September is Basic Education and Literacy Month   8thSeptember 2021   OUR MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY   on ZOOM    Program:      Shia Smart   The Road to DG Future programs at   SPEAKERS     For Meeting Information, Club Website and Facebook links, and contact info: Read more... LAST WEDNESDAY President Ben Stennett   Behind the Badge   Ben was born in Kew in 1982, and lived and grew up in Ringwood / Croydon. His dad worked for Holden, and a promotion prompted a family move to Adelaide where Ben completed his secondary school education. While at school in Adelaide he joined the Air Force Cadets, as a result of which he has a private pilot’s licence. he got involved in Youth Parliament – possibly laying the foundations for his political engagement in the years to come. His tertiary qualifications include a B App Sc (I.T, Econ) Swinburne, Grad. Dip. Ed ACU and Grad Cert (E Learning) UNE.   In 2005, while still at Swinburne, Ben ran for Council. Although he was not elected at that time, when Councillor Pauline Richards resigned in 2007, Ben was elected on a countback.   He is still the youngest councillor in the City of Whitehorse, and was mayor in 2012.   Ben's presentation was frank, engaging and and laced with his characteristic brand of humour . He used lots of interesting photographs- some of which I have reproduced in the 'read more ' section . Read more... REPORTS Vocational Report   District 9180 Vocational Service seminar – August 31st from John Lynch  I attended the seminar last Tuesday along with approximately 30 other Rotarians.  Manningham cluster clubs have been conducting Business Excellence Awards since 2103 (https://manninghambea.com.au). They acknowledged that it was a great deal of work but was highly successful. Another Club reported that it conducted Pride or Workmanship Awards based on the Rotary Club of Pennant Hills model (https://www.pride-of-workmanship.com) I shared with the participant the partnership that we have with the Whitehorse Business Group who do all the “heavy lifting” for their Excellence in Business Awards. I also outlined our plans to restart our own Pride of Workmanship Awards now with the Business Group’s support next year. Box Hill Central expressed interest in joining with us.   Other Vocational Service ideas discussed: Read more... Business Excellence Awards update   The Gala Award night is scheduled for October 22nd but November 19th is set as an alternative due to COVID-19 restrictions. If the Dinner cannot be held on November 19th , the Awards will be presented virtually on that evening. Foundation Reports  from Di Campisano Di Received the following letter from the D 9810 Foundation Committee   Congratulations on your appointment as 2021/22 Foundation Chair for your Club.   I wish to report that we've recently completed the reconciliation of the District Centurion records with those of the Australian Rotary Foundation Trust for year 2020-21. As a result, we can confirm that with the assistance of your Club last year '2020/21', personal giving through the Centurion Program beat all expectations and reached $51,389 from 331 generous Centurion Donors.  This outstanding result is up from the $41,539 achieved in 2019/20.   Congratulations to everyone for making this happen, a great effort - Thank You!  The foundation Committee would be very pleased if you could announce this result together with our sincere appreciation at your next weekly Club Meeting.  Everyone involved should feel very proud supporting our charity. Read more...   Clubs and members can support polio eradication and clubs can be recognised as a   Clem Renouf and Bill Boyd End Polio Now club    Clubs need to donate $1,500 and each club member needs to donate $10 a year.    More info available at https://rotarydownunder.com.au/2020/09/25/sir-clem-renouf-polio-appeal-to-drive-fundraising-in-2020-21/       makes       Improving playgrounds in Whitehorse and beyond. Since early 2020, Whitehorse City Council has been part of the Rotary Overseas Recycled Playground (RORP) program that is brightening the lives of children around the globe.   Read the story at " Whitehorse News"       Whitehorse Rotaract is stepping up as a team to support people living with cerebral palsy. Alice, Daniel, Sean, and Jasmine will each be taking 10,000 steps a day for 30 days .They would appreciate your support, and ask you to donate and help them reach their STEPtember fundraising goal. You can find the link at : https://www.steptember.org.au/fundraiser/rotaractclubofwhitehorse.    Together, we can make a real difference.   FORTHCOMING EVENTS 11th & 12th September     For more Information/Registration etc. visit   https://rotaryzone8.org/sitepage/2021-zone-8-national-conference/welcome   BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES    CELEBRATE   this month's   BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES     Click   SEPTEMBER   JUST FOR FUN   Received a number of jokes from members - many with a coronavirus related theme.   Starting with Ben's presentation last Wednesday   ADELAIDE       RI & DISTRICT 9810 LINKS Read more... MAGAZINE LINKS   Rotary Districts and Rotary Special interest Groups provide a wide range of informative and engaging on-line magazines and journals. Access some of them from the links provided..   August 2021  AUGUST 2021 SEPT 2021       AUGUST 2021 ARCHIVED BULLETINS Click read more to view archived bulletins from July 2020 onwards   Read more... COLLECTIONS   Club members collect a wide variety of items to provide resources in cash or kind for organisations we support.  Read more...