Hello everyone – great to see a good turnout of Rotarians and partners - Well it has been a year not without challenges – I have been to three separate school prize givings this week and all Principals have said that this year has been the most challenging ever but the staff, students and parents have pulled out all stops and the end of year achievements have shown that we can succeed through adversity. This has been the same for Rotary and our club is no exception. We have found alternative ways of meeting, engaging and continuing our service to the community – although perhaps not to the same extent as we have been accustomed, with many projects either cancelled or postponed.
I would like to congratulate you all for your stick-a-bility in attending meetings, volunteering for service projects and the hard work put in to make Bookarama (our first major fundraiser for the year) the huge success it was. With the Garden Festival put on hold until next year, the Charity Dinner is our next major event where we have the opportunity to raise significant funds. When you look at the number of activities we have already held we certainly have continued to contribute significantly in a variety of ways.
We’ve had some very good speakers and vocational visits and an opportunity to host two neighbouring Rotary Clubs. I would like to thank all those who have put their hands up to lead various projects or committees – I applaud your willingness and energy. I believe the club is showing that it is truly committed to the Rotary vision and adheres to the four way test.
I also believe holding committee meetings on club nights has been a success and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to be involved and be kept informed. Thank you to the Board for their support and leadership over the last six months. I would also like to extend sincere appreciation to all for your personal support during a difficult time.
This year has certainly been a challenge but I believe we are a stronger club because of it – we have cared for each other.
Our first get together is the social bowls on 21 January and we’ll send out a prior notice to advise of details. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and sharing this special time with your families. I also extend greetings for a happy New Year. Travel safely and I look forward to meeting up again as we begin another year of service
Meeting Notes 10 December 2020
The Christmas party in Ian and Liz Grant’s beautiful garden managed to dodge the weather bullet – after a day of uncertainty, we were blessed with a glorious evening.
The occasion was well attended by members, partners and guests, and Santa, resplendent in a very up-market sled, was his beneficent self, distributing gifts to all.
The caterers did us proud – an excellent repast - the company was top shelf, and all in all, it was a great evening to celebrate the festive season.
Our thanks go to the Grants and their assistants for making it a wonderful evening of fellowship and good spirits.
Luca Macrides speech
1. Since the beginning, humans have sought ways to escape and defy their life worries, whether that be stress, anxiety, depression, fear. In early times it may have been doing art on the walls of caves, and from there came arena battles, plays, pubs productions, books, TV and now technology.
2 In this speech, we will explore and cross all the facts and figures, all the ways technology leads, changes, ascends and most of all the way it can alter and influence us as a people and us as a world.
3 Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat These are all sites commonly used, sites that make us as people lazy, but they all have one evident connection, they all have the ability to manipulate and create a false world in your mind, An environment that is absolute and happy.
4 It's the perfect way to distract yourself, the fact that people post this artificial self, The fact is that people live for this artificial self, and not what is living for what's really going on in their lives. The thing is, technology can be used as a way to escape. But my argument is that you have all these tools, all these websites at your disposal, and what are you doing?
5 You're wasting our time and energy doing Tik Tok dances to become all internet famous but you should probably give up now because the chances of that happening… well pigs might fly.
6 I think technology is used for the wrong reasons and the sad thing is people model the behaviour on these platforms like a flock of sheep. If you put half the time and effort you put into our virtual selves into our real selves you could make our lives outside of technology just as satisfactory?
7 But in what ways could we use social media to endeavour and shape the world into a more healthy and whole place. you all know the answer to that. It would mean each and every one of us would have to take responsibility for what’s really going on in this world.
8 Things like war, famine, COVID-19 and global warming are real threats to our civilisation. Social media is powerful and we should be thinking about how we can use it to help those who need help.
