Hello everyone. To borrow and cannibalise a saying: One week is a long time in Rotary....if you are waiting for a Bulletin to appear. Two weeks would be even longer, but the Editor's back o the job after a week on other (Rotary) duties. So you'll get two for the price of one.
On Monday 12 March 2018 we were again fortunate to have our two visitors from Kenya: Rotarian Victoria Sande and her partner Mpinga; and also our guest speaker James Dow, his parents Bill and Doreen and his brother Thomas. James had recently returned from Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) in Spain and made some very interesting observations about the benefits of RYE. We had hoped to report fully on this, but there've been more than a few glitches to prevent it. With a bit of luck we'll have it in the next edition of the Chronicles and for now will have to be content with a photo of James with it seems, inevitably, our Club Director of Youth Service, the inimitable Simon Cubitt.
However, complements of Ashley West's international toast, we did glean some information about James' Spanish hosts, the Rotary Club of Albacete. (See at right).
Continuing the theme of the "best laid plans of mice and men......" our guest speaker for 19 March 2018 was unable to attend,.So after delivering the international toast to The Rotary Club of Chandigarh (at right) and in true "can do" style, Parry Kahlon, stepped up to the plate to give an impromptu and illuminating Thumbnail sketch which we report below.
Next week, 26 March 2018, we will be presenting certificates to the Year 12 Willetton Senior High School (WSHS) Head boy and girl and to all ten office bearers of the WSHS Interact Committee. They'll be accompanied by their parents and this presentation will be followed by a "close shave" when student, Jay Brieffies will have her locks removed to raise funds for Variety's Hair With Heart. To donate to Jay Click Here . Simon Cubitt is also likely to "take the cut" and he's also looking for sponsorship from Club members. So dig deep!
See Simon's full report (below right) on Youth Service Activities and preparations for the Willetton Rotary Community Fair.
That brings us to Cole and the whole two weeks of his life Down Under. In the first week "danced the light fantastic" at his school ball and didn't miss the opportunity for a photo with his new host parents Emma and Kayne Kake.
We hear he carried these rhythmic skills on to the Gala dinner at the District conference last weekend where he was seen keeping perfect time with the music, while gyrating amongst a group of his fellow exchange students.We are bit surprised he wasn't weighed down after visiting the Margaret River Cheese and Chocolate factories and munching on a great tasting a local granola on the way down. He must have worked off some extra kilojoules the week before when Ashley West took him to fly like at eagle at iFly Skydiving in Rivervale, not to mention his regular body boarding, surfing and kayaking. He may also have regained some of his strength when he fell asleep watching the Rugby at Optus Stadium!
Speaking of District Conference, I have no hesitation in saying it was very, very good with a range of speakers setting a uniformly high standard on topics as varied as Communicating and Community; the extraordinary fund raising efforts for the homeless by the very dynamic twelve year old, Vincent Pettinicchio; Fatherhood as the thin red line between the healthy (or otherwise) development of children; to the Rotary Soapbox featuring ten five minute snapshots of local and international Rotary projects to illustrate "What is Rotary". The District also has a website devoted entirely to this. To view, Click Here.
The Rotary International President's Representative (RIPR-make of that what you will! ED), PDG Tim Moore.from the Rotary Club of Berwick was also impressive delivering his message in a familiar and effective Aussie fashion. He also impressed Cole with his observation that the Exchange students were very well behaved. That's a feather in their cap, but no doubt helped by a very watchful chaperone in PP Ross Grafton from the Rotary Club of Rossmoyne.
Ashley West and I met with representatives from the City of Canning and the Rotary Club of Rossmoyne to advance planning for the Tree Planting now tentatively scheduled for to occur on Tuesday 12 June 2018 at two parks yet to be selected and involving two teams of around fifteen each. The City is right behind the project and will be a great help in realising Rotary International President, Ian Riseley's vision.
During April while Secretary John is in Europe, Stuart Diggins will be holding the fort and dealing with all things Secretarial including Club duties.
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