Club Bulletin No 30, Vol 22, March 28 2003 The Cam |
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President's Message | Missed Meetings | ||||||||||
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March | Chris Lord, Denise Mitchell. | |||||||||||
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3rd Max Crittenden's Birthday |
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Rotary 4-Way Test 1. Is it
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Rotary Troika serves together so young pull ahead as readers Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. |
Boxed Gift Pens Available Now $15.00 each. No message this week. Have Your Ever Wondered Why sheep don't shrink when it rains? Why they are called apartments when they are all stuck together? If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress? Why they call the airport "the terminal" if flying is so safe Rotary Troika serves together so young pull ahead as readers Early in 2001, members of the Rotary Club of Fitzroy, new Plymouth, N.Z., attending a District 9940 gathering, heard of a Rotary reading assistance program in Wanganui. Impressed, they told other members of their club. Rotarian Don Taylor, who had been a senior principal in New Plymouth, devised a plan with the club's community/vocational committee to gain the support of principals and introduce the idea into New Plymouth schools. Rotarian Ron Lamount, of Wanganuie, forwarded details of the program and these formed the basis of an approach to a local primary school principal who, seeing merit in the idea, addressed the club on reading. The Probus clubs of Fitzroy Ladies, Fitzroy Men and Merrilands Ladies were addressed on the basic idea resulting in more than 30 volunteers. This was more than anticipated so more schools could become involved. Principals of Merrilands, Mangorei Road and Welbourn were invited to take part. They responded warmly so a plan was formulated to operate on Thursday mornings when none of the Probus clubs met, a time that was also suitable to the schools. Volunteers were asked to state their preference of schools and which session (9.30 am - 10.30 am or 11.00 am to midday) suited best It had been decided that if the involvement on each day was for one hour there would be a better chance of gaining and retaining assistance. By placing eight volunteers at each school, four in each session, it became clear that if anyone could not attend the scheduled time, all they had to do was ring a member of the other half of the morning to replace them, then repay the favour the following week. As well, a small group of on call relievers were created and not attached to a specific school. While it seemed that the ideal would be that each child would have the security of being with the same person each session, the reality is that senior citizens have many calls upon their time, experience health problems and engage in travel the evidence to date shows that reasonable numbers of changes to personnel do no cause any undue concern. The objective is to set in place a volunteer, a senior citizen who will spend one hour in a school, working one to one with children using a book selected by either the pupil or the teacher. During each hour three children come to the volunteer, so 20 minutes are available to be utilized with each, the actual time used within this period being at the discretion of the volunteer. In this way, the eight tutors in each schoolwork with a total of 24 children each week. Volunteers have guidelines and they attend an advisory session with a reading professional at the beginning of the school year. They are to be the audience for the child, assist then with the reading process, commend them for their efforts and establish a bond with a senior citizen. The class teachers select children who will attend, on the understanding that the more demanding, remedial children will not be included. One factor clear in the children's mind in that they have not been selected because they are a failure rather that their efforts are being rewarded, so they respond warmly to the opportunity. All four volunteers work within sight and hearing of one another, usually in the staff room or library, so that the integrity of the program is not in any way compromised. For eight weeks in the fourth term of 2001, the program operated on a trial basis and on the final day all volunteers mostly Probians, and the school principals, enjoyed a lunch organised by Fitzroy Rotary and managed by Fitzroy Inner Wheel. Three Rotary organizations came together with common purpose. Thanks were expressed by President Michael Regan and the four principals. Early in 2002, the three Probus clubs were re-visited and the number of volunteers increased to more than 60. Six schools are now involved and 146 children are heard to read each week. There are 62 volunteers and six Rotarians who act as liaison Rotarians, one to each school. At the suggestion of volunteers and a principal, a feature page was compiled and printed in the Taranaki Daily News newspaper. The feature was supported by advertisements paid for by local businesses. Another group of volunteers had worked at the Vogeltown School under the leadership of Rotarian Ian Russell, of the Rotary Club of New Plymouth North, N.Z., which also saw merit in the project. From Rotary Down Under March 2003 Literacy is certainly one of the greatest gifts and illiterate person can receive. It can change the lifestyle of an individual, family or society from one of servitude and depression to a life of dignity, pride and self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, being illiterate is a condition which exists in affluent countries such as Australia. Rotarians can make a significant contribution to the eradication of illiteracy. The template for this great work already exists, being established by District 9630 Past Governor Dick Walker, of the Rotary Club of Salisbury, Qld. His contribution is immeasurable. However, for the most part many people don't know Dick Walker, being unaware of his work to refine and establish the Concentrated Language Encounter Method (CLEM). Further, the partnership and wonderful track record of CLEM and Rotary in the eradication of illiteracy worldwide is not as well known as it should be. This is partly due to the justifiable prominence currently given to our quest to eradicate polio in the world by 2005. We will surely succeed in that endeavor. With that victory in sight, Rotary needs another common thread to bind us together, 'to do good in the world". What better worldwide program than the eradication of adult illiteracy. We have the people, we have the will, we have the template in CLEM, we have Dick Walker Mankind's need for dignity, self-sufficiency and freedom through literacy is surely as important as mankind's physical health. It will also be good for our collective souls. Ross Forgione Rotary Club of Archerfield, Qld. District 9640 Governor. Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. Where We Are At With RAWCS Within the District, RAWCS activity this year has tended to focus on support for East Timor. As the Dili Club is the newest in the District and our East Timor neighbours need all the help we can give it is appropriate to understand where our District and RAWCS are at . The Rotary Club of Dili was chartered on 30 November 2002. The Club is about 30+ strong and has a number of projects under way including a sponsorship program for local members. Club members are subsidising the meal and meeting costs for some local East Timorese business people as the cost of meetings is excessive when related to local income levels. Timor Leste (The Democratic Republic of East Timor) is the 164th Rotary country and is now a part of District 9550. Rotary now also has a full time Local Liaison Officer on the ground in East Timor - Chris Trueman. This position has been of tremendous assistance to Rotary's efforts and our credibility particularly with the new Government. As far as shipment of DIK goods is concerned you need to take the following into account. · Goods can only be imported free of duty and tax by organisations registered with the Tax Department in Timor Leste as bona fide charitable organisations (NGO's) with fully up-to-date registrations. · To be imported free of duty and tax, the goods must be for the direct use of the importing NGO, and must be for direct use in projects which have been registered with the Tax Department either via the latest annual report of the organisation, or by separate letter if commenced after preparation of the annual report. · Goods cannot arbitrarily be given away and cannot be sold. Goods for direct humanitarian aid such as 2nd hand clothes, or for educational purposes are allowed in duty free, but only if the organisation is set up to effectively deal with distribution of such aid directly to the recipients. RAWCS is registered with the Tax Department and is recognised as a bona fide charitable organisation, but only for projects about which the Tax Department has direct knowledge. Therefore the only goods, which should be imported in RAWCS name, are those for use in RAWCS projects. Don't forget that we are free to register new projects at any time however. Having said this, there is a continuing and unmet need to support Donations in Kind, particularly for transportation costs to get goods shipped to Dili. This results from requests from all over Australia seeking ways for people and organisations to find some means of getting goods to East Timor. Any support in this regard would be most welcome. The coordination and approval of new projects in Timor Leste, is also an area where Rotary's Local Liaison Officer is an invaluable assistance. The new Government is determined to ensure that services and facilities are placed where they want them rather than where someone on the spur of the moment decides to put them. By coordinating with our man on the ground early in the planing or conception phase these very necessary approvals can ensure that a project can in fact go ahead. PDG John McLaren District 9550 RAWCS Chair / RAWCS National Coordinator for East Timor A message from Caetano Guterres Head of Indonesia Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste To all my Rotarian friends, my honour and my profound gratitude to all Australian and Timor-Leste Rotarian, I would like to express my honour and my profound gratitude on the occasion when I was elected officially as a member of Timor-Leste Rotary member and receive the Rotary International PIN, TIMOR ROTARY FLAG and ROTARY HEAT in the Tourisma Hotel on Thursday 6/03/2003. That was the second historical time in my life! The first was the celebration of Independence of Timor-Leste and the second was the moment that I receive the Rotary Pin as a Rotarian! To be a Rotarian was a long awaited dream. I never believe that one day, I could become a Rotarian. I knew Rotary Club when I in prison during the occupation of Indonesia. I was in jail as a political prisoner from 1983 to 1989. When in prison I found one magazine of International Rotary Club, and I was very impressed with the vision and mission of ROTARY CLUB and I asked to an old and experienced friend if I could be a member of any Rotary Club, and the old friend said to me: " Caetano you are crazy, to be a Rotarian, you should be someone who is reach, you are a poor man, how you can be a Rotarian? He continue, you have no enough money to pay the fees, dinner and lunch also very expensive". It's a long story but any way, because the generosity of Melbourne Rotary Club all my dream became a reality, that's for me a miracle from God through Mr. Abel Guterres, Dr. Peter Clark and all the decision makers from Melbourne Rotary Club, I have nothing to give you in reciprocity, only God will give you the reward in Heaven. Best Regards Caetano Guterres Rotary Club of Atherton Rotary Club of Cairns Earlville Rotary Club of Cairns Sunrise Rotary Club of Darwin Sunrise Rotary Club of Mount Isa West Port Darwin Rotary Club Port of Townsville Rotary Club Rotary Club of Thuringowa Northern
Beaches Rotary Club of Townsville Central Well done!! Where are the rest????? How to control a run away camel! 1. Hang on to the reins, but do not pull them back hard in an attempt to stop the camel. A camel's head, unlike that of a wayward horse, cannot always be pulled to the side to slow it down. Camels are usually harnessed with a head halter or nose reins, and pulling on the nose reins can tear the camel's nose or break the reins. 2. If the camel has sturdy reins and a head halter, pull the reins to one side to make the camel run in a circle. Do not fight the camel; pull the reins in the direction the camel attempts to turn its head. The camel may change direction several times during the incident; let it do so. 3. If the camel has nose reins, hang on tight. Use the reins for balance, and grip with your legs. If there is a saddle, hold onto the horn. 4. Hold on until the camel stops. Whether the camel is running in circles or in a straight path, it will not run very far. The camel will sit down when it grows tired. 5. When the camel sits, jump off. Hold onto the reins to keep it from running off.
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