Wonderful speaker last Thursday indeed – Andrea Barton, daughter of David Smyth, an eloquent and captivating story of the transition from Engineer to Author. Thanks Andrea and David. Also many thanks to PP Julie Avery for another splendid Sergeant's Session.
Rotary is very much on my mind at the moment as there are two Rotary events about to happen. First up is a Past President’s Dinner to be held this Tuesday with David Grodski chairing. The second is our District Conference in Bendigo, both different formats, but all about Rotary. David has asked each Past President two questions - one is what was the most difficult issue to handle in your year.? It will be really interesting to hear if the issues have changed over the years - I suspect people issues will figure strongly, however will the strategy issues be raised?. We shall see. The Conference will be all about Rotary - Clubs, projects, always a good refresh meeting wonderful Rotarians and hearing what they are doing in their Clubs and Communities.
The two events have made me reflect on what it is to be a good Rotarian and I decided to ask the question of good friend Chat GPT, and this is what he/she/it/them/they produced:
"A good Rotarian embodies the core values of Rotary International, including service, integrity, fellowship, diversity, and leadership. Service is at the heart of Rotary, and a good Rotarian is deeply committed to serving their community and making a positive impact in the world. Whether it is through local projects addressing issues like hunger, education, or healthcare, or initiatives promoting peace and understanding, a good Rotarian is dedicated to using their time, skills, and resources to benefit others. Integrity is another crucial trait, as Rotarians are expected to uphold high ethical standards in all their interactions, both within the organisation and beyond."
Furthermore, a good Rotarian fosters a spirit of fellowship within their club and the broader Rotary community. They value collaboration and teamwork, recognising that by working together, they can achieve far more than they could alone. Embracing diversity is also essential, as Rotary aims to bring together people from different backgrounds, cultures, and professions to exchange ideas and perspectives. Finally, a good Rotarian demonstrates leadership both within Rotary and in their everyday life, inspiring others to act and make a difference in the world. By embodying these qualities, a good Rotarian helps to fulfill Rotary's mission of advancing goodwill and peace through service.
Not bad for a first effort CT!!. Raises an interesting thought - what could our Club be if all of us fully embraced these values.
OK, enough philosophising. This week we have Mike Zervos as our guest speaker to talk about the important work undertaken by his Organisation and working with students (and others) to educate them on, and to stand up against prejudice, racism, and discrimination. Mike is a fellow Camino walker, and members who watch Channel 7 news may recognise his crime reporter daughter Cassie. He will be a great speaker.
Hope to see all of you there on Thursday.
