Sergeant Ian introduced today’s chair Pam
Toast to Austrtalia
Pam introduced our guests, Stella - our guest speaker, and Ejike/nie -also known as Father Valentine
See the photos here
James delivered the President’s Report:
“how times have changed”
- Alan is doing well
- Trivia night - Deborah has two tables booked but payments need to be made
- Dave was asked to explain if he knew what ROMAC was yet??
- Changeover on 25th June – Jim to be the main star
- RYDA – tomorrow is Day Manager’s training day – Jim will be representing our Club
- Membership - Bob and James are likely members. Ejike/nie is to be inducted today
- Rotary on the Move – Zone eight Australia New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. In 2021 Rotary had 31,670 members in the zone -Situated in the South Pacific, the Zone includes Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu. (yes, I Googled that)
- 11 million people have fled Ukraine. The Rotary Foundation has raised $13.1 million. This includes deployment of Shelter Boxes
Richard asked James “Have you read my book?” –
“The end is near”
Q. Guess who I bumped into this morning when I was looking for my glasses.
Everybody
Everybody
As he put his car into reverse, he said “this takes me back“
International Toast was to the Rotary Club of Harare Central in Zimbabwe they meet at the Rotary Centre, were Charted in 197, and have projects including water, sanitation and repairing wheelchairs
James’ thought for the day:
(yes, had to look that one up too)
(yes, had to look that one up too)
What did Robert Putnam say about social capital?
Putnam, the Stanfield Professor of International Peace at Harvard, describes social capital as “connections among individuals—social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.” These connections can be embodied in organizations—churches, bowling leagues, reading groups,
Putnam, the Stanfield Professor of International Peace at Harvard, describes social capital as “connections among individuals—social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.” These connections can be embodied in organizations—churches, bowling leagues, reading groups,
James complimented our Secretary Sue - she does so much behind-the-scenes – but she must work on her emails “something about sing not sign"
The next item on the agenda was the induction of Father Valentine.
James welcomed Ejike/nie to the world of Rotary with its 1.2 million members in 35,000 Clubs.
Ejike/nie is from district 194 in Nigeria, and has been in Caloundra for six months. He is interested in community
Deborah introduced our guest speaker
Stella has a husband and four children, and came from Uruguay. She likes food apparently, and responded to Deborah’s “straight talking” “do you like Vegemite?” question.
Stella noted that she chose to not have a PowerPoint presentation
So what is culture?
Well you certainly miss it when it’s gone
One in five Australians were born in another country, and a quick hands up at showed that that was the case in this room. Australia is a very multicultural country, but…
Father Valentine “he wanted to belong”
in Sydney and Melbourne, migrants are welcome but on the Sunshine Coast they are less well supported.
Some migrants are coming to join partners – in July 2021 changes made this more difficult with both partners being required to speak fluent English. This is a “big filter”
Other migrants are skilled Visa holders and must be fluent in English, however it is not required for their dependents. They are required to settle in a regional area, but on the Sunshine Coast there are not necessarily the industries and jobs to suit them.
They have to deal with family issues - there is no Information Centre, for instance, where they can find out about schools for their children, how to get rental accommodation, social activities and the like
The Welcome House at Baringa Community Centre
= J. E. T. – Jobs Education Training.
Centrelink = no go - no entitlement for the first 4 years
New migrants from Afghanistan and Ukraine
Some migrants have come from Sydney and Melbourne for retirement living. In time it often occurs that the man dies and the woman is left without support.
Global Hub/Afternoon tea
On the Gold Coast there are 32 multicultural workers, However on the Sunshine Coast (which has half the population) there are three – work it out
A question from Jim – what to propose?
- Better conversations
- Home affairs paperwork is difficult
They often think that Visa = job, but no.
Migrants feel they are misunderstood
One Lebanese migrant described three attempts at a job application but received no reply, but when he arrived at the company as a delivery driver, he was offered a job when they met him face to face
Stuart noted STEPS work in the area
Australia’s population is shrinking and ageing, so skilled migration is high on the agenda – Stuart – AMEP stopped in Caloundra in 2021
Pam & James thanked Stella
Directors
Deborah - Change over – wants a list.
ROMAC Trivia Night.
Caloundra’s Biggest Morning Tea
ROMAC Trivia Night.
Caloundra’s Biggest Morning Tea
Pam discussed the postponed RUSCCF dinner – we will have to wait until at least August.
Richard - does anyone want a gas lift office chair? – Blue? (snapped up) - and he has a box of scalpels for Inner Wheel’s birthing kits
Sergeant Ian took the floor – also with no PowerPoint presentation
(Next week he’ll take the chairs and tables)
(Next week he’ll take the chairs and tables)
Toilet humour