It is amazing how fast this year is going. We do not have a meeting on Easter Monday 5th April, so after the meeting on Mon 29th March, the next one will be on April 12th when it will be committee meeting night. There has been much happening in the committees so make sure you are there to contribute to our club.
Youth Happenings
We have a candidate for RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) in Charli who is one of our wonderful Monday night hotel staff and who looks after us well. Her father was a Rotarian who encouraged her to apply. Congratulations Charli and enjoy your training.
We also have a candidate for RYPEN from Heathfield High School and in a few weeks we will be hearing from Ben Gast who was a NYSF attendee we jointly sponsored with Mt Barker Rotary.
Last Meeting
Last Monday evening we were treated to a fascinating tale of travel by our own Malcolm Horton who with his wife Jane traversed the trans-Siberian Railway a few years ago. He regaled us with tales of fascination as well as trials and tribulations caused by the uniqueness of the passage. It certainly had its ups and downs. But what a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Malcolm.
Next meeting
Next Monday night our President-elect Stephen’s wife Sharon Morton will be our guest speaker. Sharon will speak on the subject of "Covid Vaccines – what does the future hold?"
Shelterbox Update
Last Saturday, Mike Greenslade, CEO of ShelterBox Australia and Dan Edmonds hosted a one day training seminar on the use of social media for fundraising and a presentation on current deployments and developments within ShelterBox worldwide.
Some lively discussion followed on the future of volunteering.
Familiar faces include (top right) PDG Tim Klar, now a ShelterBox Ambassador
(front left) Mike Greenslade CEO ShelterBox Australia, (beside him)
Lucy Dodd, ShelterBox Response Team Member and (beside her)
Jillian Mitchell, ShelterBox Ambassador.
Fundraising has been particularly difficult for everybody, while disasters keep happening and COVID has added another level of difficulty in responding to multiple disasters worldwide.
Increasingly, a full ShelterBox kit is not considered to be the best "one size fits all" solution and aid is now becoming more tailored to the actual need. Today, ShelterBoxes may be packed only with solar lights, water purification sets, sleeping bags and mats, dining sets or whatever, along with ShelterKits and small cash payments to empower victims, support the local economy and to learn the skills required to erect and maintain shelter for the family.
Mike and Tim took the opportunity to present (left) Greg Love, formerly Area Coordinator - Adelaide, who retired last year., with a Distinguished Service Award for his lifetime of support to Rotary and ShelterBox.
Weekly smiles
Kids today don't know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.
