What a great presentation by Sharon Levingstone last Friday.  It was wonderful to hear about her Rotary exchange and how that gave her a foundation for pursuing a career in the travel and events industry.  After a stint in real estate which she enjoyed she is looking at opening her own events business.  We wish her well.  

It was really good to see Asim as well and to hear that he and Nadia are doing okay.  Julie had a pacemaker operation last week and is home and recovering.  We look forward to seeing her in the near future.  Barbara missed last week’s meeting but we do hope she too is improving each day.

We had a Fun Run meeting last Friday and everything is on track for 28 August.  I know you have all set aside the date.  Please continue to ask friends, family, colleagues etc to register using the website www.northrydefunrun.com.au.  We will of course need everybody to help set up, manage registrations, cook on the BBQ, marshalls for the race itself, pull down and a few jobs beforehand.  We have some offers of help from a couple of other Clubs, Rotaract  and a member of East Ryde Scouts so it is becoming a broader community event.  Quite a few of you are pounding the pavement delivering flyers and Rocky and Sandeep have put up the banners which look great.  If you need more flyers just ask Rocky.  

Annette has been doing a great job with sponsorship and we should have a good set of prizes.  Don’t forget that our next social night (Friday 26 August) will be a bit of a workathon as we gather at Terrie’s to run a production line filling our participant’s bags – and eat pizza or other tasty takeaway.  Bring something to drink and partners are most welcome.

Our last mental health seminar about depression in adolescence will have been and gone by the time you read this but with over 165 registrations we are hoping for a great success.

David Martin headed up a trivia night team last Saturday at the Rotaract trivia night.  There were 22 tables.  David’s team came second and the night raised around $4,600 so very successful.  Well done Rotaract!

District is running two Rotary Leadership Institute programmes at the District office in Thornleigh.  Each day starts at 8:30 am and finishes around 3:45 pm.  Members who have attended, both old and new, have found it to be a great programme.  There is no cost.  Courses 36 (Saturday) and 37 (Sundays) are open for registration.  RLI36 runs 20 August, 17 September and 1 October.  RLI37 runs 18 September, 9 October and 30 October.  Register at rli.rotarydistrict9685.org.au.

The Carols will be held on Ryde Common on Sunday 18 December.  We had the first planning meeting on Tuesday 9 August.  Please put the date aside as we will be working again with Macquarie Park and look forward to another successful event.  After the Fun Run we can sort out which specific jobs we can take on. 

The Board will meet on Friday 26 August at 7:15 at DLC and all members are welcome to attend.  If you are coming let me know so we can provide enough breakfast.
Have a good week.