Bulletin 17 August 2025 (Aug 17, 2025)

President`s Message

Ken Mirams gave us a great presentation last Wednesday. Compliance with important protection protocols is critical to our club, to Rotary and to all organisations in the profit and non-profit sectors. But compliance is really only the bare minimum, and I think it's a great opportunity to talk about ways we can communicate with people.

My own workplace, Parliament of Victoria, is doing a huge amount of work on making sure our services are accessible and ensuring that people have a positive experience when they visit for a tour, when they sit in on parliamentary debates or when they appear as witnesses during inquiry hearings.

We've put a new video up on our website explaining how somebody with a physical disability -- who might have trouble with those enormous stairs at the front of Parliament House -- would get to the precinct, what entrance they would use and what assistance they will receive when they get there.

A big part of making people feel comfortable is letting them know what's going on and what they can expect and encouraging them to ask questions, raise concerns and be involved in the process. We only know when somebody needs help or has a good idea when we hear about it, so let's all keep talking to each other inside and outside the club about what we're up to. Work on your elevator pitches for non-Rotarians, listen out for good ideas from your fellow club members and try to figure out how to make our projects easier to deliver and more effective -- that's my main goal for myself this year and I could sure use any help you have to offer.

What HAVE we been up to?
•    Bob W received his award from BOC this past Friday for all the work he's done over many years with Ryda. Thank you to all members who were there on the day or shared his beaming face on social media.
•    The Rombe Rooftop will be hosting the Donation Point for us over the Father's Day week thanks to a great meeting John Lynch had with co-owners Susei and Karen to talk about their business and our club.
•    Gabby's savvy negotiations with the Whitehorse Business Group means our club is able to sponsor the Retail Local Business category, which is a fantastic result to promote client-facing businesses in the Whitehorse LGA and continue our networking with the local community.

What's up next?
•    A chance to hear from our own Ian Armstrong this Wednesday, for a Rotarian Behind the Badge presentation, followed by an always-exciting board meeting.
•    Grandparents Club 2 social night at the Round for those who have or will buy tickets -- it's not too late -- or a refined, elegant but possibly less rowdy dinner the main restaurant at Bucatini for those who want to give live performance a miss.
•    As per my reminder last week, 31 August is a chance to participate in the awards ceremony for the Heathmont Jets. See Ian E if you need more details.

See you Wednesday!
Mike Finke