We had a timely and interesting presentation last week from CAB’s General Manager, Kate Anderson. The pie chart representations she showed us revealed some interesting statistics on the services most utilised at branches. But it was still shocking to see just how often the foodbank services were needed at our nearest GI CAB. Our Community Local Directer will be keeping in close contact with the GI CAB regarding foodbank stock and anything else our Club might be able to assist with.
It was also lovely to hear from two CAB Volunteer Advisers, especially our own member Jan, who shared a very personal account of her challenges and success as a Volunteer Adviser. If this kind of community service appeals to you, please seek out Jan for a chat.
This week I look forward to our evening meeting where we celebrate all things RYLA (a week long leadership programme for Youth aged between 20-28). Our RYLA graduates are extremely keen to regale us with their “experience” so it will be a great evening. See you all there.
23 Members and 7 guests enjoyed last week’s Breakfast meeting, with a very interesting guest speaker and a snap-chat from Simon Jones. Our guests were;
Deslie Simpson - Auckland Councellor, Tess Porter - Remuera CAB Branch Manager, Gail Romano - Curator Auckland Museum, Jim Mitchell - Mentor/Advisor (past) CAB Remuera, John Farrell JP - Advisor CAB Remuera, David Finn (a prospective visitor, checking us out), and our guest speaker Kate Anderson - General Manager Citizen Advice Bureau Auckland City.
In this role Kate oversees 10 CAB Offices across Auckland, who;
Provide free, confidential, independent information and advice,
Help people know and understand their rights and responsibilities,
Help people find community services they need and
Work for positive social change.
At the CAB, members of the public who utilise the services can expect to;
Be treated with respect,
Have their privacy respected,
Be listened to and not judged,
Get correct information and be offered options,
Be supported to make their own decisions and
Get help with next steps
The CAB also operate the Food Banks out of their offices and it was amazing to see just how needed and important this function is, particularly in Glen Innes. Hearing this just days after St Johns Rotary undertook a very successful Food Bank Collection was eye opening and Kate restated just how appreciative the CAB organisation is, of St. Johns Rotary efforts in this regard.
Volunteers are critical to CAB’s success. They currently have 400 volunteers across Auckland, but they are always looking for more. If you are interested and;
A good listener,
Willing to learn,
Confident using a computer and like the idea of doing a bit of research to help people find the information they need, then you are a potential CAB volunteer.
Volunteers are provided with training, the tools and the ongoing support necessary to provide the required service. Interested?? Find out more at www.cap.org.nz/getinvolved
Our snap-chatter at the meeting was Simon Jones who took the opportunity to again brief members on the role of the St. Johns Rotary Charitable Trust. Our Trust allows us to receive and distribute funds without tax implications.
The 2018 / 2019 annual trust accounts, (which will shortly be distributed to all members), have just been published, and we can all be very proud to know that in the past year our trust distributed $179,000, into the community via the numerous projects, events and programmes that we are involved with.
Other Rotary business and important dates raised and discussed at the meeting are covered off elsewhere in this edition of the Bulletin…read on for more details.
DINNER MEETING AUGUST 1st - Our sponsored RYLA attendees report back on their experiences.
Always a favorite meeting as we hear the life changing RYLA stories, which you have helped make happen! This particular meeting which we hold annually, normally attracts high numbers and, being an evening meeting, we are required to provide numbers to the Golf Club. A great meeting to bring a guest or two along to. Be sure to reserve your space by sending your RSVP to Allan now; asmith@accessable.co.nz.
BREAKFAST MEETING AUGUST 8th - Tom Smith:
Tom who is the CEO of Parafed Auckland, will give a new insight into the challenges of facilitating sport and recreation opportunities for those with physical disabilities.
BREAKFAST MEETING AUGUST 15th - Gary Langford, District Governor
WIATARUA RESERVE TREE PLANTING - AUGUST 17th 1 pm:
See story below and please contact Cheri if you are interested and available to support this Club activity
CLUB VISIT TO TIRITIRI MATANGI - SUNDAY AUGUST 18th:
See separate story below for more details.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (RLI), SEMINARS: Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September 8.30am to 4.30pm at nearby Selwyn College.
See separate story below for more information.
CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR BREAK:
Last Meeting for 2019 - Thursday December 12th
First Meeting for 2020 - 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.
I was introduced to Rotary by my neighbor Christie about 2½ years ago. I joined because I wanted an easy way to do some community work on an adhoc basis and enjoyed the banter in the club. Allan asked me to be on the board during the 2018/19 year which was a steep learning curve and I will be taking on the challenge of the Presidency in the 2020/21 year.
I have enjoyed the various Rotary projects and activities I have been involved with including hosting Gonza for the first three months of his stay. I am particularly interested in our local community and how we can engage the youth to uplift the entire community.
Outside of Rotary I have a full-time role as an Operations Manager at Compac, an agritech business. I live in St Johns with my wife Jackie, sons Liam and Lloyd and our golden retriever Jessie. I enjoy technology and watching movies and miniseries.
The Environment Committee is working on some tree planting projects and this opportunity has arisen:
A nice local project on the Club’s doorstep. Waiatarua Reserve on Saturday 17th August at 1 pm. Although relatively short notice, hopefully some members will be available to join in the planting, and the fun!!
Interested?? Please contact Cheri for more details.
Our Fellowship Officer, Michelle Forman, has several ideas regarding events and visits for Club members, friends and family. SAVE THE DATE - SUNDAY AUGUST 18TH. St Johns Rotary trip to Tiritiri Matangi.
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a stunning wildlife sanctuary for New Zealand's native birds, and an important conservation project. From the moment you step on to the Island to the time you reluctantly depart, you'll be serenaded by birdsong.
Cost is $78 per person, leaving from downtown at 9 am, or for those who are not so great on the water, you can leave from Gulf Harbour, same cost. Bookings are essential - Book through Fullers and once you have booked can you please advise Michelle at mertie.forman@gmail.com.
If you have never visited - a visit to Tiritiri is a must do.
This last Monday I've been skiing which was awesome because I did the all mountain skiing, and Tuesday we were back to Auckland. In the week I had some assessments at school. Last Saturday we enjoyed the spa at home and after that we watched the game All Blacks vs South Africa and working in Robyn and Tony's daughter and son-in-law, (Alex and Matt) painting their new house.
PP Peter Buchanan recently visited Melbourne and while there he made a visit to the Doncaster Rotary Club meeting and he has since submitted these comments and photo.
I’m sending a photo below of my visit to Doncaster Rotary, Melbourne, on last Wednesday evening, where we exchanged banners. A very welcoming club, with an excellent speaker - Everest mountaineer Steve Bell. Very memorable.
I especially went there to meet Pat Armstrong, the Membership Secretary for the Environment & Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) that I am a member of. We talked long about projects by each of our clubs as well as some more expansive plans that Pat has.
This is your invitation to a wonderful Rotary Learning & Information opportunity to join us at our Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) seminar weekend on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September 8.30am to 4.30pm at nearby Selwyn College. From our St Johns Rotary, Beryl & Colin are always two of the numerous RLI Facilitators who take assorted modules during the weekend, plus others from our club will hopefully also be there, so you’ll already know some Rotarians who attending, plus you’ll make new friends from other Rotary & Rotaract clubs throughout Auckland.
New Rotarians are always welcome, as are longer term members. It’s great that our Rotary Club of St Johns sponsors (i.e. pays for) any Rotarian who is keen to attend RLI to discover new opportunities in the world of Rotary.
Right on our doorstep at our meeting home of the Remuera Golf Club, is the local "Mens Shed" and St. Johns Rotary member Miles Cain, is a member of the Shed and he encourages other members to consider joining. Attached is a copy of their latest Newsletter and if you are interested in finding out more - contact Miles C. (Click "Read More" to view the newsletter)
Chester sent his dog out to see if there were any ducks in the pond. "If there aren't many ducks out there, I'm not going hunting".
The dog comes back and barks twice.
"Well I'm not going to go out. The dog only saw two ducks out there," Chester says,
"You're going to take the dog's barks for the truth?" Earl asks.
Earl doesn't believe it, so he goes to look for himself. When he gets back he is excited.
"I don't believe it,” he says. “There really are only two ducks out there! Where did you get that dog?"
" I got him from the breeder up the road,’ Chester relies. “If you want one, I’m sure you can get one from him. He seems to have a few"
So Earl goes to the Gun Dog Breeder and says he wants a dog like the one his friend Chester has.
The breeder obliges and Earl brings the dog home, tells it to go out and look for ducks.
Minutes later the dog returns shaking its head with a stick in its mouth.
Outraged, Earl takes the dog back to the breeder
"This dog is a fraud. I want my money back!"? Earl demands.
The breeder asks Earl what the dog did wrong. So Earl tells him that when he sent the dog out to look for ducks ‘It came back shaking its head with a stick in its mouth.
The breeder shakes his head slowly
"Earl, dogs can't talk. He was trying to tell you there are more ducks out there than you can shake a stick at".
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.
Always a favorite meeting as we hear the life changing RYLA stories, which you have helped make happen! This particular meeting which we hold annually, normally attracts high numbers and, being an evening meeting, we are required to provide numbers to the Golf Club. A great meeting to bring a guest or two along to. Be sure to reserve your space by sending your RSVP to Allan now; asmith@accessable.co.nz. 
BREAKFAST MEETING AUGUST 15th - Gary Langford, District Governor
I was introduced to Rotary by my neighbor Christie about 2½ years ago. I joined because I wanted an easy way to do some community work on an adhoc basis and enjoyed the banter in the club. Allan asked me to be on the board during the 2018/19 year which was a steep learning curve and I will be taking on the challenge of the Presidency in the 2020/21 year.
The Environment Committee is working on some tree planting projects and this opportunity has arisen:
Save the date!
PP Peter Buchanan recently visited Melbourne and while there he made a visit to the Doncaster Rotary Club meeting and he has since submitted these comments and photo.
