As you all would realise by now, considering the last few emails I have sent members, I am finding it difficult to write anything positive for this newsletter.
We urgently need to resolve the direction of the club as I feel, without having a full exec for next financial year, we are facing possible closure or certainly a reduction in what can be achieved.
My focus for the next few meetings will be discussion between us all on looking at ways this can prevent this from happening.
I will have more information to send out early next week.
Stay safe and well.
Create Hope in the World.
Regular and Annual General Meeting 17 October, 2023
On Monday, John Osborne was appointed to chair the 2023 Annual General Meeting.
17 financial Members were present to review the club's progress, its financial position and to elect the leadership team for the Rotary Year 2024-25. Our thanks to Pauline Annear who was appointed Treasurer and Director of the Finance and Administration Committee, Grant Andrew who will head up Membership and Andew Cass and Rob Hill who put their names forward for Projects and Youth respectively. Stephen Blacketer has nominated for President Elect (2024-25) and Malcolm Horton will sit on the Board as Past President.
While we have a few continuing Directors the crucial roles of President, Vice-President and Secretary remain vacant!
President Malcolm urged every member, including those who were apologies that night, to seriously consider stepping up to support the club.
The rest of the meeting was given over to fellowship and a fun team quiz which proved too challenging for most, but members were allowed to take the quiz home to puzzle over some more.
Our New T-Shirts Have Arrived and are Now available for Pickup!
A very distinctive and colourful design!
President Malcolm thanked David Hogan for putting up his hand to pick them up!
Time to do some Serious Soul Searching!
As President Malcolm has highlighted, we need to hold a serious discussion within the club about our future in view of declining attendance levels at meetings (only 17 members attended to important Annual General Meeting on Monday) and fewer members are volunteering for leadership roles and for club events.
As you would be aware by now, the Rotary Club of Mt Barker had organised a joint dinner and fun debate for Monday night which we were happy to accept. The Board, with some degree of embarrassment, had to withdraw our club from the event at short notice as there was insufficient interest among our members. There will be no club meeting here on Monday as a result.
This disappointment, following the failure to appoint any one to of the three top Board positions currently vacant (President, Vice President and Secretary) The days of simply relying on the club stalwarts is no longer an option. It is up to those who may not have until now, considered nominating for Board membership, to put up their hands.
One of the important objectives and benefits of Rotary is the development of Leadership Skills! Developing such skills in a safe and nurturing environment will serve members well for a lifetime.
As he indicated, President Malcolm will chair wide-ranging discussions with members to see where we go from here. PLEASE give some deep thought to the problem of declining attendance and if you MIGHT be persuaded to step up, remember that there is lots and lots of help available.
Be Bushfire Aware!
In partnership with the local CFS and Adelaide Hills Council, we are hosting a free Bushfire Preparedness Information Night on Monday, 24 November at 6:00pm at our shed on Old Mt Barker Road.
We will publish reminders as the event approaches but please mark your calendars NOW as all members are encouraged to attend.
Hopefully there will be something in the workshop to interest you whether you live in a higher risk zone or not, but it will be very import to show club's relevance to the community by having a good crowd.
Volunteer Opportunities!
The club will be catering at the 2023 Stirling Christmas Pageant on Friday, 3 December.Follow this link to see what shift coverage is still required.
Also, the Tour Down Under returns to Stirling on Saturday, 20 January. This is always a fun event with a sizeable local crowd. This is an important revenue producing event for the club and a great opportunity to profile the club and, even, to woo potential members. Check the details and Sign up HERE
...and on a More Light-Hearted and Optimistic Note...
Abe and Esther are flying to Australia for a two week vacation to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Suddenly, the Captain announces, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am afraid I have some very bad news. Our engines have ceased functioning
The good news is that see an island below us and we should be able to land on the beach. However, The bad news, though, is that it is uncharted and the odds never be rescued!"
Thanks to the skill of the flight crew, the plane lands safely on the island.
An hour later Abe turns to his wife and asks, "Esther, did we pay the mortgage this month?"
"No, sweetheart," she responds.
Abe, still shaken from the crash landing, then asks, "Esther, did we pay our Visa and Mastercard yet?"
