Project Elf (Gift Wrapping at Syliva Park) is now well underway. Those already involved can report: Elf duties are unexpectedly fun! Busy but not boring and the interaction with the public is an education! .jpg) As President Peter reports, due to a shortage of Interact/student gift-wrappers (for this first week), our Rotarian Elf-Supervision duties very quickly expanded to include actual GIFT WRAPPING! But of course St Johns Rotarian Elves have risen to the challenge and in true "Elf" style, rolled up their sleeves and happily got down to the ultra busy-business of wrapping with a vengeance.  Already there are boastful stories of who has wrapped the largest gift; or the most unusually shaped gift; or the most gifts for one customer. I am wrapped to report that Elves not already skilled in the minutiae of gift wrapping have caught on fast. Most of us have the 'tearing' of paper from dispensers down to an art and can now bunch-up those do-it-yourself bows just beautifully! We have also learned how to 'charm' donations out of scrooges who like to pretend the service is fee; and can even do the Rotary wRap ( aka answering questions about Rotary) all at the same time as sizing-up, cutting, folding, taping and bowing those presents).  Best of all are the smiles and heartfelt Christmas wishes to-and-fro from customers who are full of thanks for the convenient "gift wrapping service" and are really very happy to donate not just coins but the paper stuff for the service! We still have this weekend, next week and next weekend (inclusive Christmas Eve) before we can put up our belled-feet and relax with the eggnog. So please, if you haven't joined-in on this fun project, have a look at the updated roster (click Read More to see updated version) and get in touch with Ainie to let her know if you can help for a few hours. Click Read More to see more photos from Project Elf and Roster. |
There was a great turnout of just under 60 (members and guests) for our final Christmas themed meeting this year. A fun occasion where many rose to the Christmas Hat challenge and arrived suitably adorned. One member (pictured) took the theme a step further!
WOW, what an amazing time Ainie, Gary, and Miles had in sharing their experiences from their recent Habitat for Humanity trip to southern India. A total of 14 keen Rotarians around New Zealand decided to embark on a Habitat for Humanity build. Gary was clearly gripped by the truly humbling experience where the group spent a week building two houses, in a village situated 2 hours south-west of Bangalore. Just to get there the Team undertook 16 hours of air travel and a one-hour bus trip arriving at 2:00am. Tourists don’t go to this village, so the 14 Rotarians were the first Europeans to visit this community.
Prior to commencing the build the Team stayed in what they thought was meant to be a salubrious hotel, Club Magnolia but re-named ‘expect the unexpected. It only had a total of 9 rooms and indeed most of the complex was still being built!! A nice touch for the team was the early morning Tai Chi, which was embraced by Ainie. Miles brother-in-law facilitated the opening ceremony and the females had touches of turmeric applied to their temples symbolising fertility. Ainie was flattered as she was assumed to be 25 and single!