Apr 13, 2018 (Apr 09, 2018)

Dear Club Members and Friends,

I think everybody appreciated our speaker last Friday. She addressed two interesting subjects, connected through her mother. I particularly was interested in hearing a perspective on Kindertransport which took us beyond celebrating the rescuing of many children from the Nazis. Once she talked about those children who had difficult experiences, it was obvious that this would have been the case, but I hadn’t encountered this perspective before. Thanks to Annette for connecting us with Janet Merkur.

And congratulations to Pat and Annette for putting together such an attractive booklet on our Tree of Joy. I think it will impress the Rotary District person assessing community projects. But it was also good for us to see it, and it will be useful to the member who takes over from Pat one day (not soon, I hope).

Kind regards

Brian Powell

President 2017-18

Guest speaker, Janet Merkur Chairperson of the Australian Kindertransport Association.

Update from Exchange Student Josh in Finland

Places of interest visited

I have been to so many interesting places over the course of this month. The most major one being Åland, which is a group of islands off the coast of Finland. I went with friends from school (Mathilda, Mauritz and Linnea), and we explored these lovely islands over the course of a weekend. On the first day we went and had a look around the small capital of Marieham, and then went to my friends parents house, who were very kind to host me for the weekend. That night we had a very nice party and met some friends of Mathilda’s from Åland.

The next day we went to some more historical areas of the island. We went to an old castle called Kastelholm that was from the 14^th century. We next went to a Russian fortress that was meant to stop invasions from the north, but the invasion came from the south and it was destroyed. After that we went for a swim at the local swimming pool, which was quite fun. After that we went for pizza at a local joint, and I had a taco pizza, which was oddly very delicious. The next day we went on a ferry back home.

This month I have been spending a lot of time with friends, going to the movies, and just generally hanging out. I’m getting fairly close with them and it was so nice of them to invite me on their trip to Åland.

I have progressed a lot with my language this month, which means that I am enjoying school so much more. I am understanding a lot more and that makes interacting really fun.

The most exciting planned trip that is coming up is the Rotary trip to Russia this coming month. We are going to St. Petersburg for about a week, where we will experience all of the amazing sights, go shopping and have heaps of fun.

Special Visitor, Rotarian Laura from USA

On Friday 6 April we welcomed Laura from the Rotary Club of Circleville Sunrise Ohio to our Breakfast meeting. Laura's son is currently studying Robotics at University in Sydney.

ROMAC Australia and New Zealand 30th Anniversary Dinner

On Friday evening, 16 March, 160 guests from throughout Australia and New Zealand gathered at NSW Parliament House in Sydney to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ROMAC and its achievement of providing life saving and life enhancing surgery to over 500 children from island communities of the Southwest Pacific.

Highlights of the night included a wonderful welcome speech from ROMAC Chair Rob Wilkinson, an inspirational presentation from Rotary International President Ian Riseley, a warm and generous speech from our Parliamentary Host Rotarian Leslie Williams MP, and a highly entertaining keynote address from the CEO of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Dr Michael Brydon. Another highlight of the evening was an interview with a former ROMAC patient Rosie Lotawa.

Please support the work of ROMAC. 100% of your contribution supports our patients. Follow this link for more information.

https://www.romac.org.au/donate/

ROMAC Chair Rob Wilkinson

Rotary International President Ian Riseley

Members of the Rotary Club of North Ryde Pam Wood, Garry Maloney,

Victoria Crawford, Rob Wilkinson, Liane Corbett, Mandy Van and Ian Crawford

For more photos see Photo Albums.

District Assembly 29 April 2018

2018-19 Board Members, please be aware of the following 2018-19 District training:

District Assembly

Sunday 29 April 2018

The Kings School

Pennant Hills Road, Parramatta

It will begin with registrations at 8.30am and formal start at 9.00am, finishing at 4.30pm.

The training content will be informative and entertaining.

It is a Rotary International requirement that each club is represented at PETS and District Assembly.

REGISTRATIONS CLOSE ON 20 APRIL - PLEASE REGISTER ASAP

Rotary On the Move 2018

Please click HERE to view - download the ‘Rotary On The Move’ Newsletter for April 2018. Please feel free to share and send us your great membership stories.

RI Director's April e News

Please find a link to the April Edition of the RI Director's eNews.

District Conference 2019

Rotarians Invited to Australian and New Zealand Conference

The Conference (formerly the Institute) will be held in Hobart on 14 – 16 September 2018 and Rotary International Director Noel Trevaskis invites all Rotarians to join us for this event. There will be a number of interesting presenters covering Rotary projects and issues of interest together with a variety of breakout sessions. What better way to keep up-to-date and enjoy mixing with Rotarians from all Australian states and the North and South Islands of New Zealand as well as visiting some of the many attractions on offer.

Further details can be found on the Conference website http://www.rotaryinstitute.org.au/ and additional information is available from the contacts listed on the site.

And there is more! Rotaractors can attend the conference at a reduced fee and participants in the Youth Exchange Program in 2018-19 or in the past 5 years can attend with no fee to pay. We know of several Rotarians who intend to holiday in Tasmania in conjunction with the Conference – why not you? Why not assist Rotaractors and Youth Exchange participants/alumni to join you?

Regards

Peter Murfett

Co-Chair

Australia and New Zealand Rotary Conference 2018

Club Meeting

Apr 13, 2018
7:15 AM – 8:15 AM

Club Meeting

Apr 20, 2018
7:15 AM – 8:15 AM

Board Meeting

Apr 27, 2018
7:15 AM – 8:45 AM

Social Night

Apr 27, 2018
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

District Assembly

Apr 29, 2018
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Apr 20, 2018

Samantha Buick

My Exchange Year in Sweden

View entire list

Member Birthdays

Nadia Al Adawy

April 29

If you don't like change why leave it in your local cafe's tip jar?

Our website home page features our current Club Executive and Projects. Please deposit funds to: Rotary Club of North Ryde Inc, Bendigo Bank, North Ryde BSB: 633108 Acct: 126363670.