Welcome to this week's edition of the Gateway Bulletin!
We're here to provide you with the latest updates, events, and stories from our Rotary community. Whether it's new initiatives, upcoming meetings, or opportunities to get involved, we'll ensure you're kept informed and up to date.
Our Facebook page is also an excellent way to stay updated on our club's activities. If you haven't connected yet, click here to follow.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hi Rotarians,
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I hope some of you managed to visit other rotary clubs in action for our scatter meeting.
I went to Rowville Lysterfield Club along with Kam and Peter F., and we had a good night.
As we are in the same community group, it was great to announce our club's support for their Uganda Project, and the three of us received their heartfelt responses.
It makes you realize that together as a group, what a difference we can make.
As most of you know, I will be off for all of April. I will be touring Morocco, Casablanca, Madrid, and taking a nice river cruise.
So, when I get off my camel, I will see you all soon.
Club Meeting How Rotary is Saving Lives: Alan Lunghusen’s Story
Supporting Education in Uganda
The Rotary Club of Rowville Lysterfield has expressed its gratitude for our club’s support of its project in Uganda. This initiative is making a meaningful impact by providing essential resources for Family Care Uganda, a school that not only educates young students but also fosters peace among different tribal communities. Below is a letter from their President, Jenny Moran, thanking our club for its contribution.
Rotary Ride for Research 9815 – A Tremendous Success!
The Rotary Ride for Research 2025 has officially come to an end, and what an incredible achievement it has been! To date, the event has raised an outstanding $30,000, with an additional $5,000 pledged. This remarkable effort will go a long way in supporting vital research initiatives.
Congratulations to all the riders, supporters, and donors who contributed to this fantastic outcome. Your dedication and commitment to making a difference are truly inspiring. Now, after the hard work and long rides, it’s time to rest, recover, and take pride in a job well done.
Join us for a rewarding evening as we support the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Food Hub. We'll be assisting with donations and rice repacking, followed by a group dinner.
RSVP Required: To ensure we have enough spots for dinner, please confirm your attendance ASAP.
Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference and enjoy a meal together afterward!
LEANNE'S PARTNER PROJECT
Join us for a special Fundraiser supporting Apheresis Therapy at Monash Children's Hospital
Comedy for a Cause will feature some of the best comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. Best of all, 100% of proceeds from this event will go directly to supporting the life-changing work of Rotary Disaster Aid Australia.
Event Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025 Doors Open: 7:00 PM | Showtime: 7:30 PM (Approx. 2-hour runtime) Venue: The Dandenong Club – 1579 Heatherton Rd, Dandenong North
Tickets: $45 per person (General Admission – first in, best dressed!)
Drinks at bar prices.
Tea, coffee, and a light supper will be served at the interval
Please Note: This is an 18+ event and may contain some low-level coarse language.
We are excited to invite you to an important webinar hosted by the three Regional Volunteer Leaders of The Rotary Foundation in the South Pacific region. This event is designed to inform and inspire all members across our 1180+ South Pacific clubs about the critical role of the Rotary Foundation in supporting international humanitarian initiatives.
Date: Wednesday, 9 April 2025 Time: 2PM AWST / 3.30PM ACDT / 5PM AEST / 7PM NZT Please register here:Zoom link
During this webinar, we will delve into how you can make a difference to the impact of all Rotarians around the world through the Rotary Foundation.
Our goal is to reach every member across our region and impress upon you the importance of supporting the Foundation, particularly within the clubs that have not yet contributed to The Rotary Foundation. Your contributions and involvement are vital in making a significant impact on communities worldwide. This is a unique opportunity to learn how you can be part of a global movement for positive change.
Please mark your calendars and join us for this enlightening session. Please ensure that at least one, and preferably more representatives from your club attend the webinar. We want your club members to understand the value of investing in our Foundation. (The webinar will be recorded and made available on demand, too.)
Together, we can make a difference!
With warm regards,
David Anderson Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator
Jennie Herring Endowment & Major Gifts Advisor
Murray Verso End Polio Now Coordinator
ROTARY IN REVIEW
Space Center club has the right stuff
At the height of the space race in the 1960s, the Rotary Club of Space Center (Houston), Texas, USA, provided social connections for some of the thousands of aerospace engineers, scientists, contractors, and support crew members flocking to the Johnson Space Center. Members included astronauts like L. Gordon Cooper, Frank Borman, and Alan Wylie. The club retains its proud heritage, ties to the space center, and influence in the community. Read a profile of this fascinating club.
Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman leads speaker roster for 2025 convention
Tawakkol Karman, the first woman from the Arab world to win the Nobel Peace Prize, will speak at the 2025 convention in June. A journalist and human rights activist, Karman organized numerous protests against Yemen’s repressive regime, acquiring the nickname “mother of the revolution and “the iron woman.” Read more about Karman.
Meet the 2025 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award recipient
Ayda Özeren, a member of the Rotary Club of Izmir-Gündogdu, Izmir, Turkey, is an author, mediator, and professional speaker whose work has touched the lives of as many as 11,000 women and girls. She is the recipient of the 2025 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award, which honors one Rotary member a year who has actively worked to advance women in Rotary.
Water is a promise we must keep
World Water Day is 22 March, a global reminder that clean, running water is not a privilege – it is a human right. Yet in the United States, more than 2 million Americans live without running water and proper sanitation at home. Read more about how Rotary and DigDeep are addressing the issue.
Over $40,000 Towards Grants
With this year's donation to the WASH Rotary Action Group, the Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (B.R.E.W.) Fellowship will have donated over $40,000 towards clean water projects in just eight years.
B.R.E.W. members know that you need clean water to make good beer. That is why when you purchase a B.R.E.W. membership, a portion goes to WASH-RAG. You can purchase a membership at the Calgary Convention or by going to their website: www.rotarybrew.org
BREW Sponsored Projects
Some of the recent projects supported by the B.R.E.W. donation are:
GG 2233682 - HANWASH is a large program that includes numerous Rotary Clubs as stakeholders that are rebuilding sustainable water and sanitation systems in Haiti that were destroyed by the devastating earthquake.
GG 2348948 - This project in Zambia will provide water, sanitation, and hygiene to 6,000 people, and water systems for over 4,000 students in 10 educational facilities.
GG 2461316 - Flooding is a constant issue for this Peruvian village built on stilts at the headwaters of the Amazon River. This project will properly manage the waste water away from their water source.
March is Rotary’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Month, a time to focus on one of the most critical areas of need around the world. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation is a fundamental human right, yet millions of people still lack these basic necessities.
Rotary International has made water and sanitation a priority, recognizing that safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education can transform communities, prevent disease, and improve overall quality of life. By ensuring clean water access, Rotary helps reduce child mortality rates, increase school attendance—especially among girls—and support economic development.
Rotary clubs worldwide participate in projects to provide sustainable water solutions, such as:
Installing wells, boreholes, and rainwater harvesting systems in water-scarce areas.
Building and maintaining sanitation facilities in schools and communities.
Providing hygiene education to ensure lasting behavioral change.
Partnering with organizations to develop long-term water management systems.
Through these efforts, Rotary creates lasting change by addressing the immediate need for clean water and the long-term sustainability of water and sanitation systems.
By focusing on water and sanitation this March, Rotarians continue to make a meaningful impact, bringing hope, health, and opportunity to communities worldwide.
Clean water changes lives—let’s be part of the solution!
Attendance and Participation: Regularly attend club meetings and participate actively in club activities and projects.
Service Projects: Engage in community service projects, both locally and internationally, aimed at addressing humanitarian needs, promoting goodwill, and fostering peace.
Fundraising: Contribute to fundraising efforts that support Rotary's service projects and charitable activities.
Vocational Expertise: Share their professional skills and expertise to benefit others within the club and in service projects.
Ethical Standards: Adhere to high ethical standards in their personal and professional lives, reflecting Rotary's commitment to integrity and ethical behavior.
Networking and Fellowship: Build relationships and network with other Rotarians and community leaders, fostering goodwill and understanding.
Membership Growth: Support efforts to grow Rotary's membership and extend invitations to prospective members who embody Rotary's ideals.
Rotary Foundation: Contribute financially to the Rotary Foundation, which funds international scholarships, humanitarian projects, and other charitable efforts.
Public Image: Promote Rotary's mission and achievements within the community and advocate for Rotary's values and initiatives.
Leadership: Serve in leadership roles within the club or district, providing guidance and direction to advance Rotary's goals.
Overall, Rotarians are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities and the world at large through service, fellowship, and ethical leadership.
All members are invited to contribute to our newsletter.
If you have an interesting article or some great pictures, please share them with us by Thursday so we can include them in Friday's edition.
Send all articles and notifications to our Editor, David Langworthy, at david@bevmarks.com.au.
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