Meeting 28th May,

Full House at Friday's meeting

We had a full house on Friday, with sponsors, past members, Passport club, and Maroochydore Rotary in attendance. It was great to have a big crowd to hear from Kerry Smith and the great work that SalTy Souls is doing on the coast. Also interesting to note the connections between SalTy Souls Legacy/ Rotary/ IFYS/and the brilliant Siena College initiative from our very own Graeme. Welcome Les, Brian from Passport, Vikash and Steve from our sponsors LPE, Past members Bob Lane, Sue Quinn, husband Damien, and Maroochydore members Brocky, Steve, Howard, Jeanne and a big welcome to Kerry Smith from SalTy souls.

Kerry talks to club about SalTy Souls programs

The AV jinx continued for Kerry, but this time he bravely battled on with some heart felt stories on how the kids respond to the "Stand Tall" programs delivered by the team. The club is so pleased to be able to help the SalTy Souls team create a permanent base on the Sunshine Coast, and are super excited about the possibilities of collaboration on some of the great programs that the THRIVE group do at their hub in Maroochydore.

Vikash and Steve from LPE say hello

Vikash and Steve joined us for breakfast, representing a new sponsor to Rotary. LPE electricity provider.

Jeanne and Brocky say thanks for AGFR help, Wendy grabs the goodies and makes off

Brocky from Maroochydore Rotary and Wendy, with a "thank you" bag of wine just out of camera. Wendy looks very happy with the vino collapso.

Jeanne came to say thanks to the club for their help at the AGFR golf. It was a great week with lots of compliments from the players and partners "best organised AGFR" ever". Jeanne is having a well earned rest after some great work in pulling all this together. For those who may not know the organisation for the AGFR started years ago with visits to Adelaide and Alice Springs where Paul Scott and Maroochydore Rotary made presentations to the Federation. Then of course COVID came, world changed and thankfully through the efforts of Jeanne's team the event which was cancelled in 2020 went ahead.

Wallis talks to reconciliation

Friday was the start of Reconciliation week, and Wallis spoke to the club about its significance, and some of the critical dates surrounding the week, and some observations on what we as Rotarians could do to celebrate the week trough action. I understand a certain scribe is going to have something to say on this at next weeks meeting.

The Solstice Swim is getting nearer! - Whats your raffle donation?

After Fridays meeting some Rotarians stayed back to help plan the logistics of the day.

And of course being Rotary we got to have a raffle, so this year we're having a multi-draw and we're asking members to donate a suitable item to the value of $50 to help with the multi-draw.

Val & Joy have put their hand up for the raffle. Shannon and Craig are looking after the oversize buoys from Mooloolaba Yacht Club. Graeme is the generalissimo for all things timing and competition and the physical tasks start Saturday afternoon with the bagging, a few volunteers including Carmel and Wendy for that. Wallis volunteered to be MC in absentia. Les and Sean are doing a great job on social media. Also a big thanks to Trudi Lane who has also volunteered. More tasks to be allocated over the next few weeks.

From Rotary International - Topical

Sharing a powerful moment as a vaccination volunteer

Posted on May 11, 2021

By Vicki Brentin, a member of the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline, Houston, Texas, USA

Anticipation. Excitement. Nervousness. Uncertainty. Hopefulness. Relief. Gratitude. I had all of these not-so-surprising emotions as I passed through the various stations at the mega vaccine site in Houston to receive my COVID-19 vaccination.

At each station, the volunteers looked into my eyes with a keen sense of understanding as if I was their first interaction of the day, when in reality I was close to number 2,500. It seemed to mean so much to them; this moment we shared. And I felt overwhelmed with feelings deep in my soul and heart.

I knew I wanted to volunteer at a vaccination center and be part of this historic moment as we help our communities return to some sense of normal. The more I shared this feeling with friends and fellow Rotarians, the more I heard similar sentiments. I reached out to our district governor, Scott Rainey, and discovered he also had a strong interest in getting members of our district to be a part of the vaccination effort.

For the past few weeks, I have been helping coordinate hundreds of volunteers in our district. Rotary clubs recruited members as well as family, friends, and community partners to join our effort. I also spend time in Denver, and reached out to Rotary members there to support the vaccination effort in that city. In either place, Houston or Denver, the experience was the same. Volunteers were so grateful to be a part of this epic effort. Most volunteered more than once.

One volunteer expressed it well:

“Volunteering was one of my favorite events of the last year. Seeing all of the people involved in vaccinating our friends and neighbors was emotional and inspiring. “

I am grateful to have been a small part of this moment and am confident that all the Rotary members who volunteered or recruited others felt the same way. Whether I was ushering people to the right station, serving at the registration table, taking temperatures, or directing traffic, I never tired of connecting with the people coming to get their vaccines. We all shared a powerful moment that we knew to be life changing – individually and for our community.

From Rotary on the Move

2021 Rotary Virtual Convention Breakout Sessions on membership
Have you registered for the 2021 Rotary Virtual Convention yet? Taking place 12-16 June, the convention will be filled with general and breakout sessions that can help you polish your leadership skills and get inspired with new ideas for projects, fundraising, strengthening membership, and more. A full list is available on the Rotary Convention Website, but here are a few membership-related sessions you may be interested in attending virtually or sharing with clubs in your district:
- · 13 June: Rotary Alumni: A Hidden Gem for Membership and Service
- · 13 June: Innovative Ideas to Start a New Rotary Club
- · 15 June: Grow Rotary through Engagement
- · 15 June: Mission Inclusion: Accelerating DEI in Rotary

World Collagen Expert talks to club

Why you should always say YES to opportunities.... and the world of collagen

A chance meeting at the USC Community Fund dinner on Wednesday night led to a famous world renowned speaker Professor Tim Wess joining us on Friday. We didn't know at the time we met Tim at USC, but Tim is not only an inspirational academic, but also the world expert in Collagen.

Collagen is something only a few of us will know from our visits to a certain clinic. However, Tim has been studying this material because of its importance to human development, and particularly as a material used as a recording medium to store world history, such as Dead Sea scrolls, Domesday book, Magna Carta, Declaration of Arbroath and basically anywhere that required human history to be recorded - and sometimes in blood.

A fascinating talk, including how to read a a scroll parchment without destroying it by unrolling it, and the use of X-rays as fingerprints into the past, as well as how a visit to a German shoe museum can lead to a the most unexpected outcomes. (really!!)

But Professor Tim's main message was one of enthusiasm for learning, and why you should always say YES to every opportunity to learn. You never know where it might lead!

Professor Tim, with some of the institutions he has led or served over the years.

Solstice Swim getting closer

Some great news during the week, the Thrive board have considered the request from SalTy Souls Legacy / Rotary to allow them to be part of the Thrive Hub on Aerodrome road.

Steve N produced some of his usual professional drawings to describe to Thrive what we wanted to achieve and now we're looking forward to catching with Thrive and receiving formal approval for this step towards establishing a new SalTy Souls Legacy on the Coast.

Skye's Canadian quiz

So on Friday Skye decided to test our knowledge of her Canadian Rotary Club and all things Canadian.

It was all going wonderfully until it was realised that instead of holding the quiz question sheet, one of the quiz teams had actually received the answers.

So did you know Rotary's secondary motto? or how many Rotarians there are in Canada?

This is Skye holding the question sheet..unfortunately one of the teams has the answer sheet. Doh!

One thing that has always mystified a certain scribe about Canada...... Why isn't Canada called Canadia (?)..after all the folks there are Canadians?

Wednesday's storm takes it toll

While we were all sheltering in the USC Innovation centre, Chairman Peter's car was getting belted by the hail. Sunshine Coast panel beaters are going to be busy.

Changeover Dinner Invite

Folks, its going to be a busy end of June, with Charmaine's masquerade ball, the Solstice Swim and the changeover of Committee dinner, but be sure to put this date in your calendar.

Amazing Scholars at USC

3 scholarships were awarded on Wednesday night from the Rotary / University Community Fund.

Shannon Horsfall

Shannon is studying the effect of domestic violence on children, and particularly in the field of creative writing, and allowing children to express their stories. Shannon was truly passionate about helping kids through their trauma by storytelling. Look forward to her book on the subject.

Tomas Banks

Thomas was already the recipient of several scholarships, and is clearly a student going places. His field of study is Marine gene management and studying why certain crustaceans gene cells do not behave genetically the way that other cells do. It could open up a new field in molecular biology.

Tomas Lang

Tomas is studying restorative DNA in molecular biology, and and has an interest in marine seaweeds that have some amazing properties and the nasty crown of thorn starfishes. An interesting aside is the interest in a marine seaweed that doesn't produce methane when eaten by cattle. Could have significant implications for climate change if Tomas can find out why?

Joy Ungers represented the club and took the stage to present Alex Rotary's continuing contribution to these exceptional students.

A very well run evening and an excellent talk from USC Vice Chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett on the importance interaction of Regional Universities in Australia with the community.

ROMAC - Vincents Story

We had an update on Vincent's story from the Chair of ROMAC and how the medical volunteers are coping with COVID, below. Great news that Vincent is back in Solomon Islands and doing well. One lucky boy, helped by the fantastic team at ROMAC, and your donations.

AGFR Golfers arrive from interstate

It's happening! The AGFR tee's off this week, and the Maroochy River Golf club is where its all happening. The folks were at the registration desk at Maroochy Waters golf club to welcome the new arrivals from interstate and are now looking forward to a week of golfing and tours on the coast.

Note that the club meeting this week is a combined meeting with Maroochydore Rotary on Thursday evening. There will be no breakfast meeting, as most members will be helping out at teh golf or playing golf on Friday morning.

This month Buzz