Summer is a super busy time for many of us but I hope you have all managed to enjoy a few days of “down time” to refresh and revitalise for the start of a new decade.
Scarily, it is February already! Our shortest month and a leap year (that extra day added once every four years in order to keep the calendar cycle synchronized with the seasons). Fun Fact: Where does the phrase Leap Year come from? With the added leap day, dates (following February) advance two days instead of one! So, in 2020, Christmas will “leap” over Thursday to be on Friday.
Some of our members have been hard at work on school garden projects this past month - thank you project leader Miles and his helpers! Check out what they have achieved further on in the Bulletin.
I really look forward to seeing you all at our first meeting for 2020. We have a great start-back meeting planned with some fun catch-up time AND reports on Future Fitness and Club Culture; membership initiatives; upcoming projects; fellowship activities; and President Elect Hugh’s vision for his year.
Lots to look forward to - lots to catch-up on. See you Thursday.
Pam Clarke Past Assistant Governor – 2016-2019 District 9920
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Pam Clarke who was our Assistant Governor over a 3 year period. Not only that she was also very much involved with training both our broader members but also prospective leaders. She had an influence on many members of our club who remember her with great fondness.
Pam was a great supporter of St Johns and what we stood for and our projects within the community. Many members will express their own sorrow at seeing her passing when she was looking forward to a new life ahead with her husband Rod.
Leadership is not born but developed over many years. Pam was a true leader within Rotary and always offered guidance and opinion to nurture towards a good outcome. Her style and compassion will always remain with us. As a club our heartfelt condolences go out to Rod.
With our thoughts and kind regards,
Allan Smith on behalf of the members of St John’s Rotary.
We would also like to pass on our sincere condolences to Donald Bowie, and the Bowie family,following Donald's mum's passing on Monday 6 January.
President Robyn has also advised that in January she delivered flowers from our membership to Michele Mann. Michele has been recovering well from her December surgery. Get well soon Michele - our thoughts are with you.
You should have received the email below directly from President Robyn, but just in case you haven't, herewith it is repeated for your info - The Directors are very much looking forward to seeing you there at what looks to be a fun and very informative meeting.
"Dear St Johns Rotary Club member,
Happy2020everyone! Can you believe it is February already?
I am looking forward to resuming our Rotary meetings and catching up over breakfast.
Please diary our first breakfast meeting for 2020 - Thursday 13 February.
Come and hear what our club has planned for the first half of 2020; and treat yourself to a great breakfast and fine fellowship.
Janine's area of expertise is the service Dove Hospice provides, so she will outline what Dove Hospice have been doing there and their intentions for 2020 and how we, as a club, can assist.
Also speaking this morning in the Snap Chat spot will be David Hartstone - "An update on our upcoming Golf Tournament".
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27th - BREAKFAST MEETING
COMBINED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
Be sure to attend to be updated on upcoming projects and learn how you can participate and contribute.
The 2020 St Johns Rotary Golf Tournament is coming up and your support is needed. Please go to this DOCUMENT and have a look at the options available to you, your friends and those who wish to help us make a difference in our community.
As mentioned by Robyn in the story below, our 2019 exchange student Gonza, returned home to Argentina in mid January. The week prior to his departure, his last host family, Penny & Warwick Leyland, hosted a farewell lunch which was attended by all of Gonza's four host families who he had the pleasure of hosting him for three months each; Hugh & Jackie Scott-Russell, Blair & Heather Peach and Robyn & Tony Ingram, plus of course the Leylands.
The hosts turned on exquisite hospitality, weather, views and food and Gonza's farewell speech brought a tear to the eye. In his excellent English he expressed his heartfelt thanks to all his host Mum's and Dad's, their families and the Rotary Club of St. Johns.
We will miss you Gonza.
Enjoy reuniting with your friends and family and we very much look forward to hearing from you as you enter the next exciting phase of your life and career.
Rotary Youth Exchange kept me on my Rotary-toes over January. On 15 January, I was very pleased to be part of the (ouch) 5:00am welcome contingent for a new Inbound RYE student.
Our first student in the District from Chile! Isidora will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Tuakau. Pictured here with her first host family (and me).
We also had Gonza departing on January 17. His departure coincided with a South Auckland Farm Weekend organised for the Inbounds in our district, so a trip to the airport to see Gonza off was added to the weekend agenda as he was an extremely popular member of their special group. Needless to say, a lot of tissues were required!
Our club's sponsored Outbound (Lachlan Kerr) finally got his Visa through for Chile - so he departed on January 19 with a small group of other South American bound students. We hope to receive regular updates from Lachlan once he settles into his Exchange adventure.
February 3rd saw our first project of the year, to construct a garden for St. Pius X School. Unfortunately not a good turnout on the day with only three members available to get this important project completed. A big thank you to Miles, for not only directing the work on the day, but also for all the prep work with the school and the delivery of all materials in advance. An additional thanks to Simon and Peter W for their hard labour, (in the very hot GI 28 degrees), to get the above ground garden boxes built.
With only three volunteers, we were unable to complete the project as planned on the 3rd, however, Miles and his persuasive skills, managed to corral six other members to volunteer to complete the project last Saturday February the 8th. Many thanks to Gary, Shaun, Roger, Peter B, Eddie M, Neil and of course Miles, for their time which allowed us to hand over a great garden for the school to plant-out, take care of, reap the benefits of home grown vegetables and learn some very good practical life skills.
The pictures below show the work undertaken in the various stages!
BEFORE:
MEN AT WORK - DAY 1
PROGRESS AFTER DAY ONE:
TEAM "DAY TWO":
THE COMPLETED PROJECT WITH TEAM DAY TWO:
A big thank you also needs to go to Bunnings Warehouse, for their support. Thanks Bunnings!
Every one of us as a member can help grow our club. It is easy but you do need to do some simple things.
On Saturday 8 February the club started a series of posts on the club Facebook page that shows the practical benefits of becoming a member using non-Rotary language. Please share these messages onto your own Facebook page. Please also give some thought as to who you could invite to one of our meetings. Often we are reluctant because we think these people will be pressured in some way ... not so. People can come along to look and experience a meeting with no expectation they have to take their look any further.
If you would like our club Membership Director, Donald Bowie, to help you invite people or to chat to someone who may be interested, please call him on 0274 752 473 / donald.bowie.dbc@gmail.com
If you see a visitor at a meeting please make sure they have the best possible St Johns Rotary experience by making sure they are well looked after.
Our Club has received the following invitation from Auckland City Rotaract. Interested? - please click on "Read More", for more details and contact Rumbie direct, at, rumbie.charity@outlook.com.
At the December School prize givings last year, our Youth Committee were delighted to present Junior Citizenship Awards at four primary schools: St Pius X, Tamaki, Glen Taylor and Ruapotaka. Pictured is one of the awards.
These awards are now made annually and were established by Past President Ainie Kwok. Senior Management at each school nominate the worthy recipients and RCSJ also contributes $100 to be added to various scholarships for each recipient. Thank you Creative Awards for supplying such classy plagues!
You may have heard the Young Totara Award program in other Districts namely 9970 & 9980. Over the last few months of 2019, District 9920 Youth Committee have worked in collaboration with District 9970 to bring this esteemed Award to our District.
Here is a “tool” for us:
To engage with the younger members of our community
To celebrate achievements, good work and expressing gratitude and encouragement to our younger members of the community
To introduce the younger members of our community to the opportunity that awaits them in the Rotary family
In parochial school students are taught that lying is a sin. However, instructors also advised that using a bit of imagination was OK to express the truth differently without lying. Below is a perfect example
of those teachings .
A young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the Priest beside her, 'Father, may I ask a favour?' 'Of course child. What may I do for you?' 'Well, I bought my mother an expensive hair dryer for her birthday. It is unopened but well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through
customs for me? Hide it under your robes perhaps?'
'I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you, I will not lie.'
'With your honest face, Father, no one will question you.'
When they got to Customs, she let the priest go first. The official asked, 'Father, do you have
anything to declare?' 'From the top of my head down to my waist I have nothing to declare.' The official thought this answer strange, so asked, 'And what do you have to declare from your
waist to the floor?' 'I have a marvellous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused.' Roaring with laughter, the official said, 'Go ahead, Father. Next please!'
Did you join Rotary to do good things in the community?
You can help or join in all projects (whatever the committee), just contact the committee director and/or project team leader. In most cases, you can include family and friends. Enjoy your Rotary: Be an active Rotarian
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As mentioned by Robyn in the story below, our 2019 exchange student Gonza, returned home to Argentina in mid January. The week prior to his departure, his last host family, Penny & Warwick Leyland, hosted a farewell lunch which was attended by all of Gonza's four host families who he had the pleasure of hosting him for three months each; Hugh & Jackie Scott-Russell, Blair & Heather Peach and Robyn & Tony Ingram, plus of course the Leylands.
PLEASE COME BACK AND VISIT ONE DAY! 
Rotary Youth Exchange kept me on my Rotary-toes over January. On 15 January, I was very pleased to be part of the (ouch) 5:00am welcome contingent for a new Inbound RYE student.
We also had Gonza departing on January 17. His departure coincided with a South Auckland Farm Weekend organised for the Inbounds in our district, so a trip to the airport to see Gonza off was added to the weekend agenda as he was an extremely popular member of their special group. Needless to say, a lot of tissues were required!
February 3rd saw our first project of the year, to construct a garden for St. Pius X School. Unfortunately not a good turnout on the day with only three members available to get this important project completed. A big thank you to Miles, for not only directing the work on the day, but also for all the prep work with the school and the delivery of all materials in advance. An additional thanks to Simon and Peter W for their hard labour, (in the very hot GI 28 degrees), to get the above ground garden boxes built.
At the December School prize givings last year, our Youth Committee were delighted to present Junior Citizenship Awards at four primary schools: St Pius X, Tamaki, Glen Taylor and Ruapotaka. Pictured is one of the awards.
