D9640 Matters District Governor's monthly news August 2016 Greetings D9640 Rotarians If you completed the census on-line, then reading this edition of D9640 Matters will be no problem. We took on board feedback and have modified the format into a two page newsletter so that you can read a little more about the story before clicking on a link. We also understand that some will want to print the entire newsletter, so will have a full version of the newsletter on the District website, under the NEWS pulldown: http://www.rotary9640.org/ Membership Matters In the August edition of Rotary Down Under, you can read RI President John Germ s article on the need to adapt our membership recruitment strategies. Some of these new strategies will be showcased at the Multi-District Membership and PR Workshop on Sunday 20 August. READ RDU ARTICLE DG's Objectives DONATE LIFE: I have been overwhelmed with the support for this program. Thank you all for promoting organ donation. All Rotary Districts in Australia are participating in this program, as we seek to eliminate waiting lists for organ transplants in Australia. DONATE LIFE OUTBACK LINKS: RAISING THE SPIRITS Thank you for your support for this project. I have been delighted to induct new members on my club visits, and I am excited at the prospect of chartering at least two new satellite clubs as well as the formation of our first 'happy hour' club. Col Lee visited Charleville last week and finalised the scoping of jobs. He will update all Rotarians on this project. Here's the latest on the planned trip to Charleville. READ MORE Most importantly we need to promote and enhance Rotary fellowship as vibrant clubs are the clubs that enjoy great fellowship and attract new members.
D9640 Matters District Governor's monthly news August 2016 News from around the Clubs I recently attended a memorial service at the Kokoda Wall in Broadbeach, a project of Broadwater-Southport Rotary. READ MORE Who is he? This month we learn more about Daryl Sanderson, from RC Surfers Sunrise. READ MORE Bright Ideas: We are keen to share with the district things your Club is doing to promote your work in your community. Email your bright ideas to D9640newsletter@gmail.com READ MORE Rotary Leadership Institute: Our district now boasts 24 new RLI graduates. READ MORE Facebook tips: how to write powerful Facebook posts to promote your club. READ MORE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION: Plan now for the RI International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. READ MORE District information District Governor's goals. READ MORE District Governor's visits. See where and when DG Michael will be visiting Clubs across the district. READ MORE District Calendar: See what's happening around the district. READ MORE SUBMIT stories: We welcome stories about your club for both the District Facebook page and the DG's newsletter. Email: D9640newsletter@gmail.com
OUTBACK LINKS 9640 COUNTRY TALES August 11 th EPISODE 2 Welcome to the second episode of our Outback Links Spirit Raising Trip to Charleville It has been an interesting time for DGN Terry Brown and me allocating our team and having to make changes due to some of the original group not being available. The final group to Charleville are: 1. Stephen Beckett 2. Chris and Mary Bell 3. Darrell Brown 4. Terry Brown 5. Carol Brown 6. Mark and Tania Twyford 7. Bill Keenan 8. Sue Lea 9. Col and Julie Lee 10. John and Skye McKenny 11. Kevin Moran 12. Kay Nicol 13. Rock O Keefe 14. Jodie Shelley 15. Ron and Lynette Smith 16. Peter Overall 17. John and Pip Stainlay 18. Graham Cooper 19. Lionel and Yvonne Perry 20. Simon Brook DG Michael and Ros are going as observers, workers as well as Rotary PR. In addition to the twenty volunteers, five volunteer assistants and three partners who will be responsible for meals and refreshments at the end of the day. We have a busy and varied workload now covering six stations and a big project at the Historic Charleville Museum that will be our Community Project. This project will keep at least one of our teams busy for the whole week and it is something that needs doing well as it is the main tourist attraction in the town. Next week I will be visiting two additional properties to scope jobs to be undertaken as well as ensuring that we will have everything in place for our visit in September. Thank you again to everyone who applied to be part of the Spirit Raising Trip no doubt there will be other trips coming up next year, possibly to central NSW. Col Lee Outback Links Support Coordinator
ROTARIANS DON T FORGET I recently attended a memorial service at the Kokoda Wall in Broadbeach. This memorial is an on-going project of the Broadwater-Southport Rotary. I am aware that other Rotary Clubs have ongoing projects providing holidays for service personnel and their families (Gold Coast Rotary, Surfers Paradise Rotary) and Digger Boxes for service personnel in Afghanistan (Fassifern Valley Rotary), and I am sure that other Rotary Clubs have similar projects. As we recall the sacrifices made 100 years ago on the Western Front, the battle of Long Tan, 50 years ago and the problems of service personnel and their families living with post-traumatic stress, we should all see if we can assist service personnel and their families. A working bee or invitation to dinner is the least we can do. READ MORE about the Kokoda Memorial Wall.
D9640 Matters District Governor's monthly news July 2016 Clubs across our District are adopting innovative approaches to running their club, developing and implementing fundraising activities/events, and recruiting and retaining members. Our district webpage now has a new section: BRIGHT IDEAS, which showcases the innovative practices adopted by clubs in our District and you'll find there's lots of food for thought among the ideas. CHECK IT OUT HERE BRIGHT IDEA If your club has an innovative idea or practice, we'd love to hear about it and share it with others in the District. Email details to: D9640newsletter@gmail.com
RLI GOES BUSH Last weekend District 9640 conducted a weekend Rotary Leadership Institute workshop at Glen Innes. There were 24 graduates from the Cluster 9 Rotary clubs, including the Glen Innes Satellite Club as well as Beaudesert and Mt. Warning AM clubs. Rotarians also came from from Allora, Beaudesert, Glen Innes, Glen Innes Satellite, Goondiwindi, Mt Warning, Stanthorpe, Tweed Heads South, Warwick & Warwick Sunrise Rotary Clubs. Congratulations to all of the participants and special thanks to the conveners Simone Wong, PDG Graham Jones and PDG Wendy Scarlett and all the presenters.
Tips to make your Club s Facebook page your most powerful PR/marketing tool and it s free Around three-quarters of the clubs in our District have Facebook pages. Here are some tips for creating strategic and powerful Facebook posts that will connect with your followers and showcase your club. Facebook is simply an online newsfeed where you get to tell your followers what s happening at your Club. Facebook is not the demon it is sometimes made out to be, but you must set it up with the relevant privacy and access restrictions. TIPS: 1. Remember, your Facebook page is pitched at those outside your Club who are interested in what you are doing, rather than your members. This means no birthday wishes, no vague comments that won t be understood by non-club members, no in-house jokes, no photos without words, no cut/paste of entire Board minutes or rambling meeting notes. Your content should be light, bright and tight and pitched squarely at your audience. You should communicate information to your members via email or a Facebook closed group. 2. SHARING may be a quick and easy way to post content, but it s best to avoid doing this as it s seen as a lazy and unprofessional approach to posting. Rather than sharing, recreate the content and adapt it to your target audience as a stand-alone post. Avoid emojis leave these to the kids. 3. Encouraging COMMENTS is a great way to involve others in your Facebook page. Create interesting posts that will entice followers to comment/share, rather than posting bland posts with little opportunity for comment. Too many bland or irrelevant posts and you will lose followers. 4. FOLLOW OTHERS. You need to work hard at getting followers for your page. Take the time to LIKE/COMMENT on the pages your target demographic might follow, eg local sports club/school/charities. But make sure your comments reflect those of your Club, rather than your personal views. 5. Develop a STRATEGY for your Facebook. Aim to post regularly, say twice a week, and try to keep posts looking similar so that your followers identify with your posts. It s a good idea to have two people who can post, but make sure the posters adopt a similar look for the posts and don t post over the top of each other especially similar content. 6. Facebook posts should be short, direct and pithy, with a call-to-action if possible. That being said, you can inject some lighthearted comment. 7. Post word length is ideally between 15-30 words anymore and you risk losing readers. Examples: Newtown Rotary is kicking goals with its latest PolioPlus Footy Challenge for school kids. Find out more and enrol your aspiring footy champs at www.polioplusfootychallenge.com.au Hear Bob Smith talk about his work with Afghani refugees at our meeeting this Thursday at 7pm. Everyone s welcome to hear this inspirational civic leader. Confirm your attendance to: newtownrotary@gmail.com
DISTRICT GOVERNOR S OFFICIAL VISITS 2016 Day Date Time Club Tues 26 th July 5:45pm Southport & Southport Rotaract Wed 27 th July 6:00pm Ashmore & Interact Clubs Thurs 28 th July 6:40am Burleigh Heads & Interact Clubs Fri 29 th July 7:00am Broadwater Southport & Interact Mon 1 st Aug 6:00pm Coomera Valley & Interact Clubs Tues 2 nd Aug 6:00pm Broadbeach Mon 8 th Aug 6:00pm Runaway Bay & Interact Club Tue 9 th Aug 6:30pm Jimboomba Wed 10 th Aug 6:00pm Nerang & Interact Club Thurs 11 th Aug 5:30pm Currumbin, Coolangatta, Tweed Sat 13 th Aug RLI Glen Innes Sun 14 th Aug RLI Glen Innes Mon 15 th Aug 6:00pm Stanthorpe & Interact Club Tues 16 th Aug 6:00pm Tenterfield Wed 17 th Aug 6:30pm Goondiwindi Thurs 18 th Aug 6:00pm Boonah & Boonah Interact Mon 22 nd Aug 6:00pm Casino Tues 23 rd Aug 6:00pm Parkwood Wed 24 th Aug 6:45am Mt Warning AM & Satellite Club Thurs 25 th Aug 6:00pm Mullumbimby Fri 26 th Aug 6:00pm Italian RFE Farewell @ Carrara Mon 29 th Aug Zone Institute Sat 3 rd Sep Zone Institute Tues 6 th Sep 6;00pm Kingscliff Wed 7 th Sep 7:00am Surfers Sunrise & Interact Club Thurs 8 th Sep 5:30pm Lismore West Fri 9 th Sep 7:00am Sumerland Sunrise Mon 12 th Sep 6:00pm Glen Innes & Satellite Club Tues 13 th Sep 6:00pm Murwillumbah Central and Murwillumbah Rotaract Wed 14 th Sep 6:15pm Kyogle Thurs 15 th Sep 5:45pm Gold Coast Mon 19 th Sep Outback Links to Charleville Sun 25 th Sep Outback Links to Charleville Tue 27th Sep 6:15pm Mudgeeraba Wed 28 th Sep 6:45am Hope Island & Interact Club Thurs 29 th Sep 6:45am Coomera River & Interact Clubs 1