Meeting Notes for 31 March
President Tom announced that we should commence the meeting, with a booming "good evening". He also announced that the Guest speaker would be announced later.
Reports
Martin Silink reported that the famous Rotarian Barney died recently. Barney was an important part of Martin's life. He ran the Rotary office at the UN from being appointed in 1986 until his death. Martin had a reunion lunch with Barney when visiting New York last year.
Martin reminded us of Barney's role in his "Life for a Child" International Diabetes Project, that lights up the opera house and major buildings around the world on one day every year, and gives life-saving insulin to millions of poor children annually. Barney assisted Martin in getting a UN resolution passed unanimously that proclaims an International Diabetes day. In doing so, they defied the initial objections of the USA, Australia and many other developed countries, by garnering the support of the minnow countries and eventually turning the whole General Assembly. Barney had a big life.
WATW. This is the last week that we can put in our steps. Estimate your steps if you didn't count them. We have 86.5 million steps so far and are aiming for over 100 million by the end of next week.
Robyn Barrett re Pride of Workmanship Awards. 2 weeks tonight, the evening will be on Tues 14th April, at Roseville Golf Club. The LC Youth Orchestra will play and dinner will consist of 2 courses, chocolate, and coffee.
John Donald. Red Shield on Sun 31st May. JD will be the Chairman of the LC Committee and will report to the Sallies officer who is the Director. The recent launch numbered 100 and raised half a million dollars on the night thanks to a challenge from Dick Smith. The Shore School has formally pulled out from collecting but John Cameron assured us that his son's House (at Shore school) will be still working their Greenwich patch. We still need the collectors and will work "around" the telemarketer collectors.
PP John Palmer. Shelter Box received another $1,000 today making a total of nearly $10,000, ie, approx $500 short of 10 boxes. Registration starts tomorrow for the 2016 District Conference. There is a traffic management course that we can attend to save money for traffic control at the Fair.
John Cronly. Let's raise the rest of the $10,000 tonight. And we did!!! (See below.)
PP Bob Cartwright. On behalf of the club wants to recognise and thank John Palmer for generously printing the Rotacove every night, following Lindsay's similar efforts over many years. Also Harry Clarsen, who has skilfully circumvented State libel laws in his editing of Phil's meeting notes each week.
Chris Curtis. Club nominated Colin Barlow for a Hong Kong prize of $100,000 for his charity, the Nusa Tangarra People. Sadly he missed the short list but he was grateful that the club had nominate him.
PP Roger Wescombe. Wants the club to recognise and thank Chris for submitting the nomination as it has taken months of painstaking research and substantial documentation.
Tania. All who attended the Bobbin Head Cycle Classic received a thank you from the organising club, the RC of Turramurra. Over two thousand cyclists participated, raising over $200,000, double last year's 'take'. There may be an offer on the table for our club to be partner in this project next year. Thanks Tania and all those who turned up to lend a hand.
Rtn Alicia. Commented that it took only a very small amount of time for a Rewarding effort in this volunteering exercise. She was delighted by the fact that the cyclists all stopped to say "thank you", despite it costing them time.
Sergeant John Cronly
Chris Curtis for hyperbolic greeting - Chris said that it was actually "grovelling" in order to avoid getting fined.
Ann Smith - how many "s"s in her new name? Can't count that many. Now moved from previous commodious accommodation to even more commodious accommodation. [We're wondering how to say "commodious" in Spanish].
Robyn Barrett - for great pride in workmanship.
Roger's Spanish is excellent and is a great student.
John Palmer has been to Bankstown, Blacktown, Campbelltown and Newtown.
Boasts
Jenny May - 6 years in Rotary, Margaret Silink and Pat Price 3 years, JP 28 years. Brent McCarthy birthday. John Donald too.
Lindsay MCd LC Youth Orchestra concert last night and raised $3,500. David Brooks Horn was there along with Debbie Hutchinson. It cost Lindsay $250 to cover up for an unfortunate text. Watching the cricket, texted Lyndall Macenally that her husband(???) was out for (an accidentally misspelt) duck. Spent much energy and time explaining to Lyndall - and more time explaining to her husband.
Guest Speaker - Brent McCarthy.
Prepared a 3 minute talk on his life - but is happy to expand to 30 minutes - luckily he has always been a good talker! Turned 28 recently - so not as much life experience as someone who's been in Rotary for, say, 28 years. Started out as a troublemaker in life who tends to get what he wants. Even when he was three wanted a toy car and kissed a girl to get the car. Went to the same preschool as Alicia, in same class as her sister. Met her Brother at Bond Uni. Finally met her. Moved back to Sydney when his Dad got sick. "Dad took me to his sales meetings and I observed many strange things". This was a great intro to the business world. Dad unwell with Lupus and so returned from Uni half way through. Wanted a job and had been taught how to trade by some Dodgy education providers. Then learnt how to really trade by talking to people who actually traded, and eventually got own customers.
Ord Minnett next. Had to interview many business people for portfolio research, including several billionaires.
Studied. Was successfully associated with company using vertical wind tunnel for skydiving training. Also Wind farms. Traded Gold bullion in China. Was recalled home when I was about to build a small city with the aid of a nun and a bricklayer to house the poor.
Came back to work with dad again. Coy now consisted of 2 branches providing strategic consulting to typically new, start-up businesses. Promoting organic growth, and bringing buyers to businesses. Business people too busy to notice the shifting ground. Negotiation training. Sprung salespeople in unjustified discounting, saving millions for firms. Renegotiated contracts. Consulting training.
Also studying law at Notre Dame Uni, want to be a barrister. Interested in freedom of political speech. Inspired by Chief Justice Mason's outrage at parliament's ability to gaol people without trial.
Comments on LC Rotary. Had no idea what we were about. No idea about the good things that we did. Shame that few know what we do. Need to focus on getting the name of the club out there.
Questions: Tom - auditing versus consulting? Answer: consulting - preventing chaos and changing to a better direction. Auditing - after the fun's over.
Attendance: 21 members and 3 apologies. Raffle - Jenny May.
President Tom's quiz: Where will we be next week, and where will we be on Tues 14th? Answer: Next week not here - there is no meeting. On 14 April meeting at Roseville Golf Club for the Pride Of Workmanship awards!
Funds raised tonight: $476.75, of which $440 goes towards shelter box. We got to 10 shelter boxes!!!
Meeting closed at 8:20 pm