So. Time is nearly up! In a desperate [actually disparate] observation of the Editor’s request about my background, with fewer than two weeks of this Year remaining, I submit my Profile. [It being somewhat enhanced by my recent non - negotiable nose job]. A literary reviewer wrote that ‘The Moon’s a Balloon’ being the autobiography of the late David Niven, contained more information about others than about he himself. Smart.
Those among us who sat through ‘Love Story’ will note the anachronisms [Greek: ana - against khronos - time]. Neither of the key players spoke with Bostonian accents. The actor Ray Milland who played the father of Ryan O’Neill did; he had a head start because he’s English. [He was English]. There’s no way an ‘Old Money’ Establishment Bostonian would not.
The viewer also got to glimpse parts of Harvard University [HaHvaHd]. I’ve family within Greater Boston, Brookline and Framingham, Mass. Uncle Lou lived but two streets away from where JFK grew up [his house is well - maintained, JFK’s not Lou’s]. Except, Uncle Lou moved there post WW2 and brought with him his Brooklyn, NY accent. DAWG, KORFEE, GORE HEAD [go ahead] etc. Just like my Dad, who to our ears never had an accent! So........
If you cannot see the humour in this, please read the whole article.
It proves that Swedish saying “We are like the Germans, only without their sense of humour”. My personal experience, acquired here and in Sweden, is that this is understated. I admit to being a host for a Swedish Exchange Student; he and his family are exceptions. As if to reinforce the perverse nature of the Swedes. I was told by a colleague not to speak any German there [largely because the Country pretended neutrality during WWII - it had to do with their iron ore supply]. So, one evening later I visit a restaurant in Stockholm. My NZ colleague said ‘well you will have to speak English here anyway’ ...... The menus arrived; one side Swedish, one side German.
So, to the anecdote:
......Oh yes, card came on Friday, thank you.
It was brought to the door by postess because she had a registered letter too.
Now the Festive Season [?] is over...... and 'our' Exchange Student Chloe is Back from Finland .
There is a Father Christmas. The fact that you have not seen Him does not prove His non - existence.
Australian Aboriginal tribes / first settlers have a recognisable gift - giving culture. I suspect that their gifts were more valued than those now given by ‘us’ and evident in this Age of gimme more. [No relation to Roger or Demi].
If you visit the Library in Prague there’s a 16th - Century painting of ‘The World’ on its ceiling. Guess what’s missing? Apart from New Zealand, but there is a point of view about its relevance that persists anyway. Except for John Gilbert; like any man who misses red wine and white bait.
For some time, a number of our members and friends have been using their Ritchies Cards to participate in Ritcies’ community program with the Trust Fund being their beneficiary. This has benefited the Trust Fund quite well over the years.
Ritchies is in the process of updating their Loyalty Card program. This will operate via a phone app or a NEW plastic card. Existing cards will no longer be effective.
July 2019 Polio News is available online for all the latest news, polio in numbers and the funding updates.
Summary of new viruses this week: Afghanistan — one wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case; Pakistan— two WPV1-positive cases and eight WPV1-positive environmental samples; Nigeria —one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample; Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) — one cVDPV2 sample isolated from a contact case and one cVDPV2 community isolate; Central African Republic — one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample and 13 cVDPV2 samples isolated from community; Myanmar — one cVDPV type 1 case and five cVDPV1 samples isolated from a contact case. See country sections below for more details.
Wild poliovirus type 1 and Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus cases
In the fall of 2015, volunteers from Rotary and Heifer International came together to build hoop houses for a few farmers working small lots in Arkansas, USA. The afternoon outing was part of a larger project that is still reaping benefits four years later, supporting small-scale agriculture in the region and increasing access to locally-grown food.
Heifer has been using the small-scale agriculture model for decades to alleviate hunger and fight poverty around the world. The approach has the added benefits of being environmentally friendly and offering healthier food options.
That mission dovetails with Rotary’s mission to grow local economies and improve health. So it’s not surprising the two groups have teamed up on a number of occasions in the past 30 years to improve communities by helping families escape poverty. Several Heifer employees are or have been members of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, the city where Heifer has its headquarters.
“Our values line up very well,” says Ardyth Neill, a member of the Little Rock club and president of the Heifer Foundation. “With Rotary, it’s Service Above Self and helping to serve others. Heifer has been working with farmers to be accountable, pass on their gifts, train other farmers, and work together in community. It’s learning to share and care, basic things that work well together.”
I am the most junior member of The Rotary Mt Eliza board. My tenure coincides with advanced planning for the imminent 100 – Year Rotary Australia anniversary and our forthcoming World Conference.
It is my good fortune to head a board of past presidents, governors, and other members experienced in every aspect of Rotary. For good measure, Mark Humphries is a supernumerary board member and District Governor – elect. His professional expertise involves, among other skills, data handling and management; an essential asset for our Club.
We have several accounting and finance specialists on the board, and indeed within our overall membership. I trust and rely upon each board member, some of whom volunteered to serve without my asking. This is indeed a compliment.
Mt Eliza Rotary does not operate in a bubble; we rely upon contributions from our Cluster and District 9820. D G Adrian Froggatt, assistant Steve Daly and Andrew Best at RISSPO have each provided guidance and assistance. President Chris Such from Somerville – Tyabb, with his Years of experience, is also of significant assistance.
The Break The Chains commitment that Adrian asked all Clubs to embrace is being addressed by Mount Eliza. Change is a fact of Life; Thinking outside the Square May mean that the ‘square’ is too small. A glass half – full / empty means to me that the glass is the wrong size to begin with.
When I consider ‘Service above Self’, neither I nor District qualify it by length, type or venue. There are a multitude of facets to Service, and one type is no more or less worthy than another.
Rotary and ShelterBox celebrate the power of partnership
Evanston Ill., Rotary International announced on 3 June a three-year partnership renewal with its disaster relief project partner, ShelterBox. For almost 20 years, this unique humanitarian alliance has supported families with a place to call home after disaster.
Rotary is a global network whose members take action to make a lasting difference in their communities – and worldwide. ShelterBox provides emergency shelters and other essential items to support families who have lost their homes in disaster.
What began as a local connection with one Cornish Rotary Club has led to an international movement that’s provided 140,000 ShelterBox family tents or 390,000 ShelterKits worldwide to date (a value of over £54 million).
Rotary International President-elect Mark Daniel Maloney explained his vision for building a stronger Rotary, calling on leaders to expand connections to their communities and to embrace innovative membership models.
Maloney, a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, unveiled the 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s annual training event, the International Assembly, in San Diego, California, USA, on Monday.
“The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service, to grow the impact of our projects, but most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more,” Maloney said.
Our President 2019 - 2020, Ross Schweitzer bids a hearty welcome to the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza.
Whether you want to find out about what Rotary does, would be interested in community service through Rotary or are a visiting Rotarian we hope you will find the site interesting and informative.
We are a large and thriving club but always keen to hear from community-minded people who want to make a difference.
A literary reviewer wrote that ‘The Moon’s a Balloon’ being the autobiography of the late David Niven, contained more information about others than about he himself. Smart.
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