20th FEBRUARY

• VALE JOHN MEEHAN OAM

• NEXT MEETING

• GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION - LAST TUESDAY

• A BIG THANK YOU

• OPERA ON THE YARRA

• MEETING REPORT - LAST TUESDAY

• TWISTED LIVES ART EXHIBITION

• UPCOMING EVENTS

• GALLERY

Member Talk - Kevin Love

Kevin Love presented on his work on the board of Phillip Island Nature Parks, presenting facts and figures.

There were approximately 1.5 million visitors to Phillip Island last year. Each penguin generated approximately $30,000 in the year, which is lot for a little guy.

Churchill Island was the first place in Victoria where crops were planted, in 1803. The island is named after John Churchill who had provided the seeds for the crops. The claim to lands was not made just by planting a flag but ‘improving’ the land by planting crops or the erection of buildings.

The Island has successfully eradicated foxes on Churchill Island and now Phillip Island. As a result, there has been the successful reestablishment of the Eastern Bar Bandicoot on Churchill Island.

A new visitor centre is being built and is a major focus of the Board at the moment, as they try to minimize disruption to existing services.

There will be a working bee at DIK after our club meeting on Tuesday 28th November.

As you probably know, our club supports the Donations in Kind (DIK) warehouse in Footscray financially and with working bees a couple of times a year. This particular effort is important as DIK is moving to a new warehouse in the same complex to reduce the effect of a rent increase.

Many hands make light work and it would be great if you could join us.

The warehouse is at 400 Somerville Rd, West Footscray VIC 3012 and we expect to be there from about 9:30am. There is no fixed time for your involvement so we'd be pleased to see you for 1 hour or 4 hours.

A few of us will be driving there after the meeting at the RACV club so if you'd like a lift please let me know  - contact Rob Hines. 

Announcements

• Sarah Overton reminded members to contact her to book accommodation for the district conference, to be held in Warrnambool in March 2018.
• Alan Seale told members about a dinner he attended with visiting Rotary clubs from India.
• Alison Chan asked members to contribute to the Christmas hamper appeal. Members can fill red bags (for the homeless and elderly through Steps Outreach Service) or red bags with green ribbons (for refugee families through Lentara UnitingCare). Members have the option of purchasing spices in bulk ($30 per pack) for inclusion in the hampers for Lentara. Contact Alison if you wish to order these.
• John Ilot can be contacted for members who are interested in attending the ‘who’s coming to dinner’ event on 26 November.
• Frank O’Brien announced that Alice Miller had submitted her application for membership and it was being considered by the Board.
• Frank O’Brien spoke about the new club website and thanked Marjorie Gerlinger for her work to achieve this.

Annual General Meeting

Frank O’Brien conducted the AGM.

Foundation Report

Neville Taylor presented on Rotary Foundation as part of Foundation month, providing us with facts and figures.

• The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$1billion. 
• The Foundation provides the financial platform for funding many of the projects of Rotary such as the eradication of polio, through funding health workers and clinics.
• The goals of the Foundation are to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, education and alleviating poverty.
• Members can make personal contributions in several ways:
  • Every Rotarian, Every Year or Centurion ($100 a year)
  • Paul Harris Society ( minimum of $1000 US per annum)
  • Paul Harris Fellow (minimum of $1000 US)
• Members get Paul Harris recognition points for every donation which can be accumulated. More information is on the website.
• A short video is available on the website about the work of the Foundation http://www.district9800foundation.org/general/