30 members and 64 guests recognised the Vocational Excellence of 12 worthy Rotary award recipients at our November 7 Awards Dinner.

What a wonderful experience to share with our recipients, their employers, work colleagues and family, fellow Rotarians and their partners and guests. Thank you for making this a special night for all 106 persons in the room. A big thank you to Kathy Hogan and her team, Melissa Nielsen, Jennifer Bailey, Vivienne Mallinson, Lyn MacArthur, Catherine Palin-Brinkworth and Andrew Beshara for a job done well.

 

We welcomed Terry Aronson and Ivan Knez to Gold Coast Rotary. The meeting on November 21 will induct our 62^nd member, Arthur Johnston.    I am hoping that all members, both active and honorary, can join us to celebrate this milestone, the largest active membership in the club’s 42 year history. District Governor Elect Andy Rajapaske shared with us that Gold Coast Rotary is the second biggest club in Qld (just 13 members short of Townsville Sunrise with 75). So yes our membership target by June 30 is 80 members. We have 26 new members in the past 15 months, so 18 in the next 7 is achievable.

 

Our club has a commitment to mentoring and member engagement. As Mark Maloney, Rotary International President has said the goal of a true leader should always be getting everyone around you to achieve the most they can possibly achieve.

Our most recent members (starting with me back in December 2016) have been appointed mentors to help them achieve what they want out of Rotary and guide them through their Rotary journey.

 

Before our next meeting, Membership Chair Kathy Hogan and I encourage mentors and their mentees to connect and arrange a time to catch up over a coffee or a meal.  Our next dinner meeting on November 21 you will be sitting together so please make contact with each other and check that you will be both at the meeting. An engaged club is an effective and enjoyable club to be a part of. 

 

From next meeting we will be celebrating the anniversary of the years that members have achieved Rotary Service Above Self. In November, we recognise the following members’ service (inducted in the months from July to November)

Melissa Nielsen - 1 Year                

John D’Anna - 4 years

Jennifer Bailey - 5 years               

Catherine Palin-Brinkworth - 8 years

Caroline Mercer - 10 years         

Edward Klimowicz - 14 years

Kathy Hogan, Andrew Chan & Brian Kidd - 19 years

Lynda Montgomery - 22 years  

Greg Bowler – 26 years

Geoffrey Prentice - 37 years          

John Goldstein – 42 years

 

November 21 is our "Anti Drugs and Addiction Recovery Forum" dinner.  Andre'a Simmons from the Australian Anti Ice Campaign and Major David Rogerson from The Salvation Army Gold Coast Recovery Services will present the challenges and opportunities of this growing crisis on the Gold Coast and answer questions from the floor. We will learn how we can support and invest in the work that is saving lives on the Gold Coast.  Local, State and Federal government representatives and members of all Rotary clubs on the Gold Coast are invited to join us. We will also hear from Member Behind The Badge, John Davis.

5.45pm arrival for 6.15pm start at the Southport Golf Club, Slatyer Avenue, Southport. $30 pp for plated meal, tea and coffee. RSVP and payment by Friday, 15 November to ensure your place and meal click on https://www.trybooking.com/BGHEJ

 

Last Sunday our Vocational Visit to Granddad Jack’s Distillery in Miami and quarterly birthdays/ anniversaries lunch at North Burleigh SLSC was thoroughly enjoyed by 17 Rotarians and 18 family members. Thank you Lucy Sperling and Mark Urquhart.

 

Our joint Pentecost Island Vanuatu Project with Surfers Sunrise and Broadbeach Rotary Clubs is being presented this Friday, 15 November from 6pm at the Rotary Shed, 32 Hinde Street, Ashmore. $10 per person for BBQ with this also being the farewell event for the visiting US Rotarians. Please let me know if you are attending by Wednesday, 13 November so I can provide number for catering.

 

Volunteer your support For The Salvation Army this Christmas as they give hope to those who need it most through their Christmas Cheer Operation. Members and partners can again help raise funds for this work by selling LED candles at the Broadbeach Christmas Carols on Saturday, 14 December, Coolangatta Christmas Carols on Sunday, 15 December or Carols on the Beach at Surfers Paradise on Sunday 22 December.  There is also an opportunity to man an aid station at the GC50 Running Festival at Broadbeach on Sunday, December 8. If you are available on any or all of these days (the Carols events from 4pm to 7pm, the GC50 Running Festival for a couple of hours from 5am to 12 noon), please contact John Davis who is coordinating this community service opportunity, Kathy Hogan or myself. We need to confirm names by our Christmas Dinner at the Southport Golf Club on Thursday, 5 December where The Gold Coast Salvos Brass Band will be entertaining us on arrival from 6pm.

Gold Coast Rotary have some great events and meetings. Mark these in your calendar, commit to attending and bring your partner and a potential member with you.

Thu 5 Dec    Gold Coast Rotary Christmas Dinner - Southport GC (5.45pm)

Sun 8 Dec    GC 50 Run Festival – Pratten Park, Broadbeach (all morning)

Fri 13 Dec   Gold Coast Rotary AGM Breakfast – GC Botanical Gardens, Benowa (8am)

Sat 14 Dec  Broadbeach Carols Salvos Candle Sales–Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach (4pm)

Sun 15 Dec  Coolangatta Carols Salvos Candle Sales - Queen Elizabeth Park (4pm)                                                             Sun 22 Dec  Carols on the Beach Salvos Candle Sales - Surfers Paradise Beach (4pm)

Mon 16 Jan  Gold Coast Rotary Dinner Meeting – Southport GC (5.45pm)

I look forward to catching up soon.

Rowan Johnstone President 2019-2020 

Gold Coast Rotary

Mobile    0421 915 818