Rotations September 30, 2014
Point to Ponder: If Australia is Down Under, are we Up Over? So anyway, President Sigur billabonged the meeting to order at 12:38. Music was led by the dulcet tones of Jim Clary as the assembly sang a couple of stanzas of “Waltzing Matilda” followed by a verse of “R-O-T-A-R-Y” and then the crowd pleaser “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.
President Sigur took point on the “Pledge of Allegiance” followed by Joe New providing a thanks filled prayer. Dr. Jim Baker compassionately presented the updates on our ailing colleagues. John Lynn is no longer ailing, but joins us today for lunch. Kellie Dickerson is recovering slowly. And Morgan Trimyer is not doing well. He is expected to be released to return home tomorrow.
Lisa Sands introduced Rotarians who brought guests. Irv Wells presented his guest, Molly Morneault, working as an intern with John Chittick, and Chuck Spence introduced Nelson Beale. Nelson’s great grandfather, W. McC. Paxton, was the president of this club in 1933 – 1934!
President Sigur reported that our participation in Rotary Day was an unqualified success, netting 580 pounds of food and $816 to help feed the homeless. Joanne Batson elaborated, announcing that we had provided over 3,000 meals, about 3 times the amount of any other Rotary club! Congratulations to all who participated.
The District Conference will be October 9 – 11 in Glen Allen, VA. The club will pay the registration fee for any member desiring to attend.
In the New You Can Use column – the ladies room is closed due to asbestos remediation and alternate is located in the Exhibition Hall.
Fines and Happy Bucks:
Cy Grandy and his wife just returned from 28 days in Eastern Europe, where they had a delightful time.
Sally Hartman had her picture in the St. Mary’s Home newsletter for winning a VW Jetta in their raffle.
Sharon Laderberg tells us this is the last week to sign up for the Race for the Cure. In Hampton Roads we are only able to fund about 40% of the mammograms requested by women who cannot afford them.
John Chittick announced that the DVD’s on the tables are of a recently produced documentary explaining what he does – he said something about sex and all the DVD’s suddenly were gone.
An out-take from Rocky 27, showing Bernie Cohen in boxing gloves was apparently used in a Fitness Together ad and Bernie was hit with the ‘Fame Tax’.
Linwood Beckner made a contribution in honor of guest Nelson Beale’s great grandfather and his affiliation with our club.
Susan Donn just returned from a 10 day cruise and is working up a proposal to turn Colonial Ave. into a Venetian canal.
Joann Batson, buying into Orange is the New Black, committed to wear orange for the entirety of National Hunger Month. Today is the last day of National Hunger Month. She seems happy about that.
Jim Clary paid the fine for a new ride, a 19’ sail boat, but only for the 2 wheels on the trailer.
Diane Wallach contributed out of gratitude for the opportunity to bring her children to Rotary day and have them witness the value of serving others.
Jim O’Brien made a contribution in honor of Fox carrying a show on the Hilly Waters Club.
Win Lewis is happy about his daughter getting her master’s degree because now he can play golf again at St. Andrews.
Please attribute all inaccuracies to poetic license and let’s move on.
President Sigur then introduced our Rotarian of the Day Win Lewis. Win Lewis proceeded to introduce our speaker, President Sigur, who led the group in a few rounds of Aussie Aussie Aussie Oye Oye Oye.
Sigur reported on her trip to the Rotary International Convention held in Sydney Australia the first 4 days of June, and shared the experience with the rest of us through the pictures she brought back. Thanks to the club for sending her, it was a tremendous experience. Since these conventions are planned 10 years out, they did not foresee that Sydney’s downtown would be torn down at the time of the convention, so the site was moved to the Olympic Park just outside of Sydney. Her quarters were Spartan, featuring a queen bed and a set of bunk beds. But it was clean and comfortable.
They lit the Olympic flame to welcome the Rotarians. The first day she enjoyed an hour long concert by a group called Human Nature. The second day she learned all about the good that Rotary does around the world. As part of the presentation, Tony Abbott, the PM of Australia, pledged $100 million (Aus.) to support Polio Plus, the Rotary drive to stamp out polio in the world.
The closing session featured the Ten Tenors and a transfer of leadership to the new Rotary International President.
The huge Billabong House of Friendship featured vendors of Rotary gear and knick knacks and live music from 10 to 6 each day. Sigur reports that Rotary boasts a number of affinity groups around everything from wine to Boy Scouts, all with representative booths in the Friendship House. On one of the evenings she attended Vivid Sydney, a downtown extravaganza that featured beautiful pictures projected on the Sydney Opera House.
After the conference, Sigur spent a little additional time as a tourist, visiting the Sydney zoo, which she reported was wonderful, and toured downtown Sydney in the rain. Flying to Melbourne, she felt her accommodations there were like the lap of luxury after the bunk beds. She spent most of her time visiting parks and gardens, traveled down the Great Ocean Road, visited the 12” Blue Penguins of Phillip Island and took tea at the Windsor Hotel.
She finished her trip with a visit to Christchurch, New Zealand, before returning the Up Over. In summary: It was fabulous!
This week the club is presenting the book Treasure Hunters to our school of the week, Oceanair Elementary School. The princely sum of $13 was won in the raffle by Dr. Baker who failed to find the Q of Spades. Table 9 was the only 100% table. And with another round of Aussie Aussie Aussie Oye Oye Oye, President Sigur billabonged us outta there about on time.
Good Day to you all, see you next week.