Speech to RC of Albert Park – Jon Faine Luncheon

Address to Jon Faine /Heat lunch
held at the

Republica Restaurant, St Kilda Baths, Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda.
Thank you for the invitation to speak at this special lunch.

As Immediate Past District Governor I don’t get too many opportunities to speak publicly these days so I am delighted to be here to say a few words and also to listen to Jon Faine speak on improving Rotary’s public image, while at the same time recognising the great work of the HEAT, Hospitality Employment and Training organisation.

In fact today’s lunch is a terrific event for me as it recognises many of the things we focused on last Rotary year during my years as Governor.

You will remember our world President John Kenny’s theme of “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands” with his focus on the 5 important areas of emphasis for last year of:

Water and Sanitation,
Health and Hunger
Literacy
Youth Service,
and Public Image

With the adding of my District goal to provide a greater awareness of Vocation Service and the opportunity one’s Vocation, ones skill set, trade or profession to enhance the opportunity for service within each and every Rotary club and very importantly in the boarder community.

Today’s lunch recognises three of those goals being Youth Services, Vocation Service and of course Rotary’s public Image.

I would like to make a couple of comments on each of these 3 areas:

Firstly

Service to Youth
We Rotarians, have the opportunities and the obligation to serve young people
and to assist them in their education and development.
Youth is our greatest asset; they are our future.

Through our commitment to programs such as HEAT we can help young people to find their way into society so they can become responsible leaders of the future.

I was impressed to hear that the aim of HEAT is to be is an innovative and practical program that assists young people in developing self-esteem: gaining accredited training qualifications, providing work experience in local businesses and preparing our young people for the world of work.
When considering the future you cannot ask for a better aim than that.

The vocation aspects are also up front and centre by providing to those participating with industry specific training, work readiness, work experience and most importantly employment for our young people.

I am sure many have benefited from this program and more will do so in the future.

Briefly looking at:

Public Image
Developing Rotary’s public image is the responsibility of every single Rotarian
and one of the most vital challenges confronting us all at this time. Our membership development and our long term survival depends on it.

Rotarians must become involved in programs and activities such as the HEAT as they show everyone Rotary’s strong commitment to young people and our community.

All involved are to be congratulated.

However before I finish I would like to single out one person

Lead in to PHF:

PHF presentation _ DG version

One of the highlights of being an officer of rotary international is that on special occasions I am asked to present a PHF recognition on behalf of the club, to a person who’s life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of the rotary foundation.

Those objectives are to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.

A Paul Harris fellow is a recognition that was introduced in 1957, by our foundation, the rotary foundation, in honour of Paul Harris our founder.

It is an award highly cherished by both Rotarians and non Rotarians as it recognises their service to the community.

In becoming a Paul Harris fellow the recipient joins a remarkable company of persons throughout the world, all who have been recognised for their devotion to the ideal of service above self.

In recognition of this award the Rotary Club of Albert Park has made a contribution of $1000 US to the Rotary Foundation to enable it to carry out programs that will help to improve conditions in the world such the eradication of the polio virus, improved food production, the provision of safe water and sanitation and also the opportunity to provide literacy programs for more than 800 million people in the world who cannot read or write.

Could I please call Vanessa Murnane HEAT Manager to come forward.

Vanessa the members of the Rotary Club of Albert Park believe you uphold the ideal of service above self and wish to recognise you today with a PHF Recognition.

I have great pleasure in presenting you with the 3 emblems of recognition given to a Paul Harris fellow

The medallion

And the pin

The certificate

The certificate reads: in appreciation of the tangible assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world.

Vanessa spent 12 years working her way through Australia and the United Kingdom in hospitality management and training. Vanessa joined HEAT in 2007 as the program coordinator and is committed to sharing her knowledge and skills with young people who are the future in the hospitality industry.
In Vanessa’s words:
“I love the many different aspects of working with young people in a hospitality environment and the HEAT events bring the community together and allow the students to shine”.

Will you all please stand and congratulate your newest Paul Harris

HEAT

Tim Hansen
Emma Crichton
Vanessa Murname
Greg Smith

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