Our second lunchtime meeting of 2024 and 26^th for the Rotary year was a outstanding opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of vocational talent in Rotary worldwide, and Melbourne in particular.    

Bernie McIntosh was MC and opened the meeting.

The reflection (included later in this Bulletin) was capably delivered by Past President Robert Fisher who took the opportunity to stress that importance of Vocation in our service to the community. 

Members joined President Chris in congratulating Rotary Melbourne member, Garry Fowler for his Australia Day award of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through a range of organisations, including Rotary.

After welcoming visiting Rotarians and guests, President Chris then presented Rotary District 9800 certificate recognising Richard Dent OAM as an inaugural of the Polio Plus Society, citing his commitment and annual donations that are helping to create a legacy of a polio free world.

Past President Reg Smith OAM then came to the podium and gave a quick update on the Club’s activity during January which is designated Vocational Service Month by Rotary International and went on to introduced Club Member Dr. Nick Pelham, Mega Project Manager, as moderator of the Vocational Panel discussion to follow.  The panel’s topic was Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Managing Rapidly Changing Technologies.

Nick opened by Panel Members were visiting Rotarian and former Rotary Melbourne member, Dr. Elaine Saunders, Technology Entrepreneur, Jenny Taing OAM, Corporate Lawyer, and Quin Scalzo AM, Food Manufacturing.  Nick opened the discussion with a light-hearted quote from Douglas Adams, from his book: The Salmon of Doubt: 

1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.

The discussion that followed highlighted a variety of perspectives, giving those present insight into the astonishing pace of development of AI; its impact, both negative and positive and associated geopolitical supply chain issues such as the domination of Microchip production by Taiwan and China.

The panel discussion was a must view and to view it, Click here. 

After presentation of thank-you gifts to the Panellists, and reminders to attend next weeks meeting which will feature Forensic Psychologist Tim Watson-Munro who will speak of his learnings has over many years from interviewing some of Australia’s, and the UK’s, most notorious criminals.  A mini presentation will also be presented by former Club member Professor Dr Harald Schmidt who will talk on “The End of Medicine as We Know It”.

The meeting closed with members, Maestro David Kram, and Karen Kim leading the National Anthem.

To view the recording of the full Meeting Click here