President's Message 2008-09

A Message from President Greg Cooper
19th President of the Rotary Club of Box Hill Central

This Rotary year’s focus will be about Back to Basics. Just like a business, a successful Club must have a balance of vision, review and practical hard work. The times dictate where the emphasis should be applied.

Vision is essential in order to see and plan where we want our Club to go. But it is now time to stop and reflect on where we are. One of the strengths of our Club has been our size. It has allowed us to successfully tackle projects and tasks beyond the reach of some of our sister Clubs. We have been large enough to attract vital, active members. Indeed, some of our members have done an astonishing amount of work to help both the Community and our Club.

Too often, however, too much has been done by too few. This, when combined with gradually shrinking numbers, means alarm bells are ringing.

So it’s back to basics. This will be a year of consolidation and building. Together, we will determine how to grow our membership and how to make our Club more attractive to the community at large. What needs to change? A little bit of navel gazing if you will.

All this, whilst remembering that this is OUR Club and that its success is dependent on each individual’s contribution. We will still need to maintain our work on current and new projects, which is indeed the reason why we exist in the first place; to make a difference and "TO MAKE DREAMS REAL".

Thank you for the honour and privilege of my appointment. Whilst I received it with some trepidation, the quality of our membership has gradually given me confidence in the task ahead and then humbled me as the true depth of the skills we have to offer sank in.

Greg