The Great Debate was indeed an inspiring event and certainly brought out the best and worst in our people. A dinner without indigestion was followed by the debating teams of St Johns RC and Auckland East. Well it proved there were certainly differing views as to what to do with Eden Park and once again St Johns prevailed with an articulate presentation that won the day.
Many thanks to Keven Kevany as the Debate Master (who was obviously not biased but could not lie straight in bed). All who attended enjoyed the night and walked away happy about being in Rotary and the fact that we are not adverse to poking fun at ourselves.
As President Allan has noted above, a great night last Thursday for our Dinner Meeting where St. Johns hosted our friends from Auckland East Rotary for the annual debate.
A total of 65 members and guests were present to support the two teams and clearly, despite accusations that the adjudicator was biased and had been bribed, St. Johns was very clearly the winner on the night and big congratulations to our team - Angus, Penny and Murray!
We would like to acknowledge the support we received at the dinner from a very elite group of guests such as District Governor Elect, Gary Langford, Deputy District Governor Elect Dennis Millard, Pam Clark Deputy District Governor, Desley Simpson Orakei Local Board Chairperson, Julie Chapman KidsCan, Aaron Stubbing and Phil Clark Freightways, members of Auckland East Rotary and of course our own loyal St. Johns members and guests.
Prior to the debate President Allan also updated the meeting on a few other events / activities;
- The Anzac Day Breakfast raised $375 for the RSA. Well done Michele and thanks to all who attended.
- "Have a Go" sailing: Gary updated the meeting and more detail is in the story below. One very significant fact is that this year, Yachting New Zealand will host 4,000 students throughout New Zealand in the programme and of this total, St. Johns will be sponsoring 500 students, up from 242 last year and 10% of the total - what an effort!
- RYLA: After a slow start, St Johns have nominated 10 participants. Three of these will be funded by corporations and the remaining 7 will be sponsored by St. Johns Rotary. Well done to Tom and his team for the efforts in sourcing, interviewing and selecting the 10 participants!
NEXT MEETING - BREAKFAST MEETING THURSDAY MAY 9TH: SPEAKER Vijay Paranjape;
Vijay has spoken briefly to our club earlier this year when he presented us with his club banner. He is the Assistant President of the Thane Rotary Club in India and will expand on their activities and the challenges of the area.
FISH & CHIP NIGHT - FUN NIGHT FOR ST JOHNS ROTARY MEMBERS AND GUESTS:
Friday May 17th. Diary now - this will be held at Remuera Golf Club, $20 per person, (Fish & Chips, Salad, Cash Bar), Bingo and an evening of fun and fellowship. RSVP to Michelle Foreman, mertie.forman@gmail.com. Note: this is a club social event, not the weekly club meeting which will still be held as scheduled on Thursday May 16th. Click "Read More" for additional details on this event!
CHANGE-OVER DINNER - "FRIDAY JUNE 28th.
More detail to follow, but in the meantime please enter this date in your Diary now. This is the dinner where President Allan will pass the baton to PE Robyn. This event causes a few other date changes so please also take note of these noted here;
Change-over Dinner - Friday June 28th
Scheduled Breakfast Meeting June 27th cancelled
Scheduled Dinner Meeting on July 4th changes to a Breakfast Meeting. (i.e. no dinner meeting in July)
EASTERN BAYS HOSPICE, DOVE HOSPICE SHOPS GARAGE SALE:
1st and 3rd Saturdays every month at 8 am.
Corner Elizabeth Knox Place and Thomas Peacock Place, (off Morrin Road). Go along and assist with the sale or just go along and shop - some great bargain's. More details from Murray H.
Its May! That must mean the St. Johns Rotary sponsored, New Zealand Yachting programme, "Have a Go Sailing", is now under way.
Conditions were near perfect for the first week of Have a Go Sailing for 2019; mainly cloudless skies, flat water and a gentle southerly making Okahu Bay a great location for new sailors.
First up were 18 sailors (years 5 & 6) from Panmure Bridge School who were treated to two days sailing. Day one started by heading west under the shelter of the Orakei Marina before venturing into more wind in Mechanics Bay. After lunch was sprint racing in Okahu Bay. Day two dawned with a light southerly so it was full speed into the water to get to Mission Bay for lunch. That done they motor-sailed back to Okahu Bay for a serious capsizing session; where the confidence levels were so high that boats were capsizing faster than the instructors could talk through getting them back up again. Here is a link to Panmure Bridge Schools Sailing wrap-up, and also some student blogs. https://sites.google.com/panmurebridge.school.nz/pbs-sport2019/weekly-wrap?authuser=0
Next up were 25 St Patricks School students who ranged in ages from 10 to 13. About half of this group had sailed in the programme last year. Lighter winds made for trickier sailing,with more capsize time!
The most recent group to participate was 29 students from Church Hill Park School, see here preparing for the day.
Week one is now behind us with 90 kids already having participated and almost all rating the experience as awesome and wanting to sail again.
A huge thank you to Gary K for his time and effort to date. Also a big thank you to Ainie and Kevin for there communications with the schools. Once again Orakei Marine is a great supporting partner - thank you.
On 18 March Rotary St Johns held the Freightways Fundraising Golf Tournament at Remuera Golf Club. KidsCan was proud to be the charity partner for this event and to receive a share of the funds raised alongside Rotary St Johns.
KidsCan is a local charity that helps Kiwi kids living in hardship across the country to reach their full potential and create brighter futures for themselves. They do this by providing practical essentials like food, clothing and health items for kids at school, so they can learn and grow. KidsCan’s work nicely compliments Rotary St Johns youth development projects.
At the golf day, a full field from the Freightways Group and other businesses had a great time on and off the course with KidsCan CEO and Founder Julie Chapman, along with KidsCan staff Stevie Wheatley and Kelly Gillard joining in and supporting teams throughout the day. A successful auction and prizegiving capped off the event.
We are pleased to announce $20,834 was raised for KidsCan to support their great work. These funds will be used to support KidsCan’s four core programmes: Food for Kids, Shoes for Kids, Raincoats for Kids and Health for Kids. Through these programmes primary and secondary aged school children can get into the classroom in a position to learn.
Beyond the practical items that KidsCan provide, the children they support gain so much more. There’s the focus that comes from having a full tummy. There’s the self-worth that comes from being warm and dry when it’s cold and wet. There’s the confidence that comes from having a pair of shoes that enable them to participate. And there’s the dignity that comes from having health items like feminine hygiene products for young girls.
So, whilst the $20,834 raised for KidsCan will help provide practical essentials to Kiwi kids, we think it’s worth a lot more. Thank you to Freightways for their wonderful support through the Fundraising Golf Tournament and to all the St Johns Rotary club members who organised, helped or took part in the day. We look forward to continuing this great event to help Kiwi kids throughout Aotearoa with KidsCan.
Gonzalo is taking time out this week, but he is heading to Napier for the District Conference this coming weekend so we can look forward to his exciting report following this event.
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.
A grandmother telephoned St. Joseph's Hospital. She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?"
The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number of the patient?" The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said, "Norma Findlay, Room 302."
The operator replied, "Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurse's station for that room."
After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, "I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal and her Physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."
The grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good news."
The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"
The grandmother said,"No, I'm Norma Findlay in Room 302. The staff tell me nothing.
Thanks for the input Kevin!
A Riddle to finish:
A boy was at a carnival and went to a booth where a man said to the boy, "If I write your exact weight on this piece of paper then you have to give me $50, but if I cannot, I will pay you $50." The boy looked around and saw no scale so he agrees, thinking no matter what the carny writes he'll just say he weighs more or less. In the end the boy ended up paying the man $50. How did the man win the bet?
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.
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Many thanks to Keven Kevany as the Debate Master (who was obviously not biased but could not lie straight in bed). All who attended enjoyed the night and walked away happy about being in Rotary and the fact that we are not adverse to poking fun at ourselves.
Actions of Choice Inspires Communities
Friday May 17th. Diary now - this will be held at Remuera Golf Club, $20 per person, (Fish & Chips, Salad, Cash Bar), Bingo and an evening of fun and fellowship. RSVP to Michelle Foreman, mertie.forman@gmail.com. Note: this is a club social event, not the weekly club meeting which will still be held as scheduled on Thursday May 16th. Click "Read More" for additional details on this event! 
The most recent group to participate was 29 students from Church Hill Park School, see here preparing for the day. 
At the golf day, a full field from the Freightways Group and other businesses had a great time on and off the course with KidsCan CEO and Founder Julie Chapman, along with KidsCan staff Stevie Wheatley and Kelly Gillard joining in and supporting teams throughout the day. A successful auction and prizegiving capped off the event.
Food for Kids, Shoes for Kids, Raincoats for Kids and Health for Kids. Through these programmes primary and secondary aged school children can get into the classroom in a position to learn.
So, whilst the $20,834 raised for KidsCan will help provide practical essentials to Kiwi kids, we think it’s worth a lot more. Thank you to Freightways for their wonderful support through the Fundraising Golf Tournament and to all the St Johns Rotary club members who organised, helped or took part in the day. We look forward to continuing this great event to help Kiwi kids throughout Aotearoa with KidsCan.
Gonzalo is taking time out this week, but he is heading to Napier for the District Conference this coming weekend so we can look forward to his exciting report following this event.
