Highlights
 | Rtn Karen Hucks: “My Life Story in 5 minutes" Rotary e-Club of Change Makers member, Karen Hucks has over 25 years in the community and not for profit sector as a Board member, a Director, Program Manager and Consultant and Change Management Facilitator also as a trainer in the not-for-profit sector and TAFE.
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- New members induction of Ahhleeyah Grace and Corinne Maxwell
- Bella Robertson has volunteered to be the new Bulletin Editor and working with Brendan Wilkinson through a training transition.
- Rotary Zone 8 proposal will reduce the number of districts from 19 to 9 districts.
- Next Lucky Numbers Fundraiser for AusPak Welfare Society
- Rotary Foundation - Rotary Direct is available at https://my.rotary.org/en/rotary-direct.
- Rotary e-Club of Change Makers Lifeblood Team - “Rotary Australia e-Club of Change Makers”
- End Polio Pass the Baton Relay
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training
- Conferences:
- Rotary South Pacific Conference – Melbourne – 30 October 2026 – 01 November 2026.
- District 9790 Conference – Corowa – 19 – 21 March 2027.
Introduction
The Rotary e-Club of Change Makers Club Meeting on 06 August 2026 was attended online via Zoom by 25 members and 1 guest.
President Clark Fletcher welcomed all those in attendance.
President's Report
President Clark Fletcher provided the following summary:
Article by Susan Benedyka, titled ‘Finding Your Passion in Rotary’ appearing in the Rotary District 9790 Newsletter, July 2026, p.12, https://www.rotary9790.org.au/documents/en-ca/0ad3f468-4663-4d9a-a086-0be135a9a2d5/1 (although attributed to Rachael Gadd). This article will appear in the next edition of Rotary Down Under Magazine.
Membership Action Plan (MAP) membership engagement survey within the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers will be running soon.
Announcement of the resignation of Susannah Pairman-Bradley from the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers. This will be formally accepted at the next Rotary e-Club of Change Makers Board Meeting on Tuesday, 13 August 2026.
Clark Fletcher thanked Brendan for taking over as the editor of the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers bulletin. New Rotary e-Club of Change Makers member Bella Robertson has volunteered to become the new editor and Brendan Wilkinson is currently training her to take over in the next few weeks.
There is a barbecue fundraiser at Bunnings Hardware, 95 Tone Road, Wangaratta, VIC on Saturday 15 August 2026. This is a major fundraising opportunity with a profit between $800.00 to $1 100.00 and goes a long way to funding club expenses and Rotary programs. Robyn Jones has requested additional volunteers for the Bunnings barbecue event, particularly for the 14:00 – 15:00 time slot. Contact Robyn Jones at robynjones@fastmail.com.au.
The upcoming redistricting of Rotary Zone 8 proposal will reduce the number of districts from 19 to 9 districts. While District 9790 would be combined with others, it would have minimal impact on the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers as it is an e-club and could lead to larger, better district conferences. The Board will review the proposal and vote based on its deliberations.
Just prior the start of the formal meeting, Mary Henley-Collopy and Sandi Fulcher discussed a sip and paint event at Mary’s home art studio in Essendon North with a tentative date of the third week in August 2026.
My Life Story in 5 Minutes
Rotary e-Club of Change Makers member, Karen Hucks | Rtn Karen Hucks: “My Life Story in 5 minutes" Rotary e-Club of Change Makers member, Karen Hucks has over 25 years in the community and not for profit sector as a Board member, a Director, Program Manager and Consultant and Change Management Facilitator also as a trainer in the not-for-profit sector and TAFE. With over 15 years at Uniting Vic Tas consulting, developing and facilitating material in work places and community settings. Teaching at RMIT in areas such as counselling, organisational leadership, facilitation, Domestic and Family Violence, suicide awareness and strengths-based communication, trauma informed care. Qualifications and expertise include Organisational Leadership and Management, Professional Education and Training (workplace training and development), counselling, and health promotion and health education. Also other training such as suicide prevention, domestic and family violence and mental health first aid and financial literacy. Karen shared her personal background in social justice work and discussed her approach to self-care through activities like walking her Border Collie Ella and travelling. She presented photos from recent travels in England, including visits to Hadrian's Wall and St. Michael's Mount, emphasising how these experiences help her manage stress from her demanding work. Karen also discussed her involvement with the Cambodian Refugee Committee. |
New Member Induction
President Clark Fletcher welcomed new members Ahhleeyaha Grace and Corinne Maxwell to the Rotary e-Club of Change Makers and announced that the Club now has 49 members including the resignation of Susannah Pairman-Bradley.
Breakout Sessions
President Clark Fletcher arranged for breakout sessions of 10 m to help new members get acquainted.
General Business
Rotary Foundation
Susan Benedyka presented on the Rotary Foundation, highlighting that it is Rotary’s charity arm. Susan demonstrated the new Rotary Direct donation platform where members can contribute recurring donations to various Rotary Foundation funds including:
It was noted that donations of AUD$2.00 from Australian taxpayers are tax deductible. Rotary Direct is available at https://my.rotary.org/en/rotary-direct. For more information, contact: Susan Benedyka Foundation Chair Rotary e-Club of Change Makers Email: susan@susanbenedyka.com |  |
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
 | Brendan Wilkinson discussed the establishment of a Club Lifeblood team for donating, blood, plasma and other blood products under the Rotary Australia e-Club of Changemakers. A Lifeblood Team is a group formed by friends, coworkers, or community members to donate blood, plasma, or platelets together and pool their life-saving tally. Individual Rotary Lifeblood teams are registered under the umbrella of Rotary Australia. The Club’s Lifeblood team is ‘Rotary Australia e-Club of Changemakers’. To find the Club’s Lifeblood team access the website shown below and search on ‘Rotary Australia e-Club of Changemakers’. Find Your Lifeblood Team https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/jointeam For more information or assistance contact Brendan Wilkinson Secretary and Club Administration Rotary e-Club of Change Makers |
On To Conference
Conference reminders:
Rotary Zone 8, South Pacific Conference – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), South Wharf, Melbourne – 30 October 2026 – 01 November 2026. Information about the Rotary International Zone 8 Rotary South Pacific Conference is available at the following website: https://www.rotarysouthpacific.org/page/zoneconference2026
Rotary District 9790 Conference – Corowa – 19 – 21 March 2027. Details are below:
Rotary District 9790 web site: https://www.rotary9790.org.au/sitepage/conference-2026-2027
See the Humanitix web site: https://events.humanitix.com/d9790-district-conference
- Coordinate potential bulk motel booking in Corowa. Contact Clive Walker (clivejw@bigpond.com).
End Polio Now
Kathryn Chivers and Susan Benedyka outlined plans for the End Polio Pass the Baton Relay, proposing to have members take photos with the baton throughout November to raise funds for Polio Plus. For more information, contact:
Susan Benedyka
Foundation Chair
Rotary e-Club of Change Makers
Email: susan@susanbenedyka.com
Lucky Numbers
Lawrie Leeman presented on the Lucky Numbers fundraising initiative, which will raise $2 000.00 for AusPak Welfare Society.
For further information contact:
Lawrie Leeman OAM
International Chair
Rotary e-Club of Change Makers
Mental Health First Aid Training
Susan Benedyka announced plans for mental health first aid training with Werner Vogels, seeking 12 participants from the club.
For more information, contact:
Susan Benedyka
Foundation Chair
Rotary e-Club of Change Makers
Email: susan@susanbenedyka.com