Presidential Prattlings

Posted by Gordon Cheyne 
on Apr 03, 2014
 

 

Tuesday’s Speaker Robin de Crespigny was well-received by her audience: her thought-provoking book “The People Smuggler” produced some feed-back from members: “Just a quick note to say what a great speaker Robin was today.  Really enjoyed having a thought provoking topic and presenter.”
Although I'm a card-carrying member of the Australian Skeptics, I bought a book for further information about Ali Al Jenabi’s  flight from Saddam Hussein's torture chambers, and his further trials and tribulations.  We wish Robin every success in her plans to have a movie produced on the subject.
 
Julie Walker of PaperCut Software joined us for lunch. Julie confesses to long-standing and fond ties with Rotary, having been lucky enough to be a Rotary exchange student in 1986 through the Rotary Club of Bayswater. She says it was a pivotal point in both her career and personal life choices. We hope Julie visits again soon.
 
Café International is always a fun evening, with a great show produced by the students at International House. Profits from their “Orient Express” this year will go towards “End Polio Now”.  I feel I deserve a night out after all that hard work at Romana: after Rotarians at Work, let’s have Rotarians at Play! Tell me ASAP if you wish to join us, as tickets usually go quickly.
 
15th April: do they call the day after Easter Monday “Easter Tuesday”?  In any case, if you are going to be away, please inform Noel Halford, so he can keep sweet with the caterers. We may have a less formal than usual meeting.
 
How do you like the new-look Bulletin?  Robert Ball has been upgrading to the latest version of ClubRunner, so we should have more functionality and fewer glitches. Check out changes to the website at www.hawthornrotary.org.au  Thanks Robert for all your efforts behind the scenes.
 
Next week's speakers are Bronwyn Stephens (RC Melbourne South) and Rithy Lay: we heard Bronwyn and Rithy speak at the District Conference, on their fantastic success with Volunteering in Cambodia. Chair:  Meredith Hayes
 
My thought for the week is from Russell Baker:
 “Inanimate objects can be classified scientifically into three major categories;
 those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost.”