They shall not grow old, as we are left to grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
President's Notes
Peter McEWEN
I hope you all enjoyed the ANZAC long weekend.
Last week, we had the pleasure of listening to Justin Back, son of Honorary member Chris. Rotary has had a profound impact on Justin’s life journey.
After graduating from Aquinas College, Justin successfully applied for a Rotary Student Exchange with the Melville Rotary Club. He spent 12 months in Belgium with 5 host families. Justin attended year 12 and learnt to speak french. This experience helped him in understanding the Truth about himself and in building character.
Justin returned to Australia and started a degree in geology at the University of Tasmania. This provided a prerequisite for an application to Duntroon Military College. Since school, Justin had wanted to join the Army. He enroled in 2000 and graduated in 2001. In 2003, Justin was sent to Iraq as a an armoured core Commander.
He used some of the skills he acquired as a RE student ensuring his charges were Fair to all concerned. In this way, Justin’s unit built trust, respect and Goodwill with the local people. In 2006, he was despatched to Afganistan and used the same principles to build Goodwill and Better Friendships with Afgani people.
After completing his military service, Justin worked in the oil and gas industry. He is now President of Acadian Ambulance who provide medical care to residents in Louisiana, Mississipi, Tennessee and Texas. Arcadian have over 4,000 employees and 500 ambulances.
Justin has developed a bridging course for paramedics in 16 Australian universities to provide graduates career opportunities with Acadian. The paramedics return to Australia with experience ensuring it Beneficial to all concerned.
Since his RE experience, Justin has utilised The Four Way Test in his life and plans to join a Rotary club when he returns to Australia with his family.
Justin Back, President Peter McEwen, Dr Chris Back
Perth Makers Market
As mentioned last week, we appreciated the support of four members from Attadale Rotary who assisted with car parking duties. Attadale RC have agreed to roster four members on an ongoing basis. It is great to see Zone1 clubs working together. Next market is on 29 May 2022.
We won’t be seeing Clive in person for a few weeks as he recovers from an operation. Hopefully we will see Clive via Zoom. From all of us, we wish you a speedy recovery Clive.
Unfortunately, I won’t be attending tomorrow’s meeting in person due to Covid isolation requirements. We look forward to hearing from PDG Jodie Sparks on the Rotary Foundation.
Have you read DG Pat Schraven's April Newsletter? It is full of interesting articles including contributions from AG Kenn Williams.
We are often asked what Rotary supports and there are some excellent local examples of RAWCS grants in this month's DG newsletter. Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist disadvantaged communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects.
RAWCS has a financial infrastructure system that facilitates fundraising for projects that deliver humanitarian aid and charitable support in Australia and overseas. Projects are registered through Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAOAF), Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) incorporating Rotary Australia Compassionate Grants (RACG), Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF), Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) and Repurposing Medical & Health Equipment.
Two local examples are:
1. Albany Port Rotary Grant
The Rotary Club of Albany Port successfully applied for $100,000 from the RAWCS Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF).
2. Rotary Powers the Bush During Fire Emergencies
RAWCS in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Katanning aproved a grant of $96.000 to provide a 500KVA generator for the township. The generator will power all facilities at the Katanning Leisure Centre, which is the primary welfare centre for the town. The debrief of the bush fire that impacted the town site of Katanning in February 2020 highlighted the issue of not having an independent powere supply in an emergency.
World Immunization Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about the effectiveness of vaccines and mobilize people’s support for immunization. Vaccination is one of the best tools we have to improve people’s health and well-being. Global vaccination programs for preventable diseases, such as polio, are critical to protecting vulnerable children and preventing outbreaks. Rotary members use our decades of experience in fighting polio to provide communities with information and access to COVID-19 vaccines in order to stop the coronavirus from spreading and help end the pandemic. You can support Rotary’s efforts by:
In today’s interconnected world, every vaccine counts. Let’s take action together to ensure that the polio vaccine reaches every child and keep communities safe from disease.
Representatives to the 2022 Council on Legislation voted overwhelmingly on their first day of sessions to add “equity and inclusion” to Rotary International bylaws, affirming the organization’s continued effort to be inclusive of all cultures, experiences, and identities, and to reflect the communities it serves. The four-day conference, held in Chicago, Illinois, USA on 10-14 April, marked Rotary’s first successful attempt to host a hybrid international event since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 520 representatives represented Rotary districts around the world; about 60% attended in-person, and the rest participated via Zoom.
This year’s Council reviewed and voted on more than 90 enactments that would change RI’s constitutional documents.
Among the highlights is the legislation that promotes diversity and builds a well-balanced Rotary membership.
Proposed by the Rotary Club of Annanagar Aadithya, India, (District 3232) the enactment passed by a vote of 420 to 56. Amended Rotary bylaws now state that “each club or Rotaract club shall endeavor to build a well-balanced membership that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion. ” Rotary prohibits clubs from denying an individual membership due to gender, race, color, creed, national origin, or sexual orientation. “We have now made growing and diversifying our membership a top internal organizational priority,” said Valarie Wafer, who chairs RI’s Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force.“Feeling welcome and comfortable with fellow club members is the single greatest driver of member satisfaction, and retention,” Wafer maintained. “By adding equity, we are thoughtfully considering how to provide differing levels of support, opportunities, and resources so everyone can have a welcoming and valuable experience. Adding inclusion ensures that we focus on creating experiences in which all people are welcomed, respected, and valued.”
Dues Increase
Representatives approved dues increase for each of the next three years.
Dues that clubs pay to RI per member are set at $35.50 per half year in 2022-23.
Dues will increase to $37.50 per half year in 2023-24, $39.25 per half year in 2024-25, and US$41.00 per half year in 2025-26.
“The proposed dues adjustment is based on the most current forecasting information,” said RI Director Elizabeth Usovicz. She attributed the dues increase to lower membership, lower earnings, and fluctuating inflation.
“The approval will now enable Rotary to respond quickly and compassionately to humanitarian needs.”
Two cargo planes packed with medical equipment, including an ambulance, have already flown from Chicago to Europe, where unloading and delivery to hospitals were led by members in and outside of Ukraine.
Rotary members in North America, Argentina, and Europe are collaborating with a U.S.-based association of Ukrainian health care workers to collect and ship more than 100 tons of critical medical supplies to Ukraine.
The effort was built off of connections Marga Hewko, president of the Rotary Club of Chicago, had forged with the Ukrainian medical community in Chicago. Rotary clubs have pooled their resources to secure donations from equipment manufacturers and purchase suppliwhich are then flown over to Europe for distribution within Ukraine.
