Thank you Cynthia for providing your summary as Vice President, Management & Communications:
"Club Meetings – (Dir: Dorothy Gilmour) 2019-20 has certainly been a year of change. Between meetings at the Sofitel, there was a lunch at Coombe Cottage in the Yarra Valley, an Evening Meeting was upgraded to an all-of-Club event and the Women in Rotary Breakfast in March was treated as a Club Meeting.
Then, after the lockdown, from 18 March, all meetings were conducted via Zoom. This had the advantage of being able to invite high profile people like honorary members Peter Doherty, Sally Capp, Tilman Ruff and Alan Finkel and past member Nev Power. ‘Attendance’ went up by over 50% with other Rotarians and guests, some even from overseas, joining us.
R100 (Hugh Bucknall) will begin in July with the launch by the Governor General and continue for the 2021 calendar year with many celebratory activities involving multiple clubs around the country and five Rotary Melbourne centenary projects designed to make a difference and leave a legacy.
Communications (Dir: Adrian Nelson) became central and Rotary Melbourne, in addition to the Bulletin, not only has its own website but is now also on Facebook, YouTube, Podcasts, Instagram and LinkedIn significantly extending its reach (eg Peter Doherty’s presentation has been viewed over 8000 times).
Membership (Dir: Amanda Wendt) recruitment has been somewhat inhibited by the COVID-19 pandemic but nine new members were inducted with many others in the pipeline. Honorary membership was conferred on Tony Kosky and Mev Connell and a new corporate member, RedR, welcomed. Mentoring of new members is continuing and a ‘buddy’ system introduced.
Fighting Fund – Attendees were invited to donate their lunch money to a fund to support Rotary members, Rotary partners and Rotary businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. Currently in excess of $7000 it provides an opportunity to enhance our ability to keep members involved.
With thanks to my Directors and heads of committees."
Cynthia Edgell
Vice President 2019-20
