Now is the time for Rotarians as Community leaders to show their resilience.
I hope you are all planning on being positive and ready to engage with your communities, connect with your projects and welcome new members, as we emerge from hibernation.
Questions are being raised about limitation of unvaccinated members to events.
Rotary does not limit access to events, except for termination of membership.
Any limitation to activities will be dependent upon NSW health regulations and venue implementation.
There is a summary on the district website. SEE MORE
DG club visits via zoom continue to be engaging meetings and thank you for making my AG’s, Aides, Tania and I feel welcome. It is my intention to complete all DG’s Club visits online.
This has proved to be a very effective medium that enables all members to participate, and results in a valuable engagement. In 2022 we both look forward to reengaging with all clubs as you recommence your projects and activities and make up for lost time. Please keep me advised.
We marvel at the performance and optimism of Rotary Clubs, Presidents and Boards through this difficult year. Embracing the concept that a dynamic Rotary Club is built on the diversity of their Board. Clubs that actively recruit to leadership positions a blend of; age, gender, cultural background, vocation show respect for both experience and youthful enthusiasm. Such clubs have shown strength in the way forward. Carlingford was in the middle of Club Visioning and outlined how important it had been for the members to:
work with Robert Bredin through the visioning process
analyse their performance to date
respond to feedback and
set realistic objectives for the future
The future is clear that we need to embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion if we are to confidently grow our Rotary Clubs, continue to support the development of implemented programs and to dream new ways to serve.
Since 1 July 21, D9685 has 25 New Members!
1,704 Members (30.7% female)
Rotarians are active, diverse & fun!
Over 80% Club’s members joined DG’s Zoom visits so far.
New Membership prospects:
We have formed a Rotary Alumni Committee headed by Bob Howe (Wahroonga) and Membership Chair, John Fenessy (Epping) assisted by Oscar Akparenta (eClub Greater Sydney) and Charlotte Weatherall (Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Rotaract).
There’s a database of over 1200 potential contacts; GSE, Ambassadorial Scholars, Peace Fellows, RYLA, Rotaract, Youth Exchange and Interactors. This data goes back many years and the committee will create ways to reconnect with these alumni, the intention is to secure guest speakers with a goal of membership opportunities. A survey will be emailed to prospects later in the month.
If you have contact details for past program participants, please send them to John Fenessy to cross-reference the data we hold.
Diary Notes:
I can assure you the District is in great shape on many levels and now is the time to be preparing for Annual General Meetings in December and have a President-Elect and most key Board positions in place. This will allow DGE Mina Howard and her team to plan training for the incredibly exciting year that 2022 – 23 will be.
District Conference save the date, March 19, 2022 at West HQ:
We will be surveying all members late October to help us plan for dinner Friday night 18th March and one day conference on 19th March.
Please respond to the survey and encourage as many members, partners and friends to join in recognising your Club’s achievements through two challenging years. We have much to Celebrate!
President-Elect Jennifer Jones Announces Focus on Empowering Girls Worldwide
On 25 September, President-Elect Jennifer Jones pledged $97 million in grant funding from The Rotary Foundation, with a special focus on empowering girls worldwide.
“Every day millions of girls walk miles to fetch clean water, and millions of boys are on the streets instead of going to school. Every day, Mums and Dads struggle to find ways to feed their children,” Jones said from the main stage in Paris. “And every day, members of Rotary and Global Citizens start our days knowing that we can make a difference.”
“This year we’re putting a special focus on empowering girls worldwide, opening doors for young women to build brighter futures,” Jones said. “Today, Rotary is committed to helping end poverty globally and protecting the planet by pledging $97 million in ...
The RFA has just launched a new website. Click on the image to the left for more information.
It provides material that is highly informative – both to the public and to Rotary members. Please click the LINK and visit the site.
The site also displays stories about grant-funded projects that Australian clubs have pursued to deliver significant and sustainable impact. Our clubs have so many great stories to tell about their amazing grant-funded projects and you are encouraged to submit stories for inclusion in the site.
It has just been announced that PDG Jennifer Scott has been appointed as the Rotary International President Nominee Gordon McInally's Convention Chair for the 2024 Singapore Convention. A very exciting role. Thankfully, as Jennifer says, she won't need to do much until after the International Assembly, 16th to 20th January 2022, for which she is Moderator. This convention, like Melbourne, will be a great opportunity for Australians to attend. Many congratulations on this special recognition go to PDG Jennifer.
2. Rotary Matters
If there is anyone in your club who might be interested in taking on a producer/presenter role on Rotary Matters, please put them in touch with Ian Stuart (Mobile: 0416 138 860; Email: Ian.Stuart@optusnet.com.au)
3. District & Club Resources online.
Much is happening behind the scenes on the D9685 website.
The D9685 Learning & Development centre now contains L&D current and archived training sessions.
Information has been updated including those areas for Public Image, Administration, Youth, Insurance, Membership, Foundation and more as an ongoing effort to provide current and relevant information.
Rotary District Showcase is about to go live and we ask Clubs to submit stories about successful club projects to spark ideas for others or to gain collaborative support for continuing projects.
The Club Buzz introduced this issue for Club events to be promoted so others can watch interesting speakers or get involved in other club's events.
More details are following and many thanks to those involved in this methodical review and update process.
As a brief introduction of recent work, a Showcase site is being set up for Clubs to contribute information about their projects and activities. This site will replace the "Club News" and "Guest Speaker Bank" in the menus on the front page. Although not yet fully populated with articles, which will come from Clubs in the District, you can get an understanding of how it will work. Here is the link for the Rotary District Showcase : https://showcase.rotarydistrict9685.org.au
A District 9685 YouTube channel is also being set up along with a revised Alumni website, for both of which, more information will be available in the next eNews. In the meantime, If you have any videos that you want to share about your Club activities, or information you would like to advertise about your Club activities, please send the video or article to communications@rotarydistrict9685.org.au. For files larger than 20 Mb, please contact the same address and you will be advised about the District site created for transferring large files to others in the District.
5. Refugee Support
If there are any Rotary clubs assisting the Afghani refugees or others in need, could you please contact Lucy Hobgood-Brown because she may be able to supply household goods for the refugees. This might be a catalyst to establish a useful network for Rotarians interested in helping out in this way. Lucy Hobgood-Brown handupcongo@gmail.com (HandUp Congo www.handupcongo.org)
6. CALLING AUSTRALIAN ROTARY CLUBS - World Homeless Day is 10 October
If you wish to provide Shelterbags for your homeless, contact marycrammond@gmail.com. 0428 509 080
The video link below demonstrates what a Shelterbag is :
As World Polio Day approaches, the Rotary community is getting ready to amplify our message about eradicating polio to protect the world’s children from this devastating disease.
Zone 8 Polio Chair, PDG Bob Aitken AM (Lower Blue Mountains) is asking every Rotarian to consider donating $10 to Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Together, we’ve made tremendous progress. Now it’s time to... READ MORE
So far 54% of D9685 members have activated their myrotary account. To donate online, access myrotary.org and go to DONATE button to make your tax-deductible donation. SEE MORE
Join us for World Polio Day October 24.
8. Public Image
Don’t mess with the Rotary logo (See Public Image Newsletter, October 2021 link in the left hand column).
Go to the RI Brand Centre and create your own.
In these days of photoshop, a pre-digital story by Alan Campbell-Drury, Australian Antarctic photographer, late 1940’s - early 50’s.
In Alan’s early studio days, a mother wanted her son’s photograph retouched to remove his school cap. Alan asked, ‘what side does he part his hair’, to which the mother replied, “I can’t remember, but I suppose you will find out when you take his cap off.”
9. Finally there is some great news regarding the Global Grant 2127984 for Oxygen Concentrators for Nepal.
The funds of AUD$42,278 or 3,881,227.12 rupees have reached Nepal and deposited into the nominated bank account. The Rotary Club of Rudramati is now finalising the purchase of the machines and other medical equipment for delivery to the eagerly awaiting hospital. Please note that there is still an urgent need for these machines. This was a collaborative project by 13 of District 9685's Rotary Clubs and several individual donors. In future newsletters there will be more information regarding the delivery of the machines.(with photos). Needless to say, Jan Pryor, RAWCS Coordinator, is extremely excited about the results of this project.
10. Police Officer of the Year Event
This event was scheduled for the 5th of November 2021. After much discussion, all parties agreed that conditions for holding a live event on the 5th of November would be prohibitive. As a live event rather than an on-line event is preferred, it was decided to reschedule the event until Friday 29th April, by which time it is believed that the COVID restrictions in place will allow an event to have in excess of 400 guests in attendance. This time frame would then allow the normal frequency for these awards to be resumed and the 2022 event to occur on Friday, 4th November 2022.
11. Showcase at RI President Shekhar's Presidential Virtual Conference in Manilla 26th to 28th November, 2021, https://www.rpc21.ph
Do any of you have an outstanding project which we can showcase at RI President Shekhar's Presidential Conference in Manilla in November this year? The conference organisers have some very specific requirements. They are looking for a project which meets the guidelines below:
"Must be related to - Business for Good Showcase - please focus on how business can be a vehicle for generating living wages for people displaced by COVID19 and/or Climate Change
It should involve at least one Rotary Organization (Rotary Club or Rotaract Club). Ideally, it will involve multi-club collaboration and/or Rotary Community Corps Collaboration and partnership with Private Sector (Businesses) and Public Sector (Government, other NGOs)"
Do you have a project which completely/nearly/mostly meets this description?
The actual presentation requirements aren't onerous - a pre-recorded virtual PPT presentation via Zoom.
12. Host Organising Committee Newsletter
The Rotary International Convention 2023 is being held in Melbourne. Currently, they are seeeking major sponsors. To read the latest newsletter, please click HERE
Aphasia - A Moving Story from the Rotary Club of Nepean
One of our Club members Sean O’Brien has Aphasia following a brain aneurysm.
Sean & his wife Kate have been featured in the Winter Newsletter from Optimal Speech Pathology.“Sean O’Brien is already a fully fledged OSP Hero for his tireless work on raising awareness about Aphasia. Sean and his wife Kate took part last month in developing a vital resource within the University of Sydney ‘interact-ABI-lity’ course.”
Due to the current COVID-19 NSW Public Health Orders, the Children’s Guardian has decided to extend Working with Children Checks that are due to expire by 3 months. The Children’s Guardian’s decision to extend the WWCC renewal expiry date is to help reduce the movement of people in the community while still supporting continuity of services to children.
Your WWCC has now been automatically extended for 3 months. The 3 months applies from the date of your current expiry date.
Radio is a powerful way to spread your Club stories. If your Club has a project, local or overseas, which would interest the wider general public, discuss it with Rotary Matters presenter Ian Stuart who will be glad to help spread the word. Ian.stuart@optusnet.com.au 0416 138 860
For all information about the International Convention 2022, click on the image below.
District 9685 Governor
2021-2022
Lindsay May OAM
THE ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COURSE 66
5th to 7th November, 2021
On-line by Zoom
As the face to face course RLI 65 was being held during the current lock down, RLI 65 has been cancelled. The next opportunity is RLI 66 which will be held on-line.
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District eNews is reviewed weekly for publication on Thursday at least every two weeks. Content provided and all rights reserved by Rotary International District 9685 Inc
Since 1 July 21, D9685 has 25 New Members! 
"The Club Buzz" is somewhere that you will find some exciting 
