BULLETIN 17th May, 2022 (May 14, 2022)

WHAT'S IN THIS BULLETIN

7TH JUNE 2022

NEXT MEETING
FROM THE LAST MEETING - 31st May
A TASTE OF AFRICA
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE
RI 2023 MELBOURNE CONVENTION
NGSE IS STARTING AGAIN - HOSTS NEEDED
CHANGEOVER 2022/2023 - YOU'RE INVITED
GARDEN DESIGNFEST - ROARING BACK TO LIFE

CLUB FUNDRAISING - HOW YOU CAN HELP
GALLERY

NEXT MEETING 7th June

The 'RCM' Meeting on the 7th of May will be a face-to-face meeting at the RACV Club in the CBD.

The meeting will commence at 7:40am and conclude no later than 8:45.

GUEST SPEAKER:

Mawien Ariik: Member of Rotary Central Melbourne

TOPIC: "South Sudan Girls Sanitation and Education Project"

Mawien Ariik (known as Ariik) was born in 1989 in the village of Lou Ariik, South Sudan. At the age of 8, he learned that his father (Ariik Dut) had died in the South Sudan war along with millions of others while fighting for the freedom of his people.

This sad loss became Ariik’s motivation to continue the legacy of freedom that his father fought for, and to ensure those efforts were not in vain. Ariik created South Sudan Health Matters Inc as a platform for identifying the basic needs of the village and surrounding parts of South Sudan. Needs such as basic healthcare, education, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Ariik is married with two children and works in the banking sector.

NGSE IS STARTING AGAIN - HOSTS NEEDED!

Posted by Alan SEALE

After a two-year COVID imposed break we are resuming where we left off with the New Generations Service Exchange program. You might remember Lotta Rink, the talented young Bassoonist who had to go home early thanks to the pandemic.

Nevertheless, in July this year two young Australian opera singers, Louise Keast and Michael Dimovski, will be heading off to Bavaria where they will be hosted by German Rotary families for around 6 weeks. They will be participating in the Bayreuth Young Artist’s Festival, attending master classes, and in Michael’s case, performing at the D1950 District Conference.

FROM THE LAST MEETING - 31st May

Posted by Peter DURAS

ROTARY CENTRAL MELBOURNE – MEETING REPORT 31st May 2022

President Elias welcomed 20 members and our guest speaker to this week’s face-to-face meeting. A special welcome went to Stephen Turner attending his first meeting as a member.

Chair, Russell Rolls proposed a toast to Rotary International.

Member Milestones

Member’s Birthdays

Nil

Partner Birthdays

NIL

Wedding Anniversaries

Kevin and Veronica Love 2 June 1979 - 43 years

Date Joined Rotary

Mary Voice 4^th June 2001, 21 years

Chairman Russell Rolls then introduced Dr Niamatullah Ibrahimi who spoke brilliantly on the topic: “Navigating the Human Rights and Humanitarian Crises under the Taliban in Afghanistan”.

Dr Ibrahimi was born in Afghanistan and from 2002-2005 worked for the International Crisis Group followed by 5 years with the Crisis States Research Centre of the London School of Economics. He is the author of “The Hazards and the Afghanistan State: Rebellion, Exclusion and Struggle for Recognition”. He is also a Lecturer in International Relations at La Trobe University.

After the West’s massive investment of military intervention and economic intervention in an attempt to establish security and a more liberal society in Afghanistan the withdrawal in August 2021 has seen life under the Taliban spiral into human rights, humanitarian and economic crises.

While the world’s attention has been diverted to the Ukraine the situation in Afghanistan has seriously deteriorated. Covid, drought, and the withdrawal of the Western finance and presence have resulted in 97% of the population living in poverty and, often, near starvation. This is the worst material crisis in the world with the possible exception of Ukraine. The International community has almost no avenues open to assist the struggling population of 40 million.

In addition, there is a human rights crisis. After initial optimism on the part of the West, the Taliban have slipped back into extreme policies, issuing a series of decrees pushing women out of society and attempting to “cleanse” the nation of Western influence. Open media, protests, and discussion in all forms has been strongly suppressed. Journalists have been arrested and tortured while many others have left the country. The promised amnesty has been forgotten and mass killings have occurred.

The Taliban is now faced with an even more radical and violent Islamic State group, The Khorasan adding further chaos and instability.

With the Taliban’s loyalties focussed entirely on national and surrounding regions, there is little influence that the international community can bring to bear in order to improve this complex, deteriorating situation. It will take a long-term approach, with human rights and long-term stability essential as the focus of international policies.

Announcements

- Neville John invited everyone to be part of the fundraising Taste of Africa night at Cecily’s on 11^th June. Starting at 6 pm the event’s modest cost of $50 will help fund the Club’s African project. Book early through Try booking as participation is limited to 50.

-This Sunday’s Bunnings Sausage Sizzle will be a special event with Frank O’Brien making his last appearance there in a major role. Well done Frank and Pauline.

- Rob Hines drew his most successful raffle yet, raising $1350. The winners were David Jones, Anne King, and Russell Rolls. Thanks to everyone who took part. These proceeds will Go to the Bernie Gerlinger Foundation.

- Rohan Williams reminded us that the RI Convention will be a highlight in May 2023, and that early bird discounts are currently available, but be quick.

President's announcements and close

Elias, in light of the Club having to forward substantial fees to Rotary International for each member registered at the end of the financial year, asked that members planning to transfer to another Club or who are considering leaving Rotary bring their situation to the attention of the President or Board by mid-June 2022, please.

Elias again invites you to the RCM Changeover Dinner on Friday 1^st July 2022

Next week’s meeting will again be face to face with our own Mawien Ariik speaking on our “ South Sudan Girls Sanitation and Education Project” Please book ASAP with Try Booking

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE

GARDEN DESIGNFEST - ROARING BACK TO LIFE

Posted by Roger THORNTON

GLEN EIRA - END OF THE ROAD

Hello to all our friends,

Sadly the Glen Eira Rotary Club will cease all activities and retire our Rotary Charter at the end of the financial year.

After many years of service to our local community and internationally through Rotary International, we want to leave on a high note, so we will be celebrating the club and remembering all the good times and probably a few not so good times with our members and friends.

It would be wonderful if you could joins us.

SECOND BITE - ENDING FOOD WASTE

ENDING FOOD WASTE IS KEY TO OUR FUTURE

Rotary Food Waste & the Environment - Luncheon

Rotary with its partners, the Sofitel & the City of Melbourne, are proud to promote awareness of and positive outcomes for our environment. “The Environment” has recently been adopted as an area of focus by Rotary International.

As a club of action in advocating for environmental stewardship, the Rotary Club of Melbourne has worked closely with the non-profit food rescue organisation - SecondBite - in the fight against food waste. The issue of reducing food waste has been brought into even sharper focus by the Covid-19 pandemic, with statistics showing that roughly one-third of the food produced globally is either lost or wasted every year.

You and your colleagues are warmly invited to attend a fundraiser for SecondBite hosted by the Rotary Club of Melbourne with its partners the Sofitel – Melbourne and the City of Melbourne. This event features a celebrity panel discussion to raise awareness of how we can reduce food waste to benefit the environment. A portion of the ticket price plus the proceeds of the raffle will support the vital work of SecondBite. Purchase tickets HERE.

About Rotary Club of Melbourne

Rotary Club of Melbourne members leverage their networks and create partnerships to help build a better world. As a club, this means using the skills and passions of members to make a positive difference in local, national and international communities. The club meets for lunch weekly on Wednesdays at 12.30pm at No35 Sofitel on Collins and at monthly evening meetings at The Lyceum Club. We would love to have you join us!