30 July 2009

Meeting Report
28 July 2009

49 Members present
1 Visiting Rotarians
3 Guests
 

Email all apologies to Philip Lambers or call Philip on 9499 7407 ah or 9829 1512 bh

Click here to view all rosters

For a hard copy of this newsletter please print this email.

BUILDING BRIDGES WITH MIGRANT FAMILIES

Tonight's speaker will deal with the potential isolation of new citizens of Boroondara.

Norman Taralrud-Bay with Trevor White and their wives Chary and Judy beleive a program they have been working on offers the building of bridges with migrant familes, which will be discussed at the August 4 meeting, fits the purpose for which RCB provided significant funding.  The August 4 meeteing is a proposed Partners Night so that members can as a family fully consider participation as a volunteer `buddy' family.

The primary purpose of the program is to help a skilled migrant family's transition and integration into the Boroondara community. The program can increase the migrant family's understanding of lIfe and custom in Australia. There is no financial, accommodation or material aid required - just the application of your Rotarian purpose.

Judy and Trevor White anticipate being matched with a skilled migrant family that have recently migrated from Iran.

The building bridges with migrant families program not only improves cultural appreciation and community integration. It offers a way for acquiring Rotary Club membership that better reflects our community's ethnic demographic.

The following week, the meeting will hear speakers on another related community project - Kinder+.

KINDER +

Issues that create disadvantage in our community are not unusual. Social exclusion exists in the City of Boroondara in a number of forms.  Yes it does . . . in the leafy suburb of Boroondara.

The council and the State and Federal Governments are typically slow to address such problems. The unique program – established by Foundation Boroondara and the Rotary Clubs of Balwyn and Hawthorn – addresses the issue of social exclusion as it applies to families with children of kindergarten-age children in Boroondara.

Kinder+ and `Plant-a-Tree. . . Grow a Child’ program illustrate how the `many hands’ of Rotary can initiate remedies to serious community issues where no other alternatives exist.  Hear about the many families and kiddies who are currently benefitting from this fine project.

The Rotary Club of Balwyn will be presented with a certificate from Foundation Boroondara acknowledging the great support that has been provided to establish Kinder+.

Hugh Trumble

`Life can only be understood backward but it must be lived forward’ – Soren Kierkegaard.

IMPOVERISHED SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH:

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS REACH ACROSS THE OCEANS.

Our attention was riveted as Andrew Asten and Bernadette Choo described the efforts of Australian Schools to alleviate depravity amongst impoverished South African youth.  Speaking on behalf of the Oak Tree Foundation, they vividly described their participation in the Schools 4 Schools ‘branch’ of Oak Tree.  It was here in Melbourne, at Carey Grammar School, that Oak Tree took root, comprising young men and women 26 years of age or younger.

Schools 4 Schools is a new and exciting initiative of the Oaktree Foundation.  Created in 2007 and run entirely by volunteers, the project works with students to establish partnerships between Australian and South African schools.  Through these partnerships, students are trained to tackle the root causes of HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, violence, and teenage pregnancy, all of which are common in South African schools.


Australian students learn about these social issues and support their partner school through increasing awareness and fundraising.  The South African school, in turn, receives specialized education from GOLD, a government accredited leadership and development organisation.  Schools 4 Schools currently includes 45 Australian schools and 19 South African schools in its program. 

Andrew who is studying law at Monash told the meeting “we at Oaktree aim to have 90 schools from around Australia participating in the Schools 4 Schools program.”  Bernadette who was formerly Head Student of PLC said  “my three week visit to South Africa was confronting.  It was a life-changing experience.  I saw instances where the Human Spirit can overcome all difficulties.”

Owen Tassicker.

One of our RATSITS Scholars, Karen Hill, came to this weeks meeting to give us an update on her progress. She has been working hard this year on a research project which she hopes to complete in October.

Karen also told us that she has been selected in an Australian triathlon team. President Bill presented her with a flag to remind her of our best wishes when she competes.

Stuart & Alison Clark are still working on little sleep after welcoming their new baby Son – Hamish Ben on Thursday last week. A little brother for Lachlan and a welcome addition to the Balwyn Rotary Family.

Congratulations to Alison, Stuart and Lachlan.

Speakers at a marketing and membership seminar to be held at Cato Hall Wesley College 577 St. Kilda Rd. from 0900 to 1530 (3.30pm) on 15 August will include Former ABC journalist Helen Razer who will talk on Rotary's relevance in the new millenium.  PDG Ann White who will talk on the resuscitation of falling memberships, Bryce Ives who is a freelance theatre director and media producer and manages an annual youth forum and Amanda Smith who is involved in direct response and general advertising at some of Australia's most respected advertising agencies.

For further information, contact Loryn@rotaryaustralia.org or membership@rotarydistrict9800.org.

We had two tipstars who almost picked the card in Rd.17 - commiserations to Jim Hopper and Tim Reynolds but it was the Tigers who stopped them .................. The end-of-season race has changed significantly - the leader has been caught by the peleton... Henry Sammut and Jim Hopper share the lead on 100, Peter Blundell and Murray Wilkinson are on 99 with Kevin Walsh on 98. ..... Good luck for Rd.18 and a $20 jackpot .. ... The Administrator

Meeting Program

4 Aug 09 - Build a Bridge Migrant Program . . .   Camberwell Salvos

11 Aug 09 - Kinda + (Also a General Meeting to consider Constitution & By-law chganges)

18 Aug 09 - District Governor's visit

25 Aug 09 - Air Traffic Control in Oman . . .   Michael Dobson

For details of meetings beyond the dates above, click on the READ MORE link below

NOTE
There are many other Rotary events scheduled for the year. Please refer to the calendar in the club website for details. You can click on the "Agenda" tab for a summary.

Click here http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/ridefault.aspx