MARCH – LITERACY MONTH . Combating illiteracy has been a focus of Rotary International since 1986 – and for good reason. UNESCO estimates there are 862 million illiterate adults in the world and about two thirds of them are women. Millions more are functionally illiterate, without the reading and writing skills necessary for everyday life. The United Nations has identified illiteracy as a major obstacle to economic, political, and social development. How can you be involved? Be a part of the solution for this world wide problem.
Rotary Murray-Darling School of Freshwater Research
The Rotary Club of Albury Hume is seeking Year 11 nominees to attend this Award-winning program in April, with applications closing on 21st March. Our club will pay the fee of $450 for the successful student who will get an experience to work alongside Australia’s leading scientists. Application forms are here: http://www.mdfrc.org.au/students/programs/rotary.asp
Presidents’ Message
29/01/2014 Whilst Australia Day is a memorable day for many citizens, it is an even bigger memorable day for RC Club of Albury – Hume, with the news that our late member Alan Hodge has been awarded a posthumous OAM General Div. for services to Communities of Table Top and Albury. Alan was a member of this Club from 1969 to his passing in December 2012. He held Executive positions within our club including President, Secretary, Treasurer, besides other activities of membership and Commodore of Wodonga Yacht Club, he also performed Meals on Wheels in excess of 30 years, and a local Justice of the Peace for 40 years. That is to say nothing of the loyal service he provided to his local Fire Service which exceeded the length of time he served within our Club. I know that quiet as she is, Phyllis and his family will be so proud that all his voluntary work has been so recognised. Also the Board and members offer their congratulations to Alf Armstrong of RC of North Albury who was voted the 2013 Albury City Council ‘ Volunteer’ of the Year .
February
FEBRUARY – WORLD UNDERSTANDING MONTH . What can you do that shows your local community of how you demonstrate a practical support for international understanding in these times when we face up to many potential tensions between various cultures and countries? Remember, 23rd February – Rotary’s Anniversary .
Rotary Friendship Exchange
In February Roger & Judy Snell will be visiting District 3360 in north Thailand, an out bound team of seven being hosted by three Rotary Clubs, each member/couple staying with three host families for four nights. This is the first RFE visit to be experienced by Roger & Judy and at our Club meeting last week Roger encouraged other members to also get involved in RFE activities. He suggested you talk with Ron Haberfield, Graeme Maddox, Dennis Hickey or Roger Beardwell in that regard. Now these RFE visits are reciprocal and normally a return visit would take place the following year, at times even later. However, on this occasion with the RI Conference being held in June in Sydney the Thai inbound visit has been arranged for 12 days late May. In our District, representatives are from RC of Tatura, Yea, Euroa and Albury Hume. RC Albury Hume is now expected to host 4 or 5 couples for three (3) nights on Wed 28 May to Friday 30 May, their team departing from Albury to Sydney on Sat 31 May 2013. Thus we are seeking cooperation from 4-5 Club members and their family to host a Thai visitor for those 3 nights. Whilst the daily program carries a small part of transfers to arranged educational/entertaining visits these duties can be shared by non –host families. Please give serious consideration to this reciprocal responsibility – we need your help!! For further information please contact Roger Snell on 0409 137 833 or email dunnsnel@bigpond.com.au