PERTH ROTARY | PRESIDENTS UPDATE | 9th February 2021

Dear Perth Rotary Members & Friends.
 
It is with a great deal of relief that Perth welcomed a cool change last weekend.  Whilst the bushfires are now under control, the devastation caused will take much longer to recover from.  With this in mind District 9455 has been leading the way in coordinating a district led response to provide support to those on the ground and targeted to where it is most needed.  DGN Ineke Oliver has been facilitating on-line zoom meetings with District Governance Officer Peter Durant researching and providing direction.
 
A District Committee has been set up – “WA Bushfire Rotary Relief Project”.  The purpose of the Committee is to “provide financial and practical support to the WA community affected by the 2021 fires”.  A RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) fund has been created to receive donations. RAWCS | Donation .  Should you wish to email the committee directly with offers of assistance or queries – please use the email recovery@rotarywa9455.org  The Committee is looking for a Rotarian/s who would be happy to join them, specifically for someone who would be happy to take on the role of Secretary.  I wish to thank Perth Rotary member Nan Walker who attended the district meeting last night on my behalf whilst I chaired our club board meeting. 
 
 
This Friday we look forward to welcoming Dr Sandy Chong back to the club as our guest speaker in celebration of the Chinese New Year – Year of the Ox. We have Kevin Wu and his Lion Dancers booked to arrive at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel from 12.30pm.  Therefore, we ask members and guests to arrive at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel by 12.15pm.  Please note the following:
  • Members and guests must arrive wearing masks;
  • Please register your attendance with Kirstin and then proceed into the Argyle Ballroom.
  • Members and guests are requested to immediately sit down at a table where staff will provide table service for drink orders. 
  • Tea/coffee and soft drink are complimentary.  There will be a ‘cash bar’ for other beverages, these must be paid for utilising a credit card/eftpos card (ie:  a cashless bar in fact).
  • Whilst the Lion Dancers are performing (un-masked), Members and guests are requested to keep their masks on.
  • We will have red envelopes available for members to place cash in.  The red envelopes will be collected by the Lion Dancers in a contactless manner and donated back to the Club.
  • The cash collected in the red envelopes will be donated to the District 9455 Bushfire Rotary Relief Project.  The Perth Rotary Club will ‘top-up’ the donation to a sum of $3000 as our club donation towards this disaster. 
Dr Sandy Chong’s topic is: East Meets West: Business Culture in Rising Asia
 
 
By 2030, Asia is expected to contribute roughly 60% of global growth and is responsible for an overwhelming 2.4 billion new members of the middle class entering the global economy. This bulk of growth will come from the developing markets of China, India and throughout South-East Asia worth over $9 trillion dollars in ASEAN alone. To succeed in these countries, one would need to assimilate and adapt to the cultures of the markets. To enjoy growth in trade and investment with Asia, developing a constructive relationship with Asian counterparts is crucial. Dr Chong will highlight the major dimensions that differentiate Asian cultures from the West, discuss factors that influence Asian decision makers, provide practical tips for negotiating successfully and winning deals with Asian counterparts. 
 
Dr Sandy Chong is a Harvard alumnus, founder of Verity Consulting and the President of the UN Association of Western Australia, Sandy earned her PhD in 2003 specialising in digital commerce and international business communication. With over 15 years of experience leading international growth projects regionally and globally, Sandy has trained and advised organisations such as Sun Microsystems, American Express, Apple, Department of JTSI, Australian Federal Police, Perth Airport, and has given keynotes at the Harvard Business School, United Nations, Special Olympics, Women Economic Forum. Sandy is passionate about bridging cultural differences and driving business performances with social impact, and is the winner of 2020 Stevie® International Business Awards for Executive of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year in the US, 2019 Asia's Top Sustainability Women of the Year, and the 2016 Singapore Management Consultant of the Year. A strong advocate of international trade and economic empowerment as pathways to peace and security, Sandy was awarded the Australia Community Citizen of the Year (2020) for her contribution to the industry and community locally and abroad.  We are privileged to have a speaker of this calibre presenting to the club and I look forward to welcoming members back to the Parmelia Hilton Hotel for the 2021 Calendar Year.  If you have not already done so, please go on line to book your ticket –www.tryboooking.com/BNOMU 
 
Past President and Chair of the Vienna Pops Committee, Stephen Inouye will also provide a brief update to members on the extraordinarily successful 2020 Vienna Pops New Years Eve Concert.  Musical Director Mark Coughlan will also be in attendance along with the Vienna Pops Committee.
 
 
Please note, Harry Morgan AM, Memorial Service will now be held Friday 19 February at the East Fremantle Football Club, 1pm – 3pm. 
 
It is with a great deal of excitement and pride that we can announce Perth Rotary Member, Sagar Badve, has been successful in being selected for the Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP), not once, but twice! 
 
Promoting peace is one of Rotary’s main causes. The Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) is a unique program which aims to bring nations together.   Since 1946, Rotarians in Georgia, USA Rotary, have promoted world peace through understanding by offering scholarships to international students for one year of study at a Georgian university. More information regarding Sagar’s successful nomination can be found in the attached article or by clicking and visiting the following link http://bit.ly/Sagar21
 
 
We congratulate Sagar on this amazing opportunity and thank Rotarian Rebecca Tolstoy AM for her continued mentorship of the young men and women who become involved (in the first instance) with the Path of Hope Foundation and through this, Perth Rotary Club and Rotary International.  Our young men and women just need an opportunity they can grab hold of, they will do the rest.  On behalf of all members, we wish Sagar safe travels,  learn lots and congratulations once again. 
 
March is shaping up to be an extremely busy and social month as we catch up on all of our Rotary projects and fellowship events.  I am somewhat relieved to advise that the Presidents Cocktail Party is back on, pending no further community transfer of COVID at the Crystal Club, Crown Towers, Friday 19 March 7pm – 10pm.  If anyone has purchased a ticket and no longer able to attend, please contact me direct to arrange a refund.  Similarly, even tho this event is currently sold out, if you are now able to attend and would like a ticket, please email me and we will do our best to accommodate you.  Jill Dawson – president@rotaryperth.org.au 
 
With this in mind, I would like to draw members attention to the attached articles which provide greater detail:
 
 
As all Rotarians are aware, 2020/21 is the Centennial Year of Rotary in Australia.  To commemorate and celebrate this achievement members can purchase a book on the Centenary of Rotary in Australia.  Advance orders are now being received for the soon to be published - "Humanity in Action – Celebrating 100 years of Rotary Clubs in Australia and its near island neighbours”. 
 
Pre-orders for this hard cover book should be addressed to PDG Harry Durey – hdurey@bigpond.com as soon as possible.  Books are limited and cost  $25 plus postage. 
 
In addition, a pair of commemorative coins will be released to “put Rotary into the hands of every Australian”. 
 
 
The Royal Australian Mint has announced that they will launch a $1 coin into general circulation as well as being available in a commemorative pack - $15.  The Royal Australian Mint will also mint a silver $5 coin which will retail at $100 marking 100 years of Rotary Service. 
 
The new coins were launched in Sydney on 4 February along with a set of commemorative stamps. 
 
 
 
 
PERTH ROTARY 2020/21 BOARD EMAIL - Our Next Board Meeting – Tuesday 9 March 2021.
President:                  Jill Dawson               president@rotaryperth.org.au
Past President:         Vangelis Katsaitis    vangelis@excellenceps.com.au
President Elect:        Rev Dr John Shepherd AM john.h.shepherd@bigpond.com
Treasurer:                  Joseph Wambua      treasurer@rotaryperth.org.au
Secretary:                  Jacques Phillips      secretary@rotaryperth.org.au
Rotary Foundation  Emma Cork               emma@oneenergyfps.com.au
Club Service:           Darren Perera           clubservice@rotaryperth.org.au
Fellowship Chair:    Jo Morris                    fellowship@rotaryperth.org.au     
Media Chair              Barry Thornton         barrythornton@hotmail.com
Speaker Program     Nicola Johnston       programmechair@rotaryperth.org.au
Membership              Ashley Whitworth    membership@rotaryperth.org.au
Vocational                 Jonas Edner             vocational@rotaryperth.org.au
Community               David Wee                community@rotaryperth.org.au
International             Wesley Sim               international@rotaryperth.org.au
Youth                         Kelly Gibson             youth@rotaryperth.org.au