Submissions for the Weekly Update must be
received by 12 noon the day before publication or they may not be included.
Please provide flyers in jpeg or jpg format
Email address for submissions: dgexecassist@rotarywa9455.org
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Greetings to all Rotarians and friends in District 9455,
December already; I’m sure the older I get the faster time flies by …!
Already we can see the decorations out for the festive season and it appears this relatively new concept in Australia of ‘Black Friday’ sales means that so many people have already done their Christmas shopping. So, this next three to four weeks will be dominated by Christmas.
One of my favourite things about Christmas is the feelings of warmth and love that it brings to our families and friends and to us, but this year, I think more than ever before, my mind leans towards the housing shortage, the lasting effects of covid on business and consumers alike.
The rising costs of groceries means that for many families, not only are they struggling to put quality food on their family’s tables, they are struggling to have the tables to put it on. The numbers are growing and organisations like Foodbank and the Salvation Army are working hard to meet the needs but they need help.
It is heartening to see posts on social media from so many clubs across our State that are already participating in events and drives to assist others at this time of year. If your club is not yet involved in at least one project or event that is in action around this time, then please encourage your members to seek one out.
Traditionally in business and in Rotary, December is seen as a month when things slow down as we head towards Christmas. In my view, for Rotary, it needs to turn into one of our busiest months as we serve the communities around us.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it ……
This month’s Public Image challenge … visit the Brand Centre on My Rotary. You don’t even need to log in! Check out the huge number of resources available to you and your club to share your activities with the world. The templates are free and easy to use, go for it!
Past challenges, in case you missed them:
1. July - The first challenge was to check out if there is one of those Rotary road signs in your area or on your way as you move around our State. Is it in good repair? If not, then please remove or fix it as it will be detrimental to the public image of Rotary if it looks old and tired.
2. August - Check your club’s website and see if it is up to date, particularly the calendar. This is sometimes the first place prospective Rotarians look and if the information is old, it also doesn’t give a good impression as to the current situation of the club.
3. September - When did you last talk to someone about why you are in Rotary and invite them to come with you to an event, project or a meeting? If it was more than a month ago, then I challenge you to try it again … did you know that most people join Rotary because they were invited?
4. October – Wear your Rotary pin, wear any pin you have that has the Rotary wheel on it. You never know when it might spark a conversation with someone who may well become a Rotarian and thereby have the chance to get the same joy out of helping others that you do.
5. November - Write an article, or a few words, to accompany a photo or photos of a Rotary activity. The community newspapers in particular are always looking for articles, and don’t stop there – The West is also keen to have ‘good news stories’ and we all know we want to see more of them.
Yours in Rotary service,
Ineke
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‘My Home’ Update November 2022
‘My Home’ is an extraordinary and immediate response to the housing crisis. Eighteen small low impact homes are currently being built with completion due in February 2023. These will house women over 55, who would otherwise be homeless. Rotary Clubs in District 9455 have undertaken to provide furniture and household goods. There is now the opportunity to make the houses more personal and homely with bedding, linen, towels, kitchen equipment, etc. Help has come from many areas, but further funding is needed. See how you can help. Read more here.
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Camp Quality Activity 2022
Camp Quality gives kids facing cancer the chance to be kids again, providing a support network and a range of non-medical support services for children living with cancer and their families.
RC Karrinyup has been a strong supporter of the program over many years. Along with our substantial donation this year, a team from Karrinyup Rotary provided hands on support and assistance for Camp Quality volunteers at 'Kids Only Time,' a Family Camp held recently in Guildford. Read more here.
TICKETS CLOSING THIS AFTERNOON FOR Rotary Means Business Presents A CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER RABIA SIDDIQUE! Grab yours now!
That’s right, you’ve only got until 4pm this afternoon to get a hotly contested ticket for you, your partner and any guests you'd like to bring along to the RMBWA Xmas Breakfast, 7.30 - 9am, December 6th in the Ballroom of the Duxton Hotel, where we'll be joined by special guest speaker; International Human Rights Lawyer - Rabia Siddique. Book your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/rmbrs
This early celebration of a very busy year's end and the onset of the festive season, shared with all your regular RMBWA friends, along with other Rotarians and guests, will be one to remember - with a fantastic speaker, scrumptious food, fun and raffle prizes for only $55 per ticket!
Our guest speaker, Rabia Siddique (represented by ICMI Speakers & Entertainers), is an international humanitarian lawyer, retired British Army senior officer, former war crimes and terrorism prosecutor and hostage survivor. She has undertaken humanitarian aid work in Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East, for which she was decorated by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Rabia's best-selling memoir “Equal Justice: My Journey as a Woman, a Soldier and a Muslim”, was published by Pan MacMillan in 2013 and work is currently underway to adapt this to a movie.
She is currently writing her second book; “A Beautiful Revolution”, about the power we all have to 'be the change' in our lives and in the world around us. Rabia Siddique is now a multi award winning storyteller, inspirational speaker, leadership consultant, media commentator and human rights advocate. Peace, equity and the sustainability of our planet is what drives her. But Rabia's biggest challenge and joy is being a mother to her young triplet sons!
The RMBWA team looks forward to celebrating with you, and please feel free to share the ticket link on your social media and business network platforms!
Rotary Means Business WA is a Fellowship of Rotary International. It is a vibrant, valuable and productive business Fellowship that enhances B2B and B2C commerce between and for Rotarians in business, and also provides an avenue to help strategically scale up members' good works at their Rotary Club. Its ethos is based on the principles of the Rotary Four Way Test which talks about honesty, fairness, friendship and benefit to all concerned.
Rotary’s Give a Feed campaign is ramping up, now the ABC Gives WA Radiothon “Purple Plates for Christmas” with Foodbank WA has concluded. Please continue to share our Give a Feed hamper campaign actively in December so those in need have a food hamper this festive season.
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Escalating Flood Crisis
RAWCS is responding to the unfolding, escalating flood crisis by maintaining our National Flood Appeal through the Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF) and by opening Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) projects specific to each flood affected area (these areas could grow as flood waters move downstream).
Funds raised to date have been directed through local Rotary Clubs to providing $500 Rotary Relief Vouchers to those whose homes are uninhabitable and require immediate assistance. This is the preferred option of RAWCS and is the most appropriate use of donated funds in assisting the flood affected communities.
RAWCS is seeking the support of Districts & local Rotary Clubs to assist in the distribution of these relief vouchers within the affected communities.
To provide the full benefit to these floods affected communities RAWCS is seeking financial donations from Rotary Districts, Clubs, individuals, businesses and public to support these projects using the RAWCS website project search and donate directly to the individual project using the on-line donation link https://rawcs.org.au/disasters/
RAWCS flood projects
Project No: 47 2021-22 National Floods Appeal (Rotary Australia Relief Fund RARF)
To raise funding to provide financial assistance to all communities in the impacted flood affected areas. Donations to this project are tax deductible. Distribution of these funds is not to specific regions.
Project No: 32 2022-23 Central West New South Wales communities flood relief funds distribution (Rotary Australia Benevolent Society RABS)
To distribute donated funds to people affected by the floods in Central West New South Wales communities. Donations to this project are tax deductible and are for distribution specifically to the Central West New South Wales region.
Project No: 31 2022-23 Victoria and Border communities flood relief fund distribution (RABS)
To distribute donated funds to people affected by the floods in Victoria and Border communities. Donations to this project are tax deductible and are for distribution specifically to the Victoria and border communities.
Project No: 54 2021-22 NSW - Queensland Flood Relief Fund Distribution (RABS)
To distribute donated funds to people affected by the floods in New South Wales and Queensland. Predominately for the Northern NSW flood affected regions.
Regards
Hank de Smit PDG
District Chair 9455
RAWCS
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BECOME A MEMBER OF THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY
- AN IDEA THAT WORKS!
The PolioPlus Society is a program that began in Oregon, USA in 2012 and is now being used successfully by Districts in North America, Brazil and The Philippines.
What is the PolioPlus Society?
To increase sustainable giving, the PolioPlus Society (PPS) encourages Rotarians to commit to a minimum of $US100 per year to the PolioPlus Fund until polio is eradicated from the face of the earth. Society members receive a special PPS pin and a certificate.
The original District, D.5110, that came up with the concept currently has 800 Rotarians signed up as members of the PolioPlus Society. That means that they can count on those PPS members giving a minimum of $80,000 annually, until the virus is gone! Worldwide there are now around 5000 members.
Paul Gianatti, paulg@pacflex.com.au if you have any queries.
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CANCELLED DUE TO LOW NUMBER OF BOOKINGS
REFUNDS WILL BE PROCESSED TO ALL TICKET HOLDERS
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The Santos Science Experience - Where science meets fun
Give year 9 and 10 students a university science experience. In-person, on-campus!
Murdoch University
Biology, chemistry, engineering, computer, biomedical, ecology, mathematics, and cyber security.
3 day program $190
Program Dates: 13 - 15 December 2022
Application Deadline: 12 November 2022
Please help get the Science Experience information to your local high school. Your Rotary Club is also encouraged to give a full or partial scholarship to your local high school students. As much as possible, Rotarians are asked to assist their local high school with the administrative paperwork.
Clubs, students and teachers can download the PDF print-brochure or contact Santos Science Experience for print copies
This year, the only local university participating is Murdoch University. UWA and ECU have promised to rejoin the annual program next year.
If your club has the financial capacity, we encourage you to also look at sending WA high school students to interstate programs https://www.scienceexperience.com.au/when-where. The Science Experience staff can help you get in touch with interstate universities to ask about local travel and accomodation for the student.
Special thank you to local Rotarians Sally Gutman - Welshpool, Bruno Fic - North Perth, Steve Lennox - Ballujura-Malaga, Greg Bower - Morely, and Robert Mosel - Greater Geraldton for help with early coordination and the scholarships sponsored by local electorates.
Have a scholarship form to submit? Have questions? Contact The Science Experience
Members and friends of Perth Rotary Club and Crawley Rotary Club enjoyed fellowship and a wonderful meal at the UWA club on 27th of October to celebrate the input and impact of Rotary International in regards to eradicating polio around the world. More than $2000 was raised as a result of this important fundraising event to end polio around the world. Special thanks to all of the donors.
A panel of speakers shared their story and journey through life as survivors of polio.
DG Ineke Oliver, District Governor of District 9455 joined the event virtually from interstate, together with key people from the Post Polio Network Inc. of WA- Ross O’Neil (Como Rotary Club), Ian Holding and Jenni Jones.
Each of these amazing people shared candid stories of how having polio has affected their lives and how they have worked hard to not let the illness and their experiences hold themselves back.
Of particular interest to everyone present was how they have developed resilience and managed through a number of tough life experiences. They also shared about how their long term health and wellbeing has been affected by having polio as children and the impact of polio to their health in later life. This was a moving experience for all concerned.
On behalf of Perth and Crawley Rotary Clubs we are all very grateful for your time and the opportunity to celebrate how far we have come in the fight about polio, and acknowledge how far we have to go.
Special thanks go to all involved including Perth and Crawley Rotary Clubs for their dedication and support to organise and run the event – Bravo!
The two-day Global Malaria Congress being run over the two-days immediately prior to the May 2023 RI Convention.
The two-day Congress brings respected malaria experts, governments, NGO's, corporates, Rotarians and non-Rotarians together in Melbourne, Australia; to share, educate and discuss how to Finish the Fight Against Malaria.
Malaria is treatable and curable, yet a child still dies of it almost every minute. This is the tragedy we must stop together.
Register to attend and add your voice to Finish the Fight.
