September 2020

Hello and Welcome to the September Update for District 9675, encompassing the Rotary Clubs of Greater Sydney, North-West / South-West Sydney and the Illawarra Regions. While Covid-19 persists in continuing to present challenges on a daily basis, I'm so proud of our Clubs for being able to turn these challenges into opportunities to serve the community during these difficult times. Congratulations to you all.
Over the following months our District Directors will progressively promote projects, record Rotary Snippet messages to keep all Rotarians updated with their portfolios, key dates for projects in their 'Area of Focus'. As you are aware last month was Membership and New Club Development, I would like to highlight the continued commitment and dedication of Rae-Anne Medforth's for her innovative initiatives on membership. Rae-Anne conducted a panel interview from selected District membership with the focus being on their experiences and of the many service opportunities presented to them since joining Rotary. Rotary provides its members with development opportunities such as, International awareness, friendship, good citizenship, youth and family, entertainment, ethical environment and leadership development. This interview was recorded and is available to view through this link or under 'Making News' on the District Website.

September - Basic Education and Literacy Month

The theme for September is Basic Education and Literacy. During my Club visits it has been very inspiring of so many great projects that are being carried out in these two areas. Some of these projects include the Dolly Parton imagination library, a number of Indigenous literacy programmes, cooking lessons, educating health workers internationally, supporting schools in third world countries, teaching local Burmese women modern farming techniques to improve crop yield, book clubs, book stores and educational programmes with schools such as NYSF.

2020 Inspirational Womens' Awards

There is still time to nominate a woman for the Rotary Inspirational Women’s Award – nominations close in three weeks 23 September 2020. You and your colleagues will all know women who are quietly working to support others by doing “Service Above Self?” You would also have been constantly coming into contact with women who should be recognised for their quiet contribution in making their communities better places to live.
Over the last twelve (12) months we have seen women in our communities taking up the challenges that all have faced, drought, bushfires and now COVID -19. Think about these women that you know and nominate them, enabling them to be recognised for their contribution in support of their community.
The awards not only recognise the women but also raise the profile of Rotary in the community. It would be wonderful if your Club could nominate a woman for the award. We have an additional category this year to recognise those women who have been working in the health sector. The Awards are open to all women above the age of 18 years of age across NSW and members of the public are encouraged to submit online nominations We look forward to receiving your nominations – don’t leave it too late!
More information

COVID Safe Rotary Clubs

Rotary in a post-COVID world is an evolving creature. Who would have thought even a year ago, Rotarians would not be able to physically gather at will, share fellowship and work on their projects, unfettered by Government and Health regulations? With the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay, we need to really work smarter at keeping Rotary alive and viable, globally but especially locally, in District 9675. COVID safe operation means some changes to how we meet and how we interact with our stakeholders. There are three key suggestions for your clubs to consider implementing.

The three (3) key points to consider right now are:

COVID Safe Board and Club meetings to continue functioning as an effective but safe club;
Risk Management to ensure all potential hurdles to club performance have been dealt with and
Strategic Planning reviewed and adjusted to suit a COVID Safe outcome.

Thank you to Ron Browne and Joanne Glaser for putting this COVID-19 Risk Management Document together. The full Risk Management Document and a Rotary Snippet can viewed on our District Website.

African Region – Nigeria, Wild Poliovirus Free!

It was so good to hear the great news that the African Region of Nigeria has been certified as Wild Poliovirus free. As Rotarians we should feel so very proud of helping to achieve this amazing milestone. Rotary International President Holger Knaack and Nigeria National PolioPlus Chair Dr Tunji Funsho have extended their congratulations via video.

Here is a little insight from my good mate DG Ana (Andy) Rajapakse

Find out more about DG Ana Rajapakse. The future is here! How to attract young people to Rotary is a question we have debated for decades. Here are the answers from a new breed of Rotary leaders who are disrupting the traditional Rotary club models in Australia. Gold Coast Passport Rotary in District 9640 is now the fastest growing new Rotary club in Australia. Follow them on Facebook or LinkedIn and share with friends.

Watch the following video and her how young Rotarians are engaging: People of Action

Rotary Hot Tips #3 – Fundraising during Covid-19

With Covid-19 making it extremely difficult for our Rotary Clubs to fundraise in what were the normal ways, we are now having to be innovative and think outside the square of reality. While visiting the Clubs of our District I have observed many various forms of fundraising. These styles of fundraising include online Trivia nights, virtual Wine Tasting nights, online raffles, Fund Raising pages and corporate sponsorship. These substitutes may not raise quite as much as our conventional methods but are still sufficient enough to allow our Clubs to fund smaller projects and carry out our community service. I have offered to share some these ideas to those Clubs that are still struggling.

For further Information regarding these various forms of fundraising:

Online trivia nights – the Rotary Clubs of Gregory Hills Next Gen and Darling Harbour.

Online raffles

Fund Raising Pages Chuffed

GoFundMe

My Cause

Facebook

Virtual Wine Tasting Fundraiser

These are just a few ideas that are available to Non for Profit organisations. Most of these fundraising types have minimal fee or charges by the respective companies and should be checked prior to engaging in them.

Upcoming Learning and Development Survey

The Learning and Development Committee have developed a survey to inform the development of programs for 2020-2021. I encourage you to engage in the online survey which is going out to all Rotarians in the District. The survey will only take a few minutes of your time and the information will be used to develop programs that are more relevant to your needs. The survey will come out on 14 September via email and will be open for 7 days. Please help us to better support you!

Rotary Zone 8 Conference 19020 September 'Spring into Alice'

Great Zone 8 conference coming up. Find out more. Register

This October let’s get together and paint it End Polio Red!

Walk with Us is an End Polio Now event to be held across Australia and New Zealand throughout October to raise funds to eradicate the scourge of polio.

Corporate sponsorship will cover administration costs so 100% of funds raised by walkers will go to Rotary’s End Polio Now programme. Register now and donate at Rotary Walk with Us

The customised user-friendly fundraising platform will:
a.   Allow everyone registering, to select 10k, 20k, or 50k (or set your own target) to walk as well as determine your own fundraising goal.
b.   Provide donation links for walkers to share with friends, family and others.
c.   Add walks, track distances and fundraising totals for individuals and teams including leader boards.
d.   Have fun

You will have from October 1st to 31st 2020 to walk when you want and with who you want to reach your target in a COVID safe way.
Let’s all walk for those who can’t.
#walkwithus #endpolionow #rortaryresponds
Email: kitty@rotaryinaction.org