Stories
   
The Phoenix 20th November 2022

Tonight we welcome DG Mina Howard and induct two new members
Kim Mannion and Wendy Stein
From President Marilyn
Hello again,
This week we are pleased that our 9685 District Governor, Mina Howard, is attending our meeting for her Official Visit. We thank her for her support and for the numerous times she has attended our meetings.
Once again we had an enjoyable evening at the Rotary Clubs of NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards. It was great to share it with Ross Johnson and our past member Fleur Hourihan.
The great news for our club this week is the success of Lucy Hobgood -Brown’s grant application. Please read the following “Congratulations” item.
At present we have members working on their projects here and overseas. At present we have Barbara (permanently) in Kenya, Judith in Timor Leste, Jeff in Cambodia.
Lucy is in Oregon, USA, celebrating Thanksgiving with her family. Kian is in Malaysia.
We wish you all safe travels.
Our next meeting’s guest will be Past Rotary International President Ian Riseley, who is the current Chair of The Rotary Foundation.  Please advertise this widely for 4 December.
On Wednesday 23 November I have been invited to speak about Rotary e-clubs at the Rotary Club of Umina Beach. All of our members are invited to attend.  Please let me know asap if you wish to come – 6:00 PM at Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy. Meals cost $15-25.
Welcome to the new members who are joining our club this meeting: Kim Mannion, and Wendy Stein
Until next time
Marilyn
 
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Australia in 2021 the Rotary Club of Balwyn will donate a significant portion of its annual income generated from its Camberwell Sunday Market to assist other Rotary Clubs in Australia in their humanitarian endeavours. Since 1976 the Sunday Market has become a Melbourne icon and tourist attraction and the many millions of dollars generated from the Sunday Market has enabled the RCB to start many major community projects and assist in philanthropic initiatives within Australia and internationally.
The Rotary Club of Balwyn is sharing its good fortune by providing Balwyn Centenary Grants to other Rotary Clubs to give their members the opportunity to fulfill their dreams in making the world a better place.
The Rotary Club of Balwyn has committed approximately $1,000,000 over the next 5 years to aid other Rotary Clubs in Australia.
Well done Lucy Hobgood-Brown. News has just come that her application for a grant of AUD 33,264 to construct a community hub at Lotumbe, DRC, has been successful.  I will leave it to Lucy to talk about this later. 
 
 
 
 
From the Environment Team.
We recently had a very exciting brain storming session re possible projects. We have come
up with some incredible ideas which are very daunting but worth thinking about?
Here are some websites Doug has dug up re EV and Solar electricity in Rotary Parks
“Recharge in a Rotary Park”
We recently had a very exciting brain storming session re possible projects. We have come
up with some incredible ideas which are very daunting but worth thinking about?
Here are some websites Doug has dug up re EV and Solar electricity in Rotary Parks
“Recharge in a Rotary Park”
https://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/story/5795151/rotary-park-is-looking-smart/
https://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/my-council/news-and-publications/news/brunswick-electric-vehicle-hub-leading-the-charge-in-ev-uptake/
https://www.inside.unsw.edu.au/campus-life/new-solar-powered-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-unveiled-unsw
https://christiesbeachprofessionals.com.au/2018/12/solar-powered-charging-bench-to-be-installed-at-rotary-park/
 

The out there idea we had was to raise funds, obtain a government grant to set up a Rotary Park and install solar barbecues, EV charging station and such like. As I said a blue sky brain storming session.
Another idea is to encourage local schools and councils to put Bee Hotels in their parks and gardens, similar to the Peace Pole Project. The Hotels could have a 4-star B & B rating and a Rotary logo!
These projects could be installed in conjunction with other Rotary Clubs and/or at District level.
Closer to home and more down to earth here are some very good sites to check on how and what to recycle from home.
Planet Ark, Lids for Kids, Redcycle and of course your local council website.
Hope you are trying the initiatives on our Initiative Sheet – they might seem like small steps but remember every small step counts, helps the Planet, reduces pollution and makes us feel good because we are doing something useful as is the role of all Rotarians!
Thanks for your participation.
On a personal note I have just received my ESRAG Ambassadors Certificate for completing the training course.
Update from Lucy - Hand Up Congo
Dear David and members of Rotary Club Addison:  a HUGE thank you from Lotumbe village and HandUp Congo for your support of women’s livelihoods! Please find a photo received today,
 
          
showing the three women who will soon travel by canoe 300 km from Lotumbe to Mbandaka, to strengthen their sewing skills and learn leadership and project management skills. They will then return to Lotumbe and run the village’s sewing school.
 
This sewing school represents hope for single mothers. One inspiring example is Mama Mboyo (below), a young polio victim – something we Rotarians are united to fight. Mboyo is a great example of entrepreneurship. Once considered a burden on her family due to her physical limitations, she enrolled in the sewing school and with a tricycle made possible by HandUp Congo, she now has a flourishing business. She is considered the most successful seamstress in the village, and supports her parents and siblings. This includes access to healthcare and schooling – the tricycle makes it possible for her to get to school. She is in high school now.
 
TO DO LIST FOR THIS WEEK
Vote YES or NO for the REGIONALISATION Pilot. Please send your reply to Marilyn.
marilynmercer10@gmail.com
 
Marilyn
PDG Marilyn Mercer
President 2022-3
Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney
Our School for Life Student JOHN KIWANUKA 
Update
 
John Kiwanuka is currently in Senior 4 (Year 10 equivalent), including this school year he has 3 more years of school if he chooses to continue on to year 11/12. The Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney  has sponsored John's education since 2014! Our annual donation of $624 (in September) provides John with 3 meals a day, access to healthcare and clean drinking water and high quality teachers. He is  very grateful for our commitment to John's education and learning.
John now
         
John when we started sponsoring him 
August Update from School For Life
 What is being done at SFL is almost unbelievable. This is where "our" student John, is studying.
Click here to go to the SFL site and read what is being done.
What  do you know about Rotary International
 
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
 
Diversity of Rotary International Presidents.
1950-51 Arthur Lagueux (investments)  
Rotary Club of Quebec, Quebec, Canada
 ROTARY VISION: Turning its aims and ideals into action
"Rotary's influence on the heart of the world will be in direct proportion to the number of communities that are exposed to the Rotary ideal. So let us help to found new clubs wherever the soil is at all fertile"" -- -  'Five Goals for Friendly Men', The Rotarian, July, 1950
 
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