Rolf Mitsdorffer

"Make Dreams Real"

I am honoured to be President of The Rotary Club of Ashgrove / The Gap in 2008-2009 and will work with every member to achieve our common goals.

Our vibrant club consists of professional and business men and women who meet weekly and enjoy fellowship and the knowledge of a guest speaker. Our mission is to work for opportunities to improve our community and to foster better international understanding.

The Rotary international theme in 2008/09 “Make Dreams Real” was announced by International President Dong Kurn Lee. The theme aims at reducing child mortality and placing continued emphasis on the eradication of polio.  Lee said:

"We will give children hope and a chance at a future. We will bring clean water to their communities and create sanitation projects that keep children healthy”.

Our club’s main objectives result from our local and international missions. Our long-rage goals address the elements of an effective club.

They are

1. Sustaining or increasing our membership base
2. Implementing successful projects that address the needs of our community and communities in other countries
3. Supporting The Rotary Foundation through both program participation and financial contributions and
4. Developing leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level.

From these long-range goals we have established the following annual goals and actions:

Members
Members are the life-blood of the club and as in previous years the aim is for an increase of 10%.  The club supports this aim by creating an interesting and challenging environment for members. This includes

• Promoting fellowship among members
• Developing fun club activities
• Fostering partner initiatives
• Keeping members informed through weekly news letter and the website
• Developing a new members orientation plan and appointing new member mentors
• Ensuring continuity in leadership from year to year
• Actively involve all club members and
• Offering regular, consistent training.

Particular initiatives during the 2008/09 Rotary year for increasing our membership include

• A membership drive into Ashgrove
• Developing the concept of Rotary Friends and
• Fostering Alumni members.

Successful projects
The implementation of successful projects is based on identifying social issues in the community the club wants to address.

The club continues to support major community events, such as

• The Citizenship ceremony on Australia Day
• Gap Regional Instrumental Primary Performers School  (GRIPPS)
• The Santa Sleigh community event
• Volunteer and youth awards and
• Support of District projects (Donations in Kind - DIK).

Supporting The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation is the charity for every Rotarian. The club is committed in supporting the Rotary Foundation by

• Addressing the Rotary International Theme “Make Dreams Real”
• The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) team hosting
• Matching grant applications
• Supporting Rotary World Peace Fellows by hosting and sponsoring and
• Awarding of Paul Harris Fellowships.

Reducing child mortality
The club is particularly committed in addressing the 2008/09 Rotary theme of reducing child mortality. The existing partners’ programs of suppling birthing kids and mosquito nets will be continued and new measures identified such as ‘adopt a village’ concept in Papua New Guinea. Members of the club participate also in community project activities in the Solomon Islands that have the potential of saving children’s lives. Initiatives closer to home to reduce child mortality in aboriginal communities will also be evaluated.

District service
The club has a proud history of members serving at the District level and intends to maintain this tradition in the coming Rotary year.

Fundraising
Charitable projects are supported by donations from the community and the club will strive to at least match the level of donations reached in previous years. This goal can only be achieved with the sustained commitment from all our members.

Administrative services
Club member and services activities need to be supported by administrative systems such as

• Maintaining the club’s accounts
• Collecting and paying dues, preparing budgets
• Administering inward and outward correspondence
• Inviting interesting guest speakers
• Training and succession planning
• Effective public relations
• Planning of weekly meetings (calendar, guest speaker, member duties, venue setup and meals).