Presidential Ponderings
Today is International Cat's Day (Meow) as well as Happiness Day and on that note our own "happy" Mike was called on to tell us who was celebrating happy birthdays and anniversaries.
President Kelly then called up Lew Thomas to receive his PHF+3.
"A Paul Harris award is
not given lightly, it signifies a Rotarian’s commitment to their Club through a
number of activities, events and projects. It reflects on their leadership
skills such as mentoring new Rotarians in sharing their knowledge as well as mentoring
Rotarians who are taking up new challenges within the Club. It’s about sharing
experiences within and without Rotary and sometimes putting a hand up when time
and resources are tight and partners may
be thinking otherwise!
It’s about quality of
service as well as quantity, the number of Directorships held, deputising on
committees and upholding Rotary’s values and ethics.
It gives me great pleasure this morning to award Lew Thomas his PHF+3.
Lew is a great example of all
these things, and whilst unable to be at our changeover, his 31 years of service above self is prominent.
Lew has been a Past
President of the Club in 2014-2015, and has held multiple Directorships - Membership, Youth,
International, Community, Club Service, Fundraising, back to Membership and is
also a Director of our Charity Trust.
He is a negotiator extraordinaire, a
calming presence, softly spoken yest able to command attention. He has supported this Club through
thick and thin and is always ready to jump in when a problem arises.
Congratulations Lew!
Guest Speaker Haim Oz - Mentor It Forward (MIF)
Haim
Oz, Founder and President of Mentor it Forward was introduced by Host Lydia Wong. Lydia met Haim
through LinkedIn and was grateful he didn’t take her for a scammer…. She is now
a member of MiF thanks to Haim.
Haim founded Mentor it Forward one year ago, as a non-profit organisation
that endeavours to promote professional growth and facilitate valuable
connections. In talking to many individuals and organisations, the one thing he
noticed is our passion and the things that drive us are contagious and
infectious. He hopes everyone here feels the same. It pleased him to hear our
previous speaker on Nutrition and Wellbeing mentioned the importance of
Mentorship.
Haim’s presentation is included in full below:
Prologue
"I founded Mentor it Forward
exactly one year ago (2nd of August
2023), and the most exciting thing I've noticed
after working with so many people and organisations, is that our passion and
what drives us is addictive and contagious. When people learn about who we are,
what we do, and why we do what we do, many feel inspired to get involved.
"Well, I bet most of you will,
too. Because at our core, we pursue doing good in the world, and what better
way is there than paying it forward?"
Chapter 1 – Restart
"I immigrated to Australia with my
wife and two kids nine years ago, in August 2015. I had a long-lasting career overseas
in various technology fields, both in technical and managerial roles, so I was
optimistic and confident in my ability to integrate into the local workforce
and find a new job.
"As optimistic as I was, this was
not a simple task. It involved a new environment, a new market, a different culture,
and unfamiliar processes, all compounded by the tough job market in WA in 2015.
I decided to call out for assistance from those around me and was amazed to see
the willingness to help, even though I was new in town. Whether it was
introducing me to people from the industry, connecting me with their network,
adapting my CV to the Australian style, getting me used to consuming many cups
of coffee during the day, or realising that every meeting starts with 5 minutes
of chit-chat about the weekend before getting to the point.… it all helped me
land my first role as a General Manager of a local consulting firm in a short
period of time".
Chapter 2 – Reflection
"During the 8 years since my
arrival in Australia, I’ve been fortunate enough to identify and pursue great
career opportunities. I’ve taken on different roles and worked in most sectors
and industries locally and nationally. I hired, managed, trained, worked with
and worked for amazing people and was always conscious of the journey I’ve been
through, including its struggles and hurdles.
"Reflecting on the many
experiences that have shaped me since my arrival, I've come to understand that
my journey, filled with its challenges and growth, is not exclusive to me.
Many individuals experience
similar hurdles - feelings of frustration, a sense of being overwhelmed, and a
need for guidance and direction.
It may be fresh university
graduates trying to navigate the professional world,
newcomers settling in a foreign
land,
or individuals re-entering the
workforce after a significant break, such as parents resuming work post parental
leave.
"Their struggle is genuine and
often tiring. Interestingly, on the other side
of this spectrum, we have industry veterans - professionals who have weathered
similar storms, overcome them, and, in the process, gained valuable knowledge
and insights. More importantly, many have the desire and willingness to share
with their surroundings. It made me wonder, what if we could create a
supportive environment that brings these two sides closer together to empower
and guide each other?
"So, last June 2023, I decided to
take a break from work. I said my goodbyes to my employer and looked for ways I
could give back to the community by tackling the gap I experienced. That’s
where Mentor it Forward, or, as I like to call it, MiF, was
founded".
Chapter 3 – MiF
"The idea was simple: create a
supportive environment where people seeking assistance and guidance to jump-start
or further grow their careers can receive support from industry leaders who
wish to share their experience and guide others.
We then created MiF’s
Community Mentoring program, with one mandate as our guiding light! Any mentee
can participate in the program for free, and mentors are always volunteers.
This ensures everyone’s best intentions are upheld.
"From that point, things began to
ramp up. I bounced the idea off a few colleagues and organisations to hear their
thoughts and was amazed to see their interest and desire to get involved.
People were drawn to the concept, and very quickly, we had a few partners and a
line up of interested mentors. A small group of us designed a mentoring
framework, adopted technological solutions, created content, procedures and
policies and opened the doors for the public to join, during a big conference
last year (August 2023).
"The news spread rapidly, and
within several weeks, we exceeded 100 participants, with mentors and mentees from
all over Australia (and a few other countries such as HK, Singapore, NZ, China,
Saudi Arabia, the UK, Israel, and the US). Unlike other Mentoring programs,
we pride ourselves on having a structured and guided program where the human
factor is key (As much as we value and appreciate technology, not everything
should be done with AI). Each applicant submits a detailed self-assessment
capturing their background, experience, challenges, and aspirations and then
has a one-on-one interview with one of our team members, who will then identify
the perfect match.
The new pair will be onboarded
into our platform and embark on a three-month journey consisting of six
one-on-one sessions. The agenda is guided and structured, and the MiF team
will support the pair throughout their journey.
"Numbers don’t lie and to date…
• Mentorship Programs: Over 100
mentorships have been facilitated, connecting experienced professionals with
aspiring individuals across various industries.
• Community Engagement: MiF
has hosted and participated in several community events and workshops, reaching
over 1,000 participants.
• Career Growth: More than 60% of
MiF mentees have reported career advancements, including promotions and
new job opportunities, as a direct result of our programs.
• Partnerships: MiF’s
partner network is constantly growing, adding businesses and organisations from
all over the business ecosystem (private and public sectors), enhancing its
ability to provide diverse opportunities and resources".
Chapter 4 – Employment
Inclusivity
"Our journey so far feels like an
avalanche. While acknowledging the positive impact on any individuals in our community,
we saw the need to scale our efforts and impact by harnessing the power of the
broader business ecosystem. We realised that working with a single individual
at a time is not scalable and therefore developed a new ambitious program
called Employment Inclusivity.
"Simply put, it is designed to
support individuals from diverse backgrounds in finding and succeeding in their
careers. In addition to our mentoring services, the new program provides
comprehensive training, internships, and job opportunities to enhance skill
development and career progression. This program aims to close gaps in skills
and job access, creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce.
"We do that by getting our
business community together, with each organisation taking an active role.
Whether it’s universities and vocational colleges preparing their students for
the workforce or businesses from various industries working with MiF on
creating internship and employment opportunities, it is the collective effort that
can really make a difference. Organisations are encouraged to join MiF's
partner network as sponsors to support this initiative. By becoming a sponsor,
organisations contribute to building a stronger, more diverse workforce while
gaining access to a pool of talented individuals who have been trained and
mentored to meet industry standards. It isa chance for businesses to make a
significant social impact and support the professional journeys of many aspiring
professionals".
Epilogue – What’s next?
"As we look ahead, MiF's
journey is just beginning. The strides we've made in the past year are living
proof of the power of community, mentorship, and the unwavering belief in every
individual's potential.
We aim to create a robust network
of support that encompasses the entire business ecosystem. This is where you
come in. As leaders in the business community, past and present, your
involvement can be the catalyst that drives our mission forward.
Support can come in many ways,
and each one is welcome:
• Encourage your organisations to
become sponsors, helping to fuel the growth of our programs.
• Spread the word—share our
mission with your networks and inspire others to join our cause.
• Get directly involved by
becoming a mentor and guiding the next generation of professionals.
Every contribution count, and
together, we can make a lasting impact".
Directors Reports and Announcements
- Veronica - Guess Who is Coming to Dinner 7th September.
- Please indicate if you wish to host (and how many extra people you would like) or dine (and your +1 name). You won't know who you are hosting or where you will be eating until the last minute!
- Membership committee meeting after breakfast in the café.
- Scott - RPGC have made available the Café for Rotarians to use for a catch up/fellowship or their committee meetings, each week.
- Brian J - The password for the Members Only page on the website will be changed as from 1 September. BJ to send out via email as this will not be put in the Bulletin for confidentiality reasons.
Another Fine(s) Mess Miss Joy Got Us Into!
- President Kelly for not knowing the date.
- AFL supporters not immune to the fines masters wrath, so Dockers supporters for the Loss last week (he-he), AND Eagles supporters for the Win (Ha-Ha)!
- Anyone who was at the Royal Perth Yacht Club supporting our own Matt Wearn.
- Bleary eyed Rotarians who stayed up and watched our Olympians - guilty as charged watching Tennis and Golf!
- All rice pudding lovers and those who love to read - well it is National Rice Pudding day AND Book Lovers Day.
- 50 years ago today Richard Nixon resigned as President of the USA - so if you're over 50 - pay up!
- Wayne Muller for going the whole hog and organising an Olympic Croquet event.
- David Rowell - champion golfer setting trend with Brian Adams who can pay up too.
- Usual suspects from the checked shirt brigade
- Lew Thomas who went overboard with his checked Lumber Jacket.
- Gorby who would forget his head if it wasn't screwed on - won the quiz a couple of weeks ago and then forgot his prize!
- Lew Thomas bought the box for ratting on Warren McCamey's illegal parking on a fellow Rotarian's lawn and incurring a hefty fine from the Ranger. The twist is that the fellow Rotarian's wife was late for Book Club and saw said car on lawn, threw a hissy fit and reported to Ranger not knowing who's car it was or that Warren had gone to dinner with husband!
Winner of Heads and Tails
Guest 'Tosser' of the week was visiting ex-member Mark Jones who gave it his all, ensuring NO-ONE won the coveted bottle of grog, kindly supplied by Lyn and Margaret Metcalf! Now that MUST be a first!
Attendance - 35 attendees in all, including guest speaker Haim Oz and visiting ex-member Mark Jones.
