Thank you to those members who made it to our Combined Committee meeting last week. It was a great opportunity for us to get ‘into gear’ for the year and clearly from the hub-bub around the room, Committee’s had a lot to discuss re ongoing and potential new projects.
Thank you also to those who brought in blankets, which Megan very happily collected. Please remember to respond to Club emails regarding the Food Bank collection (July 20) and our August 1st evening meeting featuring RYLA (which requires an RSVP).
This week we are answering your membership request to hear more about and from our own members, with John C and Aubrey R-J presenting. We plan to get them started directly after breakfast to allow plenty of time for them to regale us with their recent adventures!
Another good turnout with 31 members present for the first round of Committee Meetings this year, and what was also great was - someone remembered to order breakfast! Please "Click on "Read More", for summaries from the Directors on the various committee discussions.
Prior to the committee meetings getting underway, President Robyn and her Directors shared a few notices;
"GI Food Bank re-stock". New World Lunn Ave, Saturday July 20th. Please contact Miles if you can assist.
Miles, who was conducting his first Sergeants Session of the year, advised that last year we collected $2,500 in fines for the Sunshine Fund. Organizations and charities that benefited from the fund were;
Help NZ
Daffodil Day
Multiple Scherosis
Fiji Water Project
GI CAB
Tooth Brush Distribution
Starship Hospital Teddy Bear Appeal
Christchurch Mosque Appeal
President Robyn announced the Board has approved that St Johns Rotary will sponsor an Outbound RYE student over the next calendar year; Lachlan Kerr, a 17 year old Year 12 student from Sacred Heart College. We will shortly have the opportunity to meet Lachlan and hear details of where his year away will be.
At last weeks Board Meeting, the Board agreed to keep annual fees unchanged at $340. Thank you Board - we are sure that members will fully appreciate your decision in this regard!
Regrettably the club has received the resignation of long time member and Past President Toni Miller, who will shortly be leaving Auckland and starting a new life in Katikati. Fortunately the Board did not accept Toni's resignation, instead agreeing to appoint Toni an Honorary Member in recognition of her long and dedicated service to our club - Congratulations Toni and very best wishes for your move and the next phase of your life in what is a beautiful part of the country.
BREAKFAST MEETING JULY 18th. Members John Cornaga and Aubrey Richardson-Jones have both recently returned from wonderful trips to Europe and they are both looking forward to sharing their experiences with fellow members.
BREAKFAST MEETING JULY 25th - Kate Anderson
Kate is General Manager of the Citizens Advice Bureau of Auckland City, (CABAC), which has a number of Bureaus around Auckland. PWC has recently provided an analysis of the service - it was a very detailed and positive report, which endorsed the value of the service for both clients and funders.
DINNER MEETING AUGUST 1st - Our sponsored RYLA attendees report back on their experiences.
Always a favorite meeting as we hear about the life changing RYLA stories. Being an evening meeting we are required to provide numbers to the Golf Club. Be sure to reserve your space and RSVP to Allan now; asmith@accessable.co.nz. Click on "Read More" to see photos of RYLA 2019.
CLUB VISIT TO TIRITIRI MATANGI - SUNDAY AUGUST 8th:
See separate story below for more details.
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.
As we start the new Rotary Year with a new Board of Directors, over the next few weeks we will publish a Bio on each of our Board, and starting this week with a Bio of our leader, President Robyn Ingram;
I have been a member of Rotary Club of St Johns since November 2013. In that time I have served as Host Mum, Sergeant, Youth Director, Membership Director and last year President Elect.
At District level I am the Inbound Coordinator for Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) and am passionate about this program having been a RYE student exchanging to Oklahoma, USA way back in 1980 when I was 16 years old. As Inbound Coordinator I get to keep an eye on great students (like Gonza). We are currently farewelling five students who have completed their year in NZ, and will be welcoming in a new batch of six students throughout July. I will, of course, get some of them to present to our Club once they have settled into life in NZ.
Outside of Rotary I am currently lucky enough to be able to spend three days a week supporting my Mum so she can continue to live in her own home. Prior to this I spent much of my career in Adult Education (tutoring adult Computer Classes at Selwyn College) and in Teacher Education (at University of Auckland), negotiating practicum placements in Auckland high schools for trainee Secondary Teachers.
I am honoured to serve as President this year and am looking forward to a colour-filled year of Small Acts – Big Impact!
Our Fellowship Officer 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 moment you leave, 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.
Our new Director Club Services, IPP Allan Smith, has already got a great lineup of speakers for the next couple of months. However, maintaining a full schedule of good and interesting speakers requires a significant amount of work and Allan would very much welcome any suggestions. Potential speakers could be friends, family, business contacts or anyone who you think would appeal to our members. If you have a suggestion, please contact Allan.
Hello, this was my first week with Ingram’s family, which was a beautiful first week.
We went to Sea Life aquarium, rides in the amazing McLaren, then last Thursday we had a lunch at Mission Bay, and now we are working remodeling Alex's new house (Robyn and Tony’s daughter).
Last December a small team of members, under the guidance of then Director Community Miles Cain, re-established the gardens located outside the Glen Innes CAB Offices. Its great to see that the gardens, planted out with vegetables and healthy seedlings, are looking great! Thanks for the update Miles.
At the District 9920 Change-Over Dinner last week, St Johns Rotary was awarded the trophy for "Bulletin of the Year." President Robyn, who was present at the dinner, accepted the award on behalf of the club and at this week's Breakfast Meeting she passed on the award to Editor Peter W, who will hold on to the award on behalf of the club for the next 12 months. Congratulations to all who have contributed to the Bulletin over the year and keep those stories rolling in, which will help us to hold on to the trophy for another 12 months!!
An old man walks into a barbershop for a shave and a haircut. He tells the barber he can't get all his whiskers off because his cheeks are wrinkled from age. The barber gets a little wooden ball from a cup on the shelf and tells him to put it inside his cheek to spread out the skin. When he's finished, the old man tells the barber that was the cleanest shave he's had in years; but he wanted to know what would have happened if he had swallowed that little ball. The barber replied, "Just bring it back in a couple of days like everyone else does."
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.