I'm thrilled to announce that our Rotary Club of Sydney has been honored with a Citation from Rotary International for our exceptional efforts during the 2022/2023 year. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our club. It highlights our unwavering commitment to Rotary's mission and the positive impact we've made in our community.

 

Our Zone is currently embarking on an exciting journey with the Regionalisation Pilot. The Regionalisation steering committee is actively seeking Expressions of Interest for the 1st Regional Council. The goal is to streamline Rotary's resource allocation and flatten the organisational structure. While Districts will continue to operate during this pilot phase, we are paving the way for Regional Councils to eventually replace them. These councils will include key positions like the Chair, Chair-Elect, and leads in areas such as Service Projects, Public Image, Membership, Learning and Development, Major Fundraising, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  As a club of influence in this Region and Zone I encourage members to consider nomination for the Regional Council Positions. 

 

It's my pleasure to introduce Mario Cesar de Camargo, who has been announced as the Rotary International President Nominee. Hailing from Brazil, Mario will lead Rotary during the 2025-2026 year. His dedication to Rotary's mission and vision promises to bring new perspectives and energy to our global community.

 

On August 18th, we had a productive meeting with Zone 8 leaders, including Directors Grace Ramenez, Mark Anderson, and Anka Timm. We explored various topics, such as the possibility of the Rotary Club of Sydney having representation on the Regional Council. Additionally, we discussed exciting future projects, and Foundation grants applications.

 

 

Throughout July and August we made significant strides in executing our 23/24 Operational Plan. We successfully established a Finance, Audit, Investment, and Risk Committee, refined our accounts payable process, and evaluated our investment strategy. We've also made progress in creating position-based email accounts and developing a diverse events calendar.

 

Our club experienced increased participation in team meetings during July and August including Promoting Youth, Service and Awards, Climate Action Group and Peacebuilding group. These meetings have facilitated better communication and kept members informed about our program areas. I encourage all members to join the team meetings which are the engine rooms of our operations. 

 

Our events calendar for the 23/24 year is growing steadily. We are committed diversifying our regular meetings with quality speakers and engaging activities which will enhance the club experience. 

We have some major events planned which are the events all members should attend these include:

Police Officer of the year awards

Rotary Club of Sydney Iftar Dinner

Rotary Club of Sydney Birthday Celebrations

 

 

During July and August, we ventured to new venues, Ridges Hotel and The York Club, offering buffet and finger food formats, respectively, to enhance our club experience. We are pleased to announce that our next meeting on September 19th will be held at Chifley Towers in a boardroom format. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue these explorations.

 

Our club received encouragement from the District Governor to apply for District Designated Fund grants in August. As Foundation Chair, I submitted two District Grant applications for Peace building projects by the RCS Peace Building group.

 

Discussions are underway to gauge interest in a follow-up project to Rotary Give Every Child a Future. The concept, tentatively titled Rotary Give Every Community a Future, has received positive initial feedback from various stakeholders. Our aim is to develop a concept suitable for a Program of Scale grant application in 2024.

 

Thank you for your continued dedication and support as members of the Rotary Club of Sydney. Together, we are making a positive impact on our community and the world. Stay tuned for more updates in the next edition of Rotary News!

 

Charles Allen President