Congratulated were given to Jo and Steve thanked Rotarians for the novel dress code.

Thanked AG Ross who helps him to look after a band of Clubs including Bayside.

Commended Club on the number of projects managed by RC Bayside Geelong including Peter Kavenagh with SHELTERBOX and Phil Quick with District Youth Exchange Committee.

Rotary is important for friendships and fun. These lead to productivity, good management and collaboration.

Collaboration between Club Members, Clubs and Districts is important to create the critical mass for larger projects and attracts a multiplier effect for funds allocated to those projects through Direct and Foundation funding from District and International levels.

Gaye Lamont’s DG-partner project is to solicit donations from Clubs for the Indigenous Nursing Scholarships Fund managed by Australian Rotary Health. Funds raised will be directed to a student from this Rotary District.

The Theme of Rotary District Conference in 2017 is BE BOLD; (Fri) March-31 and (Sat) April-1.

The Conference will be limited to Friday Night and Saturday. The Theme on Saturday Night is JAMES BOND. The prizes for best-dressed include an expensive model Aston Martin. (That’s a SCALE model — it is an electric powered model that is pedal-car sized).

On Sunday Rotarians are invited to a hands-on activity preparing baby and child packs with GEELONG MUMS. This is a giant business run on FACE BOOK that passes on the gifts to at least five Social Service organisations for distribution to less fortunate Mums and Dads.

Speakers include an awardee of the Indigenous Nursing Scholarship Laura Alsop who is now studying Medicine and the father of Heath Ledger on the wise use of medicines. He is the Patron of Script Wise which is an education campaign to prevent accidental injury or death involving prescribed medicines.

Rotarians are asked to offer their home as a billet for visiting Rotarians as happened in 2016.

DG Stephen offered to attend and assist at one of our activities if schedules can be matched.