Newsletter 27 2-2012
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The document provides information about upcoming events for the Rotary Club of Parramatta City, including: 1) A busy few months with events like the Rotary Alumni Dinner in March and the District Conference in late March. 2) A guest speaker presenting via DVD on the future of Rotary. 3) An opportunity to share a display stand with the Macular Degeneration Foundation at a craft show in early March. 4) A new PhD scholar awarded a scholarship from Australian Rotary Health to research breast cancer.
![Rotary Club of Parramatta City
FORMER PEACE FELLOW PURSUES HUMAN RIGHTS
By Kate Nolan
Rotary International News -- 14 February 2012
A barrister for the British government, Francesca Del Mese sought a Rotary Peace Fellowship in order to
pursue international work.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Watford, England, she applied and was accepted into the 2002-04 class
at the University of Queensland in Australia. For her applied field experience, she worked in the UN
Special Court for Sierra Leone, and later prosecuted war criminals of the former Yugoslavia in The
Hague. As a consultant at The Hague, she trained judges from Jordan on international criminal law.
Del Mese is one of more than 600 former peace fellows who have
gone on to build peace in their communities and nations after
completing their Peace Centers studies. This year marks the 10th
anniversary of the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace
and conflict resolution.
In 2007, Del Mese traveled to Uganda to advise a London-based
nonprofit concerned with human rights violations stemming from
the country’s 20-year civil war. Del Mese interviewed dozens of the
some 30,000 Ugandan children who survived abduction.
“I typically would hear that they had been taken in the middle of the
night by rebels, their families were murdered in front
of them, and they were beaten and forced to fight for several years
before either escaping or being released,” Del Mese said.
Having missed the chance to receive an education, those who
1 Francesca Del Mese, 2002-04 returned home found only menial jobs with meager wages, such as
Rotary Peace Fellow picking up garbage or digging holes.
“Without education, their chances of getting better jobs were hopeless,” said Del Mese. “Many
[interviewees] were specific about what they wanted to be: teachers, tailors, builders, accountants.”
Last year, Del Mese became the legal adviser, based in Geneva, for the UN Commission of Inquiry into
atrocities committed in Syria. She has since moved back to the London area, but some dark memories
have been difficult to escape, such as reviewing multiple torture cases.
“Now I bank well-being,” Del Mese says, explaining why she spends much of her free time walking her
dog, Sadie, in the quiet woods near her home.
Current and former Rotary Peace Fellows, other Rotary Foundation alumni, and Rotarians will have an
opportunity to hear the latest developments in peace and conflict resolution and learn practical skills
from experts in the field during the Rotary World Peace Symposium in Bangkok, Thailand. The](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/newsletter27-2-2012-120224235739-phpapp02/85/Newsletter-27-2-2012-5-320.jpg)
Newsletter 27 2-2012
- 1. Rotary Club of Parramatta City COMMUNITY NETWORKER ROTARY CLUB OF PARRAMATTA CITY VILLAGE AIDE PRESIDENT MESSAGE PROGRAM A small group meet for dinner at the Two Forks restaurant at the Sebel Hotel to celebrate Rotary anniversary last Thursday and it was an excellent night organized by Prashanth. I can report the Redhands Gala night was sold out and Prashanth’s wife Priya was one of the star dancers for the night, funds will go to the For those looking for a broadly based, foundation for micro credit lending. multifaceted project, the Village Aide Program may be just the thing. We have a busy few months coming up and David will be asking for This Philippines located program looks to the welfare, educational, numbers for the Rotary Alumni Dinner on March 7th, it will be an health and resources of needy opportunity to hear from the Finnish Group Study Team members communities aiming to provide support through practical, hands on vocational backgrounds, their first impressions of Australia and our commitments by visiting volunteer teams. District. The event will be held at the Parramatta Leagues Club, plenty Volunteers, professional, trades people, and those with enthusiasm of parking available. A thank you to Mark Hancock for hosting one of but perhaps less skills are also the members from Finland, John Surian missed out on hosting the fitness welcome. There is work for medical professionals, construction teams, instructor, not as quick as some. administrators and just “gophers”, often all coming together to provide I had a call from DG David Cook will concern’s on the lack of much needed local services. Teams members booked for the Conference at Penrith. You need to book for usually spend two weeks on a project and can be of male and/or female catering of tea breaks and lunches, members will not be able to just roll members. To date projects undertaken include up and expect entry. So David Ross will again be following through with the provision of meals to drought and flood victims along with a well our attendees and whether you have booked. If not go to established breakfast program for http://rotaryd9690conference.org.au to make your booking. David Ross school children; medical missions for both major and minor surgery; design is also taking suggestions for the theme clothing to wear on the and construction of schools and water systems; dispensing spectacles Saturday night. John Surian is going to make the Legion Standard for to sight impaired and medicines to the the Club using all his Italian knowledge. sick ; provision of low cost housing and rebuilding of dilapidated public John Ching will asking for volunteers on Monday to drop off and amenities. The VAP is looking for teachers, pick up from a few of the chemist shops in and around Parramatta, not doctors, nurses, builders, a hard job but necessary for the Bowelcare operation to be effective. administrators, accountants and anyone who has time to spare. Also drop in and buy one, just ask some of our members how this help Financial support is also most welcome. This is a project conducted them to survive. under RAWCS guidelines with the associated support mechanisms. President Elect John Ching has notified 2012-2013 Board members of Contact:. the District Assembly and the need to attend, unprepared and PDG Bill Little (Chairman) Ph:02 9728 1679 • Email: untrained will not make your job easy. Also if there are any members of litlebil@bigpond.net.au More information is available on committees who would like to attend please advise John of your www.vap.ph interest, as the Assemblies are just for Board members but also for future board members. Barry Antees
- 2. Rotary Club of Parramatta City CALENDAR OF EVENTS February 27 Alice Wong-China opportunities March 2 ARH- Golf Day at Riverside 3 Multi-District PETS- Campbelltown 5 Pride of Workmanship Evening-POSTPONED 7 Group Study Exchange Alumni dinner – Parramatta Leagues 19 Michael Crosslands- Ignite the fire within 23-25 District Conference- Penrith April 2 John Watters 29 District Assembly 30 Police Officer of the Year POSTPONED May 6-9 International Convention-Bangkok 14 Australian Rotary Health- PHD Scholars night July 6 Club Changeover GUEST SPEAKER (VIA DVD) Stuart Heal-Rotary International Director A wonderful presentation will be seen for the future of Rotary, If you want to see where Rotary is heading at least in Stuart’s vision, this is a must see on Monday. DAVID’S PEARLS Habit Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time. - Mark Twain Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. - Jim Ryun Bad habits are easier to abandon today than tomorrow. - Yiddish Proverb
- 3. Rotary Club of Parramatta City The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones. -Somerset Maugham MACULAR DEGENERATION Fellows and colleagues from nearby Parramatta, We have been offered an opportunity to share a display stand with the Macular Degeneration Foundation at a craft show at Rosehill Gardens form 8-11 March. I know this is only two weeks away but I was unsure of the requirements up until this week. It seems the MD Foundation have offered the shared space to Rotary through our District Governor, David Anderson in Yea, Victoria. The hours for the event are 10.00 – 4.30 pm at the Rosehill Gardens (8-11 March). They suggest 3 people at any time could man the display – the company running the show (Expertise Events) are proving 4 free entries each day and as one of these should go to the Opthalmologist from Vision Eye Group, that will leave three free entries for Rotarians. There is an added bonus in that each “Host” District (these events are being run across Australia throughout the year) will receive $1000 for manning the stand over the three days. This can be shared with any other District who supplies ‘manpower’ to support the trade stand. I will contact the other district 9680 and 9750 if we need additional resources. Full details on the Expertise Events can be found at www.expertiseevents.com.au or on the Sydney event at www.craftandsew.com.au/Sydney2012/ I would be grateful if you would all mention it at your meetings this week and let me know as soon as possible if you can support us with manpower. I have assured of being provided with display materials and handouts form RDU and ARH so all we really need are the bodies to man the stall on a roster basis. Cheers and thanks David Cook District Governor 2011-12, Rotary International District 9690 inc ANOTHER PHD SCHOLAR- AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH Jaesung Peter Choi has been awarded the 2012 ARH/Rotary Club of Dural/David Henning Memorial Foundation Funding Partner Scholarship investigating Breast Cancer. Jaesung will be studying at ANZAC Research Institute(USYD-Medicine). Hi Jaesung, Congratulations on being awarded a PhD scholarship to investigate Breast Cancer.
- 4. Rotary Club of Parramatta City You are the 7th person to be associated with our Rotary Club as a result of being awarded a PhD scholarship. Our members look forward to meeting you in the future and hearing about your proposed research project. For the past few years we have had an annual function when we have all our PhD scholars making short presentations. This year the function is planned for Monday evening 14th May. We would ask that you keep this night free. I will arrange for more details to be given to you nearer the event. In the meantime if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Once again, congratulations. Yours in Rotary service, Keith Henning Footnote: Tonelle Handley from Univ of Newcastle has had scholarship confirmed for her third year in 2012. Tonelle’s project is entitled ‘Suicide in Australia: Determinants. moderators and treatment options for suicidal thoughts and behaviours’. SISTER CLUB-RAMON MAGSAYSAY Some notes from an email. Tomorrow Feb.24 to 26 PP Romy ,Rtn.Mherlyn, PP Boy and Rtn.Rizza will attend the our district RYLA to be held at Silang,Cavite. This coming Sunday Pres.Joue, PP Ramil, IPP Rey, PE Larry and others will go to Mindoro to install our solar project at the Mangyan community in Barangay Baco.
- 5. Rotary Club of Parramatta City FORMER PEACE FELLOW PURSUES HUMAN RIGHTS By Kate Nolan Rotary International News -- 14 February 2012 A barrister for the British government, Francesca Del Mese sought a Rotary Peace Fellowship in order to pursue international work. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Watford, England, she applied and was accepted into the 2002-04 class at the University of Queensland in Australia. For her applied field experience, she worked in the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, and later prosecuted war criminals of the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. As a consultant at The Hague, she trained judges from Jordan on international criminal law. Del Mese is one of more than 600 former peace fellows who have gone on to build peace in their communities and nations after completing their Peace Centers studies. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. In 2007, Del Mese traveled to Uganda to advise a London-based nonprofit concerned with human rights violations stemming from the country’s 20-year civil war. Del Mese interviewed dozens of the some 30,000 Ugandan children who survived abduction. “I typically would hear that they had been taken in the middle of the night by rebels, their families were murdered in front of them, and they were beaten and forced to fight for several years before either escaping or being released,” Del Mese said. Having missed the chance to receive an education, those who 1 Francesca Del Mese, 2002-04 returned home found only menial jobs with meager wages, such as Rotary Peace Fellow picking up garbage or digging holes. “Without education, their chances of getting better jobs were hopeless,” said Del Mese. “Many [interviewees] were specific about what they wanted to be: teachers, tailors, builders, accountants.” Last year, Del Mese became the legal adviser, based in Geneva, for the UN Commission of Inquiry into atrocities committed in Syria. She has since moved back to the London area, but some dark memories have been difficult to escape, such as reviewing multiple torture cases. “Now I bank well-being,” Del Mese says, explaining why she spends much of her free time walking her dog, Sadie, in the quiet woods near her home. Current and former Rotary Peace Fellows, other Rotary Foundation alumni, and Rotarians will have an opportunity to hear the latest developments in peace and conflict resolution and learn practical skills from experts in the field during the Rotary World Peace Symposium in Bangkok, Thailand. The
- 6. Rotary Club of Parramatta City symposium, together with the Rotary Alumni Celebration, will be held 3-5 May, immediately preceding the 2012 RI Convention. PRESIDENT’S WANT LIST WANT No 1. We are a vocational based service organization. Our members all have a business background and one of the major survival technics in businesses is succession planning. If we want our business to survive we need to know that if anything happens to me, who understands my business and can step up to the plate. Therefore my No 1 “want” is all members put into practice what they already do in business, but this time it is a session plan for their membership of our club. That is, who will replace me when I leave the Rotary Club of Parramatta City. We need to have in place a club survival practice of succession membership I want every member to identify a successor for themselves by October 2012 being our vocational month. By this date you will advise the membership Director who your successor is. WANT No 2. Knowledge is a wonderful gift and my second want is I would like all members to adopt a program or project as their Rotary knowledge base as to be able to speak on the subject when-ever called upon to do so. This may be at a meeting, at one of our projects or just when doing business. If you need resources read your Rotary Down Under magazine or use the online version of the programs of Rotary at http://www.rotarydownunder.com.au/rotary-programs.asp or go to the Rotary International website http://www.rotary.org FACEBOOK We have now available for the club a new facebook page the shortcut is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rotary-Club-of-Parramatta-City/108769975845097 Please visit, make comments, open discussions and for your initial visit please hit the “like button”. The reason is the more members who like the page, we receive additional features. The Facebook page is not a substitute for our website, but more of an additional way to reach our audience.