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RotarACTION AU Edition 14

January 2016

Chairperson's Welcome ......................................................................... 1

From the Editor's Desk ........................................................................... 1

Australian Rotaract Games 2016 ........................................................... 2

Rotaractors join forces to help the Syrian children refugees.................... 2

East Coast Round Trip ........................................................................... 2

Australian Rotaract Conference 2016 ..................................................... 3

National Project: Rotaractors Against Malaria ......................................... 3

Nominations for Rotaract Australia MDIO 2016 ...................................... 4

Rotary Council on Legislation ................................................................. 4

Outstanding Project Awards deadline ..................................................... 4

Young Leaders in Action ........................................................................ 5

Bridging the Gap at Luna Park ............................................................... 6

Rotaract Australia Merchandise is here! ................................................. 7

International Service Travel Opportunity with Rotarian Malaria Partners . 8

Troy’s PHF ............................................................................................ 9

Harry Potter and the Amazing Trivia Night .............................................. 9

Rotaract New Zealand Roundtrip ........................................................... 9

More about the Syrian Refugees .......................................................... 10

International Rotaract events: .............................................................. 10

Chairperson's Welcome

Happy New Year to all! We’re excited to head into the second half of the

Rotaract year. We’ve had a hugely successful first half, and we are

warming up for Rotaract Games in Sydney which is sure to see

Rotaractors, Rotarians, RYLArians and friends from around the country

immerse themselves in a fun (and slightly competitive) weekend.

I encourage everyone to get something in the calendar for World

Rotaract Week (6th – 12th March) and World Malaria Day (30th April). We

are ramping up Rotaractors Against Malaria and hoping to generate more

than the $11K we raised last year. Please share your events with us so

that we can help you promote.

Rotaract Australia will also be focusing on training our leaders over the

coming months, with DRR training to be followed by Rotaract Training in

several cities around the country. Lastly, we’re pleased to offer some

fresh Rotaract merchandise which you can check out on our website.

All the best for 2016.

-Jake Weragoda, Rotaract Australia Chairperson 2015-2016, Rotaractor

of the Year 2014, Paul Harris Fellow

From the Editor's Desk

Welcome to the first RotarACTION AU of 2016! We are excited to bring

you fresh stories about what we got up to towards the end of last year as

well as upcoming national projects and events.

#RotaractorsAgainstMalaria is gaining momentum with World Malaria

Day coming up in April (here in Australia, Malaria Day is 30th April 2016).

Let us know what your club is doing to kick #GoalsforMalaria!

We've also received an invitation to collaborate with our fellow European

Rotaractors at MED MDIO, who are providing much needed support to

the refugees fleeing Syria. It's a great opportunity to work with

Rotaractors from around the world so please think about what your clubs

can do this year both at home and abroad.

-Holstein Wong, Rotaract Australia PR & Marketing Director 2014-2016

Rotary Serving Humanity is the theme for the 2016-17 Rotary year. This

was announced to the incoming District Governors for 2016-17 at the

Rotary International Assembly in San Diego.

The statement on the Rotary.org website says: RI President-elect John F.

Germ chose Rotary Serving Humanity as his theme for 2016-17. Noting

Rotary’s unique ability to bring together committed professionals to

achieve remarkable goals, Germ believes that “now is the time to

capitalize on our success: as we complete the eradication of polio, and

catapult Rotary forward to be an even greater force for good in the world.”

Australian Rotaract Games 2016

Rotaract D9685 and D9675 are proud to bring you the 5th annual

Australian Rotaract Games, to be held this year in Sydney. Join us at

Sydney University for one of the biggest events on the Rotaract calendar!

Enjoy a weekend away, packed full of sports, teambuilding and socials.

Activities will cater to the sporty, intellectual, social and more, so

whatever your strength is, you’ll make a great addition to your team!

Date: 6-7th February, 2016 (With optional activities on Friday 5th

and Monday 8th)

Cost: $80 for Students and Rylarians, $90 for Adults includes entry,

catering and Saturday night dinner/drinks package)

For a full schedule and Facebook event (including accommodation

options and lots of other useful info), visit games.rotaract.org.au

Tickets close 31st January!

Rotaractors join forces to help the Syrian children

refugees Estève Giraud, Vice President Rotaract Wynnum and Manly, District

9630, invites us to support MED MDIO's refugee relief efforts:

Since 2011, an estimated 9 million people left their homes in Syria

according to UNHCR. Within Syria, 3 out of 4 people lived in poverty at

the end of 2013. In 2015, 500 000 of them reached the E.U., Lebanon

hosts more than 1 million and Egypt 125,000 people. Today, 2,2 million

Syrian children are affected by the crisis.

Spontaneous events and help are growing among Rotaractors located in

the area, and active coordination from the Mediterranean MDIO and its

President Vera Demerjian started last September under the project name

« Med MDIO for Syrian Children ».

The clubs Rotaract Larnaca Kition, Limassol Amathusia and Limassol

Berengeria Cosmpolitan joined their forces to collect clothes, shoes and

hygiene products to help the refugees in the Kofinou village.

In Greece, the Rotaract Club of Athens donated pharmaceutical and

medical supplies to the Greek Center of Disease Control, and received

help from the Rotaract Club of Dubai.

.

Inspired by such a movement of generosity among the Rotaractors, the

Rotaract Club of Wynnum and Manly in Australia (District 9630) reached

different clubs in the Mediterranean area and expressed their desire to

help.

The clubs expressed the need to receive more financial donations from

foreign partners, in order to provide people with hygiene products, baby

milk powder, nappies, bottles, blankets and food.

Our club will organize a BBQ as a fundraising event for the cause, and

will join forces with our Rotary sponsor club and ask for their

contributions. We would love to see this become a multi-club cooperation

within our district, and across districts in Australia as well.

In 2016, the number of Syrian migrants is expected to rise again. This is

an opportunity for all of us to contribute to their cause, and to have the

pleasure to work between clubs for a common goal.

East Coast Round

Trip

The Australian East Coast Round Trip kicked off on Friday 22nd January

at Luna Park Rotary/Rotaract Drinks hosted by Rotaract District 9675. Six

international Rotaractors will spend the next two weeks travelling around

the East Coast of Australia, led by President of UTS Rotaract Courtney

Krahe.

A Rotaract Round Trip is a trip organised by Rotaractors, for Rotaractors

to promote cultural understanding and international connections. Event

organizer Courtney Krahe was fortunate to be selected to attend a Round

Trip in Serbia last year. The experience inspired her to organise a similar

trip in Australia just six months later.

The ‘trippers’ have since connected with Rotaractors in District 9670 with

a social bowling event and are visiting Port Macquarie, exploring

attractions including the Koala Hospital. The trip will continue up to

Brisbane, with stops at Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast,

before returning to Sydney via an inland route. Follow the group on their

trip by liking https://www.facebook.com/East-Coast-Trip-

502725269898814/?fref=ts.

Many of the ‘Trippers’ are staying on to compete at the Australian

Rotaract Games, as our first international competitors, so come along to

ARGs to meet the crew!

We hope this is the first of many more Australian Rotaract Round Trips!

Australian Rotaract Conference 2016

Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 Australian Rotaract Conference, buy

now to secure your tickets at the reduced early bird rate! Enjoy the

beautiful Brisbane weather whilst making new friends, hearing

inspirational stories and connecting with Rotaractors from all around

Australia. Check out www.conference.rotaract.org.au/arc for more details

and tickets!

National Project: Rotaractors Against

Malaria So far we have raised a stunning $10 911.03!

Until recently, if you asked for the most significant moment in the age-old

fight against malaria, the answer would probably be 1897. That's when

Dr. Ronald Ross (soon thereafter decorated with a Nobel Prize and

knighthood) discovered that mosquitoes transmit malaria.

But many decades from now, when the word "malaria" evokes a blank

look or a distant memory of a killer that preyed on the poor and the

young, historians will point to 2015.

This was the year, they will say, when the generation that would end the

deadliest disease the world has ever known, realised the impossible

could be accomplished.

This was the year we recorded stunning global progress against malaria -

- an unprecedented 60% decline in the rate of deaths and 6.2 million lives

saved between 2000 and 2015.

But it wasn't just global leadership that made 2015 so pivotal.

Breakthrough innovations and swift advances in technology promised to

transform the very battleground of our fight against the deadly parasite

and the mosquitoes that carry it to humans.

In 2015, as Chinese scientist Dr. Youyou Tu accepted the Nobel Prize in

Medicine for her discovery of an effective malaria treatment that has

saved millions of lives, scientists in different corners of the world used

advances in gene-editing techniques to create a mosquito incapable of

passing on the parasite.

Meanwhile, breakthrough products moved closer to market. New highly

sensitive diagnostics that can detect malaria even when there are no

symptoms, and single-dose cures continued in clinical trials. This year,

the world's first partially effective malaria vaccine -- while not perfect, but

still a positive step forward -- was approved for use in pilot studies in

Africa.

Success won't just mean defeating this single disease -- it could provide

a blueprint for disease eradication in the 21st century. And it will remind

us of what humankind can accomplish when it harnesses its full capacity

to change the world for the better.

Read the full article at by Martin Edlund published 28/12/15:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/28/opinions/edlund-malaria-2015-

progress/

Nominations for Rotaract Australia MDIO 2016-2017

Do you want to help support Rotaract Clubs to do what they do best?

Rotaract Australia is seeking nominations to fill executive positions

in 2016-17. Positions available are: Vice-Chair (Chair-elect); Secretary;

Treasurer; and PR & Marketing Director. Nominations are open until 16

March. Full role descriptions and requirements are available here*.

Please contact Vice Chair Travis Holland on 0404 237 217 or vice-

chair@rotaract.org.au with any questions. Link: http://travish.co/1UcZfhu

*https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1npQVo7Ah-WXMcI2XRL-

W2Dfk4BI78dOhP3zvoQNkhEU/edit?usp=sharing&pref=2&pli=1

Rotary Council on Legislation - A

Different Perspective

Every three years, Rotarians meet at the Council on Legislation (COL) to

review and vote on proposed legislation. The Council gives Rotarians a

voice in how the organisation is governed. This coming April will see the

next Council on Legislation, and there are several proposals that affect

Rotaract directly. Co-authored by Rotaract Australia Chairperson Jake

Weragoda and Vice Chairperson Travis Holland, a recent blog post

reflects their opinion on these issues.

In April, Rotary’s Council on Legislation will consider, amongst other

proposals, seven changes of direct relevance to Rotaract and

Rotaractors. These include topics such as reverting the fifth avenue of

service from ‘Youth’ to ‘New Generations’, a name which has sea-sawed

in recent years.

The COL will also consider flexible membership, allowing individuals to

be both Rotaractors & Rotarians! Further, as with most COLs, there are

proposed enactments to both decrease and increase the age limit of

Rotaract.

Check out the full blog here: http://rotaract.org.au/1609-2/

If you’d like to have a say on these topics, we’d love to hear from you.

Check out our blog post and write to us.

Outstanding Project Awards deadline is

almost here!

With so many great nominations received for the Australian Rotaract

Awards, it’s obvious that there is a diverse range of amazing projects

being done by Rotaract clubs across the country!

Nominations are now open for the 2015-16 Rotaract Outstanding Project

Awards and it is a great opportunity to share your project and inspire

Rotaractors around the world.

To nominate your club for the 2015-16 Rotaract Outstanding Project

Awards:

Select one project that highlights your club’s commitment,

creativity, and collaboration. Pick a project that is a high-

impact, sustainable service that aligns with at least one of

Rotary’s areas of focus.

Collect photos, social media posts, local media coverage, and

videos of your members in action that demonstrate how

your club creates positive change.

Complete the nomination form by 1 February.

https://jfe1.qualtrics.com/form/SV_3CsjFRcZf6zuWu8

Project submissions will be evaluated in the following areas:

Impact and sustainability (25%)

Alignment with Rotary's six areas of focus and promotion of Rotary's commitment to change lives locally and globally (25%)

Collaboration with Rotarians and community organizations to enhance effectiveness (20%)

Innovation (15%)

Percentage of Rotaract club members involved in development and implementation of project (15%)

Young Leaders in Action | Ready for a

challenge?

There are so many opportunities for Rotaractors and Rotaract Clubs to

take part in, and ways for you and your club to be recognised for all of

your hard work! Make sure you check out the criteria for a Presidential

Citation and work on any activities

your club hasn’t yet completed. A

Presidential Citation is quite

achievable, with many of the

activities relating to keeping your

Rotary.org information up to date.

Earn the Presidential Citation

Around the world, clubs are taking action to

Be a Gift to the World, and President K.R.

Ravindran wants to recognize your hard

work. Earn the Presidential Citation for Interact Clubs or Rotaract Clubs

by completing all the required activities before 31 March. Challenge other

clubs to join you and work together to complete all the activities.

Show off your best shot

Do you have a great photo from a club project, fundraiser, or service trip?

Enter up to three photos in The Rotarian magazine’s

2016 Photo Contest. Show how you capture the people, places, and

projects of Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Rotary Youth Exchange. Submit

your entry by 29 February and you could win $500, or your photos could

be featured in The Rotarian.

Now accepting applications for 2017-18 Rotary Peace Fellowships

You may be able to help prevent or resolve regional and local conflicts

around the globe. Become a peace-builder at one of Rotary’s

six peace centers. With a fully funded Rotary Peace Fellowship, awarded

annually to up to 100 individuals around

the world, qualified candidates earn a

master’s degree or professional

development certificate in a field related to

peace and conflict resolution. Take the

eligibility quiz and watch the application

checklist video. Applications are due by 31

May.

RMQ's Virtual Walk to Cambodia

There are 7,253 kms between Sydney and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The Rotaract Club of Macquarie University aims to raise as many funds

as possible for the Human & Hope Association in Cambodia

(http://www.humanandhopeassociation.org/), a non-government

organisation working to create sustainable futures for impoverished

Cambodians in Siem Reap by providing education, vocational training and

community support. But we can't do it without your help!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1935963039962885/

Date: 29th February to 6th March (First week of Semester 1 at Macquarie

University).

Location: Virtually anywhere! Anyone can take part in this campaign, no matter

where in the world you live. Simply share the event with all your friends (e.g.

via Facebook!) and encourage as many people as possible to get involved!

Prizes will be awarded after the conclusion of the event to Most Steps Achieved

by Individual, Most Steps Achieved by Team, and Most Money Fundraised by

Individual.

This event will help you get fit after the summer holidays and also raise money

for a really worthwhile cause! So get excited everyone, and get involved!

Bridging the Gap at Luna Park

Aidan Simmons, District 9675 Marketing Director, writes about a multi-

district event bringing together different groups of the Rotary family:

Last Friday over 110 Rotaractors, Rotarians and RYLArians from Sydney

shared a drink together with a key difference. They were working hard to

make the world a better place... at least until they hit the fourth drink for

the evening.

Gathering at the Deck Bar, Luna Park, the passionate young leaders of

tomorrow were keen to learn from the previous generation in a fun and

social setting.

Hosted by Rotaract District 9675 the ‘drink and debate’ initiative has seen

a strong interest in the last few months, to the point where bigger venues

are being canvassed for the next one.

District Rotaract Representative, Rebecca Weragoda, said,

“It’s been staggering to see the level of engagement lately! We recently

ran a training day for our club presidents and executives and the energy

in the room was electric”

“With 6 active clubs in the Sydney and surrounding area and 4 more in

the pipeline it’s clear that young people are still committed to the cause of

making the world a better place, no matter what you might have read.”

Also in attendance at the drinks will be graduates from Rotary’s Youth

Leadership program RYLA.

“RYLA is a fantastic program and one close to my heart,” said Mrs

Weragoda.

“It empowers 18 to 25 year olds to unlock their incredible potential, foster

awareness, build lasting friendships and learn valuable leadership skills”.

“RYLA 2016 was an incredible experience from start to finish” said

President of the UOW Rotaract Club, Zachary Fitzpatrick.

“The supportive environment of the program nurtures a welcoming

environment and sets the tone for RYLArians to meet each other and

overcome obstacles.

The most striking and beneficial aspect of RYLA was the continuous

process of learning and doing. The lessons I took away from RYLA will

allow me to dream big, set goals and achieve them,” he said

To find out more visit: https://www.facebook.com/RotaryDistrict9675

Rotaract Australia Merchandise is here!

Head to www.rotaract.org.au/merchandise to grab your order today.

International Service Travel Opportunity with Rotarian Malaria Partners

Do you really want to make a difference?

Experience Wild Africa and

Help save children from Malaria.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Trip scheduled for November 2016

Expressions of interest due by 29th February

Only 5 spots available

Contact us now

malaria@rotaract.org.au

Troy’s PHF

Congratulations to Troy "Wizza" Lawlor for receiving a Paul Harris Fellow

award from the Rotaract Club of Southport for his outstanding

contributions, dedication and & commitment to Rotaract. Troy has been a

District Rotaract Representative, a PR & Marketing Director for Rotaract

Australia and has helped to charter several clubs, plus many more things

which makes him an inspiration to many! You can watch his PHF on

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbph3IrIA0

Harry Potter and the Amazing Trivia

Night

Christopher Poole, of the Provisional Club of North Lakes, explains how

to make a Rotaract event go viral on Facebook:

In an ever changing world of marketing and engagement getting the

community interested in an event can be difficult. On the 24th and 25th of

November 2015 the Rotaract Club of Brisbane Rivercity ran a Harry

Potter trivia night for the Cisarua Refugee Learning centre and showed

how Rotaract clubs can run successful events.

The team selected their demographic and target market before deciding

on an event. The event decided was a themed trivia night based on the

target market being young adults and the networks of members being in

this age group. The network used to spread the event was Facebook and

by inviting individuals by the Rotaractors network the event went viral. In

total the event reached 206,000 people on Facebook with nearly

4000 clicking attending, interested or invited. A week after the

Facebook event was created online ticketing was realised and within a

minute the event for the first night for 225 people was sold out and

the website crashing due to heavy volume.

All Rotaractors and Rotarians can learn something from Brisbane

Rivercity and that is the power of strategic marketing in a modern era. To

get in contact with Rotaract Club of Brisbane Rivercity email

rileylouisethornton@gmail.com

Rotaract New Zealand Roundtrip

Gabby Brand, District 9670 DRR 2015-2016, write about her trip across

to our neighbouring islands of New Zealand:

From the 4th to the 20th of December last year I was lucky enough to

take part in the first ever Rotaract New Zealand Roundtrip, with eight

other Rotaractors from around the world. We were selected by Ari Ray

and Artem Axenov, the two Kiwi Rotaractors who organised the trip, to

undertake a ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ themed tour around the country

to help improve the public’s perception of modern youth.

We started off in Auckland and travelled south through the North Island,

before catching a ferry from Wellington over to the South Island. We then

drove down the west coast and up the east coast, ending the trip in

Nelson, from where we flew back to either Auckland or Wellington to

begin the journey home.

In my two weeks with my Roundtrip family I learnt so much not only about

New Zealand but also about India, Russia, the UK, Germany, Mexico,

France and Malaysia and about the way that people from all different

countries can come together to help their international communities.

In Wellington we spent some time cleaning up a beach and trying to not

let the rubbish that we had picked up get blown away from us again, and

a few days later we baked some ANZAC biscuits to donate to the local

Meals on Wheels service. We also climbed a mountain, walked to a

glacier and went zorbing… among other things!

Although I was glad to come home for Christmas, I am already missing

everyone that I met during my time away and I am still in awe of the

opportunity that I was given in going on this round trip. I would strongly

encourage anyone else considering going on such a trip to apply as

quickly as possible, because there are some many experiences and so

many amazing people just waiting for you!

More about the Syrian Refugees Support Project

Vera Damerjian, Rotaract Med MDIO President 2014-2016, writes about

the Syrian refugee crisis and the efforts of clubs in Lebanon, Cyprus and

Greece:

“As our MDIO is geographically located in the heart of the crisis, we

thought of taking action in helping the Syrian refugees in general and the

children in particular. The concept of our initiative is to create a global

movement for this cause:

– The clubs/districts that are in direct contact with refugees (as in

Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, etc) can aid directly through donations,

animation/education campaigns for children, or any other projects they

find necessary.

– Other clubs/districts around the world (that would like to work for our

cause and do not have refugees in their countries) can help the clubs

who are in direct contact with refugees by organizing fundraisers for them

after discussing the particular needs.

In this way, smaller projects are arranged between different clubs and

districts around the world, all in the same direction of the Med MDIO’s

initiative to help the Syrian Children.”

Get involved with these international Rotaract events:

International Rotaract events are a great way to meet Rotaractors from

around the world, collaborate and share ideas. Check out the following

list of upcoming events, and make sure to share them with other

Rotaractors you know.

2016 Pilipinas Rotaract Convention (PROCON)

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

19-21 February

Rotaract Global Model United Nations at Change the World

Conference

New York City

18-20 March

2016 Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference (APRRC)

Kyoto, Japan

18-21 March

Rotaract in Great Britain & Ireland (RGBI) Conference

Bournemouth, Dorset, England

2 April

District 5730 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp

Floydada, Texas, USA

5-10 June

Young Leader’s Summit (YLS), Rotaract Preconvention and RI Convention

Seoul, South Korea

May-June

Contact Jake if you're keen to go as we'll be coordinating accommodation and shirts for the trip: chairperson@rotaract.org.au