| FEBRUARY | : | PEACE & CONFLICT RESOLUTION MONTH - Chair Heather Blackman |
| 10/02/2020 | : | [MON] Board Meeting (Raglan-7pm) |
| 13/02/2020 | : | *Meeting (Raglan) Marg Batters (St Arnaud Rotary) |
| 20/02/2020 | : | *Fund Raising Dinner at Rami Dessert |
| 23/02/2020 | : | [SUN] Rotary's Birthday |
| 27/02/2020 | : | *Meeting (Raglan) Committees - Service & Governance |
| 28-29/02/2020 | : | [FRI]-[SAT] Ballarat Swapmeet |
| _______________ | __ | ____________________________________________________________ |
| MARCH | : | WATER & SANITATION MONTH - Chair TBA |
| 1/03/2020 | [SUN] Rotary 3 Reservoir Bike Ride |
Last Thursday, members were enthralled by the experiences of local fire fighter and teacher at MEC, Sam Rothman. Sam was recently deployed at Mallacoota during the New Year fires and she vividly described the process of being selected for deployment, the journey to the fire area, accommodation arrangements for volunteers, what Mallacoota was like during the fire, and her experience of being evacuated by HMAS Choules back to the Naval base of Cerberus. Her talk simply confirmed the admiration we all feel for our country's fire heroes.
As part of our series on the "Best Connection in My Career", PP Thea described in detail the person who has been the most helpful during her long career as a volunteer - the person who encouraged her to take on challenging tasks such becoming the first female President of Rotary in our club, or joining the ranks of the Carisbrook Mercury newspaper, and the person who supported her during the challenging times in these ventures. That "best connection" is none other than her husband, PP Terry!
PP Graeme toasted the Rotary club of Nome in Alaska as part of our "International Toasts" series. Nome Rotary was chartered in 1946 and meets every Wednesday in the Gold Dust Saloon of Nome's Nugget Hotel! The club runs some fascinating projects during the year such as the Mini Mukluk Marathon (named after one of the local tribes), the Snake River Duck Race, Mini Duck races at the Firemen's Carnival and distributed 50 turkeys every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. All Nome Rotarians are Paul Harris Fellows or US$100 a year Sustaining members.
At Thursday's meeting, PP Thea, PP Terry, PP Martin, Rotarian David and Friend of Rotary, Jackie were presented with certificates for their services as judges at last year's Energy Breakthrough. Their participation enabled our club to run our very profitable Barbeque catering service during the event. 
Congratulations to President Nominee Alison, one of a dozen Rotarians who graduated from the Rotary Leadership Institute program in Ballarat on February 1st. Other programs are were run at Charlton, and Geelong yesterday. Successful participants had to attend three full days of training over the last three months. They all agreed that RLI is an enjoyable way to learn more and become enthused about this great organization of ours. Alison is in the middle of the second row behind Rotarian Geoff James from Alfredton Rotary. Leaders of the Ballarat sessions were PDG Jessie Harman from Wendouree Breakfast, and PDG Geoff James from Maryborough Rotary.
Our Service and Governance committees met last Thursday, and Chairs then reported on plans for the rest of the 2019-20 Rotary year. There are some busy and interesting months ahead. Chair of the Public Image committee, Chris Frahn, outlined our plans for a Rotary Radio program once a month on Goldfields FM 99.1. Anyone interested in participating, please contact Chris as soon as possible.
Last Thursday, members were interested to meet and hear a visiting Rotarian of 30 years from the Minot Lunchtime Rotary Club of North Dakota in the USA. Brian Thomas (yes, the same name as our ex-member) was out in Australia as part of a Friendship Exchange, and was staying with PDG Anthony and Kerrie. Brian and his wife had already toured Melbourne, attended the Tennis, and explored some of Central Victoria, and were planning to drive to Sydney, then up to Brisbane, get a plane to Cairns, and then fly back to Melbourne before returning to the US. Brian reported that he has been involved in preparing an annual 4 Way Test competition in his area over the past 25 years.
Over forty members and friends visited the property of Daryl and Val Maffescioni last Thursday to enjoy two amazing collections - one of motor and other vehicles, the other of dolls and miniatures. Both collections were really something to behold, as was the preservation of the old Percydale state school - the school attended by our own Treasurer, Graeme Rogan. See more pix by clicking "Read more..."
Rotarian Heather Blackman has recently spent some time up in the fire areas at the Wangaratta Evacuation Relief Centre - she writes: I am currently providing Chaplaincy at the Wangaratta Relief centre. I have dropped in on Wangaratta Rotary who are providing meals for those at the Evacuation Center. See photo. Thanks for your great work, Heather!)
Almost a dozen members and friends turned out at the Station Domain area to help provide pancakes for "the masses" on Australia Day. Thanks to all those involved in setting up the Barbeque trailer, cooking or supporting.
RI President-elect Holger Knaack’s theme for 2020-21, Rotary Opens Opportunities, asks Rotarians to create opportunities that strengthen their leadership, help put service ideas into action, and improve the lives of those in need. Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, revealed the 2020-21 presidential theme, Rotary Opens Opportunities, to incoming district governors at the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, on 20 January. Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join, but rather “an invitation to endless opportunities,” said Knaack, who becomes president on 1 July. He emphasized that Rotary creates pathways for members to improve their lives and the lives of those they help through service projects.
Over forty members and friends from the Rotary clubs of Ararat, Beaufort, Maryborough and Stawell met at Raglan Street last Thursday for the first District Group 7 meeting of 2020. Once again it was good to renew acquaintances from our nearby clubs and hear of all their great Rotary work achieved and planned. More pix by clicking "Read more..."
PP Mallee Rowe enlightened all members in attendance from the Group 7 Clubs last Thursday of the forthcoming World Farnarkling Championships to be held in Beaufort in 2021. Some people seemed a little dubious, but as he usually does, Mallee backed up his presentation with facts and direct reference to the official Farnarkling Website which all members can visit at their leisure (I certainly did over the week-end), Check it out and be enlightened.
Over twenty members and friends converged on the Wood Testing facility of Rotarian Harold Breitinger last Thursday, to hear about Harold's wood testing vocation. It was fascinating to hear of all the processes involved in this unusual business, and great to see the large turnout for our first official meeting of the 2020 year.
Members, friends and people from the Community "rocked" in the new Decade with Rotary at the Maryborough Town Hall on New Year's Eve. We had people from all age groups represented including Primary school age children, up to those in their 80's and above. A big "Thank You" to the team of Rotarians and friends who helped to set up and run the night. See "Read more..." for more pics.
