Counterpoint - Star Trails

Counterpoint - Star Trails

19th October, 2011.

Last night I enjoyed an uncommon 'first' - I looked through a super duper refractory telescope into a clear night sky. Through the maze of the Scorpius constellation my guide, Chris Ellis, a consulting Astronomer and President of the Melbourne Astronomical Society, found the elusive Antares, a red super giant star in the late stages of stellar evolution.

Antares is a fascinating and beautiful red giant and looking through the Zeiss eyepiece of Chris' Ferrari equivalent of telescopes made me think: every night people peer into history when they look at the light from the stars. Star light was generated many millions of years ago. In some cases, the stars we look at have collapsed, gone super nova and now cease to exist, yet here was their light, shining on, traveling on through time as a testimony to the power and purpose of the structure that went before.

And it occurred to me, that in the same way we shine on, particularly as Rotarians, beyond the immediacy of our discrete contributions to this world, to linger in the hearts and minds of others by virtue of our actions. The story of the stars is also the story of us all. How will you shine on?

Cheers,

President JO

My Dream Is Not For Sale!

I confess I have a problem - I love opportunity. I love new concepts, new challenges, and problem solving. There is something about a challenge that lures me, like Persephone to the pomegranate seed, coaxing me to have just a small taste and change my focus just enough to forget my existing goals for the adventure of a new one.

And like Persephone I pay a price. I am constantly fighting the desire to know and do more because I know in the wake of all those tempting new tastes lie the remnants of a thousand old goals; once dreamt of, worked for, invested in, now lost to time, unrealised and a source of enduring shame.

What is so hard, is that I rarely notice the moment of transition when my focus jumps from one thing to another. What you cannot see can be very difficult to fight.

And as is the way for me, every so often my real dream, the one that has pursued me since childhood, taps me on the shoulder and says: "Jo, what are you doing about me? You forgot again, didn't you?" And the pit of my stomach grips me, and I realise another year has gone by.

So today I ask you, what is your dream? Is your dream for sale? What minutiae of daily life distracts you?

Yesterday I got my dream back. A year's worth of hobbies, family duties and academic distractions stood aside.
Those who know me, know I love medicine and that my heart is set on helping others through medicine.
Now I am back on track - My dream is NOT for sale!

Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, said:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

How much persistence do you have? As much as it takes? Will you own your own home? Build an innovative business? Truly help the poor in Nepal? Keep your focus! Don't leave your dream behind! Don't be tempted by that pomegranate seed lest one day the gates from the underworld close forever...

Steve Jobs, famed former CEO of Apple and US industrialist, made this impassioned plea:
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

My dream is not for sale.
My dream is not for sale.
My dream is not for sale.

Yours in Rotary,

President JO BEILBY (2011-2012)

Counterpoint - Real Men Do Cry (And so do their children)

Counterpoint – Real Men Do Cry (and so do their children)

October 5th, 2011.

Saturday came and went fairly peacefully for me; I was engrossed in study and trying to avoid the Grand Final. By the end, Collingwood supporters were none too pleased I gather, and Geelong, well, they were ecstatic. It seems real men do cry after all.

As the evening passed, my 69 year old father, whom many of you may have met at the Changeover Night, failed to enjoy his roast pork belly and baked veg dinner. His chest felt uncomfortable, as it had done the day before, and it was putting him off his food. As is often the case with people in cardiac distress, he put it down to indigestion, and tried instead to watch The Great Escape.

(Yes, this is one of those articles when you know what is going to happen. Like Romeo and Juliet we are forewarned in the opening scenes and left with the tyranny of time to slowly play out the outcome.)

By midnight there was an elephant in the bedroom at Dad’s, and it was sitting on his chest. The paramedics were called and he was shuffled between two ambulances, one a MICA where a second major attack occurred; then two hospitals, the last being Monash Medical Centre, where a team of cardiac care specialists were standing by to see him safely to the Cath Lab.

Into the groin and up through a blood vessels, the team did not miss a beat. They placed one stent into an artery on the front of Dad’s heart and bingo! - the elephant was gone. No zebras, horses or even horses’ hooves. Modern medicine had stepped in and dealt with the signs and symptoms of years of neglect, heart disease and risk factors in barely an hour. 

Dad was lucky, and so was I. I was nowhere near ready to lose him and I thank God I am able to say today that I didn’t. But we all know, if he doesn’t do something about the *starred risk factors below, (the ones he can change), I won’t be able to say that for very much longer.

Heart Disease Risk Factors

Factors you can’t change:
Male? Over 50? Family History?

Factors you can change:
*Smoking? *Overweight? *Diabetes? *Sedentary Lifestyle? *High Cholesterol? *High Blood Pressure? *Depression/isolation/lack of support? *Stress?

Heart Foundation Information

Counterpoint - To Risk is to Grow

28th. September 2011

Counterpoint - To Risk is to Grow

Recently we discussed negativity. Happily there is an antidote. While negativity is found in many guises, (anger, fear, resentment, anxiety, cynicism, disappointment and apathy), we rarely see it for what it really is, only what it purports to be. If we look behind the veneer, we find that negativity lacks substance, it is the absence of positivity and nothing more. Just as black is the absence of colour, and darkness the absence of light, negativity is the absence of positivity.

"The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, grow, love and live." 

Leo Buscaglia

To reach into the metaphysical and change your experience is a challenge, while also being a rewarding opportunity for growth. "Only if you risk are you free." While you refuse risk, growth and positivity are shackled.

Children embrace risk without a moment's thought. They try, do, fail, try again, achieve. As we mature, our egos develop, and we develop an increased fear of personal risk. While this has some obvious benefits it can also be crippling. What would you do if you did not know you could fail?

Prof. Yunus, Bangladeshi and global leader of the Micro-finance movement, brings positivity to the way he works with everyday issues in the developing world:

"Any individual has the power to change the whole world. All we have to do is to use that power. You have to believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, you will find that you will go for it and that you have changed the whole world."

Growth is a concept intimately tied to risk. We cannot however, allow fear of risk and failure to intimidate us into inaction, apathy or negativity, or we shall never grow. Listen to your language, your conversations, habits and actions: to what are you giving priority, fear or growth?

"To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return.To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement.To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk failure. But risks must be taken. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit. You may avoid suffering and sorrow, but you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live. Chained by your attitude, you are a slave. You have forfeited your freedom. 

Only if you risk are you free." Leo Buscaglia

If we apply the Four Way Test to negativity we see clearly that it doesn't pass muster. Tomorrow's negativity is build on yesterday's fears. Out of date fears are no longer true for today and are certainly not fair to all. We must be certain that each and every day is where we live. Not yesterday and not tomorrow.

The inventor, Charles Kettering, said, "You can't have a better tomorrow if you're thinking about yesterday." Be reassured, the past does not determine the future. Fill the void with positivity and grow!

In light, growth and positivity,

JO

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 

Jo Beilby

President 2011-12 

Counterpoint - The Perils of Disempowerment

17th. August 2011

Counterpoint - The Perils of Disempowerment
While the tyranny of distance seems to persist in much of our world, I felt a strong sense of immediacy as the London riots continued to affect much of my work this week. Night after night I was detained in the office for pre-booked satellite presentations, waiting for clients who were themselves held up by road closures due to the rioting. Many of us living far away from the turmoil wonder how people can destroy their own local communities, switching in moments from being law abiding citizens to opportunistic thieves, vandals, arsonists and worse. Are we truly the creatures of William Golding's "Lord of the Flies"?

The persistent failures of Blair's governance, together with the GFC, have resulted in the implementation of stringent macro-economic policies in the UK. But at the individual level, frustrated young people, trying to support families and eager for employment and the self-respect it brings, have become disenfranchised and disempowered. Unfortunately, the economic example of conditions preceding the London riots is not unique and is of immense social concern around the globe today. Daily, the US faces issues of gang violence in marginalized, predominantly ethnic communities. Australia has persistently failed to solve the problems of indigenous communities, and South African and many African nations are troubled by ongoing outbreaks of violence and civil war.

To witness such a remarkable, rapid descent into savagery in today's suburban Britain is an important lesson to us all. As Rotarians we often delve into the communities of others as well as our own and endeavor to improve them. As exemplified by the riots, one of the central needs of any given community is ownership, responsibility and empowerment. People engaged and empowered in their community are demonstrably proven to care more and achieve greater outcomes than those who exist in a patriarchal environment. This extends beyond the obvious issues of local governance to opportunities for feedback, design and implementation of social programmes, and health and unemployment support. In your next Rotary project, how can you increase social empowerment?

People without a voice will always find a way to be heard. For some, this means utilizing the compelling and attention demanding base qualities of human nature. Consider this: The London riots may not simply be an anarchistic breakdown of law and order at the superficial level, but rather a violent and explosive expression of abused trust in a disempowered and oppressed community.

Thinking globally, acting locally, 

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 

Jo Beilby

President 2011-12

Photo of workshop session from last week's meeting

Counterpoint -

14th. September 2011

Counterpoint - Raise Your Standards!

At a recent meeting, I was saddened to hear expressed a prevailing apathy and cynicism in some individuals towards the solving of a particularly enduring problem. It seemed to me that failure had become an acceptable option and that people had become more inclined to walk away than to persevere.

At times like these, a change of who is analyzing the problem, and how they are proposing to address it, is crucial, or the project will stall and develop a critical lack of momentum. I am sure we all know people who have become disenfranchised. Perhaps it has happened to you. This can result in many unfortunate outcomes such as disruptiveness and loss of moral, waste of human resources, and lack of progress on a given goal. It also means the right person for the job, the person with the skills, interest and motivation, has not been empowered.

Like other volunteer organizations, we are continually facing the challenge of plugging the 'hole in the dyke' with a willing volunteer. This is highly characteristic of a market where there are infinite demands for finite resources, and it occurs in paid and voluntary organizations alike. Change is not the enemy in these cases. It is, infact, the solution. Plugged holes should never be filled with disinterested people.

Sociologist Margaret Mead said, "Don't doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has," and in present day this is exemplified by the work of The Global Fund and the like towards the MDGs. This quote reminds us that nothing is impossible if you find the right people with the right attitude. Failure does not have to be an option. Perseverance does not have to run out. We should always be willing to discuss how we can challenge ourselves and challenge others to eliminate apathy. 

Raise your standards! Decide what you are no longer willing to accept in your life and create change based on that. Start with yourself. Do you want more compassion, peace and tolerance? Be more compassionate, peaceful and tolerant. Identify what you are no longer willing to accept and eliminate it. Nothing happens without you making it so. Know that and raise your standards for a better world. 

Cheers to All!

JO BEILBY

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 

President 2011-12

Counterpoint - Vale Father Kevin Sweeney

31st. August 2011

All of us have been touched by loss in recent times, particularly with the loss of our cherished fellow Rotarian, Father Kevin Sweeney.

I have given over this week's Sergeant's Session to the reading of Father Kevin's favourite humorous prose - a piece he recited to me on many occasions called, "An Irish Mother's Letter to Her Son".

Continued here in Counterpoint, a beautiful, reflective piece of literature by Kahlil Gibran. I hope you find both readings healing, uplifting and a little thought provoking during this transitional grieving period.

With love to us all, JO.

JO BEILBY

President 2011-12

VALE FATHER KEVIN SWEENEY, P.E., P.H.F.

Members and partners spotted in the huge congregation at the Pontifical concelebrated Requiem Mass at St. Catherine's Moorabbin on Monday 22 August included Linda, Zilla, Barry, Ian, Richard, Tim L. and Tim M., Alan and Julie, Ron and Marilyn and Tony and Leonie. Apologies to anyone missed in this record but there were five bishops, thirty-nine priests and hundreds of Kevin's family and friends present to pay tribute to an extraordinary, much loved, simple man, 60 years a priest and close to 40 years a Rotarian (Preston, Waverley, Moorabbin Central and 16 years at BMC).

Kevin's classmate at Corpus Christi Werribee (1944 to 1951), Father Lou Heriot, and the present parish priest at St. Catherine's, Father Michael Sierakowski, both referred to Kevin's long commitment to Rotary and, of course, to his life long commitment to his Church, his people, indeed almost every one he ever met, and alas, to Collingwood.

Kevin embodied the Rotary principle of service to others. May he Rest in Peace.

Tony Ryan

ON DEATH XXVII

Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931)

Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."
And he said: You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day 

cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, 

open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow, your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king 

whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, 

that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 

An Irish Mother's Letter to Her Son

Dear Son,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive. I am writing this letter slowly because I know that you cannot read very cf  fast.

You won't recognise the house anymore when you come home; we moved because your Dad read in the paper that most accidents happen within 20 miles of home. I won't be able to send you the address as the last family here took the numbers with them for their next house, so they wouldn't have to change their address.

There was a new style of washing machine in the house when we moved in, but it wasn't working too good. I put 14 shirts into it last week, pulled the chain and I haven't seen them since!

About your father - he has a lovely new job. He now has 500 people under him. He is cutting the grass at the cemetery.

Auntie Maude has sent you a pair of socks she knitted, she put a third one in because she heard you have grown another foot since she last saw you.

The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt Sue said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with the heavy buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

Your sister, Mary, had a baby this morning. I haven't found out yet whether it was a boy or a girl, so I don't know if you are an Uncle or an Aunt.

Jimmy locked his keys in the car yesterday. We were really worried because it took him two hours to get me and your father out.

Your Aunt Harriet took a flight from New York to Los Angeles last week, said it was the first time she had ever arrived somewhere before she had left. Last time she thinks that might have happened, the doctors said it was Altzeimer's disease.

Your Uncle Dick drowned last week in a vat of whiskey in Dublin Brewery. Some of his co-workers dived in to save him, but he fought them off bravely. We cremated the body and it took three days to put out the fire.

Your father didn't have much to drink at Christmas. I put a bottle of castor oil in his pint of beer and it kept him going until New Year's day.

I went to the doctor on Thursday, and your father came with me. The doctor put a small tube in my mouth and told me not to open it for ten minutes - your father offered to buy it from him.

It only rained twice last week. First time was for three days and the second for four. On Monday the wind blew so hard that one of the chickens laid the same egg four times.

Three of your friends went off a bridge in a pickup truck. Butch was driving. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. Your other two friends were in the back. They drowned because they couldn't get the tailgate down.

We received a letter yesterday from the undertaker. He said that if the last payment on your Grandmother's funeral wasn't made, up she comes.

Your loving Mother,

PS I was going to send you ten dollars, but I have already sealed the envelope.

Vale Father Kevin may you rest in peace.

Counterpoint - The Little Rules of Action

7th. September 2011

"It is better to light the candle than curse the darkness." Chinese Proverb

The Little Rules of Action 
by Leo Babauta from Zen Habits.

"The shortest answer is doing" - Lord Herbert

Too often we get stuck in inaction - the quagmire of doubt and perfectionism and distractions and planning that stops us from moving forward. And while I'm no proponent of a whirling buzz of activity, I also believe people get lost in the distractions of the world and lose sight of what's important, and how to actually accomplish their Something Amazing. And so today I'd like to humbly present a few little rules of action - just some small reminders, things I've found useful but by no means invented, common-sense stuff that is often not common enough. 

1. Don't overthink. Too much thinking often results in getting stuck, in going in circles. Some thinking is good - it's good to have a clear picture of where you're going or why you're doing this - but don't get stuck thinking. Just do.

2. Just start. All the planning in the world will get you nowhere. You need to take that first step, no matter how small or how shaky. My rule for motivating myself to run is: Just lace up your shoes and get out the door. The rest takes care of itself.

3. Forget perfection. Perfectionism is the enemy of action. Kill it, immediately. You can't let perfect stop you from doing. You can turn a bad draft into a good one, but you can't turn no draft into a good draft. So get going.

4. Don't mistake motion for action. A common mistake. A fury of activity doesn't mean you're doing anything. When you find yourself moving too quickly, doing too many things at once, this is a good reminder to stop. Slow down. Focus.

5. Focus on the important actions. Clear the distractions. Pick the one most important thing you must do today, and focus on that. Exclusively. When you're done with that, repeat the process.

6. Move slowly, consciously. Be deliberate. Action doesn't need to be done fast. In fact, that often leads to mistakes, and while perfection isn't at all necessary, neither is making a ridiculous amount of mistakes that could be avoided with a bit of consciousness.

7. Take small steps. Biting off more than you can chew will kill the action. Maybe because of choking, I dunno. But small steps always works. Little tiny blows that will eventually break down that mountain. And each step is a victory, that will compel you to further victories.

8. Negative thinking gets you nowhere. Seriously, stop doing that. Self doubt? The urge to quit? Telling yourself that it's OK to be distracted and that you can always get to it later? Squash those thoughts. Well, OK, you can be distracted for a little bit, but you get the idea. Positive thinking, as corny as it sounds, really works. It's self-talk, and what we tell ourselves has a funny habit of turning into reality.

9. Meetings aren't action. This is a common mistake in management. They hold meetings to get things done. Meetings, unfortunately, almost always get in the way of actual doing. Stop holding those meetings!

10. Talking (usually) isn't action. Well, unless the action you need to take is a presentation or speech or something. Or you're a television broadcaster. But usually, talking is just talking. Communication is necessary, but don't mistake it for actual action.

11. Planning isn't action. Sure, you need to plan. Do it, so you're clear about what you're doing. Just do it quickly, and get to the actual action as quickly as you can. 

12. Reading about it isn't action. You're reading an article about action. Ironic, I know. But let this be the last one. Now get to work!

13. Sometimes, inaction is better. This might be the most ironic thing on the list, but really, if you find yourself spinning your wheels, or you find you're doing more harm than good, rethink whether the action is even necessary. Or better yet, do this from the beginning - is it necessary? Only do the action if it is.

"Talk doesn't cook rice" - Chinese proverb

What will you do today to change the world?

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 




JO BEILBY
President 2011-12 

Counterpoint - The Beauty of Empowerment

24th. August 2011

The Beauty of Empowerment -
A week may be a long time in politics but it can fly by in the Rotary world. At a recent meeting of the RC of Forest Hill, where I was presenting for Rotarians Against Malaria, I was fortunate to see a presentation of the Walk for Life project by the Country Programme Manager and Representative, Jahangir Alam. Last week we viewed the same powerful presentation at Bentleigh Moorabbin Central.

The Walk for Life project is based in Bangladesh and concerns the provision of non-surgical medical intervention for children born with the debilitating congenital condition clubfoot. The project has successfully treated over 5000 cases in the last two years via an excellent outreach programme that ambitiously endeavors to reach all of Bangladesh. 

Jahangir gave a very personal and moving account of the project's work. He is an eager member of Rotaract and through his work as the Country Representative for Walk For Life is endeavoring to coordinate a three district Matching Grant to ensure the project's long term viability. 

In the time I spent with Jahangir, I discovered a friendly, professional and personable young man of considerable intellect and passion. He is currently studying a Master of Arts (Sociology) and cares a great deal for his community. He declares openly that for him, failure is not an option. Too many children are needlessly suffering when the answer is at hand.

Jahangir is the perfect illustration of the beauty of empowerment. Mr Colin MacFarlane, the Melbourne Rotarian who originally conceived of and implemented the superb Walk For Life project, is due much credit for the ethical and empowering ground work he has put into place. Not only has Colin's concept changed the lives of the children and their families, but also the lives of the medical personnel, manufacturers, distributors and administrators to whom he has entrusted the ongoing development of the project.


As an academic International Health specialist, humanitarian and fellow Rotarian, I commend the Walk For Life project to you and sincerely hope that as a member of the RC of Bentleigh Moorabbin Central you will support this important and life changing health care project.
For more information please visit: www.walkforlife.org.au

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 

JO BEILBY

President 2011-12

Counterpoint - Calling The Children of The Stars!

August 3rd, 2011.


It is easy to forget that the efforts of a handful of people make most volunteer organisations undeniably valuable community assets. With the changing of the guard we find ourselves in the new Rotary year with new Directors, Board members and Avenues of Service to explore. This year I encourage you all to embrace these changes and our new focus on health in our community. Have you wondered where your place is in Rotary? Let me give you a hint: perhaps it is where you make it. Take the opportunity to promote Rotary service where ever you may be; jump in where you are interested. Consider making an invitation to another to share with us in the joy of Rotary. 





Last week I challenged you to let your light shine. Have you been shining? You are unique. Your perspective is one of kind. Be individual in the way that you approach life. Let your actions tell something different about who you are. In greatness of any kind, we always recognise uniqueness and resonance. At a recent visit to the Archibald Prize exhibition some key criteria were immediately obvious: grabbing power, holding power, wit and longevity. Also, the ever desired and often elusive creativity, emotion and originality. Great art is centred in individuality that resonates with others and illuminates the human condition. Modern physics and chemistry are the artist's tools of expression but they are also the knowledge that elucidates the universal elements of which we are all composed. You and I, like all matter, were born in the heart of a dying star, many millions of years ago. You are a star child! Every molecule, every atom, every proton, was forged in the furnace of a supernova. But what we have in common is also what sets us apart - no other star child is put together exactly like you. This week, show your unique vision to the world. Go on, bowl me over!

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 

Jo Beilby

President 2011-12

Counterpoint - Let Your Light Shine!

Let Your Light Shine!                                                                                                27th. July 2011


Welcome everyone, to a new Rotary year at Bentleigh Moorabbin Central. At this week's meeting we will be announcing committee memberships and engaging in a plenary for this coming year's activities. Bring along your best ideas for improved health outcomes in our local community and abroad.This year we have a multi-team focus on club tasks. Our social team are looking for interesting event ideas so bring these along too.My especial thanks go to everyone who helped make Saturday night's Changeover dinner so successful. From the splendid venue, to the Rotarians and guests, it was lovely to see all enjoying good food, great entertainment and gorgeous company. 

Until next week, let your light shine!

Yours in Rotary Friendship, 


President 2011-12 Jo Beilby

Here are some photos from our Changeover night.