Dear members and friends of the Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour,
It’s hard to believe it, but we’re almost out of the woods. Before we know it we’ll be able to see each in three dimensions and be able to talk to each other without first checking if we’re on mute! I can’t wait.
Like all things, the changing lock-down conditions will mean that the Club needs to change its way of operating. Though we’re not there yet, this seemed like the best time to talk about our post-lockdown plans. They are as follows:
- Morning meetings will continue as normal, we will meet physically once a month as soon as conditions allow.
- From October, evening meetings will revert to being twice-monthly (as opposed to weekly) and will occur on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month (the weeks where we don’t have morning meetings).
The other significant change we’re making is the introduction of Committees and Working-Groups. This is exciting new development in the Club which will allow members to be more involved in the “behind-the-scenes” of the Club, and help ensure that out Club remains open, vibrant and accessible. More details on that are in the news section of this edition.
Upcoming Events
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Evening Meeting – 30/9/2021: New Rotary Platform September 30, 2021 at 6:30 pm |
Our evening meetings are used to discuss both our upcoming events and broader world issues. They have a focus on work-shops and project discussion, and are geared to be enjoyed after a hard day of work. This week, we will be taking a deep-dive look into Darlings member Abel Barry’s new Rotary platform idea, discussing the proposed functionality and how it can be built and maintained.
For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/evening-meeting-30-9-2021/
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Evening Meeting – 7/10/2021: Social Media Strategy October 7, 2021 at 6:30 pm |
Our evening meetings are used to discuss both our upcoming events and broader world issues. This week, we will be taking note of the Club’s various media presences, and discussing a sustainable and effective content strategy for each.
For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/evening-meeting-7-10-2021/
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Digital Club Meeting – 13/10/2021 October 13, 2021 at 7:30 am |
Our regular club meetings are used to discuss our upcoming events, ongoing projects and recent news. If you are looking to give something back to the community, to develop professionally, to help steer exciting projects, or are just interested in making new friends, you are very welcome to attend our meeting.
For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/club-meeting-13-10-2021/
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Board Meeting – 20/10/2021 October 20, 2021 at 6:30 pm |
The Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour is engaged in several different projects. Whether it’s working within our local community, advancing international understanding and providing humanitarian aid, providing for the development and advancement of our members or fostering new friendships, our Club strives to always put its hands to something useful. Board meetings allow for the Club’s leadership to discuss plans, co-ordinate on strategies and address Club issues. They allow the Club’s leadership a chance to discuss the our upcoming events and projects, and help ensure that we remain vibrant and cohesive. If you would like to sink your teeth into the administration behind our Club, you are very welcome to attend our board meetings.
For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/board-meeting-20-10-2021/
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Evening Meeting – 21/10/2021 October 21, 2021 at 6:30 pm |
Our evening meetings are used to discuss both our upcoming events and broader world issues. They have a focus on work-shops and project discussion, and are geared to be enjoyed after a hard day of work. If you are passionate about improving your world and local community, making new friends and developing new skills and are excited to attack new challenges, then this is the meeting for you.
For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/evening-meeting-21-10-2021/
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Digital Club Meeting – 27/10/2021: Vimla Hayman & Interplast October 27, 2021 at 7:30 am |
Our digital club meetings are a great opportunity to discuss our upcoming events, ongoing projects and recent news from the comfort of your home office. This week, we’ll be joined by Rotarian Vimla Hayman to speak about Interplast, a Rotary program that sends surgeons and health professionals overseas to carry out surgery on some of the world’s poorest people. Interplast also supports doctors from developing countries to come to Australia to complete part of their training so that they learn latest skills so they can work efficiently in their own countries.
For more information, or to get involved, visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/digital-club-meeting-27-10-2021/
Recent News
Using Kiva to Help Underserved Communities Thrive
“Lifting one to lift many” is the sentiment behind the Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour’s investment in Kiva loans. Kiva is a not-for-profit organisation facilitating loans to low-income entrepreneurs and students in 77 countries.
In 2011, Sydney City Rotaract club began a Kiva account, and this was transferred to the Darlings in 2020. Over the last 10 years, we have made approximately $12,000 in loans, supporting over $76,000 in loans to people around the world. This puts us in the top 1% of lenders worldwide. Mel Lane, former President of the Darlings, recently presented to members on the impact and achievements of the Kiva loan system and showed the impact of our work there, and her passion for the cause.
The Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour has a well-earned reputation for punching above it’s weight for the size, scale and range of its projects. In order to ensure that our Club is open, vibrant and engaged, we will be introducing Committees and Working Groups. Committees will sit underneath our existing Director structure, and be involved in the work of that portfolio. Working Groups will exist on temporary basis to support projects.
Both will meet physically or virtually as required, and otherwise adopt communication and work structures as needed by the group. If you would be to involved in either of the groups listed above, please email info@rotarydarlingharbour.org.au for more details.
The Darlings played their own small part in our recovery from the Black Summer bushfires this in June, travelling to Milton to help their Rotary Club plant new trees to replace some of the ones that had been lost in the fires.
As of this week, our District Governor has sent us evidence that one of our saplings planted on his property is going strong and rising from the ashes of those horrible days. The Environment is now one of Rotary’s areas of focus, and tree-planting will be a regular activity that the Darlings are engaged in. The photo of this young sapling should spur us on in planting new trees that our descendants will enjoy the shade of.
Final Thoughts
The iconic stone heads protruding from the ground on Easter Island are familiar to most, but many don’t realize what lies beneath the surface. In the ’10s, archaeologists studying the hundreds of stone statues on the Pacific Island excavated two of the figures, revealing full torsos, which measure as high as 33 feet.
Well, that’s it from me. Don’t forget that our next meeting is scheduled for 6.30PM on Thursday the 30th of September, taking place online. For more information, including how to access the meeting remotely, please visit https://rotarydarlingharbour.org.au/events/evening-meeting-30-9-2021/
Until next week,
Drew Sturgiss
President
Rotary Club of Sydney Darling Harbour