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Vice President Kevin Love opened the meeting by welcoming everyone then asking Chair Elias Lebbos to propose at toast to RI. Truth or Tale? Anne King gave a short tale on the exploits of a newly arrived barmaid in the old city of London. This tale of innocence and help to fellow man proved to be true. Well done Anne. Announcements INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY BREAKFAST on Thursday 7th March at PALLADIUM AT CROWN. MULTI DISTRICT CONVENTION on 16-17th March OPERA ON THE YARRA on Saturday 2nd March MEEHAN BBQ on Sunday 17th March GOLF DAY on Friday 29th March
Guest Speaker - Jeremy Meltzer CEO, i=change It all began some 20 years ago when Jeremy was residing in a small crowded and hot apartment in Cuba and gained direct access to the local community, lived their way of life and realized that Cuban people assumed that abuse of girls and women was an accepted part of normal life. Further travel to India where young girls were subjected to extreme abuse and confinement led Jeremy to appreciate it was a world issue and a challenge for him to change. Abuse of girls effects them for the rest of their life. The upsurge of the METO movement at the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS further highlighted the need to empower women to halt abuse. Jeremy recognised the potentential of the fast growing economic force women as 85% of purchases were decided by women. This recognition unlocked the potential of how to engage women in the fight against abuse. The need to clearly associate marketing with a social cause. This could be best achieved with the use of online shopping giving an immediate opportunity to transparently and radically link business with the social cause they support. The customer has the choice of how much to give to which cause. This link advertised by a logo used by the retailer that links their business with i=change. i.e. TOMS SHOES. This process has been growing exponentially each year. The advantage to the retailer has been proved by the dramatic drop in look only view of online sites when buyers can actually see where their donations go. People have increased their purchases from retail companies that give back to causes in this transparent way. This link reveals the forces for good as an experience, not just stuff but the experience of being a community. The give backs were clearly linked to causes giving the direct details and benefits and an invitation to join the cause. The donations were initially small at $1 per item-small but many. A brilliant concept developed by Jeremy and expanding at a fantastic rate and has facilitated the gift of over $1,000,000 to assist empowering women and reducing abuse of women and girls. Thanks Jeremy for such a clear and committed presentation. Jeremy was given a small gift in appreciation of his presentation and asked to draw three lucky tickets, which were won by Anne King, Gerard Hogan and Paul Fraser. Vice President Kevin closed the meeting thanking all for attendance . |
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