Presidents Report
I reported last week that I attended the Hills Rotaract Club Changeover the weekend prior, and while there meet up with members of the Rotary Club of Norwest Sunrise. Their new president Azita Adbollahian invited me to attend one of their breakfast meetings – so I took up this offer and attended last Friday 29 July 2022. This was a very friendly and engaging meeting and gave me exposure to a totally different meeting model. Their guest speaker was Dr Padmini Howpage, a Hills-based psychiatrist who spoke on mental health and its impact on the workforce and workplaces. During the meeting they promoted their Club’s Trivia Night and invited me to attend. So, I quickly rustled up some fellow WPH&C members to join me (ie whoever I could get hold of at 8am on Friday morning!!) and on Saturday night we joined in the fun at the Wesley Church at Castle Hill for their sporting themed trivia event. You’ll be proud of our team’s efforts as we came in a very respectable second and not only supported another local Club to raise funds for flood relief, but also picked up good ideas on how they manage their event. So fantastic connections established and a great example of clubs collaborating for common causes.
The next day, Sunday 31 July Club members got together to participate in and celebrate National Tree Day. We planted a bee/bird friendly native grevillea in our Rotary Garden, and also took the opportunity to extend our relationship with the RFS and the Girl Guides by gifting a tree to them and helping to plant these in their respective precincts. This may seem like a small gesture but it’s an important way to help nurture relationships with like-minded community groups, while doing something good for the environment. If you haven’t visited the Rotary Garden recently, I’d encourage you to do so because the whole area is looking so good. The plants we put in two years ago are now starting to gain health and height, the garden is clean and tidy, and the new sign Rotary sign adds value by giving the Club a profile in the local community.
If you weren’t online on Monday night 1 August, you missed out on our biannual Club Forum, where we took the opportunity to report on the Membership survey that ran from 11-25 July 2022. Carol as Membership Director was diligent in collating and analysing this feedback and then presenting the results to the forum which provided a snapshot of member perceptions about the health and functionality of our Club. Key learnings from this activity are that:
Post the forum I thought about the valuable dialogue that stemmed from our discussions, and to this end have decided to add into my President’s report a monthly roundup of all the activities we get up to. That’s because it’s easy to get caught up in particular tasks without stepping back and taking stock of the big picture and what’s been achieved. As a quick recap of July, we demonstrated our Club’s commitment to imagining and realising the potential of Rotary by undertaking the following:
For the week ahead, please remember to book into the next meeting - a face-to-face partners night at Springfield on 8 August that is our winter Christmas themed night (please come in Christmas colours and/or attire), to which the District Governor Mina Howard and our Assistant DG Stuart Armstrong will be attending to check in with our Club and provide an update on District and international Rotary initiatives.
Also, we have our own Club Trivia Night happening on Saturday 20 August – so time to brush up on your general knowledge and trivia, as well as get a table organised so that you can pit your brains and wits against fellow Club members, Probus Clubs and other Trivia devotees who will all be in attendance to raise money for Grace’s Place.
The next day, Sunday 21 August will see us undertaking another community services project – namely running the BBQ at the West Pennant Hills Public School annual fete. By next week we’ll be calling for volunteers to donate some time that day cooking up a storm for our friends at the local public school – so stay tuned.
And that’s the buzz for the week. Enjoy some sunshine and look forward to seeing you up at Springfield on 08/08/2022 – ho, ho, ho!! Janelle
The next day, Sunday 31 July Club members got together to participate in and celebrate National Tree Day. We planted a bee/bird friendly native grevillea in our Rotary Garden, and also took the opportunity to extend our relationship with the RFS and the Girl Guides by gifting a tree to them and helping to plant these in their respective precincts. This may seem like a small gesture but it’s an important way to help nurture relationships with like-minded community groups, while doing something good for the environment. If you haven’t visited the Rotary Garden recently, I’d encourage you to do so because the whole area is looking so good. The plants we put in two years ago are now starting to gain health and height, the garden is clean and tidy, and the new sign Rotary sign adds value by giving the Club a profile in the local community.
If you weren’t online on Monday night 1 August, you missed out on our biannual Club Forum, where we took the opportunity to report on the Membership survey that ran from 11-25 July 2022. Carol as Membership Director was diligent in collating and analysing this feedback and then presenting the results to the forum which provided a snapshot of member perceptions about the health and functionality of our Club. Key learnings from this activity are that:
- Overall members are satisfied with our club
- Members are proud of the Club
- Members feel welcome in the Club
- The Club does a good job communicating to members
- Service projects are well organised, make a difference both locally and internationally, and are meaningful to members
- Costs are fair and reasonable
- Community Service projects remain a focus
- We need to keep listening to and acting upon what our members are saying.
Post the forum I thought about the valuable dialogue that stemmed from our discussions, and to this end have decided to add into my President’s report a monthly roundup of all the activities we get up to. That’s because it’s easy to get caught up in particular tasks without stepping back and taking stock of the big picture and what’s been achieved. As a quick recap of July, we demonstrated our Club’s commitment to imagining and realising the potential of Rotary by undertaking the following:
- 01/07 – Completed the Push Up Challenge to raise awareness of suicide and mental health (Community Service).
- 04/07 - Pride of Workmanship Awards with 4 awardees recognised (Vocational).
- 08/07- Repair of rotten wooden stairs at the Cherrybrook Guide Hall (Community Service).
- 11-25/07 - Ran Membership Survey and reported results at Club Forum (Membership).
- 22/07 – preparation of 61 boxes of books to be sent to Coonabarabran (Community Service).
- 23/07 - Members attended the Changeover ceremony/dinner of the Hills Rotaract Club (Collaboration).
- 25/07 - Club visit to Westmead Institute of Medical Research (Vocational).
- 30/07 - Club participated in the Rotary Club of Norwest Sunrise's Trivia Night (Collaboration).
- 31/07 - Planted three trees to mark National Tree Day (Environment and Collaboration).
For the week ahead, please remember to book into the next meeting - a face-to-face partners night at Springfield on 8 August that is our winter Christmas themed night (please come in Christmas colours and/or attire), to which the District Governor Mina Howard and our Assistant DG Stuart Armstrong will be attending to check in with our Club and provide an update on District and international Rotary initiatives.
Also, we have our own Club Trivia Night happening on Saturday 20 August – so time to brush up on your general knowledge and trivia, as well as get a table organised so that you can pit your brains and wits against fellow Club members, Probus Clubs and other Trivia devotees who will all be in attendance to raise money for Grace’s Place.
The next day, Sunday 21 August will see us undertaking another community services project – namely running the BBQ at the West Pennant Hills Public School annual fete. By next week we’ll be calling for volunteers to donate some time that day cooking up a storm for our friends at the local public school – so stay tuned.
And that’s the buzz for the week. Enjoy some sunshine and look forward to seeing you up at Springfield on 08/08/2022 – ho, ho, ho!! Janelle
Peacock Carpenter Bee Credit: Erica Siegel
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PEACOCK CARPENTER BEES - XYLOCOPA BOMBYLANS
These big bees, 15 to 24 mm long are the largest native bees in Australia and look spectacular with their metallic-green colouring. They are easy to locate by the loud, deep drone they emit flying between flowers. They are called carpenter bees because they cut nest burrows in soft timber such as the dead limbs of mango trees, dry dead flowering stalks of grass trees and soft wood like banksia. Carpenter bees can be great pollinators of passionfruit |
Night Report
Night Report
Opening: Sergeant Colin McGowan opened the meeting.
Rotary Toast was proposed by Peter Stanton to Rotary International, Australia and a good vibrant club.
President’s Report
Refer to President Janelle Craig report in the bulletin.
Director’s Reports
Our club will undertake a community service project doing a BBQ at the West Pennant Hills Public School Fete on 21st August. Members will be required to work on three shifts
Club Forum
Refer to the summary of feedback from the Membership Survey 11-25/July 2022 by Janelle Craig and Carol Russell, in the bulletin.
Janelle and Carol presented a summary of the Membership Survey at the meeting and there was general discuss by many club members and several items will be followed up in coming Board of Directors and Committee meetings, including:
Closing remarks by President Janelle:
Sergeant at Arm’s
Sergeant Colin staged an entertaining True or False session to close the meeting
Opening: Sergeant Colin McGowan opened the meeting.
Rotary Toast was proposed by Peter Stanton to Rotary International, Australia and a good vibrant club.
President’s Report
Refer to President Janelle Craig report in the bulletin.
Director’s Reports
- Community Service: Colin Sharpe
Our club will undertake a community service project doing a BBQ at the West Pennant Hills Public School Fete on 21st August. Members will be required to work on three shifts
- Fund Raising: Andrew Little
- Social: Tony Coote
- Monday 8th August is a Partners Night meeting with “Christmas in July” theme and District Governor Mina Howard will be attending
- Friday 2nd September - Fireside Dinner at Pennant Hills Golf Club
- Friday 9th September – Mudgee Trip. Contact Tony for a trip brochure
- Treasurer: Tony Coote
- Tony Makin:
Club Forum
Refer to the summary of feedback from the Membership Survey 11-25/July 2022 by Janelle Craig and Carol Russell, in the bulletin.
Janelle and Carol presented a summary of the Membership Survey at the meeting and there was general discuss by many club members and several items will be followed up in coming Board of Directors and Committee meetings, including:
- Feedback about Community Service Projects to be discussed at next week’s Community Services team meeting.
- Club Directors will discuss the reintroduction of singing the Australian National Anthem at future Club Meetings
- Members who have any concerns about our club should feel free to discuss their concerns with the respective Director
Closing remarks by President Janelle:
- Thank you all for attending – Club Forums are important for functionality of the Club so your attendance and input is much appreciated.
- For the week ahead, please remember to book into the next meeting - a face-to-face partners night at Springfield on 8 August that is our winter Christmas themed night (please come in Christmas colours and/or attire), to which the District Governor Mina Howard will be attending to check in with our Club and provide an update on District and international Rotary initiatives.
Sergeant at Arm’s
Sergeant Colin staged an entertaining True or False session to close the meeting
Humour
Non-Political contributed by Jim
Thursday Twists contributed by Neville
Math Puns contributed by Cawas
*1. Why was the fraction apprehensive about marrying the decimal?*
Because he would have to convert.
*2. Why do plants hate maths?*
It gives them square roots.
*3. Why did the student get upset when his teacher called him average?*
It was a mean thing to say!
*4. Why was the math book depressed?*
It had a lot of problems.
*5. Why is the obtuse triangle always so frustrated?*
Because it is never right.
*6. Why can you never trust a maths teacher holding graph paper?*
He must be plotting something.
*7. Why was the equal sign so humble?*
Because she knew she wasn’t greater than or less than anyone else.
*8. Why are parallel lines so tragic if they have so much in common?*
It’s a shame they’ll never meet.
*9. Why is six afraid of seven?*
Because seven eight ( "ate") nine!
*10. Why does nobody talk to a circle?*
Because there is no point.
Because he would have to convert.
*2. Why do plants hate maths?*
It gives them square roots.
*3. Why did the student get upset when his teacher called him average?*
It was a mean thing to say!
*4. Why was the math book depressed?*
It had a lot of problems.
*5. Why is the obtuse triangle always so frustrated?*
Because it is never right.
*6. Why can you never trust a maths teacher holding graph paper?*
He must be plotting something.
*7. Why was the equal sign so humble?*
Because she knew she wasn’t greater than or less than anyone else.
*8. Why are parallel lines so tragic if they have so much in common?*
It’s a shame they’ll never meet.
*9. Why is six afraid of seven?*
Because seven eight ( "ate") nine!
*10. Why does nobody talk to a circle?*
Because there is no point.
