Kaileen Casey, partner of Immediate Past District Governor Jeff Egan, adopted SolarBuddy as her partner project throughout 2021-22.
SolarBuddy is an Australian charity uniting a global community with a big dream to gift six million solar lights to children living in energy poverty by 2030, to help them study after dusk and improve their education outcomes.
The initiative is the brainchild of Queenslander Simon Doble, who invented a renewable energy-powered light that became a solution in refugee camps across the world. Simon realised the enormity of light deprivation – each night, 789 million people are plunged into complete darkness as they don’t have equal access to clean energy. So, he started raising global awareness and designing solar light solutions for the most at risk communities.
Past District Governor Grant Spackman introduced Mark as a highly skilled at engaging and influencing decision maker, both internationally and within Australia.
He has a reputation for leading and delivering successful sales initiatives at state, national and international level. Mark is Member of the Rotary Club of Beecroft and Rotary District Membership Chair 2012-13. Beecroft has come from a club of fifteen to a club in the forties and growing with engaged members that represent their community and its needs, matching the 6 avenues of service to the communities need and being a place for great fellowship and meaningful engagement in projects.
Diversity is key and having clubs aligned to projects, business, families and traditional needs can be good way of achieving this. Mark has a copy of guide to Rotary form the 1930s he found when moving from buildings. What was true then is still true now, a place for fellowship and business acquaintances doing good in our communities.
Mark shared many ideas and we will review these to use and likely implement. Doug Syme thanked Mark for this thoroughly engaging talk his leadership and insights into his club had evolved to match what its community needed and wanted and how its new resources had continued to grow the club and help Rotary to be its best. Mark was presented with a local bottle of wine and thank you card by our own artist Joan Hay.
Mark Anderson, Senior Coordinator, International Fund Development at Rotary International
This event is scheduled for the Thursday 23rd March and we have had 250 tickets printed and are starting to sell tickets. Next week at Rotary President John will start his big sales pitch. Our partner organisations are Days for Girls, Cambridge Community House, Cambridge Cricket Club and the Rotary Club of Cambridge.
Please get behind and support this event. A post has been released on the Rotary Club of Cambridge Facebook page so if you can please share this with any groups you have access to.
Tickets can be purchased through any of our partner organisations or through President John Bishop or David Partis.
This event is scheduled for the Thursday 23rd March and we have had 250 tickets printed and are starting to sell tickets. Next week at Rotary President John will start his big sales pitch. Our partner organisations are Days for Girls, Cambridge Community House, Cambridge Cricket Club and the Rotary Club of Cambridge.
Please get behind and support this event. A post has been released on the Rotary Club of Cambridge Facebook page so if you can please share this with any groups you have access to.
Tickets can be purchased through any of our partner organisations or through President John Bishop or David Partis.
An international bestseller, inspirational speaker and award-winning advocate Juliana became a member of our Papamoa Rotary on the 1st of December 2022.
How lucky we are, here in Papamoa. After becoming a paraplegic at 19 caused by a mysterious illness, Juliana began her journey as a spokeswoman for the inclusion movement, championing her way from South America to here in Papamoa.
After a 7yr battle with NZ Immigration Juliana has recently been granted her residency.
She doesn’t let anything hold her back. Juliana has succeeded locally and internationally, creating and directing TV show Make A Difference, short film If The Eyes Cannot See, The Legs Cannot Feel, as well as winning the award for Best True Story in Marie Claire Magazine and making her autobiography “In my chair or yours?”. I suggest you all go onto her website and read what you really “can do”. www.juliana.co.nz
Seems Like I am Introducing a “Rotary Keynote Speaker Here”
Opening Thought --- Susie Your Perspective is not My Reality, but Mine is ---
A famous book writer sat in his study and began to write a few points on the year that had passed:
• Had surgery to remove my gallstones.
• Turned 60, Retired, quit a company I loved and left a job I had been doing for 35 years.
• I was abandoned by my beloved mother who passed away.
• My son failed his final medical exam because of a car accident. The cost ofrepairs marked the peak of a truly miserable year.
The writer’s wife entered the room and saw her husband sad and pensive. From behind she could see her husband’s writing. Slowly she backed away.
Fifteen minutes later she returned and place a piece of paper on the desk in front of her husband. It read:
• Last year my husband finally managed to get rid of the gallstones that were causing him so much pain for years.
• I am grateful that he was able to retire in a healthy and happy state of mind and body. I thank God that he was given the opportunity to work and earn for 35 years to support our family.
• Now my husband can spend time writing which has always been his passion.
• In the same year my 95-year-old mother-in-law, without any pain, returned to God in peace.
• The same year God protected our son from harm in a terrible accident. The car was seriously damaged but our son survived without any injuries.
• Last year was full of extraordinary blessings for which we are grateful.
We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
Text Generated by Artificial Intelligence not a Rotarian...
2023-02-01 11:00:00Z
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From a Rotary Student Exchange, then Around the World, and then Sharing in a Nobel Peace Prize
Exchanges are often a seedbed for cultivating peace one student or volunteer at a time.
Peacebuilding usually manifests in small ways, such as a thoughtful conversation between people of different cultures that results in better understanding and open-mindedness.
But sometimes a single seed of peace grows into something more far-reaching, with direct impact on multitudes.
From a Rotary Student Exchange, then Around the World, and then Sharing in a Nobel Peace Prize
2023-01-28 11:00:00Z
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Why Rotary needs to Expand our Reach
Katey Halliday, a member of the Rotary Club of Adelaide Light, Australia, is a charter member of the Rotaract Club of Adelaide City. Halliday serves on Rotary's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.
Recently, she took time to answer a few questions about the meaning of Rotary’s Action Plan pillar, Expand our Reach. Read her answers, and view her blog post about why DEI is the right thing for Rotary
You can experience new cultures, expand your global understanding, and immerse yourself in travel and service opportunities while building lifelong friendships through Rotary Friendship Exchange.
Every year, we offer the Rotary Friendship Exchange Photo Award as an opportunity for participants to share images from their recent experiences with the program. This year’s theme was reimagining Rotary Friendship Exchange.
Congratulations to Districts 9210 (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Northern Mozambique) and 7010 (Ontario, Canada) for being selected as the winners. If you’re interested in participating, learn how to get started with Friendship Exchange.
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle or just plain Santa.
You might know that the idea of Santa Claus dates back to Saint Nicholas who was bishop of Myra in Turkey in the 4th century, but that is only a small part of the story.
It is far more complicated than you think! Here goes:
By Alejandra Rueda, 2008-10 Rotary Peace Fellow, University of Berkeley
When I became a Rotary Peace Fellow in 2008, the presidential theme was Make Dreams Real. My dream was to support the Colombian countryside by improving the quality of life of farmers and, in turn, to achieve a more responsible use of nature and the ecosystem services it provides. I also wanted to help resolve the social conflict that Colombia has experienced. Or at the very least, to contribute to the development of projects that would spur economic and social recovery in areas that sorely needed it.
The speaker on Thursday evening was Geoff Mathis who gave a presentation on the Kondiki Dairy Project in Tanzania which he has been driving for the last 10 years.
He talked about the progress in milk volumes and milk quality through improved processing capabilities and then with better transport systems now in place getting products to market in a timely way.
One of our club members has admitted to going to Rotorua to pick up chicks !!!
Is this really Kaye Wishart, heavily disguised in Rotorua? Seriously, Past Pres. Kaye transported three lively kiwi chicks from Rotorua to Hawkes Bay, with the charges sounding like they were about to break out and pandemonium break loose in Kaye’s car!
But the charges settled as the pace picked up and the gentle hum of the road quieted them. Well done, Kaye!
3-Minute Talk: Ashley was in the property market for 33 yrs and out for the last 6 yrs.
They bought their first house in Grundy St in 1982 for $47,000 and struggled to sell it 9 yrs later – was bought by Housing Corp. They bought in Harris Street in 1992 and sold that for $104,000 (It sold last year for $955,000). They then bought in Grant Road in 2000 for $175,00, sold in 2016 for 345,000 and four years later it sold for $841,000.
Being out of the property market is not good. Initially, their rental was $350 pw and now is $580 but they did shift to a better property.
Vancouver Rotarians plugged into their local connections to spotlight End Polio Now in British Columbia.
Three landmarks — BC Place Stadium, the geodesic dome of Science World, and the City Hall clock tower — were set aglow for World Polio Day in 2021.
Ron Suzuki, a member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver Sunrise and a retired city recreation director, used his connections to line up support from city leaders, including Mayor Kennedy Stewart, who recognized the day by proclamation.
The Interact club at Honesdale High School in Pennsylvania held its Purple Pinkie Project in February to spread the word about polio eradication.
Club members went live on the radio, canvassed local businesses for contributions, and solicited dollar donations in exchange for coloring pinkies purple during school lunch breaks and basketball games.
The club raised $1,000, and members of the Rotary Club of Honesdale added $500 for the cause.
Rotary Interact Club Held its Purple Pinkie Project in February
A well-constructed social media profile can boost awareness of your club and of Rotary, as well as build connections in your community and beyond.
But what’s the best way to develop your social media presence? Our social media team’s “Kick-start your club’s social media presence” post in Rotary Voices offers some tips.
Social media makes expanding your club’s reach easier than ever, but how? There are tips, tricks, and tools for creating content for social platforms, and the goal is simple: connection.
Read about some inspiring student experiences, what it’s like to host exchange students, and how some exchanges have helped transform students into leaders in their communities.
If you want to see the direct impact of Rotary Youth exchange on both participants and adult volunteers, or if you’ve been searching for a glimpse of the program to show to others, this page is for you.
Rotary International President Jennifer Jones appeared on the main stage at the star-studded Global Citizen Festival on 24 September to highlight Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio and announce an additional US$150 million pledge toward that end.
Jones, who spoke in front of 60,000 people in New York City and tens of thousands more online and on TV, noted the state of emergency that the governor of New York state recently declared to combat a resurgence of polio in the region.
Rotary Pledges Another US $150 Million Toward Polio Eradication
2022-10-10 11:00:00Z
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Poland Rotarians Create a Safe Home for Ukrainian Refugees
In March, shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, refugees began arriving at a home in Wojciechów, a town about 20 miles from the city of Lublin in eastern Poland.
Janusz Milanowski, a member of the Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska, and his wife, Katarzyna Szmygin-Milanowska, had purchased the house in 2021 with the intention of turning it into a center for teenagers struggling with addiction.
with thousands of refugees from Ukraine needing a place to stay, the couple decided to open the home to them instead.
In mid-2017, two groups of 15 strangers lived together for 28 days each in a ring of shipping containers assembled in the parking lot of Antwerp University Hospital in Belgium.
They had access to books and movies, a small courtyard for barbecues, a common kitchen and dining room, and a fitness room — all of it behind secure interlocking doors and under the watch of personnel in protective gowns.
What sounds like a reality TV or sci-fi scenario was, in fact, a remarkable clinical trial of the latest weapon in the battle to eradicate polio — a re-engineered vaccine called the novel oral polio vaccine type 2, or nOPV2.
Mandy Kimber introduced Eve Casadranda to the Club, advising that Eve was born in Germany, moved to Alberta when she was 4 years old and then moved to Wellington, New Zealand in 1986, and then moved to Havelock North in 2017, with her husband Don.
Her career included Real Estate, both selling and property management, and Director of Client Services for On Arrival, a company that she and Don established in 1999. She has belonged to several organisations including Beta Sigma Sorority (in Canada), Lionesses, Tawa Community Theatre, Porirua Little Theatre, Porirua Rotary, St Lukes, and Keirunga Creative Arts Society.
Sadly, PDG Mike Smith passed away suddenly on Tuesday evening 13 September, surrounded by friends.
Mike joined Rotary in 1980 and became a member of the Ahuriri (Napier) Club in 1984. He was the District Governor of District 9930 from 2015-2016. Mike was a regular attendee at our District Advisory Council Meetings. Mike was a Paul Harris recipient with 5 sapphires. Mike was also a Paul Harris Society member.
PDG Mike Smith’s funeral is to be held at 2 pm Monday 19 September at the Napier War Memorial Centre, Marine Parade.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
The Rotary Club of Otumoetai in Tauranga has started the year with seventeen members but in the past two months has punched a powerful punch well above its weight.
Over $2,000 has been collected for the erection of two new seats for the city’s Kopurererua valley known locally as the K-valley project which will mean that locals and visitors alike can sit and enjoy what is projected to become the largest area of native planting within the confines of a New Zealand city. On 15 July club members joined a raft of other city organisations to plant a further substantial number of native trees and plants.
One of RI President Jennifer Jones' initiatives is to focus on the comfort and care of our members, and Membership Month is the perfect time to make sure that your club provides a welcoming experience.
Members are more likely to stay if we listen to them and understand what they want out of Rotary. Here are a few ideas for helping people feel valued and involved:
Take the Best Practices for Engaging Members course to develop strategies for engaging people at all stages of membership, or the Creating an Inclusive Club Culture course to discover ways to become more inclusive, diverse, and equitable.
Our members join Rotary to make a difference through service and to build lifelong friendships. Rotary offers many opportunities to do this, such as by carrying out effective projects and connecting with our global community. Here are some ways to start.
Do you have an idea or project that you want to share with your Rotary family? Breakout sessions can inspire attendees, help them polish their leadership skills and give them new ideas for Interact, RYLA, youth programs and more!
Help us build an inclusive breakout program that celebrates Rotary’s diversity, projects, and achievements! Submit your proposal online by Friday, 30 September 2022.
For a second year, Rotary International, Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, and Optimist International are working together to celebrate and give back to our communities with a weeklong service event, 11-17 September. This is a great time for your club to partner with local Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimist clubs on a project that will have a long-term impact on your community.
We had a robust discussion on district grants, as we are applying for $5,000 to match the other four clubs working on the Hauraki Rail Trail shelters.
The project is for 16 shelters (requested by HRT) and we are now completing the sixth.
So the present round of funding is for a further five shelters then we shall address the issue of funding the final five when ten are erected (update – we put an application in on Tuesday 30th, well inside the 31st deadline!!!).
Blue Light --- Training for Youth for Leadership ---
Marjean introduced the team and thanked Rotary for the opportunity to come and speak.
Sidney then joined everyone together in a game around the table ---- a race with all passing the electric shock down the line. Then they told us about Blue Light and the partnership between the Police and the Armed Forces to assist young people to develop and mature and to get them off the streets.
GUEST SPEAKER: Karen Denyer, National Wetland Trust.
To purchase Karen’s book ($65) please pay ASB 12 3171 00176 60 00. Please put BOOK and your name in the reference field for the records. All proceeds from the launch sales to the National Wetland Trust.
Karen said how good it was to work with our Rotary club. She is a trained ecologist and has written a book called Life in the Shallows, copies of which she brought along for Rotarians to purchase. The National Wetlands Trust was born around the turn of the century – a Millenium project.
Taveuni Visit - Dave, followed by Mark and then Barney each gave an overview of the recent diplomatic junket on behalf of the club with their wives to view the new kindergarten block that was supported to the tune of $26,000 by the Club and the NZ High Commissioner based in Suva. Highlights included:
Opened by the High Commissioner on 29 May 2023
A day was put on for the group where the gifts and a plaque were presented (belatedly) noting it was a – “Joint project NZ High Commission and Wh250akatane Rotary”.
The children spend a year at the Kindy before they move across the grounds to start their schooling at the Holy Cross Catholic Church school with 1200 primary and secondary students.
In 1865 brothers Phillip and Richard Dolbel purchased Springfield and Redclyffe Stations, part of which later became the 18ha Dolbel Reserve.
Over the years several developers subdivided parts of the Dolbel farmland for housing development. One of these was Carter Holt who bought the Dolbel Reserve.
Unlike the tree planting on Marine Parade back in May, the 10 – 12 members of Greenmeadows were not matched by a similar number from the other clubs in Napier this time at Awatoto.
Nevertheless, our hearty gardiners rose to the occasion, even when they had to dig their own holes this time.
It took some time and some were said to be out of breath but they certainly enhanced the shelter that our club erected on the site some time back.
Guest Speaker: Tony Walker. Tony’s background consists of working for 17 years as an Aeronautical Engineer and personal coach in the British Royal Air Force, with a further 8 years in Banking and Finance in New Zealand, during which he was involved in a Coaching role for team building and development.
Living and working in Hawkes Bay for the last 25 years has given Tony an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist for business people in city, urban and rural areas, whether they be small or large organizations.
Tony concentrates on the dynamics within a team, acknowledging that when team members change the dynamic changes with them.
His coaching is based on meeting the 4 basic emotional human needs, which can also be applied to everyday life:
Harold Sherson presented a comprehensive collection of his memories as a Rotary member for the past 46 years.
Harold joined Morrinsville Rotary in 1976, introduced by Milton Mundell. Over his years as a Rotarian, Rotary has moved its meeting place from the Oddfellows Hall, the St John’s Hall, the Events Centre for a short stay, and then to the Old Boys Rugby Clubrooms and finally to our present home in the Rotary Centre.
Rotary has changed over the years, but much remains the same- especially the desire to work in the community for the betterment of its occupants. Less formal than the collar and tie days, the singing of grace, the Rotary songbook, and formal changeover events, Rotary still retains the fellowship and care of its members and its desire to serve a better world for all.
Harold has kept the Club attendance book for 30 years we won the District attendance award twice in that time. He also held Office as Youth director, President-Elect, President, and Past President.
Viv Leonard from Arkwrights Antiques in Paeroa shared with us her experiences, hot items that are popular, and the items that are out of vogue at present.
Viv is a Paeroa Rotarian and in November this year she would have been running Arkwright Antiques for 30 years and only this week has decided to sell it after 30 years in business.
When Bob Rogers and Greg Owen, End Polio Now coordinators in their respective Rotary Zones, wanted to create a mechanism to encourage members to give to the PolioPlus Fund.
They looked into a giving program that had been launched in District 5110 (Oregon, California, USA) several years prior.
A PolioPlus Society asks members to give a minimum of $100 a year through a recurring payment program.
Tauranga’s Rotary clubs are celebrating diversity, with a fresh set of female presidents taking over in 2022.
The presidents are Carmen Goodwin of the Otūmoetai Rotary Club, Sue Boyne of the Tauranga Rotary Club, Vanessa Dodunski of the Tauranga Te Papa Rotary Club, and Lynda Burch of the Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club.
Tauranga Rotary assistant governor Pat Taylorsays the coincidental move coincides with the first international Rotary female president being elected this year.
Lynda Burch, left, Carmen Goodwin, and Sue Boyne. Photo: John Borren
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, a time for Rotary leaders to focus on the most important part of our organization, our members.
This year, Jennifer Jones is emphasizing comfort and care for our membership as one of her four presidential initiatives.
Throughout the month of August, read inspiring stories of how districts and clubs are creating a nurturing environment and a welcoming culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. And find a variety of resources that will help you build and strengthen your membership.
Jessie Bell, accredited Brainfit Coach Jessie gave a wonderful presentation on our memory or lack of as we age.
The Memory Foundation was established in 2008 by Dr. Allison Lamont and Gillian Eadie. Inspired by their mother’s fight with Alzheimer’s disease, both Allison and Gillian wanted to find effective ways to preserve and improve memory.
In her Ph.D. research, Allison identified the six types of memory skills that are critical for productivity and independent living into older age. Using her skills as a teacher, Gillian has developed this ground-breaking work into this proven memory improvement system -
Jessie trained and began teaching the Brainfit for Life course in 2014.
Well, this is a bit different, we usually only have one guest speaker. Tonight, we have one and a half!!!
Gail is our first volunteer for our Moanatairi school project. She started today on her commitment to giving six hours of service each week. Today she sorted out the books into fiction and nonfiction in the library and will run the school library from 9 until 12 every Monday and Tuesday morning.
Gail is really only a half guest as Gail is also our Rotary club's first “Associate member”. Monika and Greg have got that scheme up and running, with nine people having completed associate membership forms. Thanks, Monika and Greg.
Bailey Tunui and Sidney Waiari spoke at the club meeting on behalf of the junior and senior prefects.
The Rotary Club sponsored 12 Tarawera High School students to attend the annual G.R.I.P (Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity, People) conference in Rotorua, and speaking at the meeting was a way of thanking the Club for this experience.
The conference is designed to improve students' leadership skills, seek ideas from everyone, and develop support for each other.
For the past three years a group of Rotarians and Rotaractors have been working on a pilot project to consider how we can enhance Rotary and Rotaract and ensure we remain relevant for the future while also addressing some of the challenges we have been facing for a while.
In February 2022, the Rotary International (RI) Board gave its approval in principle to proceed with the pilot, subject to approval by clubs. A second green light was the Council on Legislation approval for changes of governance in April 2022. We are now one of just two regional pilots in the Rotary world looking to explore, develop and test new ways of operating.
What are we seeking to achieve through regionalisation? We want to ensure the best support possible to Rotary clubs and Rotaract clubs.
Through a less layered and more devolved contemporary approach members can continue to do what they do best – projects and connections/fellowship.
This is the first time I have assisted in this program and I was very impressed with all the presentations.
The program was held over two days at McLean Park, Napier, allowing 4 schools to participate, two on each day.
At the introductory meeting the year 12 students were divided into 4 groups, each assisted by a teacher and a Rotarian , there were 5 activities to complete during the day with a morning tea and lunch break.
Rotary International Director Jessie Harman and Rotary Zone 8 Foundation Director Peter Garnett recently visited Hawke's Bay.
At a dinner for Past District Governors and Major Donors, much fun and conviviality ensued.
Past District Governor Ross Pinkham mentioned the Polar Bear Swim in the ocean off Ahuriri, Napier. Cheeky Max Patmoy pledged $200 if RI Director Jessie took the plunge and immersed herself in the icy waters. Jessie laughed and politely refused. Well, push came to shove and other participants at the dinner pledged more and more for a Jessie Harman plunge.
Thank you for your dedication to changing futures The Rotarians and Clubs of District 9930, and the District itself, are highly valued long-term supporters of Interplast.
Interplast is grateful to have this further opportunity to work with District 9930, on a proposed volunteer surgical program for the Solomon Islands, to take place in 2023.
Your support will allow our volunteer medical team to provide life-changing surgery and post-operative care to patients in desperate need, at the same time providing an opportunity for local medical staff to receive invaluable hands-on training provided by the Interplast anaesthetist/s, surgeons, and nurses.
Yesterday I handed over the District Governor's role to Kevin Forgeson from Te Kuiti.
The past year has been filled with enjoyment, pleasure, and entertainment - visiting many Rotary Clubs throughout the central North Island.
The changeover event was a celebration of the past Rotary year - a chance to recognise and honour those Rotarians who went to the extra effort in making their Club and communities a better place.
Thank you Rotarians in District 9930 for a fun-filled year.
Rotary helping an Afghani Evacuee family settle in Hamilton, NZ “It’s quieter than gunfire!”
Recently, as we helped an Afghani Evacuee family settle into their new home in Hamilton, I stood on the front deck with two Afghani community members, who had come to New Zealand some years ago.
I commented on the noisy road, and said, ‘You’ll soon get used to that noise’.
The response came back – ‘It’s quieter than gunfire!’
As our clubs approach the end of the Rotary year 2021-2 as your membership chair, I encourage all Presidents and Membership Chairs to check their membership records on Club Runner.
Would club officers please make sure your club records are correct, so we get an accurate end-of-rotary-year membership total for District 9930.
Your club will be charged for its members on the 1st of July figures.
Early bird tickets are now available for all Rotaractors and Rotarians in Australia, New Zealand, and across the Pacific to attend the Zone 8 Better Together Conference in Canberra from October 28-30.
The conference will be held at the National Convention Centre Canberra and the Saturday night dinner at Old Parliament House.
Border closures and additional pressure on the New Zealand Health system have resulted in severe restrictions in bringing children to New Zealand for life-saving treatment in the last two years.
In the last year, we have had a single patient Penny from Tonga, for treatment at Starship Children’s Hospital. Penny arrived May 19, 2021, during a window when borders opened, spent two weeks in MIQ followed by pre-op admission, completed on June 4.
Earlier this year the District 9930 Foundation committee agreed to commit US$5,000 of our District Designated Funds to the Rotary Te Tai Tokerau Tamariki Mental Wellbeing Project in Northland. Our contribution to this Global Grant will enable Rotary District 9910 to proceed with the delivery of school presentations, classroom resources and teacher education to 9,000 children in the Far North. If successful it is then hoped that this mental health programme will extend to schools in the Central North Island.
Please find attached their promotion flyer which if you think is suitable for the District Newsletter, could be preceded by my comments above.
The Rail Trail Project has been discussed over the years and due to the enthusiasm for rail trails, our local one in the Coromandel and Piako areas has been started and is going ahead now with the help of the dollar for dollar subsidy from the District.
This is the crew who erected the first one up between Kopu and Miranda.
There has since been another one completed at an old cowshed between Matamata and Te Aroha. They are just waiting for the bases to be finished so this one can be lifted and shifted to the site.
Waiariki Women’s Refuge has a Santa sack full of simple gifts for women and children in need this summer, thanks to a project run by the Rotary Club of Rotorua Passport.
One hundred gift packs, containing basic hygiene items, were delivered to the Refuge Manager, Martina Wineera, this week, to bring a small amount of comfort to those in need.
Earlier this year, I made my first trip ever to Pakistan to learn more about the country’s incredible efforts to wipe out polio. Their energy and enthusiasm reminded me of what I saw in India and Nigeria when those countries were traveling the final mile to eliminate polio within their borders.
Across Europe, Rotaract members are using digital tools to share information and coordinate efforts to help people affected by the war in Ukraine.
By routing communications through the European Rotaract Information Centre (also known as Rotaract Europe), a multidistrict information organization that serves clubs in more than 40 countries, these young members are using the power of Rotary’s global network to direct aid where it’s needed most.
RYPEN (Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment) held another very successful weekend at Lakewood Lodge, Rangiriri last weekend.
RYPEN is a fun residential weekend where the participants participate in a range of outdoor activities designed to build their self-worth.
The programme is aimed at year 10 students, who have shown qualities of decency, courage, persistence, sincerity, leadership and application in everyday life, and who deserve further development and guidance.
This year Waikato had 34 students from 14 schools sponsored by 10 Rotary Clubs. Rotorua had 39 at theirs but Hawkes Bay and Bay Plenty schools cancelled theirs because of Covid.
Does your club sponsor a school for this very worthwhile programme?
Rotarians and guests from all over Napier and Hastings filled the Reading Theatrette for the opening night of Downton Abbey ~ A new Era.
Over $1,500 will be donated to The Rotary Foundation in the name of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Hawke's Bay. The money goes towards the elimination of Polio worldwide.
Critics Consensus: With its excellent cast and resplendent period trappings, Downton Abbey continues to weave a bewitching, ingratiating spell. Downton Abbey transcends its plot with witty dialogue, lavish costumes and sets, and an outstanding cast.
The Rotary Club of Taradale has celebrated 100 Years of Rotary
in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific.
Rotary Club of Taradale celebrated and acknowledged 100 Years of Rotary in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific.
As part of their Rotary Forests of Peace and Remembrance Project, Taradale Rotarians and community volunteers planted shrubs and trees to positively impact the environment at the Dolbel Reserve, in Taradale.
This week’s guest speaker was Merryn Jones, a clinical nurse specialist as well a transplant coordinator at the DHB.
She explained that Organ donation is only possible in a small proportion of all deaths in New Zealand. However, when donation can occur, one donor has the potential to help up to ten people through the donation of organs and tissues.
If there were more donors, many more people could benefit from life-saving transplants.
The driver's license records an indication of your wishes only, it is not an organ donor register and does not automatically mean that organs or tissues will be donated in the event of death.
From the Combined Rotary Clubs of Napier Environment Committee
What is Happening with our Clubs?
‘The Gap’ Lynne Trafford from Sunrise has organised for the Sacred Heart College Interact Club to be allocated a section at ‘The Gap’ (The Esplanade, Westshore) where Biodiversity HB has initiated a project to get rid of the weeds and restore the area with the indigenous plants that were (and some still are) originally there.
ShelterBox has begun distributions of aid in Ukraine. With help from our partner, People in Need, we are delivering mattresses to Lviv where people seeking shelter and safety are sleeping on the cold floors in collective centers like schools and sports arenas.
Working with our NZ partner, Relief Aid, we are providing shelter kits and other essential items to help people across Ukraine survive in damaged buildings. The kits contain tarpaulins, tools and rope, thermal blankets, solar lights, buckets, and water carriers as well as hygiene items like soap, washing powder, and toothpaste.
ShelterBox, Rotary's partner in disaster relief, has begun distributions of aid in Ukraine.
With help from our distribution partner, People in Need, we are delivering mattresses to Lviv where people seeking shelter and safety are sleeping on the cold floor in collective centers like schools and sports arenas.
Working with our NZ partner, Relief Aid, we are providing shelter kits and other essential items to help people across Ukraine survive in damaged buildings. The kits contain tarpaulins, tools, and rope to seal out the cold. We're also providing thermal blankets, solar lights, buckets, and water carriers as well as hygiene items like soap, washing powder, and toothpaste.
It is with pleasure that I advise the appointment of Nick Dangerfield as District 9930 Governor for the Rotary year 2024-25
Nick is a Past President of the Tauranga Te Papa Rotary Club and is currently the District’s Training and Rotary Learning & Information (RLI) Chairman & Coordinator.
I pass on my congratulations to Nick (& Maria) on his appointment on behalf of the District’s Board.
His current role until 1 July 2022 will be District Governor Nominee Designate and then assume the title of District Governor Nominee from that date.
He joins the District Governor Team of Kevin Forgeson (Te Kuiti) DG 2022/23, and Bill Robinson (Cambridge) DG 2023/24)
Congratulations Nick. The District looks forward to your year as District Governor 2024-25.
This was an Evening for honoring John Willis for what he has done for the Rotary Club of Morrinsville, the community of Morrinsville, and its surrounding districts.
John was honoured to have family members, District Governor Ross Pinkham, Assistant District Governor Tom Stephenson, and his wife Corolyn, Representatives from Waikato Referees Assn., Port Waikato Camp Trust Board, David Street Primary School, Senior Citizens Assn., The Morrinsville Rugby Sub-union and Rotarians from Te Aroha and Paeroa Rotary Clubs are in attendance.
Peter E welcomed our guest speaker Past District Governor, and Rotary Ahuriri member, Mike Smith.
Mike spoke about his recent holiday in the Chatham Islands.
Mike enjoyed the experience immensely and came away with some great impressions of the terrain, vegetation, the people, wildlife, and businesses on the Islands … he also visited Pitt Island.
Highlights included the statue of Tommy Solomon believed to be the last full-blood Moriori, the butterfly garden, and fabulous seafood meals.
As he was on a tour he traveled over many of the 187km of metal roads and saw petrel nesting sites, perhaps he didn’t have time to do any fishing.
Mike described in detail a young man who has established a very successful seafood industry.
Join Rotary to promote the power of vaccines to protect children and save lives.
During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, let’s advocate for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines to the health and well-being of our communities.
Vaccines are one of the greatest advances in modern medicine. They’re safe, effective, and save millions of lives each year. Our progress in the fight to end polio is proof that vaccines work.
The National Wetland Trust is leading a major wetland restoration and education center project at Lake Serpentine/ Rotopiko near Te Awamutu.
The Wetland Trust is collaborating with Te Awamutu Rotary Club (District 9930), as we have provided voluntary support at Lake Rotopiko during the year to support the restoration plan.
This has included the provision of a range of environmental activities including pest surveillance; native planting and the construction of sampling tables and viewing benches for visitors to the site.
The beautiful meal was followed by Chris Whittington being inducted into our club.
His acceptance speech was a detailed account of his occupation as an engineer (he is a charted Bio-medical engineer) and his experience in the Rotary National Science and Technology Forum.
He couldn’t speak highly enough of this forum which concentrates on empowering people to provide humanitarian answers to human problems in undeveloped countries, e.g. using thermal water heating for houses, slow cooking with a focussed sun reflector, vaccinating in poorer countries. In other words, helping poorer countries increase their standard of living without compromising the environment.
Local Rotary clubs annually fund several students for this extremely worthwhile cause.
Matamata Rotarians have reached out to the flood-ravaged city of Ballina in New South Wales with financial assistance after a large portion of the township was destroyed by devastating floodwaters.
A donation of $3000 was made by Rotary Matamata to its sister club Ballina-on-Richmond as the city struggles to recover from the March flood caused in part by a 1.8m king tide on the Richmond River.
Two years ago, Tsagay was mauled by a bear. He lost his nose, was blinded in his left eye, and had a large hole in his face. After the trauma, he received a skin graft on the right-hand side of his face from local surgeons in India.
He knows that he is lucky to be alive, but he has lost his independence and his ability to provide for his family when he returned to his home country of Bhutan. The sight in his remaining right eye was hindered by scarring and he had great difficulty eating. Tsagay was fully dependent upon his family.
These eight zoom meeting etiquette tips will help ensure more cohesive and productive virtual meetings for all.
1. Always be on time,
2. Pay attention to mute One of the most disruptive (and embarrassing) Zoom faux pas is when you forget to mute yourself in a Zoom meeting. Needless to say, background noise is very distracting to other participants. Luckily, there’s a simple fix for this. Pay attention to your meeting settings and the mute function. When you’re not talking, make sure to mute yourself. On the other hand, when it is time for you to speak, take an extra second to check your mute button. We have all made the mistake of speaking before unmuting ourselves, but taking the time to unmute before speaking will save you the embarrassment and hassle of repeating yourself.
GUEST SPEAKER: Stephen Randal, a long-term member of our Club spoke about the leather industry, in which he’d spent his entire career. He advised members that the skin of any animal is its biggest organ. Early man was aware of the value of animal skins for protection from the elements, but no one knows how tanning evolved. It’s conjectured that it may have been accidental with someone observing that a skin discarded in a puddle containing tannin leached from a tree imparted some properties resulting in a basic level of durability. We know that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used leather sandals.
Historically tanning was a dirty, dangerous, difficult, and polluting industry that sometimes used carcinogenic chemicals and unpleasant natural products including human urine and dog poo. However that’s changed now and at least in the developed world, the industry has high standards with regards to staff health and safety and environmental issues – all of which form a significant part of Tanney management.
Stephen briefly explained some of the four main different types of tanning and their development and suitability for different uses. He explained that there have been huge advances in machinery and chemical and process technology over the past approx 150 years, and gave some examples. Although much of the developments have been labor-saving there have also been significant improvements in product quality, usefulness, and environmental aspects.
He explained how when he started his career there was a large tanning industry in NZ largely supported by government protection for the footwear industry, import controls, and export incentives. Now though, in the global economy much of the industry, particularly for finished leather has moved overseas, usually to countries where there are lower labour costs and/or lower environmental requirements and/or proximity to the market for finished leather goods. And these locations are constantly changing.
It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since in-person exchanges were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, thousands of students have participated in engaging virtual exchanges, and club and district leaders have maintained their commitment to the program. Many districts are now preparing to resume in-person exchanges in 2022-23.
Rotary Cambridge Urban Miners were recently awarded a national accolade at the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards held at Parliament.
Awarded the Community Group Award, this award recognises and honours a not-for-profit community group that contributes to enhancing the environmental and social aspects of their region and shows a strong sense of community spirit.
There were three very strong finalists in this category and it is fantastic that the hard work and commitment from the whole Urban Miners family has been recognised on the National stage
3 Minute Speaker Peter Thompson introduced the Stella Awards – so named after American Stella Liebeck, at the time 79 years old, who was awarded $160,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages because she spilt a scalding cup of McDonald's coffee on her lap causing third-degree burns.
Just happens that she was in the passenger seat of a car holding the cup between her knees. McDonald's and Liebeck settled out of court but the Stella Awards have since been published annually to the most laughable legal claims such as:
Guest speakers David Trim and Roger Smith were introduced by Jane Clouston.
David has 25 years of experience in management positions, both employed and self-employed, and a wealth of practical experience as a director and shareholder in six local businesses.
Roger comes from a 25-year career in marketing and advertising and in 2008 he established his own consultancy advising and mentoring owners of small to medium-sized businesses.
David and Roger teamed up to develop a mentoring business that creates groups of like-minded people who meet fortnightly to share their ideas and concerns with the aim of helping each other succeed in their businesses. This is a subsidised service supported by the HBDC and CHBDC and meets on Thursdays in Waipukurau.
The Sacred Heart College Interact meeting was held on Tuesday and a presentation was given by Debbie Monahan CEO, and Belinda Sleight Community Liaison, from Biodiversity HB. The focus of the presentation was The Gap at Westshore and the desire to restore it back to how it might once have been.
The Gap is the 10-section wide area at Westshore (The Esplanade) where there are no houses; it is house-free due to it being the approach for the cross runway at Napier airport. The area is one of the only largely unmodified gravel beach areas in Napier and is rare throughout the HB coastline.
In response to questions and concerns raised by members worldwide, we are pleased to announce that the Rotary International Board of Directors has confirmed that the 2022 Rotary International Convention will be an in-person event 4-8 June in Houston, Texas, USA. We are excited to offer a special registration rate of US$575
As an imported case from Pakistan, this detection of type 1 wild poliovirus in Malawidoes not affect the WHO African region’s wild polio-free certification status.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has confirmed a case of type 1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in a child suffering from paralysis in Malawi. Analysis has shown the virus is genetically linked to WPV1 that had circulated in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
During the first week of January, some 23 Taradale and Greenmeadows Rotarians, together with Camp Kaitawa Trust members, friends and family gathered at Camp Kaitawa, Lake Waikaremoana for the annual repairs and maintenance working bee.
During the morning, jobs were carried out and ticked off, and then during the afternoons and evenings, there was time for swimming, kayaking, reading, resting, games, chatter, fun & laughter.
Join us for an overnight, two-day cycle tour in the Ruapehu District. The plan is to do the Ohakune Old Coach Road ride on Saturday 30th and the Fishers Track on Sunday 1st May.
We would base ourselves in Owhango and stay the Saturday night in the Owhango Hotel or overflow accommodation in the area. Bike shuttles will be arranged for both days.
Accommodation – Owhango Hotel Saturday 30th
Bike transfers to and from for both tracks with Kiwi Mountain Bikes who run out of the Owhango Hotel
Dinner Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning provided at the Hotel
Package price $205 per person for all of the above.
Salaam alaikum. After the overthrow of the government in August 2021, Afghani interpreters who had an affiliation with the NZ Defence Force were evacuated from Kabul and flown to Auckland where they stayed until homes were found in the cities of their choice; this being Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.
Homes are sourced by the Government, which also provide hard furnishings. In Hamilton, Waikato Refugee Forum has the contract to settle the evacuees, with Red Cross providing high needs support.
Rotary is involved in providing crockery, cutlery, bed linen, etc.
Ian provided the history of the local helicopter rescue service starting in the late 1960s when the helicopters used were primarily crop sprayers and the patients needed to be strapped into a stretcher mounted on the helicopter skids.
The paramedic would sit in an adjacent seat in the cockpit but communication with the patient was almost impossible given the engine noise and the wind. By 1971 the local agricultural helicopters were attending between 20 and 30 rescues each year.
1984 saw the establishment of the Hawke’s Bay Helicopter Rescue Trust (HBHRT) comprising representatives from the Porangahau Diving Club, Waimarama Surf Club, Police, Civil Defence and others. While originally established primarily for water rescues, in 1989 the service expanded to include patient transfers, police searches, accident recovery and marine emergencies using a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter.
Members of the Rotary Club of East Lansing, Michigan, USA, in District 6360, felt overwhelmed by what they perceived as a complicated process.
With the help of Karen Parkhurst, a member of the District 7120 (New York, USA) resource network, the East Lansing club developed its first global grant.
Peace is fundamental to Rotary's mission. In a time of heightened tensions and uncertainties due to COVID-19 and other factors, it is critically important that we work together to create environments where peace can thrive.
Our members are addressing the underlying causes of conflict every day through service projects and peace fellowships and scholarships.
February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. This month, take advantage of some of the many ways to get involved in peace through Rotary.
In 2020 the Rotary Club of Napier Donated $6000 to Project Prima Volta Trust.
The Trust was formed in Hawkes Bay to train teenagers in the art of Opera. The Director of PPV, Anna Pierard was recognised with a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2020.
In 2021 the club wished to acknowledge the work of Jose Aparicio (Anna’s husband) by recognising him as a Paul Harris Fellow.
The recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow is one of the highest honours that a Rotary Club can bestow upon a person, member or non-member.
It acknowledges and expresses appreciation to individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name of US$1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Jose’s award was funded by a Napier Rotary Club member.
Guest Speaker/Programme Kath Boyd - “Big Brother, Big Sister”
Kath was introduced by Clive Adams as the programme manager for a key mentoring programme in our community – “Big Brother, Big Sister”
In 1904, a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter observed more and more boys come through his courtroom.
He recognised that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteer mentors.
At about the same time, the members of a group called Ladies of Charity were befriending girls who had come through the New York Children’s Court.
The first Aotearoa New Zealand Big Brothers Big Sisters programme was established in Dannevirke, where the first mentoring match was made in November 1996.
"I went into the confessional box after many years of being away from the Catholic Church.
"Inside I found a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On one wall, there was a row of decanters with fine Irish whiskey and Waterford crystal glasses. "On the other wall was a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates.
Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world.
Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, revealed the 2022-23 presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, as she urged people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality.
“Imagine, a world that deserves our best,” Jones told incoming district governors on 20 January, “where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”
Now entering its 4th year in the Bay of Plenty RYDA planning for 2022 is well underway with now Six Rotary clubs forming our Rotary Collective.
All actively supporting and funding the delivery of RYDA courses to our Year 12’s, from Paeroa down to Papamoa.
Young people continue to be overrepresented in road deaths and serious injuries. RYDA is the leading and only national road safety education programme for youth in New Zealand, providing young people with the skills and strategies they need to stay safe on the roads.
Guest Speaker Michelle Tanner updating on GECAF and Polio Eradication
Peter T introduced Michelle, but as he said, she has been a member of our club since 2008, President 2016/17, started Interact at Matamata College, been on District Foundation for years and is now Chair, and a firm advocate for GECAF (give every child a future) so we know Michelle!!
Michelle started by giving us some history on Polio, there are images dating it back to 1400BC. What differs it from other viruses is that humans are the only host. Children are at most risk, and whilst it has a very high infection rate 95% of people will not show symptoms.
Kia ora, As you may be aware, ShelterBox’s Emergency Response Team has been closely monitoring the situation in Tonga ever since news of the volcano and tsunami emerged.
After much investigation and consultation with local partners to better understand the situation and scale of unmet need, it has been decided today that ShelterBox will not be responding in Tonga.
Tauranga Sunrise Rotary – A Pair of Socks for Tauranga
– Michele Beaton, Environment Committee – Jan 2022
When asked about the challenges to our oceans, Jacques Cousteau, ocean explorer and scuba-diving pioneer, once said that the biggest was that the air-sea interface was opaque. This hides both the complex marine ecology human beings depend on and the hugely damaging impact of their activities, which include using oceans as a rubbish tip, and retards understanding of the issues. Stormwater runoff is a major source of marine pollutants.
Rotary D9930 support for the Kondiki dairy plant in the community of Mwika has continued to gather strength, amidst the headwinds of COVID-19.
Thanks to improvements in plant and equipment, processing, marketing, and overall business management systems, the Dairy is now processing all its daily purchased raw milk, nearing 5,000 litres.
It's a very anxious and unsettling time right now for anyone with family and links to Tonga.
Here at ShelterBox New Zealand, we continue to send our thoughts and Aroha to the Tongan community, following Saturday's underwater volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami.
The Rotary Club of Kawerau was pleased to welcome Araceli into membership at their Christmas night.
Araceli is originally from the Philippines and has been living in Kawerau for 35 years with her husband and son.
Araceli has a long work history as a Migrant Interpreter for a Finance Company. She is still working but her husband has now retired. Araceli has always been a hard-working community person and has been involved in areas such as the Kawerau Community Board.
She is also very active in tramping, bush walking and harriers.
She has wanted to join Rotary for some time and meeting up with President Lynette at the Covid Jabs Project provided a golden opportunity to discuss it with her and she is very excited to have this chance to continue working for our community.
World Vision released a report last year on the impact of Covid-19, providing the following statistics:
13.6 million more children will suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition by 2022 due to COVID-19 impacts
Children suffering from wasting are 11 times more likely to die from preventable diseases than those that are well-nourished.
The impacts of childhood malnutrition can last a lifetime, harming their ability to learn, earn and reach their full potential as adults, which also has significant economic implications, nationally and globally.
Please could you share this email with all clubs in your District? We’d welcome the opportunity to present to these clubs so that they can learn more about us and how they can have an immediate impact.
Rotary Whakatane's new member, Trudy McKinnon grew up in Opotiki.
After an O.E. in London, she returned home in 1994. She experimented with several careers from fashion, sports massage and lifeguarding.
Moved to Cambridge and this is where her love of real estate began, with Harcourts Cambridge which she loved. In 2010 she decided it was time to come home as her mum is here.
She had a short stint at Rosita’s and then White Island tours. Whilst there she wrote a small book called Peter the Great (The White Island Cat), which has raised approx $2,000 for kids’ cancer over the past few years.
She then decided to give real estate another go and here she is, 10 years later. She lives with a standard poodle called LOLA and 2 ginger cats…. Kevin and Mickey
Rotary Greenmeadow's guest speaker – Lynne Anderson (Ahuriri Rotary Club and chair of the Hawkes Bay Environmental Committee) gave an informative presentation on all matters environmental both locally and internationally. Protecting the Environment is Rotary International’s 7th area of focus.
Rotary International's Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) was set up in Sao Paulo in 2015 to become the voice of Rotary on the environment. It currently has members in 75 countries and in 12 Regional Global Chapters. Oceania comprises Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and totals 1380 Rotary clubs and over 42,000 Rotarians
At this time of year, my thoughts are turning towards New Year’s resolutions.
The festive season is a perfect time to reflect on the year that’s been and make plans for the year ahead. As we approach 2022, I hope you will resolve to do even more to Grow Rotary in our region.
These are the resolutions I hope you will make to help Rotary thrive:
Enhance the member experience – Every member comes to Rotary with needs and expectations. We need to focus on delivering an experience that meets those needs and delivers value to individual members. Commit to creating a more member-centric club.
Two members of the Rotary Club of Greenmeadows – Alan White and Denise Brown were responsible for the major collection and handover of Christmas hampers to five families referred to the club by the Napier Salvation Army.
The final combined handover for the five families (comprising 25 parents and children) was 17 hampers. In addition to the hampers, there were six Christmas bags of personal gifts for each individual in the family.
In addition, one family received a family pass voucher to the Ocean Spa, and nine KMart vouchers were donated totalling $345.
David Higgs faced a challenge when he took over as the president of the Rotary Club of Henderson, Texas, USA.
The club was down to less than 20 members and fewer than a dozen attended weekly meetings.
That’s when he came up with a plan, including encouraging club members to make a big deal of their installation dinner and work together to invite 100 people to the event.
Read about how their efforts helped double the number of members in a blog post for Rotary
How to Double the Size of Your Rotary Club in 60 Minutes.
In his address to the Rotary International Convention in June 2021, Shekhar Mehta urged Rotary members to put improving girls’ futures at the forefront of their work.
Mehta made empowering girls one of his presidential initiatives, and his focus is particularly timely. Women continue to face economic hurdles, declining levels of political participation, and challenges in the workplace, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021.
For the first time in more than three years, nationwide polio immunization campaigns resumed across Afghanistan reaching 8.5 million children, including 2.4 million children who were previously inaccessible.
Campaigns were conducted nationwide in November and December.
The December campaign was synchronized with the campaign in Pakistan to improve cross-border polio eradication efforts.
Maui Hunt's story of his experience at Outward Bound: Anakiwa
It started with an early rise at 6.30 am on the 5th July 2021. I travelled by myself to the Wellington airport to jump onto another plane to Picton. A van ride to Picton ferry, and a calm ferry ride across. I landed in Anakiwa at 10.30 that night.
It was a great experience. The trip was designed to gain life skills, meet people and work with different people from around NZ, and experience the outdoors. Most of what we had to do was quite easy, but to some, it might have been challenging. With my experience jumping off the McLarens falls bridge I didn’t fear the 22m of a cliff into the water. I recognised some needed some help and I encouraged them to jump. It was COLD!
Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta joined the Rotary delegation to the 26th United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on 10 November to explore ways Rotary can work on environmental challenges, including by restoring mangroves, a crucial ecosystem that can mitigate the effects of climate change in coastal areas.
The climate summit, also known as COP26 (short for Conference of the Parties), brought together nearly 100 heads of state and governments over a two-week period to set new targets for fossil fuel emissions. This was Rotary’s first time at the annual conference.
Rotary’s relationship with the Global Partnership for Education is already having an impact, as incoming district governors learned at the International Assembly in January.
“Together we are changing the lives of girls and other vulnerable children in the poorest corners of the world,” said Alice P. Albright, the organization’s chief executive officer, in her remarks about the relationship, formed in April 2020.
“Rotary has a unique voice and standing on the global stage and in virtually every country. You can use that voice to advocate for more resources and then work with government leaders to ensure that they are distributed equitably.”
On Wednesday 17 November, a defibrillator was installed at East Pier.
This gift was funded by the Rotary Club of Ahuriri Sunrise and partly paid for by a grant from the Rotary District 9930 Foundation Grants Committee.
With East Pier being the ‘home’ of Rotary Ahuriri Sunrise and not having a defibrillator, this gift was seen as a worthy contribution to both East Pier and Ahuriri.
Thank you John and Graeme for the installation and thank you to everyone who helped pay for it.
Photo: John Pickering and Sunrise President Graeme Dickey.
Stephen went to Australia because of a shortage of jobs in the NZ small plane industry, caused by few routes needing small plane transport, an example being Great Barrier Island.
He was first based in Kununnura, Western Australia, home of the famous Bungle Bungles. He worked as an instructor at Newcastle Waters Station (30,000 square kilometres), teaching farmers and station personnel to fly.
He was next employed for 14 months as a charter plane pilot on the Gove Peninsula, home to many Aboriginal people.
At this point, Secret Santa’s Greenmeadows elves appeared out of the blue, and produced a handsome suspect “Rotary” birthday cake to the complete surprise of President Jenny who, as it happened, was celebrating a birthday!
Some speculated that it represented ¾ of a century (but your scribe does not believe that!) At this point, it was realised that we had no meal prepared for us at the venue, and so we quickly adjourned to the Thai Lotus Restaurant out in the main street and enjoyed a splendid meal and a glass of wine - or three. And we had the cake and ate it too!
Gail introduced her son Andrew Spence and together they outlined The late Reverend Dr Richard Spence’s involvement with both the Port of Napier as Chaplain and his dedication and service to the Seafarers Centre.
The need for some shore services has always existed for seamen often away from home for 8 or more months at sea.
Nearly 100 Rotarians and friends joined to see the Hawke's Bay premier of The Lost King.
The venue was the Reading Cinema, Napier and the movie was very well received by everyone.
The Search for Richard III by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones. It is a dramatisation of the story of Philippa Langley, the woman who initiated the search to find King Richard III's remains under a car park in Leicester.
The evening raised over $1,600 for the elimination of polio worldwide. Proceeds will be forwarded to the District 9930 Rotary Foundation in the name of all the Rotary Clubs in Hastings and Napier.
Taradale Rotary Club members, partners and friends, recently had a one-off opportunity of visiting the Cape Sanctuary. The Cape Sanctuary is privately owned and located at Cape Kidnappers. Relying on private funding and a large number of committed volunteers, the Cape is a model for sustainable conservation.
It combines commercial farming, tourism and forestry with community lead conservation. The area covers approximately 2,500 hectares of private land, including a 10.6km predator-proof fence, is home to a number of endangered species that have been reintroduced to the Sanctuary, and many native species are thriving within this area.
Guest Speaker – Michelle Tanner from Matamata kept us on the edge of our seats with her great presentation (even had Thames Rotary in the title slide!).
Rotary started its campaign to eradicate Polio from the world in 1979.
In 1985 we got the World Health Organisation, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund and Centre for Disease Control on board.
Johnny Dryden has set some goals on growing membership in line with our International President’s theme of ‘each one bring one’.
Johnny highlighted the fact that there will be prospective members waiting for us to invite them to join our club, and start serving their community in a different way.
He highlighted the fact that our club already has a number of outstanding projects/ community events.
She spoke about Interplast, the incredible Rotary programme that sends medical volunteers to third world countries and islands in the South Pacific to perform free plastic surgery on children and young people.
Most of the patients have either cleft palates or burn injuries.
These medical teams also train local doctors and nurses on surgical procedures so that this life-changing surgery can continue long after the volunteers have left.
Each year, approximately 50,000 young leaders gain the knowledge and skills they need to make real change locally and globally through participation in a RYLA event!
To better support RYLA organizers, we are excited to announce the launch of a brand new RYLA Handbook, available now in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. In this resource, you will find step-by-step guidance to support the development of safe, meaningful and fun RYLA programs for all participants.
Explore Rotary's new service-learning resources with your Interact club!
After applying service-learning to your club experience, submit a video, photos, and/or essay showcasing your club's service-learning journey to the Interact Awards
Submit your nominations by 1 December 2021 for a chance to be named "Best Video," "Best Photo," or "Best Essay" and receive funds to support your Interact club's next project.
On Thursday 28 October, the Taradale Rotary Club and Claire Connor (ShelterBox NZ Ambassador/Volunteer & Rotary District 9930 ShelterBox Representative) organised a ‘’Shine for ShelterBox NZ’’ Dinner and Quiz Night at the Taradale RSA.
It was a night full of fun and laughter, and an opportunity to not only raise valuable funds for families in need but to also raise awareness and encourage people to ‘’get together to brighten lives’’.
On the first day, he sadly packed his belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.
On the second day, he had the movers come and collect his things.
On the third day, he sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining-room table, by candlelight; he put on some soft background music and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water. When he'd finished, he went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimps dipped in caviar into the hollow centre of the curtain rods.
She has been a dietitian for 23 years; the majority of this time has been at Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.
She has been a Renal Dietitian for the last 13 years. She talked about the role of sodium in contributing to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
The average Kiwi consumes 2tsp of salt per day while the daily recommended intake of salt is 1tsp.
November is Foundation Month. The Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s charity of choice. Thank you to all those club members and clubs that have contributed to the Rotary Foundation. I know many Clubs are making plans for their donations, please send them through as soon as possible so they can be processed.
Barry and Sandra Payne (BAZ flyers) have circumnavigated the world in a small single-engine aircraft.
Leaving their home airport of Taupo they flew over Australia to Japan where the weather problems delayed them three days.
Their next stop was Myachikoro Airport Moscow before heading into Alaska. From there they headed down to the United States and across to New York, and the OshKosh aerodrome and air display was their next port of call where there were 1500 aircraft.
Here are some other events Rotary members planned to celebrate World Polio Day this year:
In eastern Ontario and western Quebec, Canada, thousands of Rotary members will put on red ponchos and march through the streets of their towns to raise awareness for polio eradication on World Polio Day, 24 October. Michael Kinsey, governor of Rotary District 7010, which spans the two provinces, ordered 2,000 of the special ponchos, which include the End Polio Now logo, for members to purchase for $10 each. Half of that goes to Rotary’s PolioPlus campaign, with the other half covering the cost of the poncho. Clubs are inviting local politicians and media to join the event, or holding small rallies to explain Rotary’s role in bringing an end to the crippling disease.
So far in 2021, only two cases of wild polio have been reported — the lowest circulation of the disease ever — with one infection each in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two countries where polio remains endemic.
Global health experts expressed their optimism that Rotary’s goal of ridding the world of polio is within reach, during a 2021 Online Global Update.
The 30-minute program, “Delivering on our Promise of a Polio-Free World,” provided encouraging information about the progress we are making and discussed the remaining challenges in the fight to end polio. Learn more
Across the world members of our organisation have been working with communities and health authorities to communicate lifesaving information about COVID-19. This has been achieved through donating protective gear and other supplies to clinics and hospitals that are stretched beyond capacity because of the pandemic. Members globally are also ramping up efforts to help communities navigate the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rotary’s goodwill, community connections, strategic partnerships and innovation can all support the effort to protect communities from COVID-19.
Malcolm introduced our Guest Speaker, fellow Rotarian Ken Haines from the JR McKenzie Youth Education Fund
J.R. McKenzie established the Trust in 1938 as the owner of the McKenzie retail chain and as a Rotarian. The Trust was/is funded by property and farming and administered by Rotarians.
The Objects of the Trust are in favour of the betterment of children’s education and welfare.
The money granted by the Trust is for school uniforms, clothing, footwear, spectacles, hearing aids, Epi-pens, camps, subject fees, transport costs, textbooks, stationery, phycological testing.
Recently a small group of Taradale Rotarians revisited park benches around the Taradale area and environs that had been installed by Rotary for the benefit of the community a number of years ago. Thanks to those who have been cleaning, sanding and repainting the benches - giving them a new lease of life.
There are still more to be done, so a work in progress as paint supplies permit. This bench was donated to Rotary by the Cruse Club, an organisation for widows. It was set up by members of the Club, particularly Dr Ted Morris in Dec1961 and was wound up 30 years later. There was a residual fund of $250 which was donated back to the club from which this seat was erected.
Guest Speaker: Isaiah Moran talked about his experiences at Outward Bound.
He thanked the club for making it possible for him to attend.
He was firstly motivated by his brother who had attended who was sponsored by the school. He also has a leadership role at school and felt outward Bound would give him some leadership skills.
in the middle of winter meant they were often cold and wet but never miserable. They ended up in a state of emergency with flooding and need to be evacuated back to the school and had to dig and sandbag to prevent try and reduce damage around the school.
On Saturday 18 Sept a good number of Taradale Rotarians kick-started their participation in the Rotary District 9930 Health Challenge for 2021/2022.
Some met at the Pettigrew Arena Carpark, Taradale, and biked 9 kilometers on the Hawke's Bay Rotary Pathways to the Puketapu Hotel (and return). Some had driven to the hotel and took the opportunity of walking for 20 minutes or so along the pathways.
Others drove and whilst they didn't necessarily participate in physical exercise, it was beneficial to all by enjoying coffees, scones, and catching up outside of a Club meeting.
Mental well-being was achieved. We look forward to welcoming all Rotarians, friends, and family at our next Health & Well-being catch-up on Saturday 9 October.
Have you noticed that articles from the same old clubs appear here month after month?
Well, that is because your own club does not send a copy of its weekly bulletin to us. It is just a matter of sending an extra copy to 9930bulletins@gmail.com That isn't very complicated, is it? And if your bulletin editor does that then your club is eligible for annual prizes. But more than that several people, including me can read them and share your club stories and achievements with the whole district.
District Governors have, for years, been asking club bulletin editors to do this. Easy eh? we would love to hear about what you and your club get up to, really!!!
So give your club bulletin editor a good hard kick in the "Rotary" and tell them to add 9930bulletins.com to their mailing list. It's up to you now!
In a somewhat unique moment, the Greenmeadows Rotary Club in Napier recently had four people join on one night when a few weeks of lockdown dropped to a lower level allowing such activity.
However, an interesting feature was the family connections and the international aspects of the inductions.
Rotary District 9930 is looking for a Champion to promote and manage its Fellowships.
Rotary Fellowships are groups of Rotary members who share a common interest in recreational activities, sports, hobbies, or professions.
They further their vocational development with others in the same profession or field and enhance their Rotary experience by exploring new opportunities and making connections around the world.
While COVID has presented challenges to Interplast’s work, and to the lives of so many, we are reflecting today on all that we have to be grateful for.
We are grateful and immensely proud of our volunteers who, throughout this worldwide health crisis, have continued to deliver essential training, one-on-one mentoring sessions, live stream webinars and remote case planning to our international colleagues across the Asia Pacific region.
Rotary New Zealand’s sole humanitarian first response for those left homeless following cyclones and floods is the Emergency Response Kit (ERK). Established in 1983 the original “fill your own” wooden Emergency Box (EMBOX) with second-hand goods replicated a scheme that had been operating in the United Kingdom by Rotary since 1971.
Early in 2009 devastating floods in Fiji saw 150 Boxes distributed from stock held in Lautoka with a further 300 flown in from Auckland. In September of that same year, in Samoa, some 3,200 people were made homeless following a devastating Tsunami. Rotary New Zealand responded within hours with 400 Boxes.
I have copied a report on a Zoom Meeting held by Cambridge Rotary recently.
The speaker was Dave Harmon from Australia - he also spoke at our PI Zoom Meeting last night (for Australasian DGEs, DGNs and PI Chairs) - I think what he says has a lot of merits:
Bill Robinson introduced Dave Harmon of Ballina-on-Richmond Rotary Club and handed the meeting over to him.
Building A Vibrant Successful Rotary Club was the topic of Bill’s presentation. He showed that membership tends to go in cycles that can easily be negative and spiral down unless action is taken.
GUEST SPEAKER – Melanie Harper was introduced by Ian Halford, advising that Melanie and her husband had established the business of Driving Miss Daisy in Havelock North.
Melanie advised that she and her husband Jack are the owners/directors of Driving Miss Daisy NZ Ltd which began in 2008 with one car. Now there are 255 vehicles throughout the country and it is her plan to have a “Daisy” in every town in New Zealand.
It is now an international franchise, beginning in the UK in 2014 and was to be in Australia this year but given the Covid pandemic, the legal papers were never signed. It is also hoped to get the business going in Europe.
Every year, the Rotary community mobilizes for World Polio Day to raise awareness about global efforts to end polio for good. If we stay committed, we can make polio the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
Plan your participation Join the effort to ensure that every child receives the polio vaccine and help end polio by organizing a World Polio Day event or fundraiser or other promotional activities. One advantage of online events: They allow us to expand our reach even more and inspire others to join with Rotary.
We hope that you and your whānau are managing to stay safe and well.
Over recent weeks, many of us have had to re-adapt to working and studying online.
That's why, this month, we thought we'd share the above photo - which shows our remote training in action. Last year, when Covid-19 made it impossible to travel abroad, we had to rethink our entire approach to how we conduct training overseas.
Here, you can see Lucy and Flora, from ShelterBox HQ, as they run through different techniques of how to use the items within our ShelterKit, with one of our in-field partners - Help (Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe). The Help team will then use their new skills to support displaced families in Burkina Faso.
Brain Burrough mentioned at the Zoom meeting that we have been invited to join Havelock North Rotary’s Zoom meeting to hear Abbas Nazari speak on Monday, September 6th.
The meeting will commence at 5pm and conclude before 6pm.
One of the children on that fateful voyage, The Tampa, was Abbas Nazari who has now published a book about his childhood in Afghanistan and the circumstances which drove his parents to find a safer place for their family to live thousands of kilometres away.
Abbas and his family settled as refugees in New Zealand. Whist a specific RSVP is not requested, out of courtesy, please advise David Smith if you wish to join the meeting, particularly as there is a limit of 100 attendees.
Hear Abbas Nazari Speak on Monday September 6th. at Havelock North Rotary by Zoom
Twenty-one members appeared on screen for the Zoom meeting.
Guest speakers were Carol-Lynn Hill (principal) and Ana Stites (senior teacher) to speak about Wharepapa South School. “Growing Happy and Successful Learners”
It was good to hear of the activities of the school from these two dedicated and enthusiastic teachers.
Wharepapa South is a rural school with 37 pupils and great community support. They spoke of teaching the children about caring for the environment, growing and cooking the vegetables from their school garden and caring for chickens.
Pat Seymour on behalf of Life Education National Office presented President Ray with an Outstanding Community Award for the amount of support Rotary has provided since it was started in Gisborne.
Gisborne West was highly involved with getting it off the ground providing funding and expertise with ongoing support with management.
Rotary has continued to provide donations towards costs since this time with them being the major recipient of money raised in the Duck Race.
Raewyn introduced Jean who entertained everyone telling us about the Eastern Bay Wine Makers and Brewers Club and introduced us to some of their treats.
Later in the year, they are going to host a nationwide meeting in Kawerau showing off and comparing their wines, beers and liqueurs.
President Lynette thought it would be fun if we learnt how to make liqueurs to be tasted and judged at our end-of-year meeting when they should be well matured
We had 2 Speakers, a Mother and Daughter combination of Donna and Danika Bergersen.
Danika spoke of her experiences as BMX Rider. At the age of 12 years, she has done remarkably. She competed in her 1st race at the age of 7 years, came 1st at the Nationals at the age of 8 years.
Over recent years in 2020, she was 2nd at the North Island Championships and Waikato Regional Sportsperson of the Year in 2021 so far has taken out the South Island championships and 2nd at the Nationals.
Chris Bullen Last year the government classified Radio 1XX as an Essential Service, which meant that announcers, journalists and a few key administration staff were required to maintain programming as much as possible. This resumed under Level 4 this August.
Over the past few weeks, I have presented the breakfast news, which has entailed driving through empty streets to arrive at 1XX by 5.15 am. Once inside the deserted building the first step is to use a sanitised wipe to clean all the door handles. Next, I wipe the computer keyboards and mice, then the telephone keyboards and handsets. Not so easy to wipe the microphone and headphones! The sanitizing may seem unnecessary but the government made it clear if we were to operate during the lockdown, we would have to take extra precautions.
A number of months ago, Taradale Club President Claire Connor, shared a teddy knitting pattern at a Rotary Club meeting, and since then a number of Rotarians, and the odd non- Rotary supporter, have been busy knitting teddies for Elizabeth Wright at Interplast.
At last count, a total of 34 teddies have been knitted, stitched, stuffed and despatched and the ‘’Taradale Rotary Queen of Knitting’’ Kathy McQuade has completed around 25 teddies of those so far, and there are more in the making! The teddies are given to children at the time of receiving life-changing surgery, from Interplast.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Interplast and its volunteers across Australia & New Zealand continue to provide life-changing care to patients. Interplast is providing virtual training and remote mentoring to surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals in 24 developing nations.
With the support of Interplast and Rotary, doctors like Bhutanese Sonam Jamtsho continue to receive necessary training and mentorship, which enables him to continue changing the lives of Bhutanese patients in desperate need.
Guest Speaker Kylie Brewer, introduced by Eoin Fitzpatrick.
Kylie spoke about her experience on the Trek for Life that she attended in March of this year. This trek is for 1 week and participants can walk, cycle or ride horses.
The trek is through beachlands and farmlands and relies on the generosity of farmers. It’s a week of fun and friendship with no time pressures, trekking about 25-40 kms a day. They create a little village that has all mod-cons like portable toilets and showers, a catering tent complete with caterers, a coffee cart and a bar
Guest Speaker last week was Police Inspector Lincoln Sycamore, Hawke’s Bay Area Commander.
Experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the law enforcement industry. Skilled in Private Investigations, Firearms Handling, Criminal Investigations, Emergency Management, and Criminal Justice. Strong professional with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Biology, General from The University of Lethbridge.
Lincoln is a highly respected member of Police with considerable experience in strategic, operational and tactical areas of Policing.
We certainly hope the first month of the new Rotary year has been treating you and your District well.
On that note, we are very excited to share our first monthly update for the new year - featuring information about where we're currently working, stories from the field that showcase the Rotary and ShelterBox partnership in action, as well as opportunities for Clubs in your District to get involved.
Stortford Lodge Rotary Club’s Virtual Visiting brings joy to rest home residents
A two-way partnership between Stortford Lodge Rotary Club, and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board has brought Virtual Visitor Technology to Retirement Homes and Cranford Hospice in Hastings and Napier.
Stortford Lodge Rotarian and Hawke’s Bay DHB Board member Peter Dunkerley said Rotarians had cut and sold firewood plus received a grant from The June Gray Trust to raise money for the initial Virtual Visitor Technology pilot scheme after learning how successful the benefits had been for patients and their families at Hawke’s Bay Hospital during Covid19 Alert level 4 and 3 lockdowns.
This happened yesterday and it is important information for our age group.
A friend had his 2nd dose of the vaccine at the vaccination centre after which he began to have blurred vision on the way home. When he got home, he called the vaccination centre for advice and to ask if he should go see a doctor or be hospitalized.
He was told NOT to go to a doctor, NOT to go to a hospital and NOT to drive, but just return to the vaccination centre immediately and pick up his glasses.
By the way - Have you had your two vaccines yet? Phone 0800 829 000 – go direct. Do not wait for somebody to contact you. -
Welcome to the new Rotary year — a year when you will be called upon to Serve to Change Lives and achieve big dreams. Because of your passion for achieving great things, we will grow more and do more.
Our Action Plan, Rotary’s strategic road map, sets our course and strengthens us for the future by focusing on four priorities: increasing our impact, expanding our reach, enhancing participant engagement, and increasing our ability to adapt.
This year, I am honored to move these priorities forward by leading with a vision and implementing several initiatives that I believe will result in positive growth during 2021-22 and beyond.
55 years of service to the Hastings community was acknowledged on Tuesday 27 July with the presentation of a Hastings District Council Civic Award to the Club.
Mention was made not only of our most recent projects but some undertaken in the formative years. Attendees were told of how club members give freely of their time and expertise in contributing thousands of voluntary hours every year.
The evening highlighted the diversity of culture and ethnicity in the Hastings community.
He was the couple's second child. At age 3, when his family fell on hard times, Paul was moved with a sibling to Vermont to live with his paternal grandparents,
Howard and Pamela Harris. Harris would later write about his parents: "Of all charges which might have been made against George and Cornelia, parsimony would have stood the least chance. They were both royal spenders."
While living in Vermont, he attended Black River Academy in Ludlow, but was expelled after only a short time. At his secondary school in Rutland, he was known as a prankster. After secondary school, he attended the University of Vermont. In 1886, he was expelled in an incident involving a secret society. In the fall of 1887, he attended Princeton University.
Our International President Shekhar Mehta has a theme for Membership – Each One, Bring One. August is Membership Month and provides a chance for all Rotarians throughout the District to think about all those friends, family, work colleagues and acquaintances who might be considered for Rotary membership.
Two members of the recently formed The Rotaract Club of Hawke's Bay, Annaliese Paton & Jessie Hawkes-Pearce gave Greenmeadows Rotary Club a rundown on how their club was formed and said that they had already raised $1000 in a project the previous weekend.
Both members were students at EIT (where Pres. Jenny had “found” them) and many of the other Rotaractors are also EIT students.
They currently have 17 – 22 members and five of them attended our recent District Conference.
It was a challenging year for photographers. Once the pandemic hit, travel plans had to be changed or canceled. That was reflected in many of the submissions for Rotary magazine’s 2021 photo awards: Many more photos than usual were taken close to home, sometimes as close as the backyard. But many photos captured the way COVID-19 has transformed our world and our daily lives. And, perhaps reflecting the fundamental optimism of Rotary members, there were many images of hope, joy, and simple beauty.
The Reverend Barbara Walker was introduced by Bruce Martin who told us she was a nurse, eye surgeon, midwife, anaesthetist, international aid worker, health manager, missionary and Anglican priest!
She then calmly set out to tell us how she had performed those roles in some of the most dangerous places in the world. She talked of death threats (over wages) in Mozambique; rescuing “boat people” with a frigate in the South China Sea, said something about 80,000 refugees in a camp in Somalia and getting three million refugees across the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan – or something like that.
Guest Speaker – Joshua Henderson Reporting on attendance at Rotary National Science and Technology Forum 10th - 21st January 2021. Stephen Cox introduced Josh and his family.
Josh thanked Rotary members for their sponsorship to attend the Forum and also for listening to his presentation.
He described his taste of ‘Uni life’ managing his own laundry and balancing this with time in the games room. He had a very full schedule:
Greenmeadows President Jenny and some of her dream team for 2021-22
Jenny and her new directors have determined how our club would execute Rotary International’s strategic plan (which is to Increase our ability to adapt; Enhance participant engagement; Expand our reach; Increase our awareness and impact and Meet the expectations of new and existing members) in the 2021-22 year.
Matamata – major project has been number plate surrounds which you know plenty about already! And a very successful Used Farm Machinery Sale which not only raised significant funds but increased the profile of the club in the rural community. Cambridge – have an E Waste recycling scheme going, have set up an Adventure Club with their members (hiking, biking etc), have had a club trip up North to Matakana, held their very successful Greg Murphy Charity Dinner for Pet Refuge among numerous other projects.
Putaruru – held their most successful book fair in recent years, are fundraising to provide a BBQ, table and shelter in a local childrens’ playground area, have inducted corporate member and are gearing up for a major fundraiser (Putaruru’s Got Talent on June 26).
Tokoroa – No report received
Area 4
Richard Hunt
Report awaited
Area 5
AG Pauline Evans
What a roller coaster of a year we have had. I am tremendously grateful to all the Presidents who stepped up and lead their clubs through a bizarre and sometimes stressful time, whilst many of them were still balancing work commitments and family responsibilities. Covid had curtailed many activities and fundraising projects, requiring many clubs to rethink their strategies. Zoom proved to be an excellent tool, ensuring more members, their families and friends were reached through zoom meetings and sessions with excellent guest speakers. All President Elects attended zoom training for SPPEDS, even with a few teething issues, a lot of value was gained from this training. Membership appears to be steady; most clubs have maintained their membership with only a few clubs increasing member numbers. An excellent initiative was started at Rotorua Sunrise, a prospective new member agrees to an interim 3-month trial period, to ensure the club is a good fit for them and similarly the club can get to know them better. If at the end of this trial period everyone agrees then the member is inducted. By getting to know the culture of the club, its current members and club projects. There are two corporate members, one is the Multicultural Society and they joined Rotorua North Club and Plunket who joined Rotorua Club. This type of membership has many benefits, and ensures a wider spread of contacts for projects with many hands making light work, and more variety within the clubs with different members and the life experiences they offer. As a direct result of the involvement with Plunket Rotorua Club held a sewing day, transforming many donated blankets into very attractive winter weight cot blankets that have been donated to Plunket to give to deserving families. This was a combined Rotorua club project and the appeal of this day was huge, with many Rotarians, their partners and friends, men and women, coming along to help. It is likely that this will become an annual event. Rotorua West held their annual golf tournament; it was so popular that it was oversubscribed such was the demand from golfers to be part of this event. The event has run for seven years and this year almost $20,000 was raised, not a bad day’s effort, proceeds go to St John Rotorua. West also held another of their garage sales, raising just over $9,000, it really does emphasis that the public recognises Rotary, are happy to support our charity and there really is treasure in trash. Proceeds from the sale will be tagged to youth programmes, eg RYPEN. North club reopened their popular Saturday market with a VIP namely DG Grant Spackman. This market has gone from strength to strength being the main fundraiser for North. RYPEN was run in a slightly different way this year, Rotorua Sunrise lead the clubs in organising a separate trust to run the programmes, provide the accommodation and take care of all aspects, with Rotary providing the food and the Rotarians to run the kitchen. A friendly and enjoyable camp was had by all. RYPEN Rotorua is a joint club programme and is in the calendar for 2022. Rotorua Clubs are all in agreement that combined club events, projects and fundraisers are the way to go. Our greatest asset is our members and with clubs working together we increase our profile and our reach. Programmes and events run included Drivers Direction and the Expo for over 800 students, collecting for Hospice with the Trees for Remembrance appeal, gardening projects, sewing day, movie evening raising funds for Polio plus, a swimarathon, also raising funds for Polio plus, dictionaries in schools, Weetbix Triathlon, Rotorua marathon, RYPEN, to name a few. Passport club are continuing with their chosen projects having gifted one Go Bay Go cart, with another being funded soon, and their project to send school items and equipment in a container is nearing completion and almost ready to ship to Fiji. Rotorua clubs have been very active whether it was to fund Go Baby Go karts, tree planting, RYLA, movie evenings, Targa rally marshalling, TKT Oral language programme, National Science and Technology forum student support, fruit picking, for donating within our community, blue walk, Circus Quirkus, school speech competition, or any of the many other ways our Rotarians step up and make a difference. I thank all the Presidents, President Elects, Rotarians and families, you make me look good and I enjoy being involved with all the clubs to strengthen our focus and profile for Rotary. I would like to close by thanking DG Grant Spackman for his easy approachable manner, I have found him very communicative and a great advocate for Rotary.
Area 6
AG - Ron Fyfe
Busy and successful year for all 5 clubs in Area 6. Each had their main fund raising events which ranged from Tauranga Te Papa’s Great Duck Race, Tauranga Sunrise Treasured Art Sale, Tauranga Rotary’s Book Sale, Katikati continue to raise significant funds from their battery collection, Otumoetai held an Island Luau Night. Of course each club has a number of ongoing commitments raising money for a number of favourite charities. We had a number of significant events during the year including Katikati celebrating 50 years and Te Papa celebrating 40 year, both events attended by Past RI President Bill Boyd as well as DG Grant Spackman. I am also pleased to report that all clubs have run a number of social events over the year as well as our Joint Presidents’ meetings being well attended with a lot of enthusiasm for the clubs to work together.
Area 7
Barb Joyce
Maketu
Maketu has had a year of two halves. Juliette resigned at Christmas and Colleen Olesen took over the role of President. To quote her “When I became the stand-in President my main goal was to bring the club back together. I think I have achieved this with the induction of 4 new members. We have lost 5 members over the year which is rather disappointing.” I believe she has done a great job of bringing the heart back into the club. They have chosen to change their meetings to the First and Third Wednesdays only, with a social evening on the fifth Wednesday. My visits to the club have been welcoming and I have enjoyed those evenings. Project-wise Maketu have volunteered at the Daily Café on a pizza night when free meals are provided to anyone wanting one. The labour and food are all donated – in this case, Rotarians donated the labour. Maketu have also donated Osbourne dictionaries to four Primary schools and have sponsored a RYLA attendee and donated $500 sponsorship for members of their Fire Brigade to do the Sky Tower stair climb. A $4,000 donation was made to Kiwican to support the program in Maketu Primary.
Mount Maunganui
The Mount has a small group of dedicated Rotarians, many of whom are aging. Their main fund-raising event is their involvement with Circus Quirkus, which has been ongoing for several years. Hosted by Rotarians around the country, together with the Kids Foundation, Circus Quirkus distributes complimentary tickets to disadvantaged and disabled children and their families. The Circus Quirkus organisation taps into local businesses for donated funds and tickets are thus provided to the recipients. Rotary Clubs provide the administrative support of banking the local funds and provide car-parking and ushers at the actual performance. As a result the Mount is able to financially support the local college with 2 scholarships each of $1,000 for 2 years plus two candidates this year to the Auckland Summer Science School. The club also supports the local Hospice manning a stand at fund-raising days and the Christmas Wishing Tree; providing Christmas presents for all the children in the local hospital and sponsoring a horse at our local RDA for $2,500pa.
Papamoa
Papamoa started the Rotary year by welcoming the Te Puke members into the merged club. Premises became a hot topic as we were no longer able to use the previous facilities at Robert Harris and so moved into the Mako Room at the local Library in September, and engaged a local caterer to provide weekly meals. Papamoa also had a President resign at Christmas and we allowed the club to decide how we moved forward, with Bonnie Rogers being elected to ably take up the role for six months. Our major fundraiser, the Annual Bluehaven Charity Golf Tournament, took place in April raising $24,000 which was distributed as $5,000 each to The Papamoa Surf Club for training, to the Graham Dingle Foundation for Kiwican in Papamoa Primary Schools, and to the local RYDA (Rotary Young Drivers Awareness) courses. The remaining funds will be used for Youth work in our community. Additionally, we applied for and received a District Grant towards funding Osborne Dictionaries in our 12 primary schools. Smaller fundraisers were two movie nights, one whose funds went to Polio and the other towards our Youth work, plus a fun “Pub Quiz” night. We have been 10-pin bowling, attended a couple of vocational visits and been involved with Papamoa Primary school “Trees for Survival” program, including assisting with maintaining the plants and planting out on the Papamoa Hills. Community work included marshalling the Papamoa Santa Parade, collecting food for the Papamoa foodbank and collecting at a stand for the Waipuna Hospice Awareness Week. We received one of only 5 presidential citations this year for the 2019-20 year under President Christa George. Over the last six months, The Mount and Papamoa Clubs explored the possibility of a merger, but this was abandoned with the following message going out to all members of both clubs:- After working together over several meetings, the Papamoa and Mount Maunganui Merger Group feel that although the two Clubs' ideals of Rotary are very similar, both Clubs are strong on retaining their own identity. It is, therefore, resolved that now is not the right time to merge. The discussion process has very been beneficial: the Merger Group believes each club understands the other better, and there has been much learnt from the due diligence that has been undertaken. One of the elements I have been pleased to facilitate this year has been the introduction of regular joint meetings of our 3 clubs. As each club usually has approximately 15 attendees, the ability to score a “good” speaker is slim. Bringing the 3 clubs together we are able to secure a much higher profile speaker with around 50+ members and guests attending. These meeting have been run 4 times in the last year with a plan to hold 6 joint meetings in the upcoming year. I would like to thank Grant Spackman, for his support over the year. We have had some delicate issues to deal with and I appreciate the backing that he has given me. As a group we also immensely enjoyed the Conference and wish Grant and Wendy every success in the future.
Area 8
AG Scottie McLeod
Further afield Whakatane has been busy with a golf tournament, renovating and painting the Riding for Disabled Headquarters. A very active club of 42 members, their projects this year have included; raising funds to build a couple of class rooms at a school in Teveuni in Fiji, a work in progress. Fencing for a local playground. Construction of stoat traps in collaboration with Kiwi Trust. Dictionaries in Schools project with books to Matata School. A car rally. A Remembrance seat and plaque for Wally Sutherland QSM (Wally died March 2021 and was a well-known and respected community man.) Held a golf tournament, raised over $14,000.00. Painted the Riding for Disabled building, Held a review of the Strategic Plan for all committees. Supported an Interact Club at Trident High School. Held an Orientation evening for new members. Provided financial support for the miniature railway. Held working bees on the Rotary Harbour walk/cycleway at Port Ohope, planting native shrubs. Hosted an International Exchange student from Brazil, set up rural gardens at Taneatua, organised the Christmas Parade and provide club members with new shirts. Had Guess who is coming to dinner social nights. All in all, the Club is in good heart and are inducting new members regularly.
Whakatane Sunrise Club is closing as the have about nine members and are finding it hard to get a place to host their breakfast meetings, get guest speakers and little interest in people to take leadership roles. It has always been difficult to get the Club to participate in District activities. We have looked a number of solutions. DG Grant has had discussions with the Club on how to progress.
Opotiki have 12 members, a bit of attrition over the last year, unfortunately. One of these is currently inactive. Have a regular visitor from Stratford Rotary who attends many meetings, high hopes they will join. Activities Opotiki have completed during the year; Collected for Purple Pinky day at New World supermarket with proceeds to End Polio.
Attended as Marshall at the Motu Challenge, raising funds for club activities. October – April held monthly stall at Lions market to fund raise for club activities. I am Woman film screening at the DeLux Cinema Opotiki. Attended Opotiki High School Prize for Cultural Achievement. Held a Prostate Cancer Morning tea to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Made a donation to the Opotiki Museum to assist digitalising and screening treasures from the museum archive so that visitors have easier access to the treasures through an automatic system. Kits for Kindy, club members donated games, puzzles, pens, paper and stationery to donate to local families who are at risk, especially those with young children 65th Jubilee celebration, speaker Gordon Lukies, previous member from earlier days, he is currently a member of Matamata Rotary
Current project, each member to bring a can of food to each meeting to be donated to at risk families. This is an ongoing project that will hopefully assist those in need, particularly those with young families.
Kawerau Club had its 65th birthday at its changeover last Wednesday night. A big crowd including DG Grant. They have about 18 members. Inducted 5 new members last year. They taught 27 Tarawera High School students to get their drivers licences during the year. The same school they have an Interact club. Had a garage sale and purchased car seat for toddlers.
There was an excellent turnout from Area 8 to the recent District Conference in Hastings.
Area 9
AG Gary Hemmings
Report awaited
Area 10
AG – Ken Haines
Waipukurau:
A very active club with good participation from members, meetings are generally good with plenty of humorous banter which is usually a good sign. They are very active in the community and involved in a large number of events and projects. There have been concerns over the increasing age of members and in an endeavour to find out what other clubs in the District are doing they sent out a questionnaire.
Hastings:
Still struggling along with 10 members, hanging out for their hundredth birthday. David has done a good job holding them together and they are happy to participate in helping to fund local people and projects. I visit regularly and am made to feel welcome.
Hastings Karamu:
I get on well there and they have some pretty robust meetings. We all know they raise a lot of money for hospice, Sports Park etc but they are finding it a bit tough this year and they are expecting their profit from the Cocktail event to be down. 52 members now and they have lost a few which haven’t been replaced. I have discussed having a ‘new membership’ evening but they don’t see the need at the moment.
Havelock North:
Membership has dropped to 32 which is a concern and President Trish and I organised for the new membership meeting to be held. This was held a couple of months ago. The club is very active in the local community with 5 or 6 members being to the fore as is often found. An excellent response from members for assisting with the District Conference which was a great success and John Pollock did a great job.
Stortford Lodge:
A vibrant club with quite a number of new members in a younger age bracket having joined in the last 3 years bringing the average age down. 25% ladies but trying to get them into management roles is quite difficult at the moment. They are capable but all are busy at work!! The firewood project has started early this year and will continue through the winter with the big fundraising event being held on 12 th June. The Quiz Night will be bigger than before so should see the almost empty coffers swelled. The club is very active in the community like Havelock North and Waipukurau but still struggles to get media space to tell the public. The Virtual Visitor Pilot scheme with Hawkes Bay District Health Board is going very well and expanding rapidly throughout rest homes in Napier and Hastings. Brian McLay and I have been very busy setting up the new Rotaract club along with Taradale RC and Gary Hemmings which we hope to charter this month.
Area 11
AG Ray Kitchen
Report awaited
Area 12
AG Ian Dykes
Some good success in running combined meetings with clubs in the area. Turangi launched their cookbook. Lake Taupo celebrated 100 years and they ran their ever popular Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.