Rotary Club of Strathfield
Bulletin
Edition 18 of 2002/3 30 October 2002
Website: www.rotarnet.com.au/users/9/96933
PRESIDENT: STEPHEN TAYLOR
I know there are a number of issues concerning members (and particularly the Board) at the moment, so let’s talk about it…..
Firstly, the catering, or lack thereof! After last week’s …meal ?, I advised the club spokesman George McDonald we were not happy (still) with the quality, variety, value and presentation of our evening meal, despite having personally discussed the matter in detail only the fortnight before.
We have now formally written to the club advising of our dissatisfaction and requesting that we be allowed to employ our own caterer on Wednesday evenings, paying a fee to the club for the use of the room and (possibly) the use of club members for waiters as we do currently.
I hope to have an answer on this in time for the meeting tonite.
If this proposal is not accepted we will consider other options, including moving, if necessary.
You may all be assured however that the current very unsatisfactory situation will NOT continue for long. Stay tuned but please be patient for this and next week.
Remember next week is also a change of venue to Strathfield Golf Club for our Strathfield, Burwood, Concord combined meeting to listen to the recently returned GSE team to Germany headed by President Duncan Berryman from Springwood.
The problem with catering brings me to the second issue, that of apologies and attendance. Again due to the problems with our current caterer, meals are only being provided for the numbers given on Tuesday lunchtime by Eric Khu.
When we have an excess of people attending some members are not being fed, which is, to put it not too delicately, bloody awful.
Also, if members don’t apologise and don’t come to the meeting, we are having to pay the difference. In last week’s case it was $160.00, money the club can ill afford to lose.
Until recent weeks, our attendance has been above the threshold, and we haven’t had any problems, but because of poor attendance AND the lack of apologies, we really got caught last week.
I am happy to discuss the scenario and options at a future club assembly (probably December 4th) but, in the meantime, I especially request that ALL members, even if you are NOT required to attend, apologise by Tuesday lunchtime at the latest.
If you do not, the following week you will be asked to pay by Treasurer Peter.
If we are able to have a different more flexible caterer in future, and a more flexible approach to apologies then perhaps we can return to the present system, but under the current, very strained, arrangements (which are not our doing) I ask for your consideration, assistance and cooperation, and ask you to accept that we are not being vindictive, but only trying to protect the club’s, and therefore your, finances.
Tonight we are privileged to have District Governor John Wakefield and his wife Susan attend for their official visit. John is a committed Rotarian of long standing, with extensive experience in Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange, and is also an excellent marksman, through his long service in the NSW Police Force, and The Police Games. John is a very open approachable Rotarian, and I am sure we will make him and Susan most welcome in the Strathfield way.
I believe John will find a cohesive club with strong membership, a diverse range of programs and activities, in all avenues of service, and a club that very much enjoys itself, while happily assisting the community we serve, even if we don’t eat very well at present.
On other matters, welcome back to Vicki Wybrow this week, and thanks to Brian Hennell for stepping in as reserve Guest speaker last week. The talk and slides on Greece were excellent.
Thanks also to PP Peter Foss for the replanting of many trees, which represent our Past Presidents at Rotary Grove in Edwards Park, South Strathfield.
Hope that covers what’s going on this week,
Many thanks
Steve
Tonight’s Guests
DG John Wakefield and Susan Wakefield
Introductions and Thanks
By President Steve
Rotary Information Talk
By Roger Vince tonight. Roger is District Rotaract Chairman.
Happy Birthday to Sharon Saad and Bert Houston on 2nd November!Belated Anniversary Greetings to Dee and Peter Douglas (26th) and Belated Birthday Wishes to Warren Abbott (28th) and John Watkins (29th)
"How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on!"
Peter Douglas,Treasurer
,reports
Attendance for Wed. 23 October
Present 34 Rotarians
Apologies 14 Leave of Absence 4
Non Apologies 8
Income - Raffle $209.00 Sergeant/Arms $85.00
Last Week’s Recorded On-Time Apologies
:B Houston, A Petersen, D Croft,
J Taylor, C Galletta, R Collins,
B Johnson, R Vince, R Schmidt,
J Watson, F Haddon, G Singh,
R McCluskie, D Giri
LAST WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER: Brian Hennell
As the scheduled guest speaker was unable to attend due to illness, Brian gallantly took over with a fascinating talk and slide show of his recent trip, focusing on his and Jennifer’s time in Greece. Club Members were treated to some details of the ins and outs of �raveling in and around the Greek Islands, accompanied by colourful and interesting photos. Thank you Brian for rescuing a potentially sticky situation, and so well done at that!
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"Silence is the perfectest herald of joy." Much Ado About Nothing II (i)
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HAPPY BUCKS
President Steve is SO happy that his renovations are finally finished! Now there’s just the garden, eh Steve?
Dates for your Diary
Wed. 6 November
Partners’ Night -- Combined Strathfield, Burwood, Concord Club Meeting at Strathfield Golf Club, welcoming GSE team, 6.30 for 7.00 pm
To Be Intro’d by Peter Davidson
To Be Thanked by John Mansour
Cost: $27.00 pp
Wed. 13 November
Jim Conomos -- "Juvenile Crime"
To Be Introduced by Bill Carney
To Be Thanked by Bert Houston
Wed. 20 November
Jo Boyce -- "Generic Pharma-ceuticals"
Sat. 23 November
Ashfield Infants Home Picnic & Bar-B-Q
Wed. 27 November
Partners’ Night
Denise Thomas -- "Reflections on Education"
Wed. 4 December
Past Presidents’ Night – Club Elections – Club Assembly -- No guest speaker
Sat. 7 December
Carols by Candlelight
Wed. 11 December
Christmas Party, "Angelo’s on the Bay", Cabarita. 6.30 for 7.00 pm $70.00 per person, includes beer, wine, softdrink
Sat. 21 December
Drawing of Xmas Stocking Winners
Wed. 8 January 2003
Informal Bowls Night
Wed. 15 January 2003
Chinese Meal
Wed. 22 January 2003
Normal Club Meeting
Wed. 29 January 2003
Normal Club Meeting
Thurs. 20 February 2003
Golf Day
Fri. 14 March 2003
Major Fundraiser, Le Montage
Weekend 21-23 March 2003
District Conference, Homebush Bay
Sun. 4 May 2003
Bike Ride
Weekend, 1-4 June 2003
Rotary International Conference, Brisbane
Sun. 22 June 2003
Fun Run
ppppppppp
Gems from a Guy called Steve Wright
Next Week
Strathfield Golf Club
Welcome Home to GSE Team
Partners’ Night
To Be Introduced by Peter Davidson
To Be Thanked by John Mansour
Submissions for the Bulletin can be forwarded to bulletin editor Vicki Wybrow at
vw00000@msn.com up until Sunday lunchtime for insertion into that week’s issue.Editor’s privileges apply.