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Upcoming Events
District 9600 District Conference
Maroochy RSL Events Centre
Apr 20, 2018 6:00 PM –
Apr 22, 2018 12:00 PM
 
Lunch Meeting
The Brisbane Club, Level 4
Apr 23, 2018
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
 
Testimonial Luncheon for James Delahunty
Victoria Park Golf Course
Apr 29, 2018
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
 
Lunch Meeting Cancelled (due to Luncheon on 29th)
Apr 30, 2018
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
 
Rotaract Rivercity Prof. Development Workshop
May 02, 2018
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Lunch Meeting with Police Commissioner Ian Stewart
United Services Club
May 14, 2018
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
 
95th Anniversary Celebratory Event
Queen Street Mall Stage Area
May 28, 2018
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
 
Rotary Club of Brisbane Golf Day
Virginia Golf Course
Jun 15, 2018
6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
Rotary International Convention 2018
Toronto
Jun 23, 2018 – Jun 27, 2018
 
Club Changeover Meeting
Brisbane Club
Jun 25, 2018
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
 
Burnett Cup - City vs Country in Mundubbera
Mundubbera Golf Club
Aug 18, 2018
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 

Meeting Roster

23 April 2018

President              D Vankov
Chair                    T Kung
Minutes                M Williams
Front Desk           D Schellbach/
                         J Smerdon

30 April 2018

No Meeting

7 May 2018

President              D Vankov
Chair                    L Marshall
Minutes                C Shepherd
Front Desk           D Schellbach/
                         J Smerdon
 

14 May 2018

Meeting held at United Services Club

21 May 2018

President              D Vankov
Chair                    C Muir Minutes                M Williams
Front Desk           D Schellbach/
                         J Smerdon
 
Upcoming Speakers
May 14, 2018 12:45 PM
Security and the Commonwealth Games
View entire list
ClubRunner
President's Message
Daniel VANKOV
member photo
Dear Fellow Rotarians & Friends of the Club
 
Before anything else a big "Thank you!" to all that worked with Jayani, our strategy advisor, and provided insights towards the new Club Strategic Plan. I am sure this will make the job of our forthcoming Presidents, Chris Muir in 2018/2019 and Michael Stephens in 2019/2020, a lot easier.
As previously advised I am travelling abroad so this address will focus only on work done.
On behalf of the Club I have submitted an application to the Rotary Foundation District 9600 Grants Committee for the chicken-breeding project idea that was presented to Club members earlier. Let's hope the application will be approved for funding which will allow President-Elect Chris Muir to do more work in his favourite direction, the Islands, during his year as President.
In relation to projects Chris and I had a meeting with a couple of young enthusiasts who would like to enable Indigenous Australians in remote communities secure healthier and affordable food they produce themselves through the use of innovative greenhouse technologies. Luke Marshall introduced them so who says young members do not come up with good project ideas? It is an interesting concept and somewhat similar to our chicken-breeding project although the focus is on vegetables. We have requested some more background work to be done before we bring the idea to the attention of the Club.
In relation to the organisation of the Club 95th anniversary, Jacqui Page and I visited the Queen Street Mall Stage. A representative of Brisbane Marketing was there to answer all our questions. The Salvation Army trailer as well as the CARRS-Q small driving simulator are confirmed for the event. Denise Schellbach is working towards confirming the Brisbane Lord Mayor attendance, too. The event is booked between 12 noon and 2 p.m. on the 28th of May, instead of our regular meeting, so please put a note into your diaries! It shall be something different to experience. More updates shall follow once elements of the initiative are getting confirmed.
President Daniel
Stories
Meeting Notes, 16th April 2018
Michael Stephens chaired the meeting and began with Rotary Grace and Toasts to the Queen and Rotary International. Michael welcomed back to the Club Tony Love.
 
President Daniel is away for two weeks, so Graeme Whitmore welcomed members.
Pres Daniel provided Graham was the following messages to members:
 
  1. Thank you to all members who have worked with Jayani, our Strategy Advisor, and provided insights towards the new Club Strategic Plan. I am sure this will make the job of our incoming Presidents, Chris Muir in 2018/9 and Michael Stephens 2019/20 a lot easier.
  2. On behalf of the Club, Daniel submitted an application to the Rotary Foundation District 9600 Grants Committee for the chicken breeding project idea that was presented to club members earlier. Let's hope the application will be approved for funding, which will allow President-elect Chris Muir to do more work in his favourite location, the Islands, during his year as President.
  3. Chris and Daniel had a meeting with a couple of young enthusiasts who would like to enable Indigenous Australians in remote communities to secure healthier and affordable food that they produce themselves, through the use of innovative greenhouse technologies. Luke Marshall introduced them. It is an interesting concept and somewhat similar to a chicken breeding project, although the focus is on vegetables. We have requested some more background work to be done before we bring the idea more formerly to the attention of the Club.
  4. In relation to the organisation of the Club's 95th anniversary, Jacqi Page and Daniel visited the Queen Street Mall Stage. A representative of Brisbane marketing was there to answer all their questions. The Salvation Army trailer and the CARRS – Q small driving simulator are confirmed for the event. Denise is working towards confirming the Brisbane Lord Mayor's attendance. The event is booked between 12 noon and 2 PM on 28 May, instead of our regular meeting, so please put a note in your diaries. It shall be something different to experience.
 
Spots
  1. Jackie reminded everybody of the Testimonial Lunch and for James Delahunty at Victoria Park Golf Course on Apr 29, 2018 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
  2. Denise reminded everybody that on 14 May the police Commissioner Ian Stewart will be making an important presentation to the club at the UWC.
  3. Graeme reminded everybody of the golf day at the Virginia Golf Course on Jun 15, 2018 between 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
  4. Mark Williams gave a short demonstration of the club's new website the purpose of which is to publicise activities and attract new members.
  5. Denise advise members that Don O'Donoghue was still in hospital, although feeling a little better.
Today Jacqi Page was our Member in the spot-light. Jacqi gave a short talk on her family and a trip she did in 2008 of the China Silk Road.  The photos were excellent and very enlightening.
 
Jacqui Page takes us down the Silk Road
 
With no Sergeant, Tony Love returned to his former duties and extracted significant financial penalties. Members now know more about Sir William Glasgow. Members cannot afford to have Tony attend every week! The raffle was won by Clive Shepherd.   The Joker is still in the pack.
 
The Acting President closed the meeting.
The key to pitching Rotary to young professionals

By Michael Walstrom, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton, Florida  

Michael Walstrom leads a presentation on attracting young professionals into Rotary.

I think most would agree that Rotary has struggled to attract and retain young professionals. At a district conference in 2016, my district governor, Eric Gordon, asked me to put together a program for “YP” development. This was a new committee, so I was starting from scratch. I was 38 at the time and two years into my Rotary journey. The only thing I really knew was that I had a lot to learn.

My first step was to gather data. My district, 6930, has 6 percent membership in the “under 40” category. I put together a survey of ten questions designed to get at the core of what brought those members into Rotary, why they stay, what they want, and what the challenges are for them. Club presidents from all over the district helped get their YP members to complete my survey.

The process was fantastic. I knew why I was in Rotary, but I needed to know if my experience was similar to others, or anomalous. Reading through scores of submissions I began to see some distinct trends.

  • Younger members were drawn to Rotary through a friend or business contact.
  • They value networking, for personal but primarily business purposes.
  • Many are interested in developing relationships with community leaders, those who could offer guidance or mentorship.
  • Some identified time and financial commitments as ongoing hurdles.
  • Only about half identified service as an initial motivation for joining, but to most it is clearly an important factor.

Surveys can help put an issue into context, but how can clubs turn this into a strategy for YP membership development?

I think it means knowing what Rotary has to offer. It’s putting together a Value Proposition that can effectively pitch Rotary to the YPs in any community.

This pitch comes down to one idea, Leadership. Rotary is a unique environment wherein YPs can learn, practice, and exhibit leadership skills. This is an immeasurable benefit for one’s personal and professional development. Their values can be made clear; they learn to work with others and pay it forward.

Download Walstrom’s survey (PDF).

Engaging Younger Professionals, a new online toolkit, helps clubs better understand younger professionals. From ideas for outreach and engagement to long-term benefits of becoming a Rotarian, this toolkit helps clubs rethink their membership, from a broad perspective down to a tactical level.

Source: Rotary Voices

Unexpected lessons from my disaster relief experience

By Yannis Comino

Yannis Comino with ShelterBox aid supplies.

Over my summer break at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, I decided to trade in the warmer weather of Australia for an English winter. Why, you might ask, would I do such a thing? Well, the only way I can explain it is — I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. During my New Generations Service Exchange at the headquarters of ShelterBox International in Truro, Cornwall, I gained priceless insight and first-hand experience in disaster relief management.

Both my mother and father are members of the Rotary Club of Morisset, and their club’s constant promotion of ShelterBox gave me the idea to seek the exchange. I am currently working on a bachelor’s in Development Studies with the hope of pursuing a career in the aid sector through either community development or disaster management, so I was thrilled when my exchange was approved.

At Left: Yannis stands next to the “Rotary Wall” of club banners at the ShelterBox Disaster Relief Centre.

As I walked through the doors of ShelterBox headquarters, I was greeted by a youthful, vibrant, and enthusiastic team. I was impressed by their morning meetings, as they sit in front of four large television screens analyzing the current deployments and tracking global news of the day.

My task was to dive through post-deployment reports to identify contacts. Reading through these reports and generating a contact list the organization can use in future deployments, I got a real taste for the work they do. I was able to work alongside, and gain a deeper understanding of, the affiliates programme. This work was fascinating, but the greatest experience was sitting in on meetings and working will fellow colleagues who share my humanitarian virtues.

As I look back over my six-week immersion in disaster relief operations, and the logistical conundrums that must be resolved for any successful aid deployment, I am more certain than ever of my desired career path. 

I truly believe this was the beginning of a lifetime of experiences. This kind of work will enable me to merge my two passions: helping others and exploring new destinations and cultures. My exchange has already led me to become more involved with the Morisset Rotary Club. I shall be going to Tanzania  later this year to help undertake a project to provide needed equipment for a hospital in the city of Morogoro.

I extend a big thanks to the Rotary Club of Truro Boscawen, who hosted me for my six-week exchange, and the Rotary club back home for kick-starting this adventure. But my biggest thanks has to go to Jane and Andrew Parker who put up with a stranger staying in their house for six weeks. It is a good thing I head back as the Australian summer draws to a close, as I dare not get back into a swimsuit after eating all of Jane’s amazing food. This New Generations Service Exchange has ignited my flame for humanitarian service, one I hope will continue to burn brightly for many years to come.

Learn more about New Generations Service Exchanges and read more about Rotary’s partnership with ShelterBox 

Club Officers

President                   Daniel Vankov
Secretary                   Michael Stephens
Treasurer                   Warren Walker
President Elect          Chris Muir
Imm. Past President  Graeme Whitmore
Sergeant-at-arms       Luke Marshall
The Rotary Club of Brisbane Inc.
ABN 75 152 438 499
GPO BOX 2909 Brisbane Qld 4001
District               9600
Club Number   17787

Brisbane City Cluster Assistant Governor

Lisa Bateson

District Governor

John Lane

Rotary International President

Ian Riseley