President Paul welcomed the visitors and guests to Todays Meeting, testing the memory of John Gray by inviting him to lead the Rotary Grace, and calling for all to toast the appropriate authorities.
There was a special mention for J Gray, and Paul anticipates that we will be regaled with tales from exotic places in due course.
The Luftwagga squadron are back from their Birdsville sortie, and speak only in general terms of the experience. Paul foreshadowed a program before Christmas to extract more!!!
We were invited to inspect the handmade jewellery that Delize Luc had brought along to the meeting, beaded by the girls being supported by Dr Luc's school.
Another top meeting! Thank you for your support. Have a great week.
Doug Sutton introduced our Guest Speaker. He has been involved heavily in the project since being requested to drive it by Marilyn Roberts, partner of PDG Gary Roberts around two years ago.
This project was supported by all six of the Wagga Wagga Rotary Clubs, with a total commitment of US$4000. Further support was provided by District 9700, and the Rotary Foundation, with the final result of US$35000 being sent to The Mission in Health Care and Development.
Dr. Luc Mulimbalimba Masururu, thats his full name, is travelling with his wife Delize. He has five children back in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
We heard from Luc about the colonial history of his country, and its neighbour, Republic of the Congo - room for confusion. Luc is a member of parliament, and tells of an attempted assassination, and not because he is a doctor.
Uvira is located on the Eastern border of the country, as far from Kinshasa as you can go. It is about a three hour flight, or if you choose to drive, should take about two months, as the roads tend to meander around lakes and rivers. Luc lives in Kinshasa, and has to travel to reach Bakavu and Uvira. The capital is urban, slick and western - the countryside by comparison is full of villages comprising groups of huts.
The DRC is rich in minerals, and this has caused a history of war in the country, most notably between 1994 and 2004, with over 5 million fatalities. This created much poverty, and set back development. There are no banks - livestock provide currency for trading, so a high priority for helping the villagers, especially the women into provide pigs, and instructions for animal husbandry.
We were told about fish farming, The Radio Station, Beading and Greeting Cards and Bicycles for women. There are so many avenues that are being exploited.
Luc spoke with conviction on the work that has been done, and what remains to be achieved.
Next Sprout and About Market 9th September OIC is now Neil Pinto.
Please check the roster and make sure your replacements are still available and advise Neil.
OIC:Neil Pinto OIC in place of Steve McCoy who is unavailable
Team: Tim McMullen, Paul Murray, Wal Paton, Jeremy Riethmuler, Bob Willis and Jonty Shuter are confirmed starters.
David Pyke:- has swapped with Pat Ingram
Darren Wallace:- had swapped with Neil Pinto who has stepped up to OIC so Darren's replacement is now Jim Gibson.
Mal Robertson :- has swapped with Frank Fuller.
James Ross :- has swapped with Michael Knight.
Rob Pearson :- has swapped with John Gray.
The Rotaract Ten Pin Bowling Challenge is to be held Saturday 23rd September. Teams of three are required. I will be calling for numbers next week. They are good fun nights and our Partners and children are welcome.
Next Board meeting is Monday 19th September, 5.30pm at The Commercial Club.
Greg Conkey was to provide this segment - he was prepared and motivated.
The topic was volunteering, and The Mayor can see great benefits for a community rich in volunteers.
People who volunteer can lose weight,rid their bloodstream of Cholesterol. improve their stamina, retain their memory, improve flexibility, escape depression, meet new people and develop new skills.
There was a sting in the tail, (Tale), with Greg announcing that he needed 100 men to volunteer for a photo shoot to publicise a campaign against domestic violence. Date and time to be advised, but possibly some sandwiches will bait the hook, on a warm morning within a month.
It must be Wheel Meal Deal season - two photos showed up on the Bulletin editors desk within minutes on Wednesday morning.
If new were to treat these to post match analysis - like AFL on Fox Football, The group at Tim and Naomi McMullen's are well into dessert, with the red wine depleted, the cheese and the port readied for consumption. Nobody is sitting up straight and the image is blurred.
At the Pintos, the red wine has just been poured. The main course - Curries - have just been plated, and the diners have more of a look of anticipation. It may seem that a younger Neil Pinto is seated at the back left of the group, but research shows that it is a different dentist.
John Gray, recently returned from Offshore travel, appeared to have little "dirt" on the Wollundry cohort. Must had time to do some reading - from his childhood, because he was quite familiar with the character, Dennis the Menace.
Among the targets associated with young Dennis were: Burmo, Rick P, Flynnie, Paul Murray, Jim Gibson, Tim McGillycuddy, Peter Clucas, Pat Ingram, David Pyke, Frank Fuller, David Hodge, Geoff Breust, Rob Nicholson, Michael Knight, Tim Barter, Mark Willis and Peter Crozier.
An envelope, forming part of an urban myth, and handed back and forth between new Popes and Rabbis has been opened, and "..............its an invoice"
Lost property from the Birdsville trip. Had their final flight in the R J Hall room.
PP Geoff Hamilton is dealing with serious Health Issues. The Bulletin Editor was intending to report on Peter Clucas' notes, but Geoff himself has the flow of information in hand. Here is a link to Geoff's blog:
We would like to borrow some laptops. We are planning on setting up a bank of computers to quickly and efficiently process all the riders for the Gears and Beers. We need approximately 10 laptops.
The laptops need to be running a version of Windows and have Excel software on them. Also a mouse would be good.
We only need them on Saturday and Sunday, however we would like to borrow them from Friday till Monday. If you would be willing to loan us your laptop, please call or email Paul Murray (Ph: 6928 5562 Mobile: 0408 285 562 email: grampamurray@gmail.com). We promise to be very careful with them, Many thanks.
Jeanne and Brent are delighted to announce they were wed on August 30 on the Banks of Baker Creek in Banff National Park.
Officiating was the Reverend Howard Thornton, Rector of St. Michael’s Anglican Church in Canmore. Audrey and John Third attended as witnesses and Brent’s Mother, Mary Pickard, who at 97 years - was a very special guest. Following the wedding, all enjoyed a reception dinner at the Baker Creek Bistro. Following the wedding, Jeanne and Brent travelled to the Copperpoint Resort in Radium Hot Springs for a couple of evenings.
We returned to our new residence in Canmore where we are continuing to settle in. Our new address is 219 – 155 Crossbow Place, Canmore, AB. T1W 3H6. Our email addresses and mobile phone coordinates remain unchanged.
We are looking forward to celebrating the occasion of our marriage with our children, their spouses and our grandchildren in Edmonton in October.
A punter was at Randwick playing the ponies and all but losing his shirt. He noticed a priest step out onto the track and blessed the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the race. Lo and behold, that horse - a very long shot - won the race. Next race, as the horses lined up, the priest stepped onto the track. Sure enough, he blessed one of the horses.
The punter made a beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse won. He collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see which horse the priest would bless next.
He bet big on it, and it won. As the races continued the priest kept blessing long shots, and each one ended up winning.
The punter was elated. He made a quick dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited for the priest's blessing that would tell him which horse to bet on.
True to his pattern, the priest stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag that was the longest shot of the day.
This time the priest blessed the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag. The punter knew he had a winner and bet every cent he owned on the old nag.
He watched dumbfounded as the old nag came in last. In a state of shock, he went to the track area where the priest was.
Confronting Him, he demanded, 'Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a mile. Now, thanks to you I've lost every cent of my savings!'
The priest nodded wisely and with sympathy. 'Son,' he said, 'that's the problem with you Protestants, you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing and last rites.'