Guest Speaker: Mark Anderson Rotary Club of Beecroft
Zoom attendee: Carolyn Millard
Peter Taylor welcomed members and guests
President Peter Taylor opened the meeting and welcomed members.
A reminder that August Membership and New Club Development Month and to that we welcome our Guest Speaker Mark Anderson.
We offer support for the Mental Health Gala Event in October hosted by Nea Barclay - get in early to get your tickets.
Also in support of Mental Health Event at the Royal Hotel will host three acclaimed Drag Queens from Melbourne with a surprise visit from three well know business people who have put up their hand to also "dress" There will be an option for the community present to guess their identities! Currently the event is SOLD OUT - and although considered, there will be not further sessions at this time.
Reminders if you havent yet put your names down - you can still join the waitlist for the SAFE TALK sessions - which are also sold out in Portland and Heywood - would be good to know the interest for further sessions. As you know this could been life changing for the community around you.
School lunches program will take place 20th August - just a bit earlier than usual.
Board meeting next Monday - reports in asap
Rotary Hours into Veryan - this supports our ongoing work in the community thriough stroy telling and also supports our grants processes.
Join us in making a difference!
Mondays at 6:00 pm
The Macs Hotel - Admella Room
41 Bentinck street
(Online available)
PORTLAND, VIC 3305 Australia
Managing Director – Jon Dennis Jon became Owner and Managing Director in April 2010 when Portland Precision Engineering acquired PFM (Portland Fleet Maintenance). Prior to this, Jon worked for General Motors for 30 years in various roles in Manufacturing and Engineering Program Management whilst posted in North America, Europe and Australia. As Managing Director, Jon leads all Portland Precision Engineering operations.
Chairperson Peter Simons introduced our guest speaker Mark
A Rotarian for over 35 years and a Rotary member of Clubs in Victoria, South Africa and New South Wales. Mark started early on his Rotary journey as Secretary of Karinda high school interact club, attending Rotary exchange student to Canada, a Rotoractor, Rylarian and participated in a GSE team member to California, Joined rotary in 1987, president of 2 clubs
With a background in sales and marketing Mark now acts as Major gifts officer for Rotary foundation in south pacific and Philippines, based in Sydney.
Beecroft club - Membership of now 34 however 2018 saw a new direction for the club concerned by
Membership decline,
We had a focus on fundraising, -who to ‘give the money to’ at the end of the financial year
a poor public image -our public had no idea of who Rotary were and what they did.
Board meetings – operational not strategic we needed to change the focus
no strategic plan.
So using the Rotary Action plan and Rotary foundation for guidance
We had to decide – Who we are and who we need to be?
Are we a fundraising organisation or are we a humanitarian service organisation? As a humanitarian service organisation, we would understand the needs of our community and spend the money we raise fixing the needs in our community
Use the Rotary Foundation to maximise our ability.
So some suggestions for moving forward
We Surveyed our community and asked – Have you heard of Rotary? – and what do we do?
A community needs assessment to Help make decisions about service priorities– (can leverage this through council assessments), stakeholder consultation, focus groups
Asset inventory – contacts and Mapping exercise of parks, churches, groups, scouts etc. so you know who to contact and connect with.
Consider a community newsletter
Use community assessment tools – available www.rotary.org
Our assessment of Beecroft – Large community of older people and younger groups with no cross connections – creating connections and this was our focus which is proving successful.
Club is now quite diverse and reflects what our community looks like, young, disabled, multi-cultural background – not old and white” 1/3
Last year 64 community projects for approx. $3500 cost to club
Utilising Shop front – rotating display every 6 weeks showing what we are doing.
Community newsletter – tell the community what you do
Utilise social media – get the message out
All projects based on community needs assessment
We will do service projects based on the five avenues of services
Together with the seven areas of focus of the rotary foundation
We focus on youth –
Club is a major supporter of RYLA program– we ask participants to come back and help with projects
Youth awards – six winners receive a major prize –bring a project to the club every year
From this some members would like to join-Reasons why some to join club – connections and “brains trust”
