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Last Week's Program
 
 
Our meeting of 28 April 2020
 
Gary Newton was chair for the evening’s Zoom meeting.
 
We welcomed our guest presenter Maddie Van Loon and District Guru Pauline Stewart.
 
Pauline has been Zooming around the District picking up ideas to share with Rotarians on how clubs can make the best of the currently constrained environment for service and fundraising including online raffles sales and online auctions.
 
As Pauline says: “Now is not the time for radio silence” – very Churchillian, Pauline.
 
Maddie and her National Youth Science Forum adventure
 
Maddie Van Loon was selected by our Club to attend this week-long annual event for senior secondary students usually held in Canberra but this year in Brisbane.
Maddie worked her way through the very rigorous and multi-level selection process.
There were sessions in the areas of molecular biology, forensic medicine and microscopy as well as science in Antarctica.
Maddie learned that, in certain circumstances, spider venom can do you good and you can speed date a scientist.
There were great social events and Maddie’s NYSF experience has certainly reinforced her desire to pursue a career in an area of medicine.
 
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Announcements, News and Help Required
 
Donations to The Rotary Foundation
You can make your donation via EFTPOS to the Club's account directly.
The Club’s account is at Bendigo Bank and the details are below if you would like to make a donation.
NAME:  Rotary Club of Geelong East
BSB:  633 000
Account number:146 425 996
Remember to include in the reference or “sender” section, your surname and initial and “TRF”.
Rotary Foundation Committee chair Ross Taylor advises that we have to Friday 22 May, 2020, to make a donation so the Club can prepare the documentation to forward the total amount the Foundation and enable receipts to be issued in due course.
 
Technical Help
Our Club is very fortunate to have top notch social media practitioners in our midst – Gary and David, Tony and Kris.
Tony, David, Gary and Kris may be able to assist with what looks to you like a tech wreck but which is, in all probability, just that you haven’t clicked “Yes” or “No” or such like.
Give the ITeam a call…they can help you to “Zoom” like…well, like a Zoombie!
 
Ward Rounds
We extend our best wishes to Don Macvean and Jonathan Hepner and look forward to their participation in our meetings via Zoom soon.
 
Condolences
President Tony Alsop and Club members extend their sympathies to Rotarian Bill Bailey and family on the passing of his daughter Anne.
 
Fines
You can put $1.00 in a jar each time you wash your hands and contribute that…remembering that you should always wash your hands after handling money!
You can save up your fine payment until we resume our face to face meetings.
Or you can pay at Satbir’s 7-Eleven Geelong, corner Ryrie and Swanston where Satbir has offered a free cup of coffee for a sizable donation to the Rotary tin at the counter.
Satbir has collected around $135.00 so far.
Well done, Satbir!
 
Zooming in with other Clubs. Please invite yourself as you see opportunities. Stay in contact with other Clubs.
 
Stay in Contact. Zooming is fun, but phone calls may be easier, please stay in contact with those who are on the sick list or cannot join us at our virtual meetings.
 
Eddification
COVID-19 and Polio
In every corner of the world, it seems that not a single person or community is unaffected by COVID-19. You may be wondering how to stay focused on our work eradicating polio when we are dealing with a pandemic caused by a virus for which there is not yet a vaccine — a situation similar to what the world faced with the poliovirus not so long ago.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic response requires worldwide solidarity and an urgent global effort. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), with thousands of polio workers and an extensive laboratory and surveillance network, has a moral imperative to ensure that these resources are used to support countries in their preparedness and response.
 
We can be proud that in the ever-connected world of global health, the polio infrastructure that Rotarians have helped build is already being used to address — and stop the spread of — the new coronavirus, in addition to serving countless other health needs. In Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, where polio personnel and assets have a significant presence, workers from all GPEI partners are engaged in surveillance, health worker training, contact tracing, and more. In 13 countries, polio volunteers have been deployed to address COVID-19 preparations and response.
 
We recognize that the COVID-19 emergency means that some aspects of the polio eradication program will be affected. While addressing the new challenges of today, the most important thing that Rotary members can do to continue the fight to end polio is to sustain our commitment. We are aiming to reach our fundraising goal of $50 million this year so we can work to safely reach all children with the polio vaccine. In the midst of a global pandemic, we understand that attention to polio eradication will be temporarily diverted, and this makes it all the more vital for Rotarians to remain strongly committed to fighting polio and not let our progress be eroded.
Grant options for responding to COVID-19
Rotarians can use funding from The Rotary Foundation to respond to the global COVID-19 crisis and protect and care for people in their own communities and around the world. Here are three ways to do it:
  • Districts can use district grant funds to support local efforts, like purchasing thermometers or protective gear to donate to health care workers who need them. You can also use contingency funds from an open district grant or repurpose previously planned grant activities to respond to COVID-19. And as you prepare district grant applications for 2020-21, we encourage you to designate funds for COVID-19 response. In a one-time exception, the Foundation will allow coronavirus-related expenses that were incurred between 15 March and 30 June 2020 to be reimbursed through 2020-21 district grants.

  • Rotary’s disaster response grants fund quick reaction to local emergencies. The Rotary Foundation has added COVID-19-related projects to the list of activities that these grants from the Disaster Response Fund can pay for. Depending on the availability of funds, each district can apply for one grant of up to $25,000 to respond to the pandemic.

  • Global grants remain an excellent way to make a transformative impact in a community. If a facility or community needs medical equipment in order to respond effectively to COVID-19, global grants can help pay for it. These grants still require both a host and an international partner, but for any new global grant that addresses COVID-19, the Foundation will waive the requirement that 30 percent of the project’s financing come from international sponsors.


For more information, contact your regional grants officer or download a PDF that explains these grant options.
 
Supporting communities during difficult times
The Rotary Foundation has spent years funding disease prevention and treatment projects that address health issues in vulnerable communities. Now, all communities are suddenly vulnerable to a disease that so far has no vaccine and no cure. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we continue to fund projects that support disease prevention and treatment, along with basic education and literacy, community economic development, and water, sanitation, and hygiene so that we can keep Doing Good in the World when it’s needed most.

Rotary is uniquely prepared to assist communities around the world, but we need your help. If you can give, donate to the Foundation’s Annual Fund to support humanitarian projects, to the PolioPlus Fund to support both polio eradication efforts and other health infrastructure, or to our Disaster Response Fund to support local efforts to fight the pandemic and help people who have been affected by other disasters. The Disaster Response Fund accepts online contributions and District Designated Funds (DDF). Districts may designate their DDF contributions to the Disaster Response Fund to be used exclusively for COVID-19 grant activities. Cash contributions will be used for general disaster response, including response to COVID-19.

 
Program – Speakers Wanted
Kris Adam is on the look out for guest speakers. Please pass on names and topics to Kris.
 
Future President Secured!
We are delighted to hear that Sue Beretta will follow Yannick as president of our Club.
 
Samaritan House support
Peter Cook from Community will send an email invitation out to all members to ask for assistance in some hands on work at Samaritan House on 16 May.
 
Zoom Meetings – all are welcome
Invite friends to our online meetings.
They can experience Rotary friendship and see Rotary service at no cost and without obligation from the comfort of their home.
Send them the email with the link and password but don’t forget to introduce them when the meeting opens.
 
New Club polo shirts
Gary has the first lot of 10 of our Club’s new polo shirts and are available for a sizing check. Contact Gary to get sized up.
 
Science and Engineering Challenge
President Tony reported that there will not be a state or national final this year but every endeavour will be made to get some events teed up.
 
Collect art and support Rotary
Kris Adam has generously offered to contribute $25.00 from the $175.00 sale price of his wonderful and mystical drawings of Geelong.
 
Call and catch up
Our honorary member and great friend Pam Mott is enjoying her new retirement village home and would really like to hear from members. Give Pam a call.
Also, give Don Macvean a call.......and reverse the charges. It’s his birthday on 13 May.
 
 

 

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Upcoming Events Coming Up
Our Club meetings and District events are happening via video conferencing during the COVID-19 restrictions.
 
See "The Next Three Weeks" for....the next 3 weeks.
 
The Next 3 Weeks
 
DateActivityCoursesVenueChairSergeantRoom/HostingCashier Meeting LOA
Tues 12 May 2020Fred Jespersen (ex Rty Exchange Student) ZoomKris Adam     
Tues 19 May 2020Vicki Linell (Foster Care, Barwon Health) ZoomJenny Acopian     
Tues 26 May 2020David Boyle (Virus Specialist, Ex CSIRO) ZoomJanine Koch     
Tues 2 Jun 2020Italian Republic Day        
Tues 9 Jun 2020Committee Budget Meetings (Off site) Zoom      
Tues 16 Jun 2020RCGE's Got Talent2St. Albans Football & Netball ClubKris AdamRob WheelerLiz Sykes & Maxine Leske Board 
Tues 23 Jun 2020 2St. Albans Football & Netball Club Keith DawsonBruce King & Peter Cook   
          
          
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Attendance
 
 
 
Attendance 
 
We 64.44% at our Zoom meeting on 28 April.
 
Last week, we had Committee meetings.
 
We're Zooming again on 12 May.
 
 
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Recognitions
 

 
Birthdays: Happy birthday to Bill Bailey for 12 May and to Don Macvean for 13 May.
Wedding Anniversaries: None this coming week.
Rotary Anniversaries: Anna Fletcher had her 24th Rotary anniversary on 7 May and Jenny Acopian had her 21st on 8 May.
Sue Hill has her 12th anniversary of membership of our Club coming up on 20 May.

 
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