I'm looking forward to hearing how the speedway collection went last night. It would have been a perfect night for it.

I'm also looking forward to our follow up meeting after Darren Meakins shared how he has changed the outlook of the Scarborough club. Darren also invited us to attend their one-a-month Bringing People Together networking event which is on the 4th Thursday of each month. Unfortunately, I have prior engagements in February and March so won't be able to attend until April. I'll share full details when I have them from Darren.

A reminder that John is on roster for Bulletin Article/Photos and Harry is student host.

___________

Darren Meakins - Designing for Tomorrow

At meeting this week, Darren Meakins, the current President of the Rotary Club of Scarborough delivered a passionate and challenging presentation on the transition and growth of the Scarborough Club through an initiative titled “Designing for Tomorrow”.

 

The transition started with acknowledgement of the then current status; membership growth stagnant, resourcing No#1 issue with diminishing feet on the ground, apathy is winning …

 

Darren reflected that Rotary was founded on the core values of friendship, fellowship and a bond. Service projects are important outcomes, but they are just outcomes. We need to invest and pay more attention to what got us there in the first place. We need to look after the ‘root system’ and ‘trunk’ of the ‘tree’. There must be value for all members.

 

Darren noted Paul Harris, founder of Rotary, quote: ‘This is a changing world; we must be prepared to change with it. The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again.’  While not abandoning the traditional committee structure, the Club management point of view is now like a business, with focus categories: Operations, Membership and Marketing.

Operations. Meeting format changed with first meeting of the month a Club Day: Member bio, Rotary information, Club communication, Committee meetings.  

 

Two monthly meetings with guest speakers and also with focus on vocational visits. Fourth week of the month is an evening fellowship event at a prime location.

 

Membership. Value for members. Fellowship, friendship, mentoring, business networking. Celebrating own members and their achievements, as well as vocational colleagues, strategic partners and aid recipients. The Scarborough Club has had significant membership growth over the last year.

Marketing. What is your Brand? Tell stories. These are the very things that have kept you in Rotary that mean so much to you… share then. Build Corporate relationship. Darren showed that this is now proudly displayed on Club shirts with key brand messages.

 

It was a very informative morning, and Darren has invited us to visit the club and see how they run their meetings. See what we can do as Rotary Members that we cannot do as individuals.

 

If you missed last week's meeting or would like to refresh your memory, click here to view the presentation Darren gave the Scarborough Club and based the presentation he gave us on. 

___________

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

 

Jane and I attended the Mental Health First Aid course facilitated through the Maylands Rotary club. Among the attendees, there were 4 Rotarians.

 

Did you know, 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental health problem in any given year. This means it’s highly likely that we all have friends, family members or colleagues who have experienced or are experiencing a mental health problem – whether we know it or not.

 

The course is designed to equip participants to:

INTERVENE EARLY

Recognise the warning signs of mental health problems in other adults.

OFFER SUPPORT

Learn the skills to have an open, supportive conversation about mental health.

RESPOND IN A CRISIS

Respond across a range of crisis situations where an adult may be at risk of harm.

REDUCE STIGMA

Reduce stigma and increase support for adults experiencing and living with mental health problems.

 

Jane and I found the course very interesting and informative and feel we would be able to assist someone who may be experiencing a variety of mental health issues after completing it. Just understanding how to recognise the signs and know what questions to ask makes a big difference.

 

Darren Peterson, who ran the course, has offered to do a joint workshop with RC Joondalup (their president Darren Perera attended) if we are interested.

___________

 

WATCH THIS PAGE FOR BULB ORDER INFO - ORDER FORM WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

___________

____________