After six weeks overseas I returned to find the Club in good shape and for that I thank PP Clint Sceney and others who kept everything running in fine order veritable sign of an effective club. We have a very challenging year in which I have set an objective of gaining a net increase of 10 new members. So how do we achieve this objective? One thing is very clear, that the traditional tried and true methods of recruiting new members are no longer working. We must embrace a different approach. For this I nominated three sub-objectives that may help; increase the club s visibility in the community, processes for engaging potential new members and managing new members after their induction. This forum concentrated mainly on increasing visibility but also touched on further developing categories of membership, primarily categories aimed at the business community. Visibility has two components. First, creating the image of our club we want to convey to the public at large, and second, how to we deliver that message. Key points raised by members during the forum are noted on page three of this Bulletin. It is very pleasing to see members volunteer to undertake activities to achieve these aims. One that has happened is to re-vamp our Facebook page in fact it is another new page Rotary Club of Yarra Bend. Members are asked to visit the page, like it and to actively contribute content at any time. It is a small and easy step to increasing our visibility but a very important one. Ken Maher UPCOMING SPEAKERS AND EVENTS 09 August 2017 Tony Thomas Truth in Science 16 August 2017 Jane decline into homelessness and Matt Maudlin The Purple Cloak 23 August 2017 Dan Feldman Current state of Industrial Relations 30 August 2017 Matt Pollard FNQ National Parks 6 September 2017 Laura Miles Museums and galleries in Victoria 13 September 2017 Sharon Crean Beyond Water 20 September 2017 Michael Guiney Radiation Oncologist
DATE CHAIR THOUGHT & GONG WEEKLY DUTY ROSTER MEMBER S MOMENT SET UP / PACK AWAY BULLETIN NOTES 09 Aug 2017 David Shave Mark Miller Mark Miller Jane Stott Tony Boyd 16 Aug 2017 Mark Miller Bill Chow None M Maudlin Isabel Armer Jane Stott 23 Aug 2017 John Orr Clinton Sceney Clinton Sceney John Orr Bob Lambert 30 Aug 2017 Tony Boyd William Liew William Liew Ed Brown Isabel Armer ROTARY SUNDAY MARKET DUTY 06 August 2017 Ken Maher 27 August 2017 Bill Chow/John Pocock 13 August 2017 Tony Boyd 03 September 2017 Clint Sceney/Edda Williams 20 August 2017 Darren Grevis-James 10 September 2017 Matt Pollard Directors Reports Dinner Meeting 2 nd August Bob Lambert reported that the tree planting at Yarra Bend Park was ready for a team effort at 9am on Saturday 12 August. (Note, no kids or pets allowed). He will provide a map and parking info but access is from Heidelberg Road. The planting, mulching and watering should take about two hours followed by coffee and fellowship. In summer there will be a watering roster amongst members to get the trees established. Matt Pollard reported a shortage of accommodation at District Conference in March next year at Warrnambool. Three rooms have been retained for Yarra Bend members. All other reserved rooms have been let go. Anne Brown advised that we need a delegate to attend a seminar on working with youth to be held on 20 August at Melton. Ken Maher advised there would be a board meeting next week.
Club Forum 2017 Priorities Membership & Profile President Ken led discussion on the need to increase membership and in particular the challenge to increase the profile of our Club in the community and targets for membership. Key points raised by members included: Identify - what is our message and also address the means of getting our messag out there. Social media and internet are the most useful means of getting our message to target audience. Yarra Bend website to be refreshed and more use of Facebook and other social media. A leaflet or brochure and business cards about our Club would be helpful Grant funds used for a newly branded marquee, Polo shirts, caps and Hi-viz vests. Club needs a signature event or project as some our existing projects are shared by Rotary New events could be a Fun Run/Walk or sponsorship of a school sports awards A community bank in Hawthorn already looked at but currently not viable in Boroondara. Target for new membership should perhaps be 50+ rather than 35+. Invitation of people to meetings remains a key underutilised opportunity. Revised membership categories has been reviewed and will proceed to the board.
Greek Charity Fundraiser A group of eight Yarra Bend members attended the fundraising evening held at Yiannis Tavern on Friday 28 July. The event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Kew and the Rotary Club of Rhodes, Greece and the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria to raise funds for urgently needed medical aid, equipment and Island of Kastellorizo. A live auction was conducted by Jonathon Sheppard with hs usual aplom and a silent auction was held for a range of donated good and services. The event was put together by George Verginis. Door Prize This weeks door prize was won by Isabel Armer
Club Activity Yarra Bend Tree Planting Saturday 12 th August at Yarra Bend Park For all details and a map click here: Yarra Bend Park tree planting information D9800 Conference 16 18 March 2018 The annual conference for Rotarians and partners involved in District 9800 will be held in Warrnambool from 16 to 18 March next year. Put it into your diary now. Accomodation is already tight! RC Kew has again offered to arrange our Club Dinner and they have secured a number of rooms. If you would like to take up the offer of a secured room you should discuss this with our Onto-Conference representative, Matt Pollard. Details of the conference will be made available progressively at www.rotaryconference.org.au YARRA BEND ROTARY If you would like to know more about Yarra Bend Rotary, please call Club Secretary Anne Brown on 0404029165 or email: anneanded@iinet.net.au You might like to join us for dinner. We meet every Wednesday over dinner at the Amora Hotel 649 Bridge Road Richmond at 6:30 p.m. for 7:00p.m. Just contact the Club Secretary to make arrangements. Our Mailing Address is P.O.Box 271, Kew East, Victoria, 3102 or e-mail: yarrabendrotary@gmail.com