President's Half Yearly Report - Dec '07
Dear Friends, Sponsors, and Supporters of Rotary
There are many community sponsors of Rotary, and at this stage of the year, this note conveys appreciation, and communicates Rotary’s work in which you have played a part.
Since July this year, the Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh has:-
- Funded the work of Bacchus Marsh SES ($1,000)
- Funded the work of the Children’s Protection Society ($1,600)
- Funded Scouts & Guides $1000
- Funded 4 students, two each, from the local Secondary College and Grammar to attend a Rotary camp at Lancefield, designed to encourage leadership and self confidence ($500)
- Funded a program called “Let’s Read” to encourage pre-school literacy and schooling success. This is the second of a three year program jointly supported by the Shire, Peter Clarke, and Elms and Turner Street Medical Centres $3,500
- Funded $1,500 in support of a celebratory luncheon for Senior Citizens in Moorabool Shire
- Funded in cooperation with the local Lions Club, $4,400 to AusKick Bacchus Marsh as an outcome of a Footy Fever night in Grand Final week.
- Funded scholarships for students in district schools ($800)
- Funded one young local adult’s participation in a Leadership course organized through Rotary International ($600)
- Conducted a fund-raising event “A Touch of Tuscany” that resulted in $4000 being given to the E.W. Tipping Foundation Respite Care facility being established in Bacchus Marsh
- Funded two “Shelter Boxes” for use in Bangladesh: these boxes offer a self contained survival kit for those affected by major disasters ($2,400)
We’ve tried to get shared funding through the Shire to distribute energy saving light bulbs for pensioners, we’ve supported a submission by the CWA to upgrade the Pioneer Womens Avenue on Stamford Hill, and we’ve also supported a submission by volunteers in their efforts to upgrade the maintenance of the Blacksmith’s Cottage. Two initiatives were unsuccessful. And we held at working bee in support of the Shire’s upgrade of the Skateboard Park.
Our Club has 37 members, all of whom are committed to active ‘service above self’ at international and local levels. We’d like to attract new members with a similar commitment, but many prospective members are deterred by a weekly dinner meetings ($20, Avenue Motel, Wednesdays). However, this expectation is just that! – not mandatory!
As for the first half of 2008, we’ve got a big programme planned:
- Aquatic Centre for Bacchus Marsh: this is a long term commitment, and the role of Rotary is one of facilitating the efforts of the Shire in providing a facility appropriate to the health, sporting, educational, and recreational needs of the Bacchus Marsh community
- Art Show: an annual event in June that has gained over the years, an outstanding reputation for the quality of the exhibition and competition. This year Western Water is sponsoring a special award for a portrait of water – something that conveys the relationship with country life and a rural environment
- Mao’s Last Dancer: we’ve been lucky to arrange for Li Cunxon, author, and outstanding Australian living in Melbourne to talk about his experiences – rising from profound poverty in China to the level of international dancer – to be the attraction for a major fund raising dinner on 16 May 2008 .
- Cancer Council of Australia: our Club has several members working on the Moorabool Shire’s organizing Committee, and we’ll be competing in the Relay for Life community event in March, and taking part in a Rotary International event (Ride to Conference) that raises funds for Ovarian Cancer. Russell Gilbert is also taking part in a fund raising bike ride that typically raises $10,000 for Ovarian Cancer research and development
- Official Opening of Maddingley Park: the Management Committee has done an outstanding job for the local community and visiting public in upgrading the Park – watering systems, grounds, facilities – and we’re keen to support their achievements
- Energy Saving Light Bulbs: we were unsuccessful in our submission to the Moorabool Shire, but we’re going to have another go next year. The Shire likes the idea and wants to expand it across the Shire – our bailiwick is Bacchus Marsh itself
- Student Camps: we’ve budgeted to fund another 4 students to go on the Rotary International Camp at Lancefield – encouraging self confidence and leadership
- Let’s Read: the next stages of the programme are particularly important for literacy development, and we’ve already held a meeting with the Shire of Moorabool to discuss their extended support
- Shelter Boxes: we’d like to fund another two of these to support international communities affected by disasters, and a garden party for this purpose is arranged for 24 February.
- CWA Pioneer Women’s Avenue: our efforts are likely to centre on working bees as part of restoration of this historic feature of Bacchus Marsh.
On behalf of the board and members of the Bacchus Marsh Rotary Club, I would like to thank you most sincerely for your support to Rotary this year, and to wish you, your family, and your organization every happiness and success for 2008.
Yours in Rotary
JOCELYN WILLIAMS
President
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