These are times that cry out for peace. The Middle East is in its most volatile condition in years. The war in Ukraine is the largest in Europe since World War II, and there are armed conflicts in Sudan and parts of Central Africa. Nearly every continent is experiencing a major armed conflict.
Rotary has a vital role to play in advancing the cause of peace — I often say Rotary needs to work toward peace as aggressively as those who wish to wage war. It’s the spirit found in our vision statement: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” We must never lose track of that last call — that to bring about change in the world, we need to foster change within. It is up to us to model peacebuilding behavior among each other. We can do better than questioning the motives of one another and jumping to the harshest possible explanation. After hearing words that might strain or offend us, we have an opportunity to ask, with compassion and curiosity, the intent of those offending words. And then we have another opportunity to repair the breach.
If we wish to be a beacon to the world, let us start by being so to one another. Let’s help each other find greater understanding and productive alternatives to words that cause hurt and distrust. And let’s stick to our principles, but never doubt the sincerity of each other to end conflicts, not inflame them.
I’m reminded of a speech that U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy made on 4 April 1968, that dreadful day when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Kennedy was in Indianapolis speaking to an audience in a predominantly African American neighborhood where people had yet to learn that Dr. King had been killed. He shared the terrible news. He honored Dr. King for all he had done for the cause of justice and peace. And then he connected with the fuming, grieving crowd by saying: “For those of you who are Black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and distrust at the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I can only say that I feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed.” It was the first time he had spoken publicly about President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. And while many American cities exploded in violence that night, Indianapolis did not.
It is in times of crisis and despair that we need empathy most of all. Empathy is the most powerful tool of peace, and it is vital if we are to take the first brave, humble steps to Create Hope in the World.
I wanted to start off this month reiterating DG Christine’s sentiments about the success of the recent District Conference and say a huge thank you to everyone who undertook the DFV walk at the conference, participated in the various fundraising raffles or who took the time to visit our exhibit at the Conference Showcase. Your support of our District’s DFV campaign is very much appreciated and is allowing us to do great work in this space.
Moving on from here, the next big event the Committee is working on is the upcoming Educational Webinar on Wednesday 1 May from 6-7.30pm. In conjunction with DV NSW, we will be holding an educational webinar focusing on “Practical Ways to Stop Domestic + Family Violence in Your Community”.
The webinar will be hosted by Wahroonga Rotarian, Sallianne McClelland, and see DG Christine Owen joined in a panel discussion with Annabelle Daniel OAM (Founding CEO Women's Community Shelters, Chair DV NSW, Chair Coercive Control Implementation Taskforce), Jess Hill (NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence 2024, Journalist, Author and Educator on Coercive Control), Dannielle Miller OAM (Educator, Freelance Writer, Best Selling Parenting Author and Director of Walk The Talk with Women's Community Shelters).
The webinar is free and open to all Rotarians and Rotary Clubs across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. We’d encourage you to register for this important event using the following link: Practical Ways to Stop Domestic + Family Violence in Your Community - A Rotary Club Webinar. If your unable to join us live to participate in the discussion, the webinar will be recorded and thus available for Clubs’ use at future meetings.
So, another valuable initiative to help spread awareness, provide assistance, and offer resources to combat family and domestic violence. By working together, we can make a significant difference in reducing this pervasive issue, across Rotary Zone 8.
I look forward to seeing you online for this event.
Nominations have been received for the role of Rotary Community Leader in most of these communities. Some will require elections and some will not depending on the number of candidates, so watch your emails for YOUR RCG!
2. Learning and Development
Are you on a Club Board?
Have you registered for District Assembly?
Time to get your seat reserved so that you do not miss out!!!
3. Rotary Disaster Relief (RDR) Program
Recently AG Paul Rogers OAM met with Ms Emma Whale the Executive Director – Hawkesbury Nepean Flood Risk Management Division……
“In July 2023, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Flood Risk Management transitioned to the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA). The RA will improve how NSW plans for disasters and make sure communities across the state recover from them faster.
The RA is developing a high-priority regional Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) to address flood risk in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley which builds on the 2017 Flood Strategy. The DAP will be developed throughout 2024 and include a suite of integrated measures to reduce the impact of floods.”
to inform her of our District Rotary Disaster Response strategy. As a result of that meeting we now have a seat at the table of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Disaster Adaptation Plan team. This is a great step forward for Rotary and will be an opportunity for us to be recognised as ‘people of action’.
For those of you who are interested, especially those living in the area, you can learn more by clicking on the following link.
The photos are from the Launch of RESCA in Wollongong on the 1st March 2024. The link to nominate for the awards is, www.rescawards.org.au
Please be aware of the following criteria and eligibility for the RESCA Awards.
Outstanding and comprehensive Vocational Service through involvement in District programs and Club initiatives that may also include an outstanding special Vocational program or project.
Thank you to the Clubs who have contacted me after the Conference asking for suggestions on how they might start a project in conjunction with an Aboriginal community. I suggest you first contact your local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG.) You will find them listed on the web. The AECGs are groups of teachers and local Aboriginal people working in schools with a significant number of Aboriginal students. Ask your AECG how you might partner with them. Please let me know how you get on. Like everyone else at the Conference, I was so impressed (again) by the changes that St Jude's has made in the lives of its students. I encourage you to take up this challenge in our schools.
Best regards Bob Selinger
First Nations Partnership Programs
On Wallumedegal (Dharug Nation) Country
The Rotary Club of North Ryde
6. New ATO Tax Rules
You may have seen an ABC report that the Australian Tax Office is making changes that will affect not-for-profit organisations.
The District is currently making enquiries about how this will affect Rotary Clubs. With the Easter break and the recency of the release of the report, there has been insufficient time for the District to be able to receive a detailed response in time for this newsletter. When the information is received, you will receive an email explaining how the ATO Changes will affect us.
Radio is a powerful way to spread your Club stories. If your Club has a project, local or overseas, which would interest the wider general public, discuss it with Rotary Matters presenter Ian Stuart who will be glad to help spread the word. Ian.stuart@optusnet.com.au 0416 138 860
The Rotary International Convention in Singapore will offer so many special events and exclusive experiences that you’ll want to make a plan to make the most of your time.
Come early or stay after the 25-29 May convention to take a tour curated for Rotary members or meet with potential business partners in this economic powerhouse home to so many big corporations. And be sure to register for an extra event to mingle with fellow members.
The Host Organization Committee has tours for you in Singapore and the region. Book. One convenient three-day tour in neighboring Malaysia includes a Kuala Lumpur heritage walk and a batik fabric dying workshop.
A private tour to learn about the city’s immigrants and hawker center culture includes tastings at the food markets in Chinese, Indian, and Malay neighborhoods.
Rotarians from the area invite you to Host Hospitality Night, with cultural and food events at exquisite venues in the heart of the city. At the Rotary Foundation Donor Summit, a general session-style event, members will hear stories about the impact of their support. Major Donors and members of the Arch Klumph, Legacy, Paul Harris, and Bequest societies can register on the convention site.
Rotary Youth Exchange alumni can connect and share ideas at the Youth Exchange Officers Preconvention 24-25 May.
And stick around after the convention for the Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference 1-4 June. Whichever Rotary-only experiences you choose for your trip, you’ll be Sharing Hope With the World.
This story originally appeared in the March 2024 issue of Rotary magazine.
Supporting the environment is Rotary's seventh area of focus. It joined peace-building and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
Rotary is committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment. We empower communities to access grants and other resources, embrace local solutions, and spur innovation to address the causes and reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
The Rotary Foundation in Foundation global grant funding has allocated 18.4 million USD to environment-related causes in the past five years through their support of community economic development and water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. Our Water and Sanitation Global Grant with International partner RC of Fig Garden addresses sanitation issues which affect the environment in twenty-one remote villages in Northern Thailand.
Some of the ways we can work on environmental challenges by:
Protecting and restoring land, coastal, marine, and freshwater resources
Enhancing the capacity of communities to support natural resource management and conservation
Supporting sustainable agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture practices
Addressing the cause of climate change by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases
Strengthening ecosystems and communities affected by climate change
Supporting education initiatives that promote behavior that protects the environment
Advocating for sustainable consumption to build an economy that uses resources more efficiently
Addressing environmental justice issues and public health concerns
to let us know of any bereavements you would like published. It would be much appreciated if you also sent a short biography and photo for an information
link in In Memoriam.
You may also inform your Assistant Governor, the District Secretary, or the Governor. Remember to also update
your club's member database on the District website
RLI is a training course offered to Rotarians to develop their skills in leadership and management within Clubs to improve performance, knowledge and enjoyment in leading or helping to lead Clubs in the District.
The courses consist of three parts over one weekend, all delivered by Zoom. Course materials will be sent to registered participants directly.
The RLI Convenor for 2023-2026 is Amanda Barnes.
ROTARY ON THE MOVE
MARCH 2024
Great articles such as:
Meet Your Members' Needs – A Great Resource For Clubs
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Monthly theme for April is Environment
