We had an information packed meeting last week, featuring a great local speaker, Mark Bone – SwimTastic. Despite the annoying projector wifi connection failure(s), Marks presentation on his ‘local business build and growth’ was so interesting that we were all keen for him to continue his story, well past the usual speaker time frame. A huge thank you to ‘our’ Gonza for reconnecting over and over so we could see Mark’s pictures. Please be assured our venue hosts were alerted to this new technical problem immediately after the meeting and they had their IT techo working on a ‘fix’ less than an hour later.
Thanks also to members who were able to stick around for a sped-up info session on the DG nomination process. A follow-up email with this info has been sent to all club members via Clubrunner and this is also repeated below. Please ensure you utilise your option to vote, as per the email instructions. Deadline to submit your response is this week, Thursday 3 September.
This Thursday instead of a meeting, we have a welcome change in pace with the Golf Evening, a fun fellowship event. Teeing off at 6pm, scrummy fish and chips ready at 7:30pm. Please ensure you have RSVPed to IPP Allan if you are planning on coming. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a golfer (like me), have a go or just take the time to catch-up with other members and enjoy someone else cooking dinner. See you on Thursday evening.
Another excellent meeting enjoyed by 31 members and two guests. Our "Remarkable" President Robyn and her loyal followers, well a few of them anyway, joined in the "yellow" theme in recognition of Daffodil day - well done and thanks to those who got into the spirit supporting this very valuable cause.
A truly inspiring talk by Mark Bone, Managing Director of SwimTastic Glen Innes.
Today:
SwimTastic is an ability based swim school designed to challenge swimmers of all levels and abilities. They offer lessons for children from 6 months old through to adults. With over 35 years in the business, SwimTastic has a unique level of experience allowing them to provide the highest level of swim excellence.
SwimTastic has a team of diverse and passionate teachers who have been hand-picked to deliver SwimTastic's winning product. Their staff enjoy what they do to deliver the programme in a fun engaging way, ensuring maximum individual progress providing Swim Excellence.
The Journey:
Mark brings over thirty years of swim coaching and teaching experience. He has been a swim coach at the highest level, having been the national swim coach of New Zealand for 10 years, and has a great understanding of the development of swimming skills through to an elite level.
SwimTastic has played an integral role in our local community for many years and it was apparent that many of our members children and grand children have learnt to swim in the original Morrin Road pool over the years, and now children and adults alike have the ability to learn to swim at the new $13.5 million facility in Merton Road.
The story of how Mark and his team managed to get where they are today was fascinating to say the least. Mark took us through "The Good", "The Bad" and "The Ugly", of the vision, the design, the development and the eventual opening of the new complex earlier in the year. A great story and we are very fortunate to have business leaders in our area who are prepared to invest so much in our community.
THURSDAY 5th SEPTEMBER MEETING - EVENING FELLOWSHIP - COME PLAY:
As per the direct email you have received, Remuera Golf Club has a Ball Tracker driving range where members can play on a course of their own choosing. Open to all levels of Golf with clubs and a golf pro on hand. Click on "Read More" below, for full details. RSVP TO ALLAN SMITH @ asmith@accessable.co.nz, BEFORE TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 3RD.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12th BREAKFAST MEETING:
With several projects under consideration this is a time for the project groups to get together with your Directors and plan the next stages and bring new project ideas.
NOTE: Only a Continental Breakfast will be served at this meeting.
MS. STREET APPEAL - SEPTEMBER 20, 21 and 22:
There is still time to support this great cause by volunteering to help with the Street Appeal. See separate story below.
OCTOBER 5th - CURE KIDS SKY TOWER JUMP CHALLENGE:
Watch this space for more details on how you can be involved!
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.
The Notice below, which was presented and read out in full at the club meeting on August 29th, is an Amendment to the email sent to all members on Saturday 24 August. This amendment specifically refers to the requirements to support a District Governor nomination.
District 9920 call for nominations for District Governor (DG) 2021-22
Full Club Response required (as feasible) by Thursday 3 October
Below is an overview of requirements to support a District Governor nomination;
The recent email circulated to our entire membership regarding Allan Smith's DG nomination produced responses which alerted to “correct process” on how this should have been done. The Process has recently changed and Club endorsement is required with full information and the opportunity for discussion and questions.
PDG Beryl Robinson and also PDG Jennie Herring advised a “back track” to supply mandatory information to members was perfectly acceptable and would have no reflection on our candidate. This email is to inform all members, particularly those not at our meeting on the 29th of August).
Obviously, our Board is keen to follow correct procedure and be transparent in the nomination process.
Slide 1
Discussions between D9920 and D9910 on forming a new District have come to an end. As a result, D9920 is seeking nominations for District Governor for the year 2021-22.
Process is governed by the Bylaws of Rotary International.
Nominations to be received by Saturday 15 September (as feasible).
Club nominations are to be supported by a resolution naming the suggested candidate adopted at a regular club meeting and certified by the Club Secretary.
Slide 2
In calling for support, we are obliged to advise members of Club expectations and mandatory involvement to support a District Governor Elect.
Think of support as a Club Project. Resources and people are needed to organise and run: District Conference, District Changeover, LETs. Running these incurs a cost to the Club which may/may not be recovered (eg registration fees would ideally cover off costs leading to breakeven or profit, but a loss could be incurred.)
Some functional positions may need to be provided: District Secretary, District Newsletter Editor.
The demands on a Club can affect usual activities so club would need strong leadership in serving DG year. (This would be following Hugh’s year)
Slide 3
Risks to Club are financial (District Conference, Changeover & LETs) and reputational (the work to support a DG cannot fall on just a few members). Load must be shared as feasible.
Recent Email call for support of Boards Resolution was made before this information was made available. As such, members are free to reconsider and resubmit response if felt necessary.
Response is anonymously recorded. If Majority “support”, Nomination is “good to go”. No response is deemed “support”.
Further questions can be put to PDG Jennie Herring (Chair of the Nominating Committee) via our Club Secretary.
Slide 4
The District 9920 Nominating Committee for this year is:
Chair PDG Jennie Herring
PDG Roger Harvey
PDG Malini Paghwan
PDG Ingrid Waugh
District Governor Gary Langford
Secretary is District Governor Elect Craig Horrocks
I look forward to your responses – please use Reply on the email sent to you on August 29th to do this.
Deadline to submit response is Thursday 3 September.
I grew up as a Rotary child as my father was the charter president of Rotary Club of Wanganui South. This meant my family partook in many community activities. It was a small club which provided a "family" for us as we had no real family in Wanganui.
40 years after leaving Wanganui it was time for me to join a service organisation and Rotary was the obvious choice. I joined St Johns Rotary 11 years ago at the invitation of Tom Street and have enjoyed my new "family" immensely.
In my time with RCoSJ I have helped with a number of initiatives including Stonefields Fair, RYLA, and Taveuni projects. My first Board role was as Director Community International which gave my the opportunity to coordinate several successful rounds of fund raising for the Taveuni Island Rotary club in Fiji. I was privileged to accompany 4 other club members on a trip to Taveuni to assist in the completion of a school teacher house. I am currently co-Director of Membership with Rosemary Such. The creation of a Membership Committee is an exciting development for the club and provides lots of opportunities to build on the success of past presidents in making our club so engaging & dynamic.
I left Wanganui for education and I attended two universities before starting my working life. I followed a consulting career over 30 years which started in IT and extended through process engineering into a wide range of subjects. I worked on assignments in NZ, US, UK & Hong Kong and at the end of my work life I estimated I had touched over 100 companies - some in significant ways and others more lightly.
I married Penny over 30 years ago after what some would say was a life long pursuit - because our families knew one another in Wanganui. We have two children - Andrew & Michelle. Andrew is a business person in Auckland and Michelle is a lawyer in London.
I have now retired from income earning projects and commit my time to RCoSJ and Multiple Sclerosis Auckland where I am a board member. I was once an active sports person - skiing, sailing, cycling and playing tennis, but now spend time maintaining my fitness through hydrotherapy pool sessions. We have a holiday home in Taupo and enjoy fishing from our boat - the photo attached was taken on 7th July this year and the fish gave up her life after a good struggle!
On the left the Gonza we have known all year and below is the new look Gonza following his recent haircut. His golden locks are now back in Argentina having been donated to the Argentine equivalent of “Wigs for Kids”, a non-profit organisation which provides wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer therapy.
The 2019 MS Street Appeal collection will be across three days; September 20, 21 & 22 September. St. Johns Rotary is once again assisting with this appeal by providing collectors. As Director Community Local, Tricia Gerrard is the lead on this project so people seeking answers to questions should approach her.
We are hoping to provide two people on duty across 4 two hour time slots. The response to date for volunteers has been excellent, but there are still some vacant slots looking for volunteers. These are listed here and please see the copy of Tricia's email below which details the volunteering process;
Friday 20th Sep: 11am - 1pm One volunteer to accompany Alex Gatt Friday 20th Sep: 1pm - 3pm Two volunteers Friday 20th Sep: 3pm - 5pm One volunteer to accompany John Cornaga Saturday 21st Sep: 9am- 11am One volunteer to accompany Robyn Ingram Saturday 21st Sep: 11am - 1pm Two volunteers Saturday 21st Sep: 3pm - 5 pm Two volunteers Sunday 22nd Sep: 11am - 1pm One volunteer to accompany Michelle Forman Sunday 22nd Sep: 3pm - 5pm Two volunteers
Dear Member,
This event is being held at Stonefields New World Supermarket between Friday 20 September and Sunday 22 September.
Volunteers are sought from members and others interested in 2-hour slots of 2 volunteers per slot on each day between 9am and 5.00pm.
If you are a member select ‘Myself’ or your name from the member list
Others can enter their details including your email address (for Event-related emails) and mobile number – the site keeps contact details secure.
Once you have selected your time you will receive a confirmation email. Please place your selected time slot into your diary. There is plenty of vehicle parking and a handy public toilet on-site.
If you need to later change your time slot you can revisit the site and make any amendments.
We value the support of our members and Volunteers, and you will be well supported by the club.
If at any time you have any questions, please contact Tricia Gerrard on Mobile (pref after work hours) 021 171 0772
Most of us know someone with MS - Multiple Sclerosis. St Johns Rotary is participating in the 2019 Appeal because of the success of past participation and as a way to raise our presence in our local community including providing an easy way for family, friends and neighbours to experience the satisfaction and even enjoyment of a very worthy community activity with us. What is MS?
The Rotary Club of Pakuranga, (one of our cluster clubs), have their Annual Trivia & Auction Night on Saturday 7 September. Celebrity Shane Cortez will be auctioning a fantastic variety of prizes including a luxury night for two at Castaways Resort. Supporting Life Education Trust Counties Manukau, Harold the Giraffe and other local Rotary projects. Attendees are challenged to come in outlandish and creative wearable art.
President Robyn is making up a table of family and friends and would love to see other RCSJ members there as well. For full list of exciting Auction items click "READ MORE".
A man and a woman who had never met before, but who were both married to other people, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a trans-continental train.
Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, they were both very tired and fell asleep quickly, he in the upper berth and she in the lower.
At 1:00 AM, the man leaned down and gently woke the woman saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold."
"I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married."
"Wow! That's a great idea!", he exclaimed.
"'Good", she replied. "Get your own ruddy blanket."
After a moment of silence, he farted.
The end!!
(Thanks Michelle!) Have a wonderful week with many *smiles*.
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.
Another excellent meeting enjoyed by 31 members and two guests. Our "Remarkable" President Robyn and her loyal followers, well a few of them anyway, joined in the "yellow" theme in recognition of Daffodil day - well done and thanks to those who got into the spirit supporting this very valuable cause.
A truly inspiring talk by Mark Bone, Managing Director of SwimTastic Glen Innes. 
I grew up as a Rotary child as my father was the charter president of Rotary Club of Wanganui South. This meant my family partook in many community activities. It was a small club which provided a "family" for us as we had no real family in Wanganui. 
On the left the Gonza we have known all year and below is the new look Gonza following his recent haircut. His golden locks are now back in Argentina having been donated to the Argentine equivalent of “Wigs for Kids”, a non-profit organisation which provides wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer therapy. 
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Ever wondered how to contact the Rotary club down the road? .jpg)
