Cherrybrook Metro photo courtesy of Brenda YimAU

Welcome to Our Rotary Club

President’s Remarks for 2022-23

The presidential theme for the 2022-23 Rotary year is Imagine Rotary, in which Rotary Clubs globally are encouraged to dream big and use their abilities to turn those dreams into reality in order to make the world a better place. In some cases, this is not only about imagining, but also reimagining, by adapting and retooling.
Invariably the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact not only on our health and wellbeing, but also in far reaching aspects of our lives, Rotary included. It impacted the way we held meetings, the activities we could and couldn’t undertake, and the fellowship that forms such an integral part of what binds us together as Rotarians. I think all of us learnt many significant lessons from this experience, and that, in moving forward into the new Rotary year, we can take these lessons and truly imagine a big and bright future for our Club.
Applying this theme to our Club in the coming year means focusing on:

Reimagining Club Vitality - members, and their partners and families, are the linchpin that holds our Club together. Without active, happy and engaged members and partners our Club will fail to sustain and achieve its aims and potential. As such, its vital that we:

• Ensure relevancy of the Club in meeting member needs
• Grow membership, and do so by embracing the equity and diversity principles of Rotary
• Ensure vibrancy in Club events, activities, and meetings
• Use the opportunities provided by the Social Committee for fun and fellowship whilst making a difference 
• Listen to what members have to say through a membership survey, Club Forums and via participation in Club committees
• Value and respect partners and encourage them to actively engage in Club events and committees. To this end, the Partners Representative Team (PRT) will be reformed
• Encourage and foster development of future leaders 

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Imagining Building and Sustaining Relationships – we always knew it, but last year served to reinforce that we are indeed social creatures at heart, relying on each other for support, motivation, and appreciation. This highlights the need for us to recognise the importance of relationships, partnerships and collaborative practice and provides opportunities for our Club to engage and work with:

• Local schools and community groups – further nurturing existing relationships and in other instances growing new relationships, for example with Scouts
• Local businesses – through sponsorships, vocational opportunities and the Pride of Workmanship Awards scheme
• Other clubs in our District – through special projects, grants, combined meetings and through District forums and conferences
• the Rotary Club of Coonabarabran - by formalising a ‘sister’ relationship with their club
• International Rotary Clubs – for example via attendance and participation in the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne 2023
• International organisations and charities – such as the Nusa Tenggara Association (NTA)

 
Imagining Addressing Vulnerabilities – the pandemic, together with recent natural disasters such as flooding in Sydney and Lismore, have shown that people both locally and internationally can be plunged into situations of vulnerability at short notice and due to causes beyond their control. This is where our Club does what it does best – stepping up to lend a hand. We thus seek to:

• Continue to support vulnerable local communities be they:
  • disadvantaged individuals or families through activities such as The Tree of Joy
  • older community members e.g., the ARV BBQ
  • students and youth through the range of Rotary Youth programs and via support of local schools and schools-based programs
• Continue to support vulnerable international communities:
  • maintaining our work with NTA to support the international community in West Timor build resources and skills regarding water and sanitation
  • supporting other international humanitarian and educational projects as needs arise
  • via increased Club and member contributions to the Rotary Foundation to support programs such as End Polio Now
• Consider how best to support our local environment (the newest Rotary pillar) by activities such as Clean Up Australia and land care or recycling initiatives
• Ensure resources are available to enable Club projects and avenues of service

In actioning this vision, I gratefully acknowledge the commitment and support of the incoming 2022-23 Board, namely:

• Tony Makin                                  Secretary
• Tony Coote                                   Treasurer
• Neville Hansen                            Club Services/President Elect
• Colin Sharpe                                 Community Services
• David Turnbull                            Foundation     
• John Caruana                               Fundraising
• Peter Stanton                              International
• Carol Russell                                 Membership
• Keith Ball                                       Public Image
• Edwina Ruff                                  Vocational
• Rosemary Clarke                         Youth

Equally, the Club would not be in the position to action future plans without the hard work and commitment of Keith and the 2021-22 Board – so many thanks for prudent and steady leadership during the turbulence of COVID. 
As we look forward, let’s do so with energy and enthusiasm knowing that imagining a better tomorrow and dreaming big, will achieve positive impact on people’s lives.
Yours in Rotary
Janelle Craig

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Interested in Joining Us?

Come along to a meeting and check us out.  We will for your first visit supply a meal free of charge.  Contact either:

                  Janelle (President) ​0412 064 336 or Carol (Membership) 0418 431 157

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