to the WEEKLY NEWS NOTES

 

ROTARY YOUTH PROGRAM OF ENRICHMENT (RYPEN)

RYPEN is a three-day camp program for Year 9 high school students. It aims to communicate a series of ideas, problems and social experiences which will assist participants in forming their own values and moral standards, and to broaden their horizons culturally, socially and academically.

RYPEN 2022 will be run on 11-13 November in Wagga Wagga. More information on the program is available from: https://rotary9705.org.au/page/rypen.

If any member is aware of a year 9 student that could be interested in and benefit from RYPEN, please contact Stephen McMillan, Youth Committee Chair, on 0430 113 580, about possible Club sponsorship to this year’s program.

 

PROPOSED DRIVER TRAINING SIMULATOR

 

Having been invited to view a demonstration of the driver training simulator by the Queanbeyan Rotary Club,President Andrea and Myself identified an opportunity for our club, RCCBG to engage with other Rotary clubs in the district to investigate the possibility of being involved in this worthwhile community activity.

The basic situation is that we would participate in acquiring a simulator for our district to provide driver training to high school age children.

• Currently there are 3 of the simulators being used in our region in country NSW.

• Appropriate training on the simulators use would need to be carried out by those clubs participating in the program.

• Given the cost and the complexity of the machines the logistics would need to be shared with other clubs in the area.

• The machine would need to have a custom trailer made as well to transport it around the area.

• The approximate cost of each machine including trailer would be $30,000.We would envisage seeking funding through district funds, ACT government, insurance company sponsors etc.

• There is more than one supplier for the machines so we would get quotes for it.

• Other issues I would anticipate is to ascertain the interest from local schools. Also the training of our members in its use and the availability of members to conduct the program.

• My intention moving forward is to liaise with other representatives from the other interested clubs and in due course come back to our members with more information so that an informed decision can be made as to our participation or not.

I see this as being a great opportunity for our club to “give back” to the youth cohort in our community. I shall keep you informed!

Peter Davies

 

OUR CLUB'S MEETINGS

 

This Week's Meeting (25th of August, 12.15 for 12.30 pm, Commonwealth Club)

We will hear from Sue O'Leary and Tony Maple about the strange aviation event at the opening of Parliament in 1927. The talk will draw on this:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/event/mysterious-air-crash-of-1927-heritage-walk/

Duty Roster: August 2022

Date:	August 25th
Venue:	Commonwealth Club
Door:	Ross B
Welcome & Opening the Meeting:	Juris J
Toast to Rotary at Work:	Peter D.
Thank Speaker and Write Notes	Sue L

If Unable To Attend On A Day You Are Rostered, Please Organise A Replacement.

 

Last Week's Meeting (August 18th)

His Excellency Ambassador of Latvia, Margers Krams joined us and spoke on the topic of "the Baltics, EU and NATO: a realistic appraisal of world threats"

We were spoiled with a special address by the Ambassador who has enjoyed a long career in Foreign Affairs, Economics and Agricultural policy. He spoke enthusiastically about Latvia's history, its place in Europe and the current status of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We learned that its capital Riga is over 800 years old (anniversary last week announced in New Notes). Over the centuries communities from Germany, Russia, Finland and nearby states settled in Latvia to make up an eclectic society largely  free of disharmony. However its place in Europe made Latvia an easy target for invading armies and they have seen almost 30% of their population killed over the last century from invasions from Nazi Germany and later Russia.  These have built up a resilient  society  committed to defending their  nation and promoting peace.

They have become enthusiastic members of the EU and related UN organizations such as WTO, and joined NATO at an early date to cement their defence strategies. They work in close harmony (but economic competition) with their Baltic friends, Estonia, and Lithuania and Finland.

In answering questions from the members, His Excellency said that Latvian have always been suspicious of Russia and that from first hand experience they know that Appeasement is fruitless. Russia has been a deceitful neighbour as expressed by their action in recent years in Georgia, Chechnya, Russianization of Belarussia , Moldova (Transnistra) and  Crimea in 2014 and now Ukraine as a whole. He expects the war will be hard fought and extend over years however he is hopeful the united efforts of the rest of the world will eventually force Russia to desist.

Nuclear consequences? - a real risk .

Nevertheless His Excellency was hopeful for a fruitful future . He understands the valuable contribution made to Australian society by the numerous Latvian migrants over the years, and looks forward to learning more about his role in Canberra.

Following are photos of the Ambassador and members of the Latvian Community in Canberra.

Bill Andrews.

 

Next Week's Meeting (September 1st)

Janet Salisbury, Founder and Director of the Women's Climate Congress, will speak to us about

"Shifting the course from climate disasters to climate security - and the role of women".

 

NOTES FROM OUR TREASURER

The Annual Dues invoices were emailed to everyone last week, we were able to keep our 2022-2023 dues to our 2021-2022 level. Your attention to payment of your dues as soon as able would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me.

Also a big Thank you to everyone for replying promptly to the Thursday Lunch meeting invitations. I try to send it out on Thursday afternoons, please note that you only have until the following Tuesday  by 11.00 AM to action the invitation. There is a cut off time because I have to supply the Commonwealth Club with accurate numbers on the Tuesday afternoon.

Even if you are down as being a “regular attendee” you need to respond to every email invitation, as I calculate the attendance numbers from the email replies in the Club Runner system.

Treasurer Ross

 

NOTES FROM/ABOUT OUR MEMBERS

Petersburg Alaska

Sharon Green has shared two Rotary-related images during her and Marcel's current Alaska trip.

 

NOTABLE DATES

National and International Days This Week

Aug 22 International Day commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence based on religion or belief

Aug 23 International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

Aug 24 Ukraine National Day

Aug 25 Uruguay Independence Day

Aug 27 Republic of Moldova National Day

Anniversaries of Historical Events This Week

22 Aug (1770) James Cook's expedition landed on the east coast of Australia

23 Aug (2011) Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi was overthrown by National Transitional Forces

24 Aug (1891) Thomas Edison, American inventor, patented the motion picture camera

25 Aug (1940) Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were incorporated into the Soviet Union

26 Aug (1682) Edmond Halley first observed the comet later named after him

27 Aug (1832) Black Hawk (Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak) and war leader of the Sauk tribe in Midwestern USA and a British ally, surrendered to the Americans

28 Aug (1830) First American-built locomotive "Tom Thumb" raced against a hose-drawn stagecoach from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills USA (15 km) and lost due to technical difficulties.

 

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Police in Oakland, CA spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had  barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers  discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting,  'Please come out and give yourself up.

An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him  to drive to two different automated teller machines, wherein the kidnapper  proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts.

A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop and asked for all the money in  the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk  and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and  grabbed him.

Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't  control himself during a line-up. When detectives asked each man in the line-up  to repeat the words: 'Give me all your money or I'll shoot', the man shouted,  'That's not what I said!'

A man spoke frantically into the phone: 'My wife is pregnant, and her  contractions are only two minutes apart'. 'Is this her first child?' the doctor  asked. 'No!' the man shouted, 'This is her husband!'

In Modesto, CA, Steven Richard King was arrested for trying to hold up a Bank  of America branch without a weapon. King used a thumb and a finger to  simulate a gun. Unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his pocket.  (Hellooooooo...!!!) 

Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of  Bakersfield, CA, some folks, new to boating, were having a problem. No matter  how hard they tried, they couldn't get their brand new 22-foot boat, going. It  was very sluggish in almost every manoeuvre, no matter how much power they  applied. After about an hour of trying to make it go, they putted into a nearby  marina, thinking someone there may be able to tell them what was wrong. A  thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition. The  engine ran fine, the out-drive went up and down, and the propeller was the  correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check  underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard. Under the  boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer!

Now remember, these are all true stories, and these people vote and have  children!

Eric Carmody