Last Week's Meeting (31 October, 2023)
Sarah Burchell, the newly appointed Chair of the Stirling Business Association(SBA), was our invited guest speaker.
Married with three children, she and her husband purchased the popular
Cleveland Nursery in 2017 and, in addition to heading up the business association, manages the homewares shop,
Clevelend Home, on MT Barker Road in the centre of Stirling.
She is clearly passionate about being part of and giving to her local community and is active through the SBA and the council to support shopkeepers affected by the recent devastating Stirling Mall fire.
She certainly wanted to further the relationship between the SBA and the club and acknowledged our support to them in storing "Fluzy" their trailer storing tables and chairs used for Laneways and delivering and picking them up! (Thanks, David!)
This Week's Meeting and Club Forum (6 November, 2023)
President Malcolm announced that David Wing has offered to stand for the vacant position of Secretary in 2024-25. His appointment was endorsed by a show hands.
He also updated members on the situation facing 8 former members of the Onkaparinga club. Apparently they would like to join Stirling as a satellite club.
The matter was put to a vote of our members and the results affirmed our club's willingness to proceed (Yea 16, Nay 3).
President Malcolm suggested that members might wish to read
Rotary Guide to Satellite Clubs which sets out the requirements nd expectations of sponsoring clubs and the members of the satellite club. It may be found
HERE
The President and board will discuss this with DG Craig Dowling when he visits next week. Craig will be happy to talk with the members on this topic and any other during our regular meeting.
Further discussions with the group will be made to ask more questions and to establish how best we can support each other.
On Saturday, 11 November (Remembrance Day) at the 11th hour of the 11th month, we pause to reflect and commemorate those who lost their lives in the Great War and and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in wars since. Members are invited to attend the service from 10:00am at the Cenotaph on the grounds of the Stirling Coventry Library. Ron Malcolm and John N will lay a wreath in behalf of the club.
President Malcolm then opened a Members' Forum to consider the operation of the club now and into the future.
He launched the Forum with a comprehensive summary of every project, fundraising and community activity the club was involved in. It was clear from the outset that while it was a very impressive list, there were increasing doubts that, given the club's finite resources (human and financial) and the increasing reliance on several key people, the model was likely not sustainable for long into the future.
There followed robust discussion leading to many suggestions including prioritising the activities and projects we are good at and enthusiastic about. It was also suggested we identify a "Theme" or "Focus" for the club to simplify decision-making in the allocation of resources.
The President and members of the Board will review the outcome of the Forum and determine a response to put to members for further discussion.
The President's slide presentation detailing every activity or program the club is involved in is available for download
HERE.
Notes taken at the Forum are available
HERE
Annual General Meeting Draft Minutes Available
To download a copy of the recent Annual General Meeting
click HERE
Since the meeting, David Wing has kindly put up his hand to take on the Secretary's role in 2024-25.
Heathfield High School Round Table Presentations.
Members are invited to participate in small group discussions reviewing end of year student projects on Tuesday 28 November from 8:30 – 10:00am and/or 3:00 – 5:00pm. Volunteers may attend the morning or afternoon session and lunch will be provided for those able to do both. Members sit with a teacher to listen to presentations from students and then provide feedback and encouragement. So far we have Neil, Malcolm & Jane Horton, Rob, John N & Lyn and, Colin but a few more would be great.
Bushfire Ready Workshop
As we enter into what has been described as possibly one of the most dangerous fire seasons in years, in partnership with the CFS and the Adelaide Hills Council, we are hosting a public information night at our shed from 6:00pm on Monday, 20 November.
Please show you support by attending this important community event to help promote Rotary in the community. Register
HERE to attend
Membership
Mark Huddleston is our District 9510 Public Image and Social Media Guru who recently spoke at a Rotary Conference in Melbourne about Membership. It is certainly a presentation well worth your time to view and think about. This talk is packed with ideas that we can use immediately..
Fun Quiz
In his wisdom, President Malcolm has decided that he should put you out of your misery by giving you more time to complete the (simple) quiz he circulated at the meeting last week, It is supposed to be good for our brains to do things like this.
Here is a copy of the quiz. It's OK to cheat and get help from your children!
The Three Most Honest Minutes in US TV History!
The fictional character Will McAvoy in the TV series, The Newsroom, was brought in to revitalise a national cable news network, He is here seen as part or a panel in front of journalism students. Riveting stuff!
