ROMAC

ROMAC Eastern Region Meeting by Peter Shea

On Saturday the 27th August, at Rotary Down Under, I attended a meeting of ROMAC. I have always been impressed by the miracles of the surgical teams that have attended to the almost unbelievable problems that some young children have to contend with in their lives.

At this meeting, I witnessed another mircale and that was the organisational and management skills and dedication that is necessary for the surgical miracles to happen.

I intended to take my camera and take a photo of the Rotarians present at the meeting. I travelled down from Nambuca Heads on Friday evening and after visiting family on Saturday morning, driving a son-in-law half way across Sydney. After these family committments I left for the meeting but got stuck in real traffic congestion and from then on was running late, got flustered and forgot the camera.

I will try to do better next time.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind each Community Service Director to give due consideration to supporting ROMAC in the Rotary year 2005-2006.

For more information contact Lloyd Roever on 02 96306974 or roever@bigpond.com.au
or Phill Isaacs 61 408 966173 or pisaacs@bigpond.net.au

Meet Community Service Director Max Cathcart

Meet The Directors Series by Peter Shea.




Tamworth First Light Rotary Club.




Max to supply Community Service outline.

Thanks Max looking forward to your input.

The Wow Factor

A local world class artist Elle Neil, multi award winning Quilt Artist, shares her creative skills with Nambucca Heads Rotary Club at the Nambucca Valley Phoenix.

The above quilt won First Prize at the leading world forum for Quilting in America. From being told "you can't" to one of the Top Ten Quilters in the world, in six years. This presentation was enthralling for all present and Elle is willing to be a guest speaker at Rotary Clubs. I throughly recommend Elle as one of the best Guest Speaker presentations, I've been priviledged to hear and see in this case.

Contact Elle: elliestuff54@hotmail.com

ARHRF Committee Plans for 2005-2006

Off To A Flying Start. Photos and Article by Peter Shea.

Robert Anderson, Paul Ying, Alan Grady, Jane Bradford and Lindsay Wilkins
Stewart Faulks, Jo Wilkins, Peter McNeill, Geoff Fuller and Vicki Cooper.
Not in Photo-Pam Anderson and Maisie Grady

Sunday the 24th August in Tamworth Paul Ying hands over the baton of Chairmanship to Lindsay Wilkins who is off to a flying start.

Congratulations to Paul for his leadership over the past few years and hearty best wishes for Lindsay as he leads the District 9650 Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) Committee during District Governor Jane Bradford's year. Paul hands over the reins with a distinguished record of service above self.
District 9650 is third out of 26 Regions in Australia in its contributions to ARHRF we are certainly punching above our weight in our committment to ARHRF.

We were fortunate to have one of the Directors Alan Grady (Maisie) of ARHRF give an informing presentation of the work and structure of ARHRF.

Paul offers his services as a guest speaker for ARHRF and so will be added to our guest speaker list.

Stewart Faulks offers his services as a guest speaker for Prostrate Cancer Awareness, Stewart is Chairman for the Prostrate Cancer Committee.

It should be remembered that the Assistant Governors and District Chairpersons are ideal speakers to consider for club meetings.

Nambucca Valley Phoenix Ltd & Rotary

Working Together With The Local Community by Peter Shea and Photos by Bob Andersen.

Simon Dent, Dave Banks, Paul Daniels, Peter Shea
John Postle, Linda Paccin, Tony Bradbury and Len Moss
Bob Andersen not in photo.
Nambucca Valley Phoenix is our local Valley Work Service that employs people with an intellectual disabiliity and provides training to assist them to work in the community. They can provide people with a disability to work in your business either as a full award wages after training or at a Productivity Wages. Nambucca Heads Rotary Club is working with Nambucca Phoenix to refurish the building both inside and out.

Scaffolding donated by Simon Dent of Top Gun Scaffolding. Labour by Nambucca Heads Rotary Club.

Meet Community Service Directors Dusty & Mary-Ann

Meet the Directors Series by Peter Shea
Dusty Walkom Community Service Director (left)
& Mary-Ann Bromhead Community Service Director


The Rotary Club of Taree on Manning

The club was Chartered in 1991 at the instigation of former DG Dennis Young, with a view to having a lunch time club that promotes women as members.

The club meets Wednesday’s at 1pm and its membership of 28 has 11 women members including President Meagan Buckley, Secretary and President Elect Carolyn Wilson.

Last year the club raised $40,000 to assist Chatham High School purchase a bus to cater for the regions disabled high school students, who participate in the special program at Chatham High.

This year, the major project is to support the Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery (FOGGS) raise a similar amount for extensions to the Gallery.

The projects so far agreed to be implemented are:

1) Bowel Scan
2) Clean up Australia
3) Australia Day Celebrations ( Billy Tea stand)
4) Gaming Night 22nd October at K mart
5) Jazz in the Dixon Gardens last Saturday in November
6) Business House Swimming Relay 6th December ( to support Surf Life Saving)
7) Easter Chocolate Raffle

Meet Community Service Director Captain Mark Everitt

Meet the Directors Series by Peter Shea.












Captain Mark Everitt Community Service Director Tamworth On Peel Rotary Club.




Mark was born in Brisbane (in the sixties) - and still a maroon supporter!!
Son and grandson of salvation army officers (all three couples) was accepted into the RAAF Academy for a science degree and pilot training but decided to move on after a few months ("top-gun" was not for me!) trained under the management program of Woolworths supermarkets and managed my own "Wollies" at 22 years of age decided to complete further tertiary studies so joined a private pathology practice to allow more study time worked in the pathology collection department and then in public relations, supervising the Liaison Services area received the "call" and went, with my wife and family, into full-time training with the salvation army in 2001. Tamworth is our first appointment (fromJanuary 2003) and we are enjoying the city tremendously.

Cross Pollenization At Nambucca Heads Rotary

Third World Dinner and Interplast by Peter Shea.

At Numbucca Heads Rotary Club a Third World Dinner is held each year. This dinner is based on the basic third world staples, i.e rice and very limited additions.

These ingredients are provided by the members and the local community free of charge. The members then invite their friends and community members to this meal at about the cost of $10:00 per person. I have seen this done very well with each club member taking the responsibility to fill their table by inviting their friends to their table. All cost is meet by members, guest and friends with their contribution of foods and $10:00 becoming a 100% contribution to a charity like Interplast.

In addition, a Tombola is conducted as a part of the meeting. For a month before the dinner, members bring along their surplus unopened gifts as a prize for the Tombola. These gifts can be as simple as home potted cuttings, a dozen home layed eggs or home made jams. All these gifts are place on a table and tickets sold throughout the evening and the tickets are drawn at the end of the meal and fellowship until the last gift is won.

I'll like to present these ideas as an challenge for each club in District 9650 to undertake a Third World Dinner and present the funds raised to Interplast. As a District project each club needs to contribute $600:00 to meet the goal of $32,000 to send an Interplast team to perform about fifty life changing surgical miracles.

For more information on Interplast contact Barry Hacker bhport@bigpond.net.au

Cross Pollenization

Cross Pollenization by Peter Shea overall Chair Community Service District 9650.

Definition of Pollination.

Pollination is an important step in the reproduction of seed plants: the transfer of pollen grains (male gametes) to the plant carpel, the structure that contains the ovule (female gamete). The receptive part of the carpel is called a stigma in the flowers of angiosperms and a micropyle in gymnosperms. The study of pollination brings together many disciplines, such as botany, horticulture, entomology, and ecology. Pollination is important in horticulture because most plant fruits will not develop if the ovules are not fertilized.
The process of pollination requires pollinators as agents that carry or move the pollen grains from the anther to the receptive part of the carpel. Methods of pollination, categorized by pollinator type, are:
Entomophily: pollination by insects
Bee pollination on Sunflower
Madagascar orchid requires a moth with a 30 cm (1 foot) long tongue.
Beetles pollinate cycads
Zoophily: pollination by animals such as birds or bats
Hummingbird
Anemophily: pollination by wind
Very common in grasses
Sweet chestnut and Tridax
Conifers
Hydrophily: pollination by water
Mesophytes like Ribbonweed.

Pollination also requires consideration of pollenizers. (Pollinator and pollenizer are often confused: a pollinator is the agent that moves the pollen, whether it be wind, bees, bats, moths, or birds; a pollenizer is the plant that provides the pollen.) Some plants are self fertile or self compatible, and can pollenize themselves. Other plants have chemical or physical barriers to self pollenization, and need to be cross pollinated. With self infertile plants, not only pollinators must be considered but pollenizers as well. In pollination management, a good pollenizer is a plant that provides compatible, viable and plentiful pollen, and blooms at the same time as the plant that is pollenized.

Pollination can be cross-pollination with a pollinator and an external pollenizer, self-pollination without any pollinator, or self pollenization with a pollinator:
Cross-pollination (syngamy): pollen is delivered to a flower of a different plant
Self-pollenization (autogamy): pollen moves to the female part of the same flower, or to another flower on the same individual plant. This is sometimes referred to as self pollination, but this is not synonymous with autogamy. Clarity requires that the term self pollination be restricted to those plants that accomplish pollination without an external pollinator (example: the stamens actually grow into contact with the pistil to transfer the pollen). Most peach varieties are autogamous, but not truly self pollinated, as it is generally an insect pollinator that moves the pollen from anther to stigma.
Cleistogamy, pollination that occurs before the flower opens is always self-pollination. Some cleistogamous flowers never open, in contrast to chasmogamous flowers that open and then are pollinated.

I was thinking of just writing a simple article on cross pollenization but became so engrossed with the definition that I thought that I would share the definition with you.
Now to the analogy I like to draw between the flowering of plants in the environment and the parallel of Rotary in society as a flower of great beauty.
Just as a plant pollination is important in horticulture because most plant fruits will not develop if the ovules are not fertilized, so it is with Rotary or our clubs would become sterile, shallow shows of camaraderie and self serving do gooders.
How are Rotary clubs fertilized with ideas of service above self? These ideas are inherent in each individual and club members are a means of self pollenization so members in each club can be both pollinators and pollenizers and so the club becomes a fertile ground for service above self. This process can take place between individual members and through Board meetings and club assemblies.

But now to cross pollinzation where the pollinator comes from outside the club and is fertilized by ideas from a different clubs. The pollinators could be Rotary International or Rotary at a District level or a club member from a different club pollenizing by delivering ideas and support to each club. I would like to think that this blogspot might also be a pollinator. Whether you think of http://www.serviceaboveself.blogspot.com/ as an insect, animal, wind or water it does not matter as long as we are open to new ideas, improvements and positive growth. I would also like to think that there are individuals who could be the pollinators like bees, birds, and a gentle breath of wind or a refreshing drop of clear water.
For ideas of cross pollinization look at Fredrick Millard’s article on People to People on this site. If you have ideas to share please feel free to contribute. Ring or email a Rotary mate (friend if you’re a politican) and share this site with them.

ROMAC Meeting

From Lloyd Roever--ROMAC

Many thanks to those who indicated their attendance at the meeting at RDU on the 27th August between 1pm and 4pm to try and involve more districts in ROMAC.
If you have not yet indicated then I would appreciate you letting me know as I will be away in Darwin from next Sunday until Thursday the 25th.
If you are unable to attend then we would hope that you will send someone from your district in your place
Kindest Regards
Lloyd

I have responded to this and hope to be there but since I'm leaving for overseas soon after this date, there is some doubt in my mind. However, as Lloyd has indicated if there is anyone in the District who would like to attend please feel free to put up your hand.

Peter Shea---petershea@tsn.cc

Meet Community Service Director Vince Brooker

By Community Service Director Vince Brooker At Coffs Harbour City Rotary Club.

Community Service Plan for 2005-2006.

1. Oznam Villa Bowls night. Club members play indoor bowls with members of Oznam vill retirement home.[They are aged between 75 and 93, however we have never won the challenge]
2. Seniors day out, The Club takes Seniors from three retirement lodges for a dat out including Lunch, usually a coach tour to a location about 2 hours drive. This year is a Christmas party on 13th December
3. The Club will be hosting the ARHRF Safari and conducting a depression forum in conjunction with Beyondblue and ARHRF on 1st December.
4. We will be supporting the District Bowel Scan program.
5. We have planned a fundraiser for ROMAC to take the form of a 500km bike ride with sponsored riders, this is scheduled for March 2006.The ride has to finish within 24hours.
6.We are providing support, vehicles and drivers for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal in May 2006.
7.We are currently fundraising for our"Ava to America Appeal" This is to enable a 6 months old baby with Tuberous Sclerosis to go to New York for life saving treatment. The child is from a local family.
8. We will be involved with the Coffs Harbour City Council in Australia Day Celebrations.
9. The Club is also doing small repair jobs{painting, gardening etc] for elderly people in their own home who cannot afford or are unable to help themselves. The Coffs Harbour City Council are providing contact details.

Safari Update 1st August 2005

By Special Safari Correspondents John Flower and Paul Ying.

Over the last month on the road the Safari Team has been fine-tuning the display and the placement of the Winnebago.

There has been some excellent coverage in local media including television coverage in Toowoomba and the response from Rotary Clubs along the way has been very enthusiastic.

The best displays have been where we have been able to park the Winnebago right on a “main street” in front of a newsagent, chemist or supermarket. People walk right alongside the display and can be easily approached by the team.

In thirty-two days on the road the Safari team have put up and dismantled the display 82 times, have attended and spoken at 17 Rotary meetings (breakfasts, lunches and dinners) and five forums.

They have heard the display’s video presentation so many times they now know it off by heart and occasionally turn the sound down so they can say the words!!

The Safari volunteers so far have been Gerry Davies (RC of Waratah). John and Margaret Stuckey (RC of Warrnambool) Howard Fleming (RC of West Pennant Hills), Jim Nolan (RC of Loganholme) and Ashley John from the RC of South Brisbane.

The next team changeover happens this week in Brisbane when a new group comes on board.

The second page of this update is the key document to pass on to all people and clubs making arrangements for the display.

A number of clubs which the Safari has already visited have sent in evaluation forms and the points raised in them have been given consideration by the Safari team in consultation with the Safari committee in Sydney. The display has been revised and altered a few times trying to get the right presentation and will probably change again as it travels.

The first month has been spent setting up the systems and establishing a routine. It now takes about fifteen minutes to set up the display and the team have it down to a fine art!

The next month, travelling north up the coast of Queensland, will be the implementation phase with some fine-tuning of the display.

The office on board the Winnebago operates well and can send and receive e-mails and upload photos daily to the website.

The Safari is travelling well and looking forward to coming to your area! Are you ready for us??

PLANNING FOR THE SAFARI

The purpose of the visit of the Safari is:

1. To create awareness of the importance of mental health for all

2. To promote knowledge among Rotary clubs of the ARHRF activities

The following points must be considered when arranging for the Safari:

Pick a site for the Winnebago with high pedestrian traffic in the same way real estate people think position, position, position! Car parks opposite or just off the main street are not as good as the main street. Pedestrian malls are very good places. Outside supermarkets, cafes and newsagents are always good locations. Try and avoid areas where there are columns or planter boxes on the edge of the pavement. Parks across the road from shops or a place outside a Town Hall or Civic Centre are no good unless there is guaranteed pedestrian traffic.

Try and locate the Winnebago near a power outlet. The Winnebago does have a generator on board but it is much better if mains power can be arranged from a shop or office at the site. The van carries a very long extension cord and the power is only for computers and lights.

Invite local mental health support groups or government health workers to participate in the display. This means there is a local contact for any potential customers who visit the display.

Plan for an activity to attract people to the display. On Saturday mornings arrange for a free bbq alongside the display.
Sundays – use Harvey Norman stores or places where people will be

The display can start as early as 8 am but should finish by 4.30 / 5 pm

Make contact with the press, radio and TV several weeks before hand to gain maximum publicity for the Safari. Be specific about where and when the Winnebago will be parked

Make sure you have sufficient posters to be placed in shop windows, health offices and businesses in the area.
Plan a forum to coincide with the visit of the Safari. The forum should be held the night before and should promote the place where the Winnebago will be on the next day.

If you have a member in your club who is a good 'spruiker' or salesman, ask them along to help attract people to the display

Where possible members of the Rotary club should make an effort to visit the van so they can talk about the Safari after it has moved on.

Note: - John Flower is Safari Manager