OCTOBER – VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH . Rotary was first started as a Club based on vocations. This continues today. This month is a great time to celebrate, explore, understand the vocations of your Club members, and to explore the possibilities of membership from other vocational groups in your community.

EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) The article has been taken from District 5510 Arizona  web site  which gives a good example of how giving to EREY can be used by the Rotary Foundation and support our clubs project the Kitenden pre –school project through the DDF.

“A quick review of Rotary Club web sites reveals a lot of misinformation about EREY. There is much confusion between EREY and sustaining membership. Many clubs have the idea that EREY means $100 from every Rotarian. EREY means that every club member gave SOMETHING (even $1will do), and the club has an average contribution of $100. For most Rotarians, a $100 gift should not be difficult. It’s only about $2 week. Who doesn’t spend $2 a week on things they can’t even remember. It’s about the cost of a latte. And what can The Rotary Foundation do with that $2 per week?

•  Provide 3 cataract surgeries in India… Buy 15 packets of teaching materials for a school in Costa Rica… Feed a family in India or Pakistan for 6 months… Bring clean water to 600 school kids in Africa

Not only do smaII contributions help do big things, but we, as Rotarians, have control over how the money is spent. Annual Fund contributions are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund (DDF). Each district gets to decide how to use its DDF to participate in Foundation grants and activities it chooses. Surely we can find a way to get every Rotarian to be a part of the Foundation’s wonderful work by giving SOMETHING. Let’s get more of those banners for Rotary year 2014-15”. Roger Beardwell

The following is an update re the 12 year old Vietnamese girl brought into Australia for specialist surgery re a terribly disfigured face. Some clubs are requesting an update …

ROMAC update re Linh Da. In response to some clubs enquiries re little Linh Da, I am pleased to be able to provide you with an update of her condition.Last Friday. 12^th May, Linh Da underwent further major surgery at  Monash Children’s Hospital. A  team of 15 Medicos’ comprising Surgeons and Technical Staff performed a 10 hour operation on her face. You will recall that a few weeks ago she had a skin graft taken from her shoulder and this now formed part of her outer cheek. At the last operation a skin graft was performed on her hip, and the skin from that now is forming part of her inner cheek. The other part of the operation was reforming her jaw etc. She is now back in ICU and everybody is pleased with her recovery. There is hope she will be transferred out of ICU and into the ward later this coming week. I am hopeful of being allowed to call in and see her sometime within the next two weeks when I am advised by another ROMAC Chairperson whose District are hosting her that photographs of the reconstruction may by then be allowed. The offer of speaking to various Clubs at one of their meetings within 9790 re the work of ROMAC is still very applicable. My contact details listed below. Peter Lee D9790 Chairperson  ROMAC Manager Public Relations, Southern Region, ROMAC . 0409 956 251

ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS MONTH . There are many extensive activities of the Rotary Fellowships. You may find that your profession, business or industry area has already established a Fellowship. If not, why not think about starting one yourself! Pastimes, hobbies and sports are made just that much more interesting if you can be involved in an international group. Look through the list of the Recreational Fellowships – is there something there for you? Don’t forget to check out the extensive list of Fellowships already active in District 9790.

Guest speaker Fred Ford is Volunteer and Chair of Young Carers (PATS) program reference group at Gateway Community Health Wodonga. Gateway Community Health was established in 1994 as a non-government, not for profit organisation that provides a range of health services throughout the communities of North East Victoria and the Albury/Wodonga region. Gateway Community Health Service believes in working with people to promote, preserve and enhance health through working in and valuing a collaborative approach to health with individuals, communities and other agencies. Fred gave us details of the PATS programme supporting young carers of parent and family members with mental illness … a support network of activities culminating in a camp during school holidays where communication and sharing of experiences is paramount. PATS is an 8 week program that focuses on providing accurate information about mental health/illness, exploring stigma and perception, skills on self care and improving sense of self and self esteem and ultimately a chance for group members to have some time out, relax and have fun.