WHAT WE DOFamily is what’s really important in life. “Rotary was never designed to take club members away from their family – instead ‘it should be a force that brings them together. … Rotary’s success depends on the support of every Rotarian. No one is any more or less important than anyone else.” Here are a few interesting statistics about Rotary membership District 9640 is one of the largest districts – 54 clubs stretching from Grafton along the coast into South East Queensland, Gold Coast, out into South West Queensland at Warwick and Goondiwindi. Back into NSW at Tenterfield, then Casino and Kyogle. After ten years of wonderful service, this Rotary club has struggled to ‘Lead the Way’ this year and decided that ‘Service was more important than Self.’ We have reached a watershed which has allowed us time to look at ourselves - what we have achieved and where we are now and where we are going. When Malcolm first suggested and then insisted I take on this job, I did so with much ambivalence and trepidation. But never did I underestimate the resilience, tenacity, commitment and support of the members of this club. And here we are tonight, pretty proud of our achievements. Almost immediately we lost our elected Secretary Loma Graydon and after leave of absence and commitment to the university and Leukaemia Foundation, she went off to be the CEO for her new husband’s International Theological college. So the troops rallied round and became a secretarial team. At any one time half the members were on legitimate leave. Many were busy out of the area, expanding/growing their business, overseas, having babies and grandkids, or sadly even family illness. Then our challenges came to a head in February 2007, we were rapidly heading into rough water. Attendance at meetings was drastically low and we couldn’t afford to keep paying the breakfast levy at Mary’s. We faced this challenge head on. A resolution was placed on the table – what do we do? Do we disband? It was serious! We met, we discussed possibilities, we remembered how unique this Rotary club is and what we had achieved in ten years. The resolution was taken off the table and we would soldier on. Then almost at the very next meeting at Mary’s the new owners said One of the most wonderful meetings for me was the re-induction of two valuable members back into the fold. Past President James Lyon and PP Graham Meineke. Then Marilyn Manning was inducted and the fun, fellowship and friendship was back. At District level we have been well represented on committees by our International Director, Helen McGregor – RAM (Rotary Against Malaria) and Polio Plus. Patricia Macbeth is taking up the Medic Alert District portfolio for a 4th term. Also Patricia is the child protection officer for the club. The directors reports are quite comprehensive and there is no need for me to detail it all again. There are some events worth mentioning – We have had a couple of visits from Charter member Ken Arnett (Canberra Rotary) this year and it is always good to see him. He reported on the long term project this club undertook to build a Police Memorial near the baths in Lismore. (designed by James Lyon of course) It looks like this design will be built in country regions all over the country. Expect more news in 2007/8 The 9640 District Conference was held at Jupiters on the Gold Coast in April. Now to the 2006/7 team. ‘when the going got tough, you got going’ We couldn’t have done it without the support of one another. The weekly Club Bulletin is the glue that holds us together. Using a well tested format and with her knowledge of Rotary and attention to detail, Gae Ferris produces a comprehensive outline of what we are doing, who is doing what, what we are doing next, what the district is involved in, tempered with jokes and thoughts with a sense of humour. The First Light Bulletin keeps us up to date and is essential to smooth functioning of the Club. Summerland Sunrise stalwarts this year have been Gae Ferris consistent and reliable, Summerland Sunrise is as strong as each members commitment to Rotary family values. We epitomize the strength of the tried and tested one hundred years of Rotary commitment to Community needs. We can be pretty proud of who we are and where we are going! Thank you all for a ‘good year’
MEDIC ALERT Medic Alert is a 2 hour Emergency Information and Identification which is a Multiple District Rotary Community Service Project. Other sponsors include, the Institute of Ambulance officers, Australian society for Emergency Medicine, Pharmaceutical society of Australia, The Royal college of Physicians, St John Council, Asthma Foundation of South Australia, the Australian College of Emergency Medicine. The identity bracelet with medical detail is one of the first things an Ambulance Paramedic will look for in an emergency situation. It saves lives. We have sponsored two this year alone for people not in a situation to pay for their own.
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