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Nov 10, 2020 7:00 PM
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Nov 24, 2020 7:00 PM
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Rod Hardy My Hollywood Experience
Nov 10, 2020
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 
AGM
Nov 24, 2020
6:45 PM - 7:15 PM
 
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Stories
Coping with the Covid-19 Virus
In this difficult phase of life in Melbourne our John Dean gave us the following personal report
“How Karen and I have coped with having the Corona virus surrounding us. We have not had any signs of having the virus and have endeavoured to follow the Government guidelines whenever possible.
Our life has been basically the same other than it has limited our Social activities and certainly my involvement with Rotary.
During the First Quarter of this year for instance I had involvement in each of our monthly Bunnings BBQ’s, the picking up of tables and chairs from Monmia Primary School, the Keilor Gift, Holloway Bus Shelter and the pick-up of chairs and tables from PEGS.
From mid-March this involvement ceased because of restrictions that were brought in which proved to be a blessing in disguise for Karen and I as it has allowed us to put all our energy into clearing out Karen’s mothers’ house which has recently been sold. Selling the house under “Virus” conditions was an interesting exercise due to the many stringent conditions put on Real Estate Agents, e.g. limiting the number of people allowed to attend Open Days and Auctions and the strict sanitising rules that now apply.
Trying to find charities that were willing to come and pick up goods was also a challenge. Luckily, Helping Hands, although their shop is currently closed were happy to come and pick up goods providing all goods were put outside the house and in the open.
At one stage I thought we were going to be left with a lounge suit as it wouldn’t go through any doors. Whilst taking a five minute break, Karen all of a sudden remembered that when the lounge was delivered 20 years ago that the same problem presented itself and was resolved by it being put through a window and thankfully, what came in, did go out the same way, with difficulty. Roll on 7 August settlement. What are we going to do with our time then?    “
 
The Electoral College USA
The Electoral College   
was the subject for our speaker at our last Zoom meeting  ,Stephen Marantelli – 
In the course of Stephen's presentation, we got  an insight into what is going on in the United States at the moment in the lead up to the Presidential Elections in November, and perhaps a little insight also into the strengths and tensions in the long established Australia-United States relationship.
The Electoral College is a complete mystery to most Australians with our Westminister style of parliamentary democracy. And yet it is the very mechanism by which the President of the United States is elected. Stephen Marantelli is a barrister. He has a passion for American history, in particular, the history of the presidency. The nature and trend of the American-Australian alliance is better understood in the light of that history. A successful author, Stephen's imaginative and thought provoking book recounts an imaginary meeting in London between Edmund Barton, Australia's first Prime Minister, and George Washington, the First President of the United States.
When all is said and done, it's the Electoral College vote — not the popular vote — that decides the presidency. Some states are considering legislation that essentially bypasses the Electoral College. Should New Hampshire join in?
The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors from the all of the states. New Hampshire has four of those electors.  In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state wins the electors. The candidate who wins the most electors nationally wins the presidency.
A handful of other states have implemented other ways of distributing their electoral college votes. In Maine and Nebraska, for example, electoral college votes are distributed based on who won the popular vote in each of the states' congressional districts. 
The Electoral College and the popular vote
In the 2000 presidential election, Democrat Al Gore received 50,999,897 votes; Republican George Bush received 50,456,002. In the Electoral College count, however, Bush tallied 271 electors to Gore's 266.  Bush became the president. A similar situation arose sixteen years later, when Democrat Hilary Clinton received 65,853,514 votes to Republican Donald Trump's 62,984,828, but Trump carried the electoral college by 304 to Clinton's 227. 
Because of these results, some states have been passing legislation agreeing to the National Popular Vote interstate compact. States that join the compact agree to award their Electoral College votes to the candidate who receives the most votes nationally, not the candidate who wins the state, once the compact has reached enough members to constitute an electoral majority.
According to the National Popular Vote website(link is external), twelve states and Washington, D.C. have passed National Popular Vote legislation, totalling 181 electors.
Faithless elector laws
There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that binds electors to vote for the candidate who won their state's popular vote. Though it is rare, electors have occasionally opted to instead vote for a candidate of their own choosing. 
Twenty-eight states have passed laws that legally require electors to vote for a particular candidate, such as the winner of the state's popular vote. Punishments for breaking the law vary from subjecting the faithless elector to a fine or disqualifying them and replacing them with a backup elector. So far, these laws have not been enforced or tested in court. 
 
Memories of Jeanette Lynch
At our last meeting Jeanette recalled that when Leon was still in charge of Rotary Friendship Exchange in 2001 he arranged a group of 9 of us to travel to Oregon USA  . That was in October 2001. The travellers were Leon with Pauline , Jeanette with Michael , Marie Barbera and 2 other Rotarian couples from other Clubs               
As usual  This RFE  program was structured as a reciprocal exchange for Rotarians to be hosted in the homes of Rotarians for 3 or 4 nights in 4 different Clubs . Our only cost was to make our way to Oregon , There was no cost to Rotary
While  we were planning our trip  The September 11 attacks terrorist attacks in USA took place and some partners such as Pauline preferred to cancel the trip .                    Leon said to Pauline “ I am going , you can stay home if you wish “ In the end everyone agreed to travel . We made our way to Eugene, Oregon the  city of our Rotarian hosts.  It  is also  the site of The University of Oregon . This university proudly boasted of its gridiron team . So eventually we were invited to witness this  American Football match  between the Oregon University  and Stanford University The host Rotary Club paid for our attendance and we felt honoured by the donation
Before moving to the ground we were invited to take part in what they called a  tailgate party which is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle ( as per . We enjoyed eating and drinking before the match .
 
Then we moved to  attend the  game between these  two University teams
We were fascinated by the strange model of playing football . particularly seeing defending players leaving the ground and being replaced by attacking players
The Oregon team were doing well but towards the end of the match they overtaken by their opponents. and lost the game        We moved to leave the ground and the next excitement was the result of someone kicking one of the footballs into the crowd. This football hit Jeanette on the head . Luckily Dr Leon was on hand to treat her to reassure her that there was no serious injury
Our hosting in Oregon was held in interesting rural houses . We recall that one of these houses was protected by an  electric fence around garden to keep out  the deers
Hosting was very friendly and comfortable . The only complaints we recall was when Jeanette opened the window of her bedroom because she found the room too warm . Her hostess asked why she wanted to warm the verandah
Then Marie had also one small complaint with the hosting . Each the four houses where she stayed owned a dog and Marie had not warned them that she was scared of dogs
Our hospitality had a high point when we stayed in Coos Bay One of the Rotarians worked in the local police force .. His contribution was to take us for a  tour the town in his police van. Marie remembers the experience of being  taken to prison
Then October happened to be the birthday month for a few of our members . The first to celebrate was Leon . To celebrate we made our way to King Estate Winery which was a wonderful organic winery,. the wine was fantastic but it cost more than we expected as Pauline found out when she got home . Pauline held up the title of being the best shopper
Next function was a barbecue next to  a rustic cabin along the Wells creek . Interestingly the cabin had no power except for the generator that had the task of powering the alcohol making machine to generate margarita for the players .
After the meal  the main entertainment was to hit golf balls across the Wells creek
Pauline was taken for a quad bike into the forest and we thought we lost her and we worried that you would never see you again but she came  back safely
We all had a very good and fabulous time seeing  an interesting part of the world         It was just after this exchange that Leon passed on the role of Chair of Friendship Exchange to Jeanette which she has held for the next  20 years
ROTARY CENTENARY BATON LAUNCH 
 
Rotay Centenary Baton Launch        
 
The celebration of 100 Years of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand got off to a spectacular start last Friday, with an event broadcast via YouTube from Government House. The signature project for the event Give Every Child a Future was spotlighted during an online event that celebrated Rotary, Rotarians and the wonderful work done over the past 100 years.
Leo Sayer kicked off the event with some of his hits culminating in a toe-tapping rendition of You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.  Master of Ceremonies David Mann hosted the event remotely - from Melbourne.  Rotarians from all around the world joined the 'telecast' to hear His Excellency the Governor General launch the celebrations from Government House Canberra, relating the contribution that Rotary has made and continues to make to the improvement of the world. Although celebrating an incredible contribution over the past 100 years, His Excellency said it is very much about looking forward, not looking back. There will be another 100 years, his Excellency proclaimed, because "big hearts don't stop beating".


Co-Chair of the National Centenary of Rotary Committee, Garry Browne AM, spoke of the strength of Rotary as an organisation, its networks and resources, and of the abilities and dedication of Rotarians that make possible the broad range of significant projects that, in line with Rotary's 'Service Above Self', have made a real difference to the lives of many.


The passing of the Baton was handled skilfully with His Excellency handing the Baton to President of the Rotary Club of Sydney Fatima Ali in Canberra, and Her Excellency Mrs Hurley then magically handing the Baton from Canberrra to Rotary Melbourne President Marion Macleod - in Melbourne!


The celebration of the contribution of Rotary and Rotarians finished with another magical touch, a wonderful performance by Opera Australia tenor Nicholas Jones, in Government House, Canberra singing To Dream the Impossible Dream, followed by a true piece of theatrical magic. Australian Josh Piterman, currently starring as the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera in London sang Music of the Night from London, accompanied via Zoom from Melbourne by renowned musical director, arranger and pianist John Foreman OAM, truly a wonderful experience!
.  You can view the entire event on https://www.stagepass.com.au/rotary
David Mann was the MC online from Melbourne. He provided a quotation from 1921:  "A Rotarian is a 'go-getter' and practical idealist!"
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