District Assembly 2008

The District Assembly is the main training day where incoming club officers, committee members and other interested Rotarians can learn about the Rotary International theme year as well as details of key projects and programs for the coming Rotary year. All Rotarians have the opportunity to learn specific skills and knowledge relating to their club roles through discussions with experienced Rotarians from district committees and other clubs.

The District Assembly for 2008 was held on Sunday 18 May at Deakin University, Burwood. Some 300 incoming club officers and other Rotarians heard District Governor Elect John Barnes explain the 2008-09 Rotary International Theme "Make Dreams Real ". President Elect D K Lee will continue Rotary’s emphases on Water, Health and Hunger and Literacy. As such, he has asked us to appoint District Resource Co-ordinators in these three areas as well as in the areas of Youth Services and Membership. DGE John outlined how the RI theme would be applied in our district

In asking us to focus on his theme ‘Make Dreams Real” for 2008-2009, President Elect Lee has asked us to take one step further and “Make Dreams Real “for the children of the world by concentrating on the 30,000 children, under 5, who die every day from preventable causes…..1250 every hour….20 every minute…….roughly half the population of Australia every year.

After presentations on various subjects including indigenous health, conflict management, membership and marketing, polio eradication and Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, participants then divided into separate breakout groups each focussing on a specific area of Rotary service.

Resource material used by the various presenters is available for download and use in your own clubs by clicking on the relevant links below:

Presentations in Main Auditorium

DGE John Barnes' Address

Main PowerPoint Presentation - Part A

Main PowerPoint Presentation - Part B

Gaye Barnes' Address "A Life for A Life"

PowerPoint presentation A Life for A Life

Presentations in Break Out Discussion Groups