A small, quality group of 21 members and 2 guests, enjoyed this meeting, chaired admirably by IPP Peter Buchanan, in President Allan's absence.   Peter reminded us that our next two breakfast meetings will feature students we have recently sponsored as part of our youth development focus.  First up on the 16th of May will be the students who attended the last Science Forum and then on the 23rd of May we will hear from the St. Johns sponsored RYPEN participants.  Please be sure to turn up to hear about these students experiences as well as to show our support.

 

Spotted in the corner of the room was the Trophy won last week by our superb debating team.  Being such a sought after and attractive Trophy, if we do not remove it from the Golf Club its very likely to go walkabout.  If our three debating team members can arrange for this to be secured asap it would be much appreciated.

 

Our guest speaker was Vijay Paranjape, who is the IPP of the Rotary Club of Thane, and he is also a friend of Ainie's, via a very interesting and a somewhat complicated set of circumstances!  

 

Thane is located near Mumbai in the North Western area of India, is a hub for manufacturing industries and has its own language of Marathi.  The Rotary Club of Thane was the first chartered in this area of India, some 62 years ago.

 

Vijay walked us through a list of projects that his club is currently involved with which included; providing clean drinking water, employment opportunities, literacy, control of various disease's, building schools and installing toilets in schools in the area.  The club has a large group of influential and community leaders that allows them to tackle some amazing and very valuable projects.  Thanks for arranging the visit Ainie - an excellent speaker.    

 

 

A total of 15 from St. Johns Rotary, 11 members, 3 Partners and Gonzalo, attended the District Conference in Napier this past weekend. Although we were not the largest club contingent, we were very well represented over the weekend and the new shirts looked great!

 

There  were too many conference highlights to mention them all, but a few worth mentioning were;

-  5 excellent external speakers, each with a very thought provoking story, often very personal and all leaving the attendees with plenty to think about.

-   An excellent social programme with the highlight being the Saturday night Gala dinner with the Art Deco theme which was will supported by the St. Johns team as can be seen in the photos attached.

-  A range of speakers sharing Rotary stories with updates on projects both within district as well as internationally.

-   The Weather 

-  The Awards with St. Johns members receiving no fewer than 4 awards!!  

    -  Beryl was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her many years chairing the Rotary Leadership Institute programme that she introduced to New Zealand and the Pacific over 12 years ago, and for her ongoing involvement in in Rotary training. 

   -  Colin also received a Paul Harris Fellow for his long-term contribution to publicity activities in the District and nationally.

   - Ainie was awarded the Bert Dreaver Trophy for her substantial promotion and encouragement of Rotaract.  In addition to this award, Ainie was also awarded the prestigious Dr Catherine Hamelin Award (Rotarian of the Year). 'presented to a Rotarian in District 9920 who has shown outstanding Rotary Service to the Community'.

 

BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THREE OF YOU and thank you for making St. Johns Rotary look so good!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next District Conference will be held in Auckland May 15th - 17th, in Auckland.  Full details and discounted Earlybird registration details will be published in the months ahead, but get these dates in your diary now!

 

Week Two:  May 6 – 10
A full-on week with 136 budding sailors, (including two teachers), taking to the water.  Churchill Park School kids sailed Monday and Friday, with St Pius, Glen Innes and Glenbrae schools during the week.

 

For the first four days winds in Okahu Bay ranged from near zero to about 12 knots from the east.  Further out in the harbour the easterly had a bit more grunt so it was only the Glenbrae kids on Thursday morning that got to venture out past the old Okahu Bay breakwater.

 

Judging by the forecast the skies Friday looked like it would be a difficult day, but the opposite was true.  As the sailors got ready the sun came out and a light westerly started to build, perfect for a No Instruction Day.  No Instructions is not quite correct – the students get told how to sit in the boat, what to hold onto, and to head to Rangitoto – but that’s all. With just enough breeze to make the boats go and move them offshore they soon get the hang of it, and most are tacking, gybing (not that they know what those are) and picking up floating toys before lunch. With the breeze having slowly built to about 8 knots these guys sailed from the ramp after lunch like pros – no wonder they developed a new rating for the day – super-awesome.

 

Each afternoon session was capsizing chaos and as usual this was rated as the favourite activity.  While it seems like wasted sailing time the skills and confidence developed; of floating in deep water, getting a boat back upright, and getting back in it, are invaluable.

 

St Pius, Churchill Park, Glen Innes and Glen Brae schools lining up ready for their day on the water.

 

Hello St. Johns Rotary Club Members. I have just returned to Auckland from Napier and an amazing weekend at the Rotary Conference with the Rotarians and the inbound RYE students.  We did activities like mini golf, shopping and a visit to the the aquarium.  I flew both ways and when I arrived back in Auckland on Sunday night I had to pack for the challenge camp starting Monday.

I was delighted to accompany three of our Rotary Youth Exchange students to an evening meet at Auckland Harbourside last Wednesday. Maria (from Denmark) and Viki (from Austria) have been in New Zealand now for 9 months, so they gave really great presentations and very confidently answered questions afterward. Gonza came along to see how the girls managed and to get some tips for his own presentation skills. 

It seems timely to remind all members of the process regarding club meeting "Duties";

 

-  The Duties roster is managed by the Director Club Service, currently Brian Fergus.  

 

-  As the duty rosters are finalised, these are published in the Bulletin - normally three weeks in advance.

 

-  Follwing publication of the Bulletin, the Bulletin Editor will send an email to all individuals rostered that week, reminding all of the duties scheduled.

 

-  If you are unable to undertake your duty, it is your responsibility to find another member to step in on your behalf and the member is also requested to advise the President of the alternative arrangements made.

 

-  Please note; the "Standby" duty is designed to allow the "standby" rostered member to step in on the day of the meeting, in the unlikely event that any member rostered on a duty, fails to turn up.  The individual rostered in the Standby role is not be used as a replacement for a duty unable to be undertaken.