MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT PETER BEARSLEY - BOARD DECISIONS

The Board dealt with a number of very weighty issues at its meeting on Wednesday, 19th November 2014.

1. Website Redevelopment

The Board has agreed to split the project into two.  The Membership Management System will use the Salesforce software – a market-leading platform for which we have ten free licences; and the other functions will use Squiz Matrix provided by Ladoo.  We expect that the MMS will cost about $6,000 to implement on Salesforce; Squiz Matrix involves a capital cost of $23,184 to be amortised over 5 years ($4,631 p.a.). Website hosting and server support will cost around $2,100 a year, much the same as at present, with some overlap initially.
We are confident this will provide a robust low-risk new website solution fit for a Club such as ours.
This is a major milestone for the Club and one of the four strategic imperatives for this year.  Tina Rankovic and Kelton Dennis have done a huge job in getting us to this stage and deserve hearty congratulations.  Now for the detailed design and implementation, with Clifton Warren and Clive Weeks as Implementation Coordinators – they also deserve our thanks and support.

2. Need For Office

PE Peter Rogers recently kindly offered to provide free office space for the Club at his premises in North Melbourne.  A sub-committee of the Board was tasked with investigating the feasibility, implications and options.  The sub-committee concluded that there was little need to retain an office.  Very few people/committees meet there now that the luncheons have moved to ZINC and most of the Office Manager’s work is done online so could be done from another location including home.  If we could find another tenant and sublet the space, the potential saving could be in the order of $26,000-plus per annum.
The sub-committee has been asked to investigate the practical implications in more detail.

3. Review Progress Against Strategic Plan

Of the four strategic imperatives for this year, the website redevelopment is in progress; we have re-engaged with social media via Facebook and established a MeetUp site for advertising our events and speakers;  induction of new members has been slow to gain momentum although a lot of work has been done, particularly by Membership Director Marion Macleod, to improve the processes around new membership; and we have started taking tentative steps to encourage further engagement of some relatively inactive members. We are on track for implementation of much of the rest of the Plan; one priority is to achieve the recording and reporting against quarterly objectives by all committees. 

4. Major Fundraiser

Planning is proceeding for a fundraising gala dinner to be held at The Windsor on the evening of 23 May, the proceeds to go towards one of our major projects.  It is hoped this might become an annual event.

5. Luncheon Numbers – Predictability

As you know, we need to pay for at least 90 meals here each week, and we have to tell ZINC on the Friday before how many to cater for.  We can update that number on the Monday morning but only if we want to increase it.  The danger of underestimating is that there might not be enough meals for a larger number.  Last week we were caught out when 18 more than expected arrived.  Somehow ZINC did a loaves and fishes act and everyone received a meal, although there were some issues that we are seeking to deal with.  Having large numbers turn up is a very positive sign.  However, we do need better predictability and we ask, please, for your help with that.  For example, we may be asking you to respond to the weekly text message about the luncheon speaker – please help us by doing that.

6. RAG Domestic Violence

VP Cheryl Lacey is spearheading an initiative to establish a global Rotary Action Group on Domestic Violence.  Rotary Action Groups comprise mainly Rotary members (as distinct from Clubs) around the world who are interested and involved in addressing a particular issue.  I understand there are about 17 such groups in existence.  Cheryl and her team are aiming to achieve a Global Summit on Domestic Violence in 2016.  A great initiative.

7. Funding Approvals

WoY: Student CS Award $250; RYPEN $1,155; Science Experience $575
 ET Committee: Medical refrigerator for clinic, East Java USD3,570

Peter Bearsley
President 2014/2015