1. science

27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
Important Dates
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Hat Night Dinner Taree on Manning club Saturday 28th February 2015
New England Tech Fest Armidale - 4th- 6th March 2015
District Conference Inverell 13-15th March 2015
RYLA - Yarrahapinni 21st-28th March 2015
Rotary Club of Uralla Art Show – 21st – 29th March 2015 Flyer attached to Illuminator email
RYAG Sheep - Walcha 25th- 29th March 2015 ENTRIES CLOSING 27 FEBRUARY 2015
Coffs Coast Science and Engineering Challenge – 31 March 2015
MUNA – Inverell 16-17th May 2015 (please note correct date, apologies from the Editor!!)
PETS – Tamworth 18th-19th April 2015
Trivia Night Rotary Club of Port Macquarie – 2 May 2015 6pm for 7pm Pt Macq Panthers
District Assembly – Port Macquarie 3rd May 2015
Casino Royale Ball - Rotary Club of Tamworth Sunrise – 23 May 2015 - more info to come
District Assembly – Gunnedah 24th May 2015
Rotary International Convention Sao Paulo Brazil - 6th-9th June 2015
District Changeover – Inverell Saturday 27 June 2015
Hat Day – all clubs – on or about Friday 9 October 2015
D G Jottings
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
Our District Conference is now only 2 weeks away with most of the finetuning and issues being addressed. Early bird
registrations have been streaming in from clubs across the district and will close on the 1st march when full
registration fee will apply. Thank you to the club members that have registered to date and booked their
accommodation for this great occasion. It is fantastic with over 340 people already booked in with our max of 450
candidates a reality.
INVERELL CONFERENCE 13th March to 15th March Inverell Town Hall
Most people to date have registered on line however you can download a form, fill it out and send it in for
registration purposes. Don’t miss out, book now to avoid disappointment that you were not at this great social
Rotary event.
We hope to see you there for a very social and hospitable weekend with great speakers and a lot of fun. Come along
and meet your old friends and those you didn’t know, especially if you are a first timer and have not attended
District conference before. And Max Walker as MC and speaker will keep you on your toes. Mike McQueen as our
keynote speaker is world acclaimed and I am sure you do not want to miss him as well as our other great speakers.
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
See you there.
DISTRICT AWARDS
It is almost deadline time for the receipt of the District Award nominations and I am happy to say we have received
quite a number to date which tells me there are many clubs out there that have done some terrific projects and are
proudly putting them forward for recognition. There is still time to put in an application for District Awards in
whatever area is relevant to you.
Detailed description of all the awards and a nomination form can also be downloaded from the District 9650
website .
ROTARYS 110th BIRTHDAY
During the last week Sue and I have attended a couple of celebrations for Rotarys 110th birthday. On
Sunday 22nd Feb at Pioneer Village , a group of about 65 people from 4 clubs came together for a wonderful
afternoon of socialising and games and a terrific time was had by all.
Then on Monday 23rd Feb ,we travelled to Gunnedah to be with the Gunnedah clubs to celebrate the same
event where MP George Souris and his wife Vassi were present and George was the keynote speaker . It also
was a very social and entertaining evening and was enjoyed by all.
On Sunday, 22nd February a 110th birthday party for Rotary International was held at the Pioneer Village in Inverell.
Approximately 60 people attended from areas such as Walcha, Warialda and Inverell on what turned out to be a
very hot and steamy day. The party was held under the direction of District Governor, Greg Moran, in a relaxed and
fun atmosphere and dress code of “back to the old days”. There were virtually no speeches just lunch, a birthday
cake to cut, a few drinks and a whole lot of fellowship. It was definitely how Rotary should be on occasions.
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
Members of the Inverell, Inverell East, Warialda and Walcha Rotary clubs at Pioneer Village Inverell enjoying the
110th celebration.
Congratulations to all the clubs and clusters that have undertaken to show the movie “”Second Best Exotic
Marigold Hotel””. It is really good to see clubs coming together for this event and raising funds for Polio Plus
and having the additional sponsorship from Bill Gates Foundation. Well done to all.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
District Youth and Vocational programs highlighted in the Upcoming dates are RYLA and MUNA.
Both of these programs need the support and assistance of all the clubs across the District. The
coordinators and committees for these events would dearly like clubs to approach individuals from within
your communities who would benefit from RYLA and have applications submitted for this life changing
program. Please get behind RYLA and ensure that we have representation from across the district as we
did at last years successful event.
Also MUNA being held on 16th and 17th May needs club assistance. Please approach your local High
Schools and speak to the head teacher to ensure the school is well aware of this event in May so they can
program it in and organise students to attend.
Greg
Rotary Research Update
To everyone who participated in a survey in 2014, thank you! Your participation in surveys is important: Below,
please see highlights of 2014 survey results and announcements of upcoming 2015 surveys.
Upcoming 2015 Surveys
March Assessment of Services Provided by Rotary's Headquarters and Regional Offices
Member dues to Rotary International (RI) fund many services provided by Rotary's headquarters in
Evanston/Chicago, IL, USA and official regional offices around the world. This survey asks whether Rotary is
providing the right services in the right places to serve members in the right way. A random sample of Rotarians
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
and Rotaractors will be invited to participate in this survey.
April RI Strategic Measures: Membership Feedback Survey
In October 2014, Rotary's Board of Directors implemented comprehensive metrics to regularly measure progress
towards the goals of the RI Strategic Plan. As part of this ongoing commitment to measure progress, a random
selection of members around the world will receive a survey that asks about satisfaction with various aspects of
their club and Rotary as a whole.
June – July 2015 São Paulo Convention / Pre-Convention Evaluation
This survey will ask attendees about their experiences at the 2015 Convention and/or Pre-Convention in Sao
Paulo. This survey will be emailed to attendees after the convention ends.
Highlights of 2014 Results
Rotary Strategic Plan Survey
In March 2014, over 10,000 Rotarians provided their feedback on a variety of Rotary strategic planning
topics. Results indicate that Rotarians agree with the goals and priorities of the RI strategic plan, are proud to be
members of Rotary and proud of Rotary's efforts to end polio. Areas of opportunity include concerns about
membership growth/decline, membership diversity, awareness of new online tools, and frustration with "oldfashioned" processes and bureaucracy. The full Strategic Plan Survey Results report can be read on Rotary.org.
Club Invoicing Survey
In May 2014, Rotary conducted a survey of 18,000 club officers on their experiences and perceptions of the new
membership reporting and dues payment processes. 87% were in favor of the changes, and nearly half of all
respondents said the new process would have no impact on their current reporting or dues payment process. 88%
anticipated no challenges in reporting their membership changes within 30 days. The new process began in January
2015. Questions about this research or about the new club invoicing and membership reporting process can be
directed to [email protected].
Survey of Rotary Alumni
In July 2014, RI's Alumni Relations team surveyed former Rotary program participants, current Rotaractors, and
former Rotaract club members. The objective was to collect information about the quality of alumni engagement
with Rotary and alumni perceptions of Rotary. The survey revealed that 43% of alumni respondents were contacted
by a Rotarian in the past year. However, 34% of respondents said they were "not sure" if they wanted to join a
Rotary/Rotaract club. 11% of respondents said they were "not at all" interested in joining Rotary. These and other
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
findings from the survey will be used to improve and expand Rotary's engagement strategies with alumni.
Rotary.org and Online Tools
To better understand barriers to using Rotary's website (Rotary.org), Rotary held focus groups at the 2014
Convention and conducted a survey in July 2014. A total of 4,388 Rotarians and Rotaractors from 130 countries
participated in the survey. When asked to "help Rotary prioritize areas for improvement," respondents viewed the
following as most important to do:
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Increase awareness of the content and activities that can be completed on Rotary.org
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Improve the search function and make it easier to find content on the website
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Communicate more about why to use Rotary.org
The survey also gathered feedback and recommendations for improvement for each of Rotary.org's online
tools (My Rotary, Rotary Club Central, Online Grants Application, Rotary Showcase, etc.) The findings from
the research are being used to improve the website and online tools.
Rotary Research Update is sent to district governors, governors-elect, assistant governors, Rotary coordinators,
Rotary public image coordinators, regional Rotary Foundation coordinators, and all assistant coordinators. To thank
respondents for their participation in surveys in 2014 and announce upcoming surveys, this edition of the Rotary
Research Update has also been sent to club officers and members who received a survey invitation in 2014. If you
have questions about this update or Rotary research initiatives, please ask us at [email protected].
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
NYSF Student report
Stuart Bayley NYSF Rotary District Chair 9650
Dear Mr Bayley,
From the 5th – 17th January 2015, I was privileged to attend Session A of the National Youth Science Forum held in
Canberra at the Australian National University.
It was my local Rotary Club (Boggabri) who first enquired whether I would be interested in applying to the NYSF.
Recalling presentations I had heard at school in my junior (secondary) years from girls who had previously attended,
I remembered thinking that it was something I would like to do. With keen recommendation from girls who
attended in 2014 and my science department I decided to apply. Firstly, I attended a meeting and short interview
with my local club who kindly agreed to endorse my application. My district interview was a more rigorous process,
including 4 interviews covering science, general knowledge and Rotary focused questions as well as a prepared and
semi-impromptu speech. I was, therefore, very excited to receive a phone call the following week informing me I
had been successful in my application and that I would be attending the NYSF in January! Besides successfully being
selected for the program, the application process itself was an immensely beneficial experience which offered me
the opportunity to practice my speaking, communication and interview skills.
My NYSF experience began with an early morning start to catch the North Coach (from Brisbane) at Coonabarabran
and a long bus ride to Canberra with leaky air conditioning vents. Upon arriving at Burgmann College at ANU we
were greeted by a group of energetic, screaming staffies as we stepped off the bus. For me, this was a whirlwind of
excitement and anticipation amid many new strangers amongst whom I would form some great friends.
I was part of the plant and animal biology group called
‘Darwin’. With 13 other likeminded students with interests in
plants and/or animals, I was given the opportunity to visit the
ANU zoology lab, Bungendore Veterinary Clinic, the Royal
Australian Botanical Gardens, a free range chicken farm, the
CSIRO’s Australian National Wildlife and Insect collections and
conduct field work with the ANU Forestry Department.
Additionally, we attended multiple seminars, debates and
lectures covering diverse aspects of science, including our
opening seminar titled “Are bees conscious?”, ethical debates
on patents and even a video conference with CERN. During
these visits and lectures I was privileged to hear from many
researchers and professors who spoke on their research or
work, highlighting the diversity of the science field. Many also
spoke on their career path, how they arrived at their current
position and also on their future ambitions for their work.
Similarly, it was inspiring to hear from some NYSF alumni to
hear of their achievements and how they have utilised their NYSF experience to influence their direction.
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
However, the NYSF provided me with so much more than science and lab visits. There was an emphasis on tertiary
science study, with directed workshops on surviving the HSC and university entry. The NYSF really succeeded in
opening my mind, showing me the diverse opportunities the science industry offers. Alongside the lab visits and the
workshops, the advice I obtained from everybody; staffies, friends, Rotarians and scientists alike, has enabled me to
see the larger picture of school and study, invigorating my enthusiasm to learn and pursue a career in science as
well as encouraging me to continue building on my wider ‘tool kit’ of life skills and knowledge. I am grateful to
receive such advice and wisdom because it has enabled me to consider the different study and career possibilities
offered in science.
There was also a focus on developing communication, interpersonal and leadership skills. As an individual and as a
group we developed so much over the 12 days, breaking down initial barriers to form strong connections with each
other as we caught the infectious NYSF spirit. I greatly benefited from the impromptu and prepared speech
exercises, as well as the opportunities to properly thank our speakers without the use of clichés (which is hard!).
Forums and discussions enabled us to learn how address our opinions, ask questions and to hear the opinions of
others, providing a unique interaction with leading scientists as well as our peers. I recognise that the NYSF has
helped develop such skills which will be invaluable to me in both the near and distant future.
Although we had days full of lab visits, site visits, forums,
debates and chanting, the NYSF itinerary did not conclude
at sundown. At night we participated in activities such as
swimming, sport, music, trivia, late night shopping, lots of
chanting, swing dancing and the renowned science disco.
This provided me with the opportunity to meet more
people outside of my interest group and floor group. The
NYSF was action packed with early morning starts with
activities extending through to the late evening. Although
it was exhausting, I am endlessly grateful as it enabled us
to live and appreciate every moment of the NYSF
experience.
The forum also had two formal dinners. The Rotary dinner
was in the first week where I had the opportunity to meet
some notable Rotarians who help make NYSF possible. Here I met several Rotarians whom parted some very
valuable advice to me, my favourite being ‘to always keep building on your skills and knowledge to develop your
‘tool kit’ of life skills’. Here many people met their generous Rotary host who volunteer to have a few NYSF students
stay with them in the middle Sunday. Homestay was a rest day in which we could catch up on some much needed
sleep as well as do our washing so that we were ready for the exciting and action packed week ahead.
The Science Dinner was in the second week. I was privileged to sit between with the Director of Science at ANU,
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
Professor Barbara van Leeuwen, as well as a fifth year physics student, NYSF alumni and staff, Melanie. At the
science dinner Professor Veena Sahajwalla launched her Science 50:50 initiative promoting greater female
participation in Australian science. As one of the hundred girls sitting in the room, this has further encouraged me to
be part of Australia’s future generation of science.
The phenomenal science opportunities aside, one of the greatest parts of the NYSF was the people. As I had hoped,
the NYSF gave me the opportunity to connect with 200 likeminded students from across Australia and even across
the globe. We had 10 students from Canada, New Zealand, Germany and Fiji on session who brought their own
uniqueness and science spirit. Although we all shared a passion for science, we were all so different. This made
conversations and debates interesting as I really appreciated hearing such a wide range of perspectives on a variety
of topics. I cannot express my attachment to all the amazing people that I met on session. I have the NYSF to thank
for enabling me to meet and form friendships with people I may have never met and I know they will remain strong
throughout the remainder of my schooling, university and beyond.
My fellow students were not the only source of new friends. The staff (more commonly referred to as ‘staffies’)
were also some of the most brilliant people I have met. They were a great source of leadership, inspiration and
advice. Their endless energy and enthusiasm was infectious and I know I have them to thank for kindling the unique
NYSF spirit we all caught.
This 12 day forum has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I have gained so much more than
I could have ever anticipated. In writing this reflection I am acutely aware I have many parties to thank for making
this experience possible. Firstly, to the Boggabri Rotary Club, a small club with a large heart, I am endlessly thankful
for their support in my application and financial assistance towards the program. Similarly, to the PLC Sydney
Foundation a large vote of thanks for their financial support. To my science teachers, particularly Mrs McGrouther
for supporting and encouraging me through this process; instructing me to open doors to all new opportunities and
not let them shut in my face. A large vote of thanks to the Rotary District 9650 and Stuart Bayley for their hospitality
and support throughout the NYSF journey. Also the many partners of the NYSF, particularly Rotary International,
your ongoing support is invaluable to us as the youth of Australian science. Finally, to the director of NYSF, Damian
Pearce, and his team of NYSF staff without whom NYSF would not be possible, I am endlessly grateful for providing
me with such an enjoyable, exciting, invaluable experience.
For me, the NYSF was an experience that exceeded all that I anticipated it could entail. The friendships, experiences,
rare opportunities and skills I developed over the course of the forum are a reminder and inspiration to the diverse
opportunities available in the science field. As the staffies and the students aptly noted at the closing ceremony, it is
a difficult experience to attempt to share with someone who has not experienced it themselves. In twelve days I
have gained knowledge, friendship and direction. I have learnt so much about myself by pushing my limits and
stepped outside of my comfort zone countless times. Although session is over, I am eagerly looking forward to Next
Step programs, and I know this experience will remain with me for the rest of my life. I can honestly say it was one
of the single most enjoyable and invaluable experiences of my life to date. I applied to the NYSF with an interest in
27 February 2015
From District Secretary Annette Mackay email: [email protected]
Please Circulate this information as widely in your club as is possible.
The archive of this communication is available on the District website www.rotary9650.org.au
science, but it was at the NYSF that I discovered my passion for science and I am eager to see where my future will
take me. I aim to share my experience with others in hope that they may have the opportunity to participate in this
journey I have been so lucky to undertake. Many thanks, Samantha Donaldson Boggabri, NSW Presbyterian Ladies’
College, Sydney
ShelterBox Australia update and movie details
I'd like to inform you that ShelterBox Response Team member, Peter Pearce has deployed to Malawi
to help those affected by extensive flooding. This is Peter's 17th deployment with ShelterBox and
we wish him the best of luck and thank him for his dedication to those affected by disaster.
As some of you may be aware, last June ShelterBox Australia was involved with the filming of "San
Andreas", a Hollywood blockbuster, filmed on the Gold Coast. The film is a disaster movie based
around the scenario of a huge earthquake along the San Andreas fault in California and we provided
relief tents and ShelterBoxes for the final scene. The film provides us with a great opportunity to
raise funds and awareness of our work.
Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the film due for release at the end of May. You can watch the
official trailer here: http://youtu.be/Bz9e0PGSDeU
How can you help? Please approach your local cinema and ask if they would be willing to hold a
charity screening in aid of ShelterBox. Village Roadshow will provide the film for participating
cinemas.
If your cinema is favourable, ask if you can put up display in the foyer, place collection boxes,
brochures etc (this could be for however long the film is running).
Get together with your club or friends and draw up a list of people you'd like to invite. I will provide
promotional material in the near future. I need to let Village Roadshow what cinemas are willing to
participate as soon as possible, so please try and get back to me within the week. Many thanks
Mike General Manager ShelterBox Australia 0459 959 501