I trust you have been able to spend time with family and friends over the Festive Season and been able to recharge your batteries’.
Lindsay and I spend time at the beach and had all our family join us in early January.
Our three little grandchildren were able to meet each other for the first time (the 3-year-old lives in London, while the 2-year-old and 9-month-old are in Christchurch), which was very special.
Now it is time to take stock of what has been achieved so far and what still has to be done.
Whilst we are all winding up slowly to this wonderful new year of 2018 why not take a moment or two to give your club an online checkup?
This is an easily filled out questionnaire which can be completed quickly and then emailed to someone, you think, will take your thoughts on board and will "Make a Real Difference" to your club.
In the most recent ratings, the Foundation earned the maximum of 100 points for demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
In a letter to the Foundation, Charity Navigator notes that "only 1 percent of the charities we evaluate have received at least 10 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that The Rotary Foundation outperforms other charities in America.
This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets The Rotary Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness."
The rating reflects Charity Navigator's assessment of how the Foundation uses donations, sustains its programs and services, and practices good governance and openness.
For the third consecutive January, The Rotarian magazine celebrates what happens when ordinary Rotarians find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
Rotarians in their own words tell what it's like to survive an atomic bomb, chase your baseball dream, walk 27,000 miles for peace, live on $1.50 a day, and more.
In the line at the store, the cashier told an old Rotary woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.
The woman apologised to him and explained, ‘We didn’t have the green thing back in my day’
The clerk responded, ‘That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment.’
Exchange Student Kristine spoke and presented photos and entertaining video of her South Island trip with 16 Exchange Students and Noel & Sally Mann as Leaders.
Stopovers Wellington, Abel Tasman (3 day kayaking & tenting) Rafting in Murchison, Punakaiki, Franz Jospeh, Wanaka,
Three days Queenstown with other bungy jumping, Te Anau & Doubtful sound, 38km on the Keplar track, Mt Cook then back via Christchurch.
ROGERS, Neil John: On January 19th 2018, Peacefully at home in Morrinsville aged 75 years. Past President of Morrinsville Rotary, Formerly senior Constable NZ Police. Serving Brother of the Order of Saint John. Dearly loved Husband of Gladys for 25 years. Loved father and father in law of Michelle, Mike and Ruth, Brenda and Shaun, and the late Adrian. Loved Grandfather of 10 grandchildren. A service for Neil was held at St Matthews Anglican Church, Thames Str Morrinsville on Tuesday, 23 January 2018 at 11am followed by private cremation. Donations preferred to Hospice Waikato, PO Box 325, Hamilton 3240. All communications to the Rogers family C/- 358 Thames Street, Morrinsville 3300
Rotary International President-elect Barry Rassin laid out his vision for the future of the organization on Sunday, calling on leaders to work for a sustainable future and to inspire Rotarians and the community at large.
Rassin unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. “I want you to inspire in your clubs, your Rotarians, that desire for something greater. The drive to do more, to be more, to create something that will live beyond each of us.”
Geoff Martin passed away on Wednesday, 24 January 2018, in Hamilton, aged 80 years. Loved husband of the late Shirley. Loving father and father-in-law of Nicola, and Brett and Margriet. Treasured Pop of Djon, Kasey, and Troy.
A service for Geof was held at Seddon Park Funeral Home Chapel, 49 Seddon Road, Frankton, Hamilton, on Saturday, 27 January 2018, at 1.00pm. All communications to the G Martin family C/- PO Box 5523, Frankton, Hamilton 3242.
Geoff, a land valuer, joined Rotary in Te Kuiti in 1967 and when he moved to Hamilton in 1976 he joined Fairfield Rotary where he continued as a member until his death. Geoff was also the Chairperson of the District Rotary Friendship Exchange Committee for about 10 years. Geoff was honored with a Paul Harris Fellow Award on 30 June 2005.
Guest Speaker: International Exchange Student, Elise Cacace, returned from Austria last week and gave a presentation,
New Zealand to Österreich. Without the slides, I cannot do justice to her account of a wonderful year in which she took advantage of every opportunity that came her way.
The year began with a fabulous trip to Los Angeles with 30 New Zealand exchange students, visiting all the well-known tourist attractions from Disneyland to Universal Studios and a tour of Santa Monica, Hollywood, and Sunset Blvd.
Arriving in Austria was a great culture shock: Elise was confident her German would get her through but she could not understand much.
So much snow! Elise was lucky to live in a beautiful tourist area on a lake, central to Vienna, Innsbruck, and Salzburg. Much of The Sound of Music was filmed in the area.
This evening was a special occasion, as Rhonda Rose visited from USA. She had been a Rotary Exchange Student back in 1978, Gil Cooper’s year as President. Some trouble had been taken by Bill Hawkins to contact a number who had been Club members at the time.
The photo shows left to right: Ron Ebbett, Kevyn Moore, Mark Read (President 1984), Sheena Beaton (widow of Bill Beaton. They were student hosts around this time), Dennis Robinson, 1974-2002, hosted Rhonda, Rhonda Rose, Andrew Poppelwell, son of John Poppelwell (Club 1970-92) His parents hosted Rhonda, Ann Lanigan (widow of Des Lanigan, and host of Rhonda; together they counseled students for a period of nearly 10 years.)
Well, that’s about all there is for this issue for District Governor Leonie. Don’t forget that the new District website is now fully operational and you will find a plethora of information about Rotary, D9930 clubs, and all activities. Please take a good stroll through the site by clickingHERE.
Welcome to 2018.
What would it be like to walk in the shoes of a female polio worker?
What it's like to ...
In the line at the store, the cashier told an old Rotary woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. 
Exchange Student Kristine spoke and presented photos and entertaining video of her South Island trip with 16 Exchange Students and Noel & Sally Mann as Leaders.
ROGERS, Neil John:
Geoff Martin passed away on Wednesday, 24 January 2018, in Hamilton, aged 80 years. Loved husband of the late Shirley. Loving father and father-in-law of Nicola, and Brett and Margriet. Treasured Pop of Djon, Kasey, and Troy. 
Guest Speaker: International Exchange Student, Elise Cacace, returned from Austria last week and gave a presentation,
Gail, Brian
, and Shirley took 29 Usborne Atlases purchased by the Youth Trust and presented them to all the Year 3 children at Putauaki School. 
This evening was a special occasion, as Rhonda Rose visited from USA. She had been a Rotary Exchange Student back in 1978, Gil Cooper’s year as President. Some trouble had been taken by Bill Hawkins to contact a number who had been Club members at the time.