The weeks are flying by and as I write this report there are only 307 days til Christmas, now that’s scary. Great to see ADG Greg Noonan at our meeting this week and our Guest Speaker Shawn McCormick who spoke to us about the Weeroona College Alternative Timetable “WAT” program which is designed to help kids who struggle with the normal school process to re engage and help develop educational and life skills through applied learning.
Shawn is looking for opportunities to provide the students with real like skills, he is keen to provide them with training in areas such as First Aid and OH&S certification and perhaps other skills such as Barista training etc. He is also looking for opportunities within community for the students to work on projects that might develop work and social skills.
He’s keen to introduce motivational and life skills gust speakers throughout the year an maybe this is an area Rotary can assist.
If you have any ideas, suggestions or would like to help out in any way let me me know or contact Shawn direct at Weeroona College.
We held a board meeting on Monday the 15th from that there where a number of items raised.
• Through feedback discussion we believe there is an opportunity to improve our regular meetings, we think we’ve fixed he Microphone issue but want to improve the meeting flow and control. We’ll do this in 2 ways.
1. We are asking for 4 to 5 volunteers to rotate the role of Chairperson. To ensure meetings are run on time, orderly and professional, to properly introduce our guest speaker , control the Questions and where appropriate perhaps share a story or two that’s relevant and maybe humorous to the club or a club member. It is not meant to replace the sergeant session.
2. Remove the Sergeant session from all meetings. If there is an important story to tell or or something funning happened to a rotarian then the Chairperson may choose to mention it. This will also give a little more time for fellowship.
• The Club has agreed to donate $2,000 to Bendigo Food share.
• The club will set up and roster rotarians to work on a Rotary display at the Easter Market, handing out information and speaking about Rotary to the public. We would like some volunteers to do this, it might mean you don’t have to cook a sausage, if that helps.
• The last Thursday of very month (except December) will be an informal social gathering which could be a meal at a hotel, a movie or theatre or some sort of activity to have some fun. This month on the 25th it will be dinner at the Belmont, you can either book direct, talk to John Canon just turn up for a drink from 6.30ish
Member survey we had 31 responses, which was pleasing in the end, thanks to all that completed the survey. I have compiled the data and prepared the graphs and just need to complete all the comments and bring them together in a concise and logical manner. I hope to complete all this over the weekend and will email the results to all members for any final comments or thoughts. The Board will then meet to discuss and action were appropriate.
Don’t forget if you have any interest in being involved in any of the East Timor projects please complete the Expression of interest form, refer to previous emails, and return on Wednesday morning. I will have copies available on Wednesday for those that don’t have one.
The Bendigo Rotary Club night golf on the 18th of March, Remember we’ve booked 2 teams for some social par 3 night golf fun so please let me know if you would like to play ASAP so we can lock our teams in.
Paul
