President Andrew warmly welcomed the 19 attendees including guest speaker Michael Dee from Harvesting Funds Management.
Words of Wisdom from President Andrew;
Andrew thanked Peter Nisbet for completing the installation of the pergola roof at Floyd Lodge. Peter is looking for helpers this Saturday morning at 8am to lay some pavers.
The District Governor Changeover is a luncheon scheduled for June 26 at the Moonee Valley Racing Club from noon to 3pm. More details to come.
Given that tonight was a Hat Night in aid of ARH all those with hats had to pay $5 each while those without paid $10. Fortunately everyone came resplendent in hats of all shapes and sizes.
Monthly Archives: May 2011
Beacon Volume 25 Edition No 34 17th May 2011
Filed under Archived Beacons
Michael Dee – 17th May 2011
Chairperson Scott Dobbie introduced Michael Dee who is the Chief Executive of Harvesting Funds Management. Michael runs his company which handles investments for high net worth individuals out of his office in Mt. Eliza. He defines high net worth as those individuals with greater than $500,000 to invest. In his first year of operation Michael achieved a return of 26.3% return in a relatively flat but volatile market.
His presentation (a copy of which is attached) focussed on the US vs. China with the basic theme being the decline in the US and the resurfacing of China.
Filed under Guest Speakers
Beacon Volume 25 Edition No 33 10th May 2011
President Andrew extended a warm welcome to the 20 attendees including guest speaker Jason Major from TechNyou.
Words of Wisdom from President Andrew
- ADG Julie Mason will be visiting us on May 31.
- Still a number of members satisfaction survey forms outstanding. Please complete and return SAP.
- Received a thank you letter from the Prostate Cancer Foundation in response to our $2,000 donation.
- A reminder that the Melbourne RC is holding a 90 year anniversary dinner on May 23 in the MCG dining room, 6.30 for 7 pm. Tickets are $155 pp.
- The District Assembly is on this coming Sunday May 15 in Kyneton. We have 8 members attending.
- Still no news from Loddon Valley on their needs following the floods. Mick the Boat to follow up.
- Next week will be a “hat day” meeting with the objective of raising some funds for ARH.
- Floyd Lodge are having a garden day on June 4 from 9am – 1pm and are looking for volunteers.
- Meanwhile the Pergola project is proceeding with the frame up last week. With the roof to be completed this Saturday from 8am. I’m sure Peter would appreciate some learned help!! Too Late!! It’s UP (4-00pm Weds 11th May)
Filed under Weekly Newsletter
Jason Major – 10th May 2011
Chairman Doug Bews introduced Jason Major.
Jason is a biologist who majored in Science Communications at the ANU in Canberra. After spending time at the CSIRO and Melbourne University he joined TechNyou.
TechNyou is a collaboration between the University of Melbourne’s Bio21 Institute and the Australian Government. Their role is to promote an informed dialogue about emerging science and technologies such as GM foods, stem cells, genetic testing and the many nanotechnologies.
Jason’s chosen subject for the evening was “Food Security 2040. Should GM crops have a role”. Food security he defined as access to safe and nutritious food. A copy of Jason’s presentation is below.
Much of his address was very technical and detailed and I cannot hope to repeat it here. Some of the key points I gleaned however were;
- The world is losing 1% of its arable land every year.
- World food demand is estimated to increase 75% by 2050.
- As developing countries become more affluent the demand for meat and dairy products will also increase.
Jason gave an example of GM of grass to reduce lignin. A 5% increase in digestibility equals a 27% increase in milk production!
One of his slides asked the question whether we would support the modification of rice to include iron and vitamins for developing countries or with wheat to improve drought resistance. In the former case 16 of 19 in the audience said yes while 3 were undecided and in the latter case all 19 said yes.
There was a lot of discussions and questions re. long term affects of GM food and the scaremongering that goes on whenever this subject is raised.
Glad that Dave the reporter is back – just a bit of cut and paste and the Beacon’s done!!
H
Filed under Archived Beacons
Beacon Volume 25 Edition No 34 3rd May 2011
President Andrew welcomed the Gellibabies back after their extended break due to the RACV Dinner and the Easter holidays. We had guests a plenty with Bill Dagg’s friend and driver Michael McGlade with us again and a repeat visit from Raimonda’s guest Hiroshi Nakayama but his wife Maki Iwamoto was resting after a bit of a scare with her pregnancy. Raimonda also brought along her neighbour Sue Searle who has that many interests and activities that take up her time that she is busier than when she worked full time as a microbiologist.
Hiroshi and Michael
Sue, Raimonda and Hiroshi
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Bill Dagg – 3rd May 2011
Bill introduced himself as a third generation Footscray boy who went onto attend Williamstown High School and then graduated from the Royal Military College at Duntroon in 1956. He served in the Pacific Islands Regiment in PNG for three years followed by attachment to the US Marines in Korea for two years and then eight years in Vietnam including six months after the fall. He joined Rotary in Vietnam in 1968 and was awarded the Foreign Services Medal for work with amputees. On return to Australia he joined the Rotary club of West Footscray in 2000 and was president in 2005.
Filed under Guest Speakers