In 2025,
School Partnership: Continued efforts to truly cement the partnership with St Aloysius. This is progressing well.
MUNA: We will soon open applications and invite St Aloysius students to apply as RCM candidates
RYPEN: Later in Term one, we will open applications to St Aloysius students.
Bernie Gerlingher Scholarship: Candidates soon to be chosen.
Thank you to every YS Committee member for their contributions to the committee over the last 6 months. We look forward to a wonderful 2025!
Foundation Committee Update – Director Michelle Crawford
- Great Paul Harris Breakfast in 2024 – thank you to all who participated! We matched the funds made the previous year.
Vocational Service Committee Update – John Ilott on behalf of Director Ignacio Inchausti
- VPLMP Program continues to go from strength to strength – considerable change at People Command at VicPol with a review of the effectiveness of their training programs. Mentoring program is one of the strongest and they would like to expand. Two streams - one with commissioned officers – linked to business community mentors. 18 months, 10 people. Senior Sergeant stream – approx. 15 mentees linked to rotary mentors. Coming to a conclusion in April 2025. Been asked to consider a mentor program for newly promoted Inspectors.
- Youth Exchange – this program continues and we continue to try to find families to host.
- Reviewing our mentoring strategy – keep looking at opportunities to be involved in mentoring. How do we build the strength off the club in mentoring. A draft strategy is being developed by Warwick and Nev Taylor. Looking at the development of a community of practice of mentoring.
- Adopting Belonging Matters as one of the vocational service projects. Still working through how we can best support and promote such a valuable community service.
Fundraising Committee Update – Rhys Williams on behalf of Director Bruce Heron
Bunnings Sausage Sizzles – are an essential source of fundraising for all our projects. We’re tracking very well with sausage sizzles largely due to the team who manage the sausage sizzles. Thanks to all regular volunteers on list.
Member Announcements:
Roger Thornton: social function on 2nd March – Lorraine Meehan has kindly offered to host another BBQ. Highly recommend the day. Please RSVP to assist with catering.
Roger Thornton: Reminder of District conference – Multi District Impact Summit – Adelaide at Morphetville Racecourse. Social function on Friday – we’ll have a club dinner that evening. Gala dinner on Saturday night. Key message is if you are coming, Jan 31st is the early-bird booking cut off. Get in now! Let Roger know of your plans to assist with accommodation coordination.
Rhys Williams (on behalf of Suvam): Suvam has organised for next Sunday a new/younger members get together at Rhys place in Moonee Ponds. Invites via ClubRunner – please RSVP to Suvam. Intention is an informal get together to understand needs and desires of new members.
President Williams concluded the meeting thanking the Directors for their reports and acknowledging when you hear it all together it is a very substantial body of work. Looking forward to continuation of work. I hope its marvellous we have a ceasefire in Gaza. Our opportunity led capably by Fleur to use $6000 we have in the bucket to make a small but meaningful contribution.
Our theme is The Magic of Rotary and how we transform lives – we’ve heard this morning how pleasing it is we are doing this. Doing our best to engage with members – service above self as well as contributing to Club Service and fundraising effort that makes it all possible.
Energised for 2025!
Next week we’re back at RACV for Charlie Allen APM, our first Peacebuilding speaker for February, the Rotary International month of Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution.