people who have lived in the district for many years. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and at the same time I was amazed how kind and giving they all were.
David was able to go to Casey North Community Information and Support Service (CNCISS) taking all the wonderful gifts. which would be handed out in the community to people who needed support.
I am now looking forward to visiting once more with David towards the end of this year, when the Cardinia Church will once again hold a Christmas Service.
PP Peter Batterham reminded everyone that the Berwick College Presentation Balls will be held on Tuesday 14 May, Wednesday 15 May and Thursday 16 May at The Grand, Cathies Lane, Wantirna.
There are 68 debutantes participating this year and so the Balls are spread over three nights, rather than two. Four of the boys are partnering several debutantes over the three nights.
The debutantes and their partners will be presented to President Geoff and Di Double at the Wednesday Ball. Those participating at the Tuesday and Thursday Balls will be presented to the College Principal, Kerri Bolch.
The Balls have already raised approximately $90,000 and may ultimately exceed $100,000.
Several of the Presentation Ball committee will be unavailable, so Peter requires assistance from other Club members over the three nights to manage guest entry and other jobs.
Helpers will need to be there from 6:00 pm onwards, as the doors open at 6:30 pm. However, there is no need to stay until the end at 11:00 pm.
Those assisting can bring their partners at no cost. If you can help, please let Peter know.
PP David Collyer advised that the Club has been asked to conduct mock interviews for 204 students at Nossal High School.
Since we have quite a few activities happening in May, including the presentation balls, he has suggested that the interviews be conducted from 17 - 19 June, just before their term break.
He will need about 10 interviewers operating on each day to get through the large number of students and each will need to have a current "Working with Children" card.
If you can assist with the interviews, please let David know.
Bob Lay AM provided an update on Tara Wilkinson, who is our international exchange student in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA.
Tara traveled with her host family to Omaha, Nebraska for Easter. She is about to move to her second host family on 7 May.
Recently, she attended the District 5580 conference in Minot, North Dakota, where she got to meet the other exchange students in the same District.
She is still enjoying her school and has taken part in a Track meet, participating in the 100m dash, 4 x 100m relay and long jump. Her coaches are encouraging her to do hurdles as well.
Tara will be going to the Prom this weekend, which she says will be "Super exciting".
On another topic, Bob advised that PP Gus Dominguez has submited applications to the City of Casey for grants for the Australia Day, Carols by Candlelight and Charity Golf Day events. These will be for a 3-year period and the grant applications closed on Tuesday.
Bob also advised that there will be an audit and clean-up of The Shed on Saturday 4 May from 8:00 am to mid-day. If you can assist, please bring some gloves and a broom.
Sandi Tarant provided the following information on the familiar Rotary International emblem.
A wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made by Chicago Rotarian, Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel with a few lines indicating dust and motion.
The wheel was said to illustrate "Civilization and Movement" and most of the early Clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads.
Finally, in 1922, it was decided that all Rotary Clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the present gear wheel with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted by the Rotary International Association".
Then a group of Engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a "keyway" in the centre of the wheel, to attach it to a power shaft.
Therefore, in 1923, the keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.
Di Scheepers was our Guest Speaker for the evening and presented information on the Asset Management Accountability Framework (AMAF) introduced in Victoria in 2016.
The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) published guidelines to support Departments and Agencies to achieve compliance with the AMAF. They also established an inter-departmental working group to drive its' implementation. Compliance is mandatory!
Asset management is a coordinated activity over the 4 lifecycle stages of planning, acquisition, operation & disposal, with leadership and accountability at the centre. Di was able to link her talk to the Rotary Club of Berwick's shed equipment audit and cleanup over the next weekend! This is an example of good asset management!
In terms of assessment against AMAF, Departments approached the assessment in different ways, some opting for a self-assessment approach and others for an independent assessment. However, self-assessment does lack some objectivity. Once the gaps were known, actions can be taken to address the gaps.
Di explained that the journey hasn't been easy and there are still improvements to be made. However, the AMAF has focussed attention on how Departments manage their assets.
She has worked in three government portfolios, Public Housing, a short stint in Health Services and most recently in Court Services Victoria. Her role has been a combination of asset planning and program formulation.
The Public Housing portfolio involved asset management of 65,000 houses and the Health Services portfolio covered 76 health services with a $24 million budget.
The need and budget are the starting points in formulating a program, and ensuring all stakeholders are consulted and the service needs of the client are identified.
Some activities are able to be planned and more accurately budgeted for i.e. upgrade or renovation and acquisition. A responsive maintenance budget is allocated on demand.
The Asset Management Council of Victoria provided essential training for staff (http://www.amcouncil.com.au/). Di volunteers for this organisation as the lead for Victoria's Women in Asset Management.
David Grant mentioned he was a little uncertain about this 'AMAF', so Di presented him with an Asset Management Council pen, which includes pull out instructions on good asset management.
May is our Youth Service month with Rotary Clubs the world over, managing many projects entirely dedicated to youth!
Some projects that you see which are common between clubs, districts and zones are RYPEN (Youth Camp for 14-16 year olds), RYLA (Leadership enablement for young adults), RYSF (Rotary Youth Science Forum), as well as Youth Exchange.
Each of these are beacons that enable participants to build a better world, as well as improve their own circles.
Beyond these core programs, clubs have their own youth specific projects out there, each doing good in the world and improving the lives of others.
(Photos provided by Sandi Tarant and PE Isobel Caulfield)
NOTICES
Mystery Progressive Dinner on Saturday 25th May, 2019 at 6.30pm
Members and partners of the Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs of Berwick are invited to participate in this highly popular event.
For this to work, all participants must be prepared to host a course with accompanying drinks. Fancy cooking is NOT a pre-requisite, the company, and getting to know people in the privacy and ambience of our homes is the reward for the evening. Pre-purchased food is quite acceptable for those not confident in the kitchen.
Nominated couples prepare an entree course with accompanying drinks for three couples.
At 6.00 pm two couples arrive at their home, and the 6 sit down for entree/soup course.
At 6.45 pm the hosts open an envelope and let everyone know where each couple is to head off for main course. (One or two of these couples may be going back home to serve main course to their mystery guests).
At 7.15 pm two couples will arrive at the nominated main course home and the 6 different people will enjoy main course together with accompanying drinks. At 8.15 the next envelope will be opened to let these three couples know where each is headed for dessert course.
At 8.45 pm two couples will arrive at the nominated dessert course home to share dessert course together and at 9.30pm the final envelope will be opened to announce where everybody participating will congregate for coffee/tea.
At 10.00 pm everyone will arrive at the final home for tea/coffee, chocolates and reminiscences about where they have been all evening and who they have socialised with.
If you are single and do not have a friend to partner up with, the organisers can either partner you up with someone, or we can slot single people in.
If you wish to participate in this fun event, please be aware that a lot of juggling by the organisers goes into fitting all participants into the homes, so a firm commitment is required so that other participants are not disappointed if you fail to turn up and host a course on the night.
Please fill in the accompanying sheet with your names, which course you would prefer to serve (some adjustments may need to be made according to demand), and how many you can accommodate around your dining table, in case we don’t have equal numbers of participants, and your mobile number for communication if required. Please send the completed sheet to kayandgeoffrankin@bigpond.com.
Envelopes stating which course you will be hosting, where you will be going for entree (not to be opened before 5pm on the day) and containing destinations for your guests (not to be opened before the guests are present in your home), will be distributed to you approximately one week before the event.
Please do not discuss what course you are hosting with others before the event. The element of surprise is a great part of the fun.
RSVP by 11th May
Mystery Progressive Dinner Information
Name:
Partner’s Name:
Preferred Course
Table size:
Mobile Phone no:
Note The Dates
Date
Activity
Venue
Time
Wednesday
8 May
Canning Stock Route meeting with RC of Narre Warren
David Grant spoke about the Centurion Club and how a personal commitment of at least $100 per annum is required to join it..jpg)
PE Isobel Caulfield reminded members that a fund-raising barbecue will be held at Bunnings Fountain Gate on Friday 3 May from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. .jpg)
David Collyer, President of the Berwick & District Benevolent Society, invited me to join him when he attended the Cardinia Presbyterian Church on Sunday 28 April, for their Harvest Festival service. .jpg)
PP Peter Batterham reminded everyone that the Berwick College Presentation Balls will be held on Tuesday 14 May, Wednesday 15 May and Thursday 16 May at The Grand, Cathies Lane, Wantirna..jpg)
PP David Collyer advised that the Club has been asked to conduct mock interviews for 204 students at Nossal High School..jpg)
Bob Lay AM provided an update on Tara Wilkinson, who is our international exchange student in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA.
Sandi Tarant provided the following information on the familiar Rotary International emblem..jpg)
Di Scheepers was our Guest Speaker for the evening and presented information on the Asset Management Accountability Framework (AMAF) introduced in Victoria in 2016.
May is our Youth Service month with Rotary Clubs the world over, managing many projects entirely dedicated to youth!
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