Today, I have reached the conclusion of one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  To be given the chance to serve as President to probably the greatest Rotary Club in Australia has been an honour for me: especially when the name at the top of this Chain of Office is Sir John Monash - President in 1922.

For me, great grandson of an illegal Chinese immigrant, to be given this position is a tribute to my forebears who carved their names in the history and fabric of Victoria, over many years.

I do not wish to go over what was said last week by VP'S Greg Romanes and Barry Murphy in their respective Reports.  Further detail will also be available in my quarterly President's Report, BUT I would like to highlight some important aspects that I believe have made for a most successful Rotary Year - apologies for being biased.

In my Incoming Address I stated my three aims for 2006/2007

Fellowship, Membership and Administration.

Fellowship

I quote current World President Bill Boyd:

"Strong Rotary Clubs stand out by the quality of their fellowship.  It was important in Chicago in 1905, and is as important today"

I have endeavoured to make our Club stand out by the quality of its fellowship.

Due to the size of our Club, our Group's are central to quality fellowship.  I therefore vowed that I would visit each Group at least twice this year plus of course the traditional Christmas Dinners.  In fact, Janet and I have visited Peninsula Group four times!!!

My special thanks go to all Group Captains who helped co-ordinate the two very successful Chinese Dinners raising over $12,000.00 for Healthy Hearts, TRF and the RCMCF.

We experienced great international fellowship with visits from the R.C of Goksu, Turkey last October and more recently from our sister Club Osaka.  Next year is the 30^th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Melbourne and Osaka and we as sister Clubs will be participating.  Both Clubs are looking to send a GSE group to visit each others' cities, thereby strengthening our relationship.  The International Fellowship Committee will be organising a reciprocal visit to Osaka to celebrate their 85^th Birthday next year.

Our Club's attendance at the District Conference to Canberra numbered 38 members and partners who enjoyed a great experience.  It was especially gratifying to see many new attendees.

I am sure you would agree, that one of the pleasures of being in Rotary is the opportunity of meeting interesting people from all walks of life.  For Janet and I, the most pleasurable part of being President is all the new friendships.

Membership

Membership growth and retention is the life blood of Rotary.

Our total membership today is 285 -

263 registered members, having inducted 26 and lost 11, a net increase of 15 and there are 22 Honorary Members.

Unfortunately, 4 Eminent Honorary Members passed away this year.  Past President's John Moir, Geoff Cox and Owen Parnaby and our longest serving member Ken Blair who was inducted in 1944, all great contributors to the Club over many years and will be sadly missed.

Last week we heard from PGD Ian Knight on the outcome of our submission to the Council on Legislation regarding Corporate Membership -this remains a work in progress.

Administration

We had a change in Office Manager's half way through this year and I am pleased to report Jo Mavros has been a most enthusiastic and super- efficient replacement.

Bringing all aspects of office administration, membership and the Treasury back into the office has been a major project that was carried over from last year.  I am pleased to report that this task has all but been completed.

I would like to pose a simple question to all members  -

Should the Club own it's own office instead of renting?

This year the  Board has begun to consider this question and the new Board will be developing the case further.  We will be involving all members in the decision which has to be made before September 2008.

By strengthening these three key aspects of the Club - Fellowship, Membership and Administration the Club will always be well placed to perform its real objective.

"Service above Self"

I never cease to be amazed by the extent and quality of the projects this Club is involved in.

The Rotary Foundation - we have a record 30 new Centurions this year and the Club's contribution to TRF  has exceeded $60,000.00.

Matching Grants - Cambodian Leprosy Project with the RC Bangkok and RCO,  Indian Water project with the RC Udiapur, Solar energy project with sister Club Osaka for our Donydji Indigenious project

What this Club has done this year and in all past years has been due to individual members:  nothing happens by itself.

What I truly believe is that Rotary is about people.  Early on in my Presidency, Past R.I President Royce Abbey said to me that it is individual Rotarians not the organization that make things happen.  SO TRUE !!!!  Three Examples -

1.    Second Bite a great hand-on project with over 60 members, family and friends are rostered each Saturday afternoon to collect fresh food from Prahran Market for the Sacred Heart Mission - all due to the initiative of PP Bob Glindemann. 

2.    The Health Issues Committee has worked for the past 6 years endeavouring to obtain official recognition for "Carers of the Mentally Ill" - in particular, family members.  Through the work of members Margaret Leggatt and Robin Syme great progress has been made.  Carers of the Mentally Ill are now officially recognised in the Mental Health Act.  

3.    In 2002 the Welfare of the Elderly Committee and with great initiative shown by Rtn Rob Helme put together a joint project with the Office of the Public Advocate that might lead to a better uptake of Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) in Victoria.  The collaboration between the partners developed an information package that has included the production of an excellent information CD in 2007 called "Taking Control".  The Committee is now working on seeing that the information is used.  I suggest that this could be a great District initiative.

These projects will have a lasting impact on our wider Community and were due to the commitment of a few dedicated Melbourne Rotarians and their Committees.

An interesting observation I have made this year - This Club has a unique position in Rotary in our District and in Australia.  Being the oldest and largest Club with a great Rotary history, I think we have the responsibility to lead the way.  I have noticed this year the number of projects we are doing jointly with other Clubs, acting as a facilitator:

- Town & Country Exchange - city kids to the country and vice versa, a joint project with the RC Bairnsdale.

- Donydji Homelands Project in Arnhem Land - now approximating $1m in cash and kind.  On the ground co-operation with the RC Darwin.

- Healthy Hearts - Beyond City Limits - our major Rotary International Centenary project which started out as a $350,000.00 project and has developed into a $730,000.00 project.  The implementation of the project revolves around the support of 10 regional Rotary Clubs in        Victoria.  Currently we are running a pilot with the RC Colac.

- "Homelessness in the City of Melbourne".  This project has become a joint project with the R.C of Southbank.  The project has led to the two Club's involvement with "Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup & Community Street Soccer program".  Again the implementation of the project involves RC's from all over Australia.  Currently we have facilitated the project to Rotary Clubs in Geelong and Ballarat, and in discussion with Rotary Clubs in the Shepparton area.  Eventually we will extend this project to another 27 sites around Australia using the Rotary network. 

- Co-sponsorship with the R C Williamstown over three years in support of Ovarian Cancer Research, the two Clubs total contribution matched by the Australian  Rotary Health Research Fund.

 - With the R C Balwyn we are funding Rotary Liason Officer Daryl Mills on the ground  in East Timor.

- Together with the R C Southbank providing sponsorship and     mentoring for high school students under the Young Achievement Australia program.

- Acclaim Awards Ltd. - Our latest partnership in the Arts with the RC Cheltenham.

This networking and co-operation between Clubs is an untapped resource that I believe, this Club can play a major part in promoting partnerships throughout our District and Rotary in Australia.

- RCM Community Foundation - I am pleased to report that in this the inaugural year, the amount raised in donations and pledges is approx. $180,000.00.  The Club wishes to especially thank the 14 members who have become "Special Friends of the RCMCF", donating or pledging a minimum of $5000.00. 

I would like it to be recorded that Ms. Amy Williams not a Rotarian has donated two substantial amounts to the Community Foundation. However, donations from all members are gratefully appreciated, after all, " a steady drip of water can fill the bucket very quickly" - a Chinese Proverb from Barry Murphy.

I wish to thank the Executive, Board Members, 42 Committee Chairs and their Committees for the great work and support over the year.  Your efforts make this Club what it is.

I have been blessed with two important aspects of my life - the first, good health, this to some extent you have no control over - the second choice of partner, this also to some extent, in a Chinese family, you have no control over: ask my mother.  But seriously, when deciding to take up this role it was very clear to me from the outset that to become President of this great Club, it could not be done without the full support and more, of my partner.  To Janet a very special thank you, I am sure all would agree.

My thanks to the District leadership team led by DG Bernie and Margaret for their co-operation and friendliness throughout the year.

For Rotary to stay relevant, it must adjust - e.g. our move on Corporate Membership, however, we should stay focused on the central themes of Fellowship and Service above Self.  This simple philosophy is the core value of Rotary, which will always hold us in good stead and must be continually reinforced.

Chris Wang

President 2006/2007