The SPeech I didn't give

Here is the first draft of the report I have been asked to give at the Group 3 Forum this coming week.  I can't give it as when I tested the timing it was twice as long as I'm allowed.  So back to the drawing board, but I didn't want to waste what I really wanted to say, so here it is, perhaps to be revisited in the Annual Report.

,H​
Group 3 President Report for North Hobart

May I start by asking all members of the RCNH to stand and have a stretch.

Rotarians of Group 3, I give you the North Hobart peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, workers and ideas people!
 
At the Rotary Convention in Hamburg, which three members from our club attended, Rotarians were described as ambassadors of peace, love and care.

If you can judge the health of an organisation from the amount of laughter you hear when business is conducted, then North Hobart is surely a healthy club.  Thank you to our 25 active members and three honorary members. I’ve felt greatly supported as your president.   We are slightly down in membership but the good news is we held an Open Night recently and we look forward to inducting a new member soon.

The club has an effective committee system and committee meetings are held during regular Rotary meeting time.  Every member in our club is a doer.  Members really know each other and care for each other.
 
We are fortunate to be rooted in a vibrant community and we can tap into the energy and community pride here.  This year we sponsored the Hot August Jazz festival which led to some good PR for Rotary in their programs, on the ads at the State Cinema and even on the big canvas sign outside the Republic.  Thank you to the Hobart Jazz Club for the collaboration.

We have two new projects, one started and one still to come, that have been adopted as a result of requests from the community. 

You may have heard of the Music for Dementia project.  Following publicity about a Rotary project in Geraldton WA, we were approached by a musician volunteering at a local residential facility and that led to the provision of headsets for identified patients so that staff and volunteers can give them individualised programs of music, which it is hoped will lessen the need for drug therapy.  Thanks to the Roy Fagan Centre for their enthusiastic support.

We also had an approach from the New Town Community Association to join the R C Moonah is providing a BBQ stall at the Carols by Candlelight.  We look forward to good weather.

Talking about collaboration, we recently acquitted a major Compassionate Grant for the Baric family.  Thank you to all clubs that contributed to that, including the Rotaractors.  The manager of that program was Jenny Kerrison and we thank her too.
 
Jenny is well known for her service, in and outside the club.  She is not only national chair of Rotarians Against Malaria, with all that involves including editing their newsletter and organising their national conference, but also a member of the Board of Rotary Australia World Community Service.  She regularly speaks at other clubs and she is the project leader of the signature project of our club, the Mosquito nets in Timor Leste to save the lives of mothers and babies otherwise at risk of malaria. 

Recently Jenny was working in Bangladesh and she saw at first hand the gratitude of the staff at the Kumudini Hospital where Claremont and North Hobart did the physical work to get 250 second hand beds from to Bangladesh in a container.
 
We thank and congratulate Howie Oh who has recently stepped up as national treasurer of RAM.
 
Thank you to the Rotary Foundation for the $2000 grant from District Funds to investigate extension of the Mosquito nets project to West Timor and to Lillian Smith of Claremont club who will be leading a quiz night next year in support of this.
 
In her day job, Lillian is a teacher and North Hobart had the good fortune to sponsor the team Lillian coached which represented Ogilvie High School at Model United Nations Association.  The girls went on to represent Tasmania at the national finals in Canberra.
 
Our club has supported a number of Youth programs so far this year.  Besides MUNA, we had volunteers who participated in Rotary Youth Driver Awareness, Creating My Career and the Southern Youth Forum.  We also invited in the Head of Science at our aligned school during Science Week and were reassured that the school is grateful for the programs Rotary runs that extend their students.
 
I would like to refer to two projects we are working on that have yet to come to fruition:  Food Plant Solutions, which we wish to apply both locally and internationally and a dinner to celebrate International Women’s Day on 7 March next year.  Come and join us again that night.
 
In closing may we thank all members of our club and the members of Moonah club and Sullivan’s Cove who came along to the Afternoon Tea at our member Tanya’s home recently, which raised funds for the Book and Toy appeal being promoted by our neighbour Turnbull’s Funeral.
 
For many years, Turnbull’s has supported our club by providing storage for our barbecue equipment and archives.  We are very grateful for their support and congratulate them on their redevelopment and new policy to connect with community.
 
We also express our appreciation to the manager and staff of the Black Buffalo, who really look after us.  Thanks to Adam, Rachel and all the staff. 

Thanks to all present for the great support of each other, of AG Biddy, of DG Michael and of End Polio Now tonight.