2018 – 2019 Melinda Jackson
As the Rotary year draws to a close, it is time to reflect on the events of 2018 - 2019. Firstly, to thank the Club for entrusting me with the position, and secondly to thank all members for their support throughout the year as we strived to 'Be the Inspiration" for our community.
Rotary is above all a community organisation, operating at local, national and international level to improve conditions for all.
For me , a highlight has been to provide a forum for local groups to share their vision for improvement, as seen in the ‘Pick my Project’ night.Two of the groups who addressed us were successful in moving to the next step towards realisation of their dreams of a heated indoor pool, and a new Scout facility for Murrindindi Shire.
We continue to interact with clubs from nearby; Mansfield joined us for a vocational visit to the cherry shed at Yarck and assisted with Cycle Dindi for the first time. Our relationship with Yea strengthened as we worked together to present the 4th Cycle Dindi, while social evenings with Seymour Rotary, where some golf and football skills may (or may not) have been on display, encouraged friendship between members of our respective clubs.
The club continues to be a supporter of established projects such as our Annual Easter Art Show, our youth programs and our firewood program to mention just a few, while also adopting new projects such as the ‘Music in the Park’. This is a great way of bringing our community together in a convivial, low cost environment.
Membership continues to be an issue, and it is vital that we are seen as a group to which it is a pleasure to belong and which makes a meaningful difference to the life of our community. New ideas are welcome - we cannot continue to do the same old, same old, otherwise we run the risk of following the dinosaurs to extinction. Several new members have joined during the year, and we look forward to their contributions to the life of the Club.
On a more positive note, we have just run a very successful 50th Annual Easter Art Show, which attracted much positive feedback. Collaboration with other groups such as, but not limited to U3A , the Brass Band and the Beanie Festival group has helped to raise awareness of what Rotary can and does do in this community.
In conclusion, I would like to thank our Rotary Club for the opportunity to serve as your president, to thank our members and wider community for their generous support of our club.
I congratulate incoming President Tom Farrell and look forward to serving the Rotary Club of Alexandra under his leadership in the Rotary 2019 - 2020 year.
Melinda
The new board of Rotary Alexandra.
Community Service: David Dimech
International Service: Debbie Skinner
Membership Lynda Robinson
Past President: Melinda Jackson
President elect and Club Service: Emily Marr
Publicity/ advertising: Rob Chaffe
Secretary: Chris Jackson
Treasurer: Ina Gibb
Vocational Service: Ross Thompson
Youth: John Cannon
President: Tom Farrell
