President's Message

Computer glitches have aborted the President's message this week. No President's message but Bill Gates sends his regards.

Steve

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Ted Elliot Testimonial Youth Assisitance Fund

A MESSAGE FROM THE R.I. PRESIDENT

ARHRF a winner at Rosehill:

Rotary barbecue trailer missing:

September focus on youth:

Invitation to Kenya and Panama:

Forty-five years 100 per cent attendance:

Committed to new R.I.theme:

Pot-Pourii has done it again:

Ninety and proud to be a Rotarian:

Show success for Airlie Beach:

Cairns Mulgrave Rotary Club

Boxed Gift Pens Available Now

$15.00 each.
Please see Secretary Mike if you would like one

Art Union Tickets:
Please hand in sold tickets

Lawrence Edward (Ted) Elliot
Testimonial Youth Assistance Fund

Donations are being sought to establish the Lawrence Edward (Ted) Elliot Testimonial Youth Assistance Fund for the assistance of disadvantaged and isolated youth achievers throughout Far North Queensland.

From Rotary Down Under August 2002

A MESSAGE FROM THE R.I. PRESIDENT

Focus on quality, the numbers will take care of themselves

Dear fellow Rotarians,

When I joined the Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Bangkok, Thailand, in 1958 I did not have a true understanding of Rotary's mission or meaning.

While I maintained good attendance and paid my dues on time, I was not one to volunteer for the real work of Rotary - the service projects. In short, I was a Rotarian on paper, but not in spirit.

All that changed one day when I was asked to participate in a project to help fatherless boys. One child in particular reached out to me, and I found myself reaching back. In a matter of hours, my heart had been touched by the magic of Rotary.

I fell that the human side of service, getting personally involved in a project close to one's heart, is the most effective way to involve and motivate new members. It gives Rotarians a sense of belonging and purpose, both in the club and in the community. Personal service, not "purse service", is also the key to retaining experienced members who want to contribute their valuable skills and resources.

August is Membership and Extension Month, an ideal time to introduce a friend to Rotary. With our goal of increasing membership to 1.5 million by 2005, Rotary's centennial year, we need to focus on bringing in younger members and those of diverse backgrounds and vocations.

Since July, 1998, more than 400,000 Rotarians have left their clubs - more than one-third of our total membership!

Last year's Global Quest was an excellent start to reverse then trend of declining membership, but we must continue our efforts. While boosting membership is important, attracting qualified candidates is even more critical. I believe that if we focus on quality, the numbers will take care of themselves. In our enthusiasm to bring new people into Rotary, we sometimes forget to bring Rotary into the person.

In the tradition of Paul Harris, I also encourage you to use the classification principle to ensure a balanced and diverse membership, one that represents your community. I further ask that clubs update and expend their classification roster to reflect the many new vocations in the fields of computer technology and science.

An updated roster is a valuable tool in mining the human resources available in each community.

One of the greatest gifts you can give is the joy of Rotary service. This month we must all ask ourselves "What can I do to increase membership and share the gift of Rotary?" Each of us can do our part to Sow the Seeds of Love that will take rot around the world.

By sharing the gift of Rotary, we find fulfillment by helping others. It is only then that we understand the true meaning of Rotary and its ability to touch the heart.

Bhichai Rattakul President,

Rotary International.

From Rotary Down Under August

2002 NEWS BULLETIN

ARHRF a winner at Rosehill:

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund Awareness Race Day at picturesque Rosehill Gardens in Sydney's west netted another $A30, 000 for the fund.

The special day is well supported by Sydney's tri Districts - 9680, 9690 and 9750 - and provides a wonderful day of fun and fellowship.

Rotary barbecue trailer missing:

A barbecue trailer, custom-built by the Rotary Club of Mosman, N.S.W., for fund raising, is missing.

A distinctive blue and stainless steel trailer with the number plate N71509, it was missing fro its permanent parking spot in security parking area, at Bridgpoint shopping center at Spit Junction on May 1. Entry and exit to the parking area is by security card only.

The trailer had just returned from its first job and is equipped with a large hotplate, preparation bench, hot water, and waste systems. It is valued at $A10, 000. Anyone with information on the missing trailer should contact a representative on 02 9969 7611 (B) or 02 9417 8192 (AH).

September focus on youth:

Is your club sponsoring a Rotary Youth Exchange student or Interact club?

If not, consider taking part in these popular programs in September, New Generations Month. Your club can serve your people I your community through literacy programs, acting as mentors, building recreational facilities, and funding student scholarships. You can also assist young people through a World Community Service project or by supporting PolioPlus. Visit R.I.'s Web site at www.rotary.org.

Invitation to Kenya and Panama:

R.I. President Bhichai Rattakul invites Rotarians to exchange ideas and enjoy fellowship at Presidential Conferences of Peace and Development in Kenya and Panama.

The Nairobi conference on February 21-23, 2003, will focus on health and development issue, including AIDS prevention and polio eradication. A project partnering fair and sessions on The Rotary Foundation will be held.

The Panama City conference on vocational programs, sustainable development, and combating poverty in the America's. The meeting will also offer a project fair and discussion sessions on The Rotary Foundation.

Further information: visit www.rotary.org or dial the Fax back service, (503) 721-3094

Forty-five years 100 per cent attendance:

The Rotary Club of West Toowoomba, Qld., has recognised Past President George Strohfeldt for 45 years of 100 per cent attendance.

Fittingly, the club also acknowledged the wonderful support of George's wife Audrey with an appropriate presentation.

Committed to new R.I.theme:

The Rotary Club of Bendigo South, Vic. Has many committed, dedicated members but the spirit of Rotarian Trevor Phillips is truly admirable.

So impressed was he with the announcement of President's Bhichai's new Rotary International theme Sow the seeds of Love a few months back, he immediately proposed to Helen Monotti. Helen accepted and the wedding could be a very "Rotary" occasion.

Pot-Pourii has done it again:

That incredibly talented music theatre-cabaret-concert group, Pot-Pourri, is flying Australia's musical flag high again.

The group recently returned from a hit performance at the International Music Theatre Festival in Korea where they were the only Australian group invited to perform.

As a result, the group now has been booked for major events in Singapore, China and Sydney. Pot-Pourri's acclaimed show A Night on Broadway has been booked for a season at the 2000-seat Summit Theatre in Japan later this year.

Pot-Pourri is always keen to assist any special Rotary function or event and always offers discount rates.

Enquiries to Music Theatre Australia - (03) 9682 9689 (phone), (03) 9682 9687 (fax), or email: Enquries@MusicTheatreAustralia.com.au.

Ninety and proud to be a Rotarian:

The Rotary Club of Robinvale-Euston,Vic. and N.S.W., (District 9520) is very proud of its member Bert Knight who is 90 years of age and proud to be a Rotarian.

Bert has been an active member since charter of the club in 1958. He was honoured with Paul Harris Fellow recognition in 1995 and has always led the way with attendance at meetings and working bees.

He is the club's star raffle ticket seller, keeps attendance records, and quickly turns down his hearing aid when the sergeant approaches at club meetings.

Show success for Airlie Beach:

Even before the last of the spectators passed through the turnstiles at this year's inaugural Whitsunday Rotary Boat Show, nearly two-thirds of the exhibitors had re-signed for the 2003 event.

Organised by the Rotary Club for Airlie Beach, QLD., and held on the Queen's Birthday weekend, the organisers were delighted with the public response. Even though torrential rain greeted the event on the first morning, there was little let-up as far as patronage was concerned.

Over the two-day event, 6,150 adults passed through the turnstiles, with several thousand more children, who were admitted free, and were admitted free, and another estimated 2,000 people who visited the marina boat displays.

Rotarian chairman of the boat show, Ian Roebuck, said: "The 2002 event had 70 covered displays, 25 trailer boats and 14 boats in the Abel Point Marina. Marine demonstrations, fashion parades, music and a food and wine festival were on the program.

Into the second day, we had already received commitments from more than 40 exhibitors who booked space for the 2003 event. We expect that with the response we have received and our initial planning for the next year, that this event will grow considerably."

Next year's event (Queen's Birthday weekend of June 7 and 8), will fall two weeks after the Gold Coast's Sanctuary Cove show, thereby providing more time for exhibitors to be able to include by the major Queensland boat shows in their schedules.