Can you believe it is only 51 days until Christmas?
We had a lovely (evening) meeting last week with Chris Farrelly (Auckland City Mission) who gave us an incredibly personable, passionate and fact filled talk covering the Mission’s history right up to the present. In my opinion, Chris was one of the best speakers our club has hosted this year. Thanks to Club Services (Allan and Brian) for securing Chris as a speaker!
Also, a big thank you to all members (and guests) who came along AND contributed to the food-bank collection which was happily loaded into Chris’s boot at the end of the evening. We were so touched by his talk that the Sergeants Session was dedicated to the Auckland City Mission.
This week’s meet is assigned to ‘in house’ matters so that Committee’s can get together and also, as a club, members can discuss future projects and funding. If you have something you would like to bring to the Club’s attention – please let me know.
President Robyn welcomed a total of 35 members and guests who attended the Dinner Meeting on October 31st. Our guest speaker was Chris Farrelly, CEO of the Auckland City Mission. Another very good speaker and as you can see from the pictures below - Chris enjoyed the meeting and Kodi's "Thanks".
Gary was "Speaker Host" on the night and as the picture below shows - he does a great job exercising his responsibility.
We were also fortunate to have three students from Glendowie College present, representing the GDC Interact Club. Now that seniors have completed school for the year (except for exams), Interact Leader (Nina) attended specifically to report on their year’s activities. They had a busy and successful year and Nina spoke very well, and she also took the opportunity to introduce two of next year’s (2020) newly elected Interact leaders; Anna and Robbie.
In-house Committee and Project Forums. The last for the year - be sure to attend to have your say and offer your services!
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14th, BREAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER, SHARON CREAN, FOUNDER OF "BEYONDWATER":
"BeyondWater", is a not-for-profit organization working across East Africa. Their focus is on ensuring schools, medical clinics, children's home and remote communities have access to safe, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
In November 2007 Pete and Sharon Crean were living in Sydney, Australia. They were presented with the fact that one billion people don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water and another two billion don’t have the use of a toilet. They gathered a team of volunteers who were enthusiastic in doing something to alleviate poverty in East Africa and started BeyondWater.
Many members may not fully understand how the "Rotary Foundation" works and some of the projects involved. It is not just Polio!!!.... it is many projects throughout both New Zealand and the world, including our own Onja project in Madagascar. Jennie as a past District Govenor, brings many experiences of Rotary to us and this will be a great opportunity for learning and have our horizons lifted.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 5th - MEETING CANCELLED:
DECEMBER 7th - St. JOHN'S ROTARY CLUB 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:
To be held at Remuera Golf Club - Save the date and mark in your Calendar now! Note: the December 5th Meeting will be cancelled.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 12th - MEETING CANCELLED:
SATURDAY DECEMBER 14th, LAST PROJECT / GET-TOGETHER FOR THE YEAR;
Glen Innes Food Bank Collection on Saturday December 14th, followed by a "Social Event" details of which are yet to be confirmed. This event will be open to; partners, family and guests. More details to follow. Note: the meeting on December 12th will be cancelled.
CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR BREAK:
Last Meeting for 2019 - Saturday December 14th as noted above.
First Meeting for 2020 - Breakfast Meeting, Thursday February 13th
EASTERN BAYS HOSPICE, DOVE HOSPICE SHOPS GARAGE SALE - 3rd SATURDAY OF 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.
Last Friday November 1st, President Robyn and Founding Member Murray H, admirably represented the Rotary Club of St. Johns at the "Tag-on Tag-off End Polio Now" event. Following are Murray's reflections of the day.
Pictured is President Robyn with a large cheque at Orakei Sstation, waiting to present it to the District Team who were due to arrive on the 4.02pm train from Britomart. With typical Rotary efficiency the team of several past District Governors managed to catch the earlier train, so they missed us and our cheque, and we missed them!!
We caught up with the official party, (10 plus Paul Harris Fellows), at Sylvia Park Station. After photos all round, we were back on the return train to Orakei. Then we discover, because of train delay (awaiting staff), the train we were on was now an express to Britomart, flying past Orakei and we were still in possession of our oversized cheque, (by the way thanks to Dave Hartstone & Creative Awards). All this time President Robyn was travelling without a ticket!! Inspectors queried her as neither of us possessed official red Polio t-shirts!! I had WINSTON’s Gold Card, so I was okay, but our President had to use her charm and as you can imagine that worked like a charm!!
After two plus hours of train travel, we finally ended back where we started!!
RYLA 2020. A week long leadership camp for 20-28 year olds
RYLA, the "Rotary Youth Leadership Awards" is a significant programme that our club supports strongly every year and this year we are aiming to get under way asap on the task of recruiting candidates for next year's RYLA, and in particular, wishing to make greater contacts with local businesses who may be interested in sponsoring some of their up and coming leaders.
Please, can all members who have local business contacts and/or family members who may be eligible and interested, contact Tom Street on 021 685 651. Anyone wishing to help with the processes through to July next year may also like to join Tom at an induction meeting to be hosted by the organising club, Papatoetoe RC, at 6pm on 12th Nov in the Jack Dickey community hall, Green Lane.
Hello my wonderful Club, I have been so busy the last weeks doing many different things.
In my last week of school I have had the honour of being given a prize for excellence from the service committee in Glendowie School.
I changed host family, so I left the most lovely Ingram family and I’m now living with the extraordinary Leyland family.
I have been meeting with my friends in my free time and we have had some parties, dinners, walks, and I had unforgettable moments with them.
Penny, Warwick and I had really nice time together; we did things like going out to nice places for dinner, we did the Rangitoto walk which was absolutely gorgeous, we went to Waiheke and we really enjoyed the beautiful weather and I had the most wonderful time with them, I have met their beautiful and pretty boat.
The last week two inbounds and I went to the Rally Targa New Zealand, which was offered by Petter Matin (the owner), which is a Rotarian, to us. We have seen so many new places in my favourite country. We were in places like New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Dannevirke enjoying the cars and working as timers in the finish line. xx
Click on "Read More" for pictures of Gonza's latest activities
Below is an update from the Interplast District Chair. RCSJ contributed $1,000 to this cause (approved September Board meeting).
Kiribati is a sovereign state in Micronesia in the central Pacific Ocean.
Kiribati’s population of just over 114,000 is scattered over an area larger than Australia – with 32 low lying atolls, one volcanic island and 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean
Kiribati has limited surgical capacity and no local plastic surgeon which means that patients go without treatment or in some cases are referred overseas for treatment
In June 2019 Interplast’s first Allied Health Training Program was conducted at the Tungaru Central Hospital, Tarawa, Kiribati, alongside a surgical program which conducted 22 surgeries for birth defects, burns injuries and trauma injuries for children and adults.
These patients were provided with life-changing medical procedures they would otherwise not have been able to access, and at the same time allied health training and mentoring was delivered to local physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, prosthetics and orthotics staff
Allied health treatment can be key to the patient’s recovery and ability to gain the best possible functionality post-surgery.
A key feature of all Interplast programs is our commitment to building sustainable medical outcomes for the communities we serve, as well as the individuals we are able to help.
With your support, during the 2020 program, volunteer physiotherapists/occupational therapists will work alongside the local physiotherapy team to build their skills, knowledge and confidence around providing rehabilitation treatment to patients including children, who have presented with burns injuries, lower and upper limb trauma and other surgical conditions related to reconstructive surgery.
The generous funding provided by the District: 9920 clubs will cover ground transport, insurances, training equipment and supplies, together with incidental costs and program coordination, monitoring and evaluation costs.
District 9920 has been an invaluable contributor to the work that Interplast is able to do in the Asia-Pacific region – we cannot thank you enough.
Together in Rotary Service,
Shefali Mehta QSM BEM JP
Rotary Club Auckland Harbourside President 2012-13
Rotary International District 9920
Interplast District Chair Interplast Australia & New Zealand
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
Pictured is President Robyn with a large cheque at Orakei Sstation, waiting to present it to the District Team who were due to arrive on the 4.02pm train from Britomart. With typical Rotary efficiency the team of several past District Governors managed to catch the earlier train, so they missed us and our cheque, and we missed them!! 
RYLA 2020. A week long leadership camp for 20-28 year olds.JPG)
Hello my wonderful Club, I have been so busy the last weeks doing many different things.
