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CLUB BULLETIN 4th MAY 2020
MEMBERS ISOLATED THOUGHTS
JUDE NEWMAN
 

 Hello Everyone

I hope you are all doing well in these unusual times.

 Even in retirement life is not at all like this, the normal pattern of life  has slowed right down.

More books have been read, more papers ordered and I have generally worked through  various house and garden projects.

Living by the lake I find there is always interesting bird life to  observe, changing with the seasons.

Various friends and family have visited, sometimes across the  back fence and I have caught up with distant friends, they are  always home when you call.

 It will be so good to be back doing the things that we miss.

Keep well everyone. Jude 

 
 
KATE HODGE
 
I am one of the lucky ones!
 I have continued to work in a profession that I love. It has been surprisingly busy with many owners being at home to work, and noticing issues with their pets.
Veterinary services are regarded as essential, to ensure that livestock, companion animals and wildlife continue to get the care they need. This means that vets are now managing the biosecurity of animals, their owners and staff concurrently.
Kyabram and Nathalia Clinics are being run in 2-3 separate vet/ vet nurse/receptionist teams and the sites being fogged weekly.  New strategies implemented include reducing the number of clients in the clinic to ensure social distancing, examining animals away from their owners and offering services such as telemedicine, picking up pets from home and dropping off medications. It is impossible, however, to maintain social distancing laws between vet nurses and vets!
As vets we are well versed in regular hand sanitising as we are often sticking our fingers or arms (gloved!) into animal orifices. The need for farm visits continues to maintain livestock health, meat and milk production. The hardest thing is the social distancing, both on farm and in the clinic. I had to put to sleep a beloved pet that I have known for about 10 years. Being unable to give the distraught owner a hug was so hard.
On the home front, it has been good having our 3 girls home for a short period, but the older 2 are now based in Melbourne. Sophie is home, doing her year 12 and that has its challenges! She is missing her friends in the boarding house, as she only has her boring parents to see. It was entertaining secretly listening to her violin lesson with her teacher, via video.
My mum, Rosie Creswell, is still in Rehab in Kew and contact has been very limited. She has been there since mid January, but is fortunately not lonely as she loves the staff- they are like an extended family. One of us visits her most days.
Farm work continues with extra hand washing, wiping down tractor cabins, and social distancing.
I have lots of meetings via Zoom and teleconference calls - bookgroup, NCN hospital board and vet courses/webinars/meetings. I admit I am getting very sick of screens...
What I miss most is my regular gym sessions at YMCA and my group bike rides with the local Giraffes... especially the coffee catchups! Thank goodness we can go outside to exercise. Gardening is very therapeutic too.
I hope restrictions ease soon so we can all catch up with our Rotary companions, friends, colleagues, and family in person. I am in regular contact with Tinja and she is having a wonderful time at the Jacksons and coping with the restrictions (no socialisation and safari cancelled) very positively and maturely. She is unsure when she will be able to head back to Finland, but her parents are very happy that she is here.
Stay safe and well.
 
 
 
DROUGHT RELIEF PROGRAM
 

Letter from President Lorraine to Nth Balwyn Club.

Thank you so much for obtaining the hair products and organising to deliver them to us last Thursday. We are astounded by the amount you sent and know they will be greatly appreciated by the recipients. They were certainly well received by staff at each of the schools.  

 We had a very busy day on Friday, delivering all the boxes to a number of different places. 

*  We gave 10 boxes of each type to the secondary school; they are preparing packs to send to families and the hair shampoo, etc can be included in them.

*  Eight boxes of each type went to the catholic primary school; they will be given to school families in need.

*  We made up 80 gift bags, each containing a shampoo, conditioner and hairspray, for the primary school - they will add to them for Mother's Day if possible.  

    Otherwise they will give them out when the students return to school. We also gave the primary school eight boxes of each product for distribution.

*  All the remaining boxes were given to the Community House. The products will be distributed to families in need through the House, the Learning Centre 

    and from the home of one of the coordinators. 

 
Numurkah Secondary College
Gift Bags
St Josephs Primary School
 
 
ZOOM MEETINGS
President Elect Jennifer Rodger scheduled a Zoom Meeting for the incoming Board on Saturday.
Productive discussion and planning for the club during and after restrictions in place.
CLUB ZOOM MEETING
 
President Lorraine scheduled a club meeting for Monday 4th May 2020.
The meeting had 20 participants with Lorraine calling on each participant for comments.
Ian Routley advised the Art Show Banner across the Melville Street bridge had been removed and requested a letter of thanks be written to Golly Keane.
Lorraine reported 200 scrub caps had been made.
A.G. Chris gave a full report.
D9790 Zoom COM   Mtg  May 3rd 2020
Thank all clubs in  our cluster as all Dues have been paid.
DG still looking at alternatives for Orange Sky Laundry Partners Project  - discussions with Beyond Housing which operates throughout the D9790
District 9790 successfully applied for, and received, $137,500 from the RAWCS National Bushfire Appeal. As part of the process we opened up a RABS D9790 Bushfire Recovery Account which means we can now receive donations and provide tax deductions as a District.
Discussion about this year’s debate – I am to contact school in regards to possibility of Zoom Debate.
Zoom District Assembly -  there will a Secretary/Treasurers Session as well -  this Sunday Session is Youth so keep an eye out for invite.
Bushfire Relief Continues – Clubs being connected directly to projects & sharing costs of Projects.
D9800 as bought 15 containers D9790 has paid $500 each for containers.  Additional request for containers 35 requested from property owners.  – scope there if Clubs wish to assist.
Community
Have been 31 Clubs participate in Bowel Scan – program postponed due to Covid 19
Police Awards – considering making it District wide not just Victoria which effects our Cluster.
International
AquaBox  RC of Eltham Project has be shut down, not being support by donations from Clubs sadly as need continues.
RAM South Region  End Malaria focusing on regions  our area  of focus  Vanuatu
Imaging
Clubs again asked to update the logos' on letter head, websites, Facebook pages , old Park signs if they need replacing /painting.
Foundations
If Clubs intend on making donations this year ( goals ) suggested they be done now to be included in this Rotary year to benefit the District  Clubs ‘s opportunity for future grants.   Need to be in before.  May 31 or won’t be recognized in this rotary year.
Club Virtual Meetings
Opportunity for Scatter meeting,
Overseas guest speakers.   Belvoir- Wodonga has booked PRIP Ian Riseley  & RI Pres Mark Maloney , links available for members to join in.
If no speaker  - TED talks an option. 
Clubs busy support Foodbank & St. Vinnies doing deliveries to vulnerable elderly residents .
Essendon did a virtual Art Show  very success & E-Club doing a virtual raffle  - thinking outside the square
International Convention will be on – line   keep eye out for emails.
District Bylaw  Resolutions  need to be signed of as were unable to do at District Conference.
Email will be coming to  Club Pres & Sec.   around May 4th, voting will be from May6th & is to be completed by May 13th.  Assume Pres. Will be voting unless notified by Club’s that someone else is voting.  For larger Clubs that have two  votes, notification  to District will have to be given as to who is voting on behalf of Club.
Finance Report  There will be a reduction in membership fee of $25 – a one off reduction, it is suggested this reduction is passed on to members by Clubs or members could as a suggestion pass refunded $25 on to Foundation.
DGE Bruce’s Draft Budget was passed.  Thank you to Clubs for supporting this first attempt to use a Survey Monkey application to complete this task.  It’s a new world we are trying to navigate.
 
RDU  there will be an electronic version of the magazine available – there is a cost savings for Clubs , which is to be passed on to members ( membership reduction).  It is suggested all members nominated to get electronic version but if choice to have paper based , they can go on line and alter themselves or ask assistance to .  Choice of Magazines is RDU  Rotary Down Under   or Rotarian
 
Going Forward  ,  Clubs can be thinking about Changeovers, again these can be on line, inductions are happening on line , so this also an options for Changeovers if it comes to that.
Also as I hope to be attending meetings via Zoom , I would also like to bring all Incoming Group 8 Ag Martin Wilmshurst from the Rotary Club of Deniliquin.    Or there  is also an options to have a Zoom Incoming Pres. & committee Zoom mtg with me , to introduce Martin if that is preferable .
 
 
To finish, and hopefully bring a smile to your face....
 
Subject: Fw: Fwd: A little shelter at home humour.

2019: Stay away from negative people.
 
2020: Stay away from positive people.
 
The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!
 
You think it’s bad now? In 20 years our country will be run by people home schooled by day drinkers…
 
This virus has done what no woman had been able to do…cancel all sports, shut down all bars, and keep men at home!!!
 
Do not call the police on suspicious people in your neighborhood! Those are your neighbors without makeup and hair extensions!
 
Day 7 at home and the dog is looking at me like, “See? This is why I chew the furniture!”
 
Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands???
 
I never thought the comment “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6 foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!
 
Me: Alexa what’s the weather this weekend?     Alexa: It doesn’t matter – you’re not going anywhere.
 
When this is over…what meeting do I attend first…Weight Watchers or AA?
 
Quarantine has turned us into dogs. We roam the house all day looking for food. We are told “no” if we get too close to strangers. And we get really excited about car rides.
 
Courtesy Phil Seager.