Club Meeting Summary 15 October 2026

Kilmore VIC Rotary Peace Arboretum Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Safe Haven Medical Outreach Say No To Domestic Violence (SNTDV) Serving Humanity And Repurposing Equipment (SHARE) Teacher in a Box

Highlights

  1. Adivasi Language Dictionary, Sri Lanka

  2. Rotary Club of Mooroopna Car Raffle

  3. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training 

  4. Australian Red Cross (ARC) Life Blood 

  5. SHARE - Uganda Container shipment

  6. Social Engagement Sessions

  7. Family of Rotary

  8. Breakout Sessions

  9. Board Members 2027 - 2028

  10. Nominations for Board Member positions for 2027 – 2028 were made for:
    1. Vice-President and President Elect - Brendan Wilkinson
    2. Secretary - Clark Fletcher
    3. Treasurer - Charmaine Hall
    4. Club Administration - Brendan Wilkinson
    5. Membership - Juliet Beckwith
    6. Public Relations - Rachael Gadd
    7. Foundation - Clive Walker
    8. Youth - Liz Long
    9. Youth Protection Officer - Jody Duckworth
    10. Community Service - Kathryn Chivers
    11. International Service - Jenny Foster
  11. Projects Hosted by the Club
    1. SHARE
    2. Teacher in Box
    3. Dambana School, Sri Lanka
    4. Youth
    5. Say No to Domestic Violence
  12. Projects Supported by the Club
    1. Rotary Peace Arboretum, Kilmore
    2. Rice for Cambodia
    3. Safe Haven Medical Outreach Cambodia
  13. Fundraising Committee

Introduction

The Rotary e-Club of Change Makers Club Meeting on 15 October 2026 was attended online via Zoom by 17 members and 6 guests.

President’s Update

President Clark Fletcher provided the following summary:

  1.  Adivasi Language Dictionary, Sri Lanka 

    The Rotary e-Club of Change Makers in partnership with its sister club, the Rotary Club of Badulla and the Rotaract Club of Uva Wellissa University, is preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Vedda people of Sri Lanka, led by Club member Pieter Siebel, who has travelled to Sri Lanka to oversee its successful completion. The Vedda community, an indigenous minority in central Sri Lanka, is witnessing a significant effort to record and preserve their language. This vital project is being carried out by the Rotaract Club of Uva Wellissa University, with management support from the Rotary Club of Badulla. Their dedication ensures that this unique language and culture are safeguarded for future generations. The Club commends Pieter and all involved for their commitment and the positive change they are fostering within the community. On Sunday 03 October 2026, 2 teams, one private and one composing the members of the Rotary Club of Badulla, and Rotaract, visited the village with the document and had every word authenticated by the Vedda people. Each page was authorised by them and Chief Uruwarige Waniaettho formally endorsed them. This validates the work. Pieter Siebel met members of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Education, who were happy to endorse the project as it had endorsement from the Vedda chief. They will be provided with copies for the National Library. The dictionary will be completed by the end of the year. The next step will be the official launch in Sri Lanka around mid-April 2027. Pieter is extending an invitation to all Rotary e-Club of Change Makers members, family and friends to attend and join in the launch. Please let Pieter know if you would like to accompany him to Sri Lanka and to be a part of this amazing project.

  2. Rotary Club of Mooroopna Car Raffle 

    This fundraiser is supported by the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers. For every $5.00 ticket sold by a member of the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers, $3.00 is received by the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers. The proceeds from this raffle will be directed to Safe Haven Medical Outreach, Cambodia where Club member, Kate Arkwright is the Development Director located in Cambodia. 

  3. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training 

    Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training conducted by Werner Vogels and organised by Susan Benedyka has been completed. There were 12 participants from the Club attending two online sessions on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 and Tuesday, 06 October 2026.

  4.  Australian Red Cross (ARC) Life Blood 

    The Rotary Australia e-Club of Change Makers Lifeblood Team has three team members and 9 donations YTD. Members were encouraged to donate to Australian Red Cross (ARC) Life Blood. 

  5. SHARE

    It is confirmed that the Uganda Revenue Authority has finally granted clearance after three months of negotiations. 

    The Sri Lankan laptop shipment remains pending due to clearance requirements.

  6. Social Engagement Sessions

    Kate Thomas and Liz Muturi have proposed the introduction of a social engagement session to Club meetings. It is proposed that meetings will begin at 19:30 to enable this to occur and was discussed positively by the Board. 

  7. Family of Rotary 

    Liz Muturi’s idea of the Family of Rotary was acknowledged as a worthwhile initiative. It focuses on internal club support and member recognition through celebrating milestones and personal achievements.

Breakout Session

The President, Clark Fletcher conducted four Zoom breakout sessions to help members get to know each other better with feedback included in the Chat or sent to Clark Fletcher directly.

Board Members 2027 - 2028

Annual General Meeting has been delayed to Thursday, 2026.11.12 to ensure the Club meets the requirements of the:

  1. Constitution and Rules of the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers Inc, version 6.0 2025.10.30.

  2. By-Laws of the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers, version 6.0 2025.10.30.

Nominations for Board Member positions for 2027 – 2028 were made for:

  • Vice-President and President Elect - Brendan Wilkinson
  • Secretary - Clark Fletcher
  • Treasurer - Charmaine Hall
  • Club Administration - Brendan Wilkinson
  • Membership - Juliet Beckwith
  • Public Relations - Rachael Gadd
  • Foundation - Clive Walker
  • Youth - Liz Long
  • Youth Protection Officer - Jody Duckworth
  • Community Service - Kathryn Chivers
  • International Service - Jenny Foster

These nominations do not preclude other members being nominated for a Board Member position. In the event that more than one member is nominated for Board Member position, an election for that Board Member position will be conducted.

Projects Hosted by the Club

  1. Serving Humanity and Repurposing Equipment (SHARE)
    1. Sophie Enders will become the wildlife technical advisor.
    2. Upcoming opening of the Pan-African Endometriosis Wellness Centre in Uganda in March 2027, where Rotarians are invited to attend.
  2. Teacher in a Box
    1. Recent website updates.
    2. Deployment team's work in Flores, Indonesia, including teacher training.
    3. The Club’s website has a photo album on Teacher in a Box - Flores, Indonesia.
  3. Dambana School, Sri Lanka
    1. Difficulties with customs clearance for computers
    2. Intermittent solar power.
  4. Youth
    1. Importance of meeting legal requirements for youth programs, including working with children checks and new Victorian government regulations that come into effect on October 2026.
    2. Ireland Letson will attend Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) at the end of the month as a candidate.
  5. Say No to Domestic Violence
    1. Albury Walk
      1. Date: 30 November 2026
      2. Time: 11.00 am (to be confirmed)
      3. Location: Start at Young Street Route Walk down Dean Street to QEII Square Activities at QEII Square
    2. Wodonga Walk
      1. Date: 25 November 2026 (to be confirmed)
      2. Collaboration with Wodonga TAFE
      3. Participants will join with Wodonga & TAFE for combined activities.

Projects Supported by the Club

  1. Rotary Peace Arboretum (Kilmore)
    1. Agreement with Sonny Gomez regarding the land
    2. Upcoming discussion with the Preston Rotary Club.
    3. New sign on the gate at the entrance.
  2. Rice for Cambodia
    1. Four board members are in Siem Reap and distributed 640 kg of goods, with nine people planning to visit in November.
    2. Challenges with clean water and toilet installations due to heavy rains, with plans for a Rotary delegation to visit and assess the work in November 2026.
  3. Safe Haven Medical Outreach Cambodia
    1. Challenges due to floods
    2. Progress in donations and plans for building washrooms for children with disabilities.
    3. Rotary e-Club of Change Makers proceeds from the Rotary Club of Mooroopna car raffle would support Safe Haven Medical Outreach Cambodia.
    4. Kate Arkwright is set to speak about the outreach in early in 2027. 

Committees

  1. Fundraising Committee.
    1. Fundraising as the following objectives:
      1. Offset administration costs.
      2. Contribute proceeds to Club hosted projects and club supported projects.
      3. Provide a shared purpose for Club members.
    2. Fundraising initiatives include exploring corporate sponsorships and Rotary in the Raw.
    3. Beechworth event on 05 November 2026 including the Polio Banner. Cooks and helpers are needed. Clark Fletcher offered to help Robyn transport plants and mentioned producing rhubarb chutney.

General Business

Sunny Gomez of the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell will be a guest speaker at the next meeting to discuss cybersecurity and AI topics