Rotary Bulletin for March 2023
As I write this bulletin for March I am reminded how fast this Rotary year is going.
I wish to record our sadness learning of the passing of Basil Goodman. Basil was a President of this club 1988-89.
It has been a catastrophic summer for our fellow citizens in Auckland, the Far North, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay with unprecedented rain affecting thousands of people and workplaces.
Together with international disasters in Turkey, Syria and the Ukraine, there has possibly not been a call on international aid from Rotary like this year. At our February directors meeting, directors resolved to supply two Shelterboxes to supplement the stock pile of this valuable resource that enables quick deployment in times of need.
As I write this bulletin, I will be meeting with ADG Keith McIntosh and fellow Central Otago Rotary chairs from Alexandra, Queenstown and Wanaka to discuss how we might best support a coordinated approach to supporting regions in the North Island most in need.
Lot 47 has been a major success for our club and has put the club in a strong position, along with funding raised in the community via our Summer Book sale which exceeded all expectations. I must thank the steadfast work done by our projects team that have contributed to these successes.
With the Cromwell Police camera project requiring extra funding to complete their initial project, the good work of the Lot 47 funding committee of Lions and Rotary will come to an end, having judiciously apportioned the funds raised to the recipients of the projects that were settled on last year. I expect the directors will sign off on this great initiative this month.
Other initiatives supported this month were the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme where the directors recommended an increase in funding from $1000 to $1200 (at $20 per student from Cromwell) to enable more access to Cromwell students in such an important programme.
Directors welcomed the opportunity to provide services to assist a wedding in April and this should provide the club income of $800.
The Days for Girls project is progressing with sewing by Pam, Shirley and Beth.
The directors noted feedback that it is hard to hear speakers and Rotarians oral reports, and resolved that all speakers use the microphone. Pete Svensson and Ross Hansen will assist with an IT review which includes the purchase of a new microphone stand, loop coupling, and use of a mobile microphone.
It was a fantastic privilege to induct Hayden Rogers into our club on Monday. It has been a while getting to this point, with Christmas and Covid and unexpected delays, but it is always a highlight for any President to welcome new members into the club, and I know you will all make Hayden welcome.
Membership is fluid. We have learned that good health is something we sometimes take for granted, but there have been some sad curve balls thrown at us this year, learning that Leigh-Ann Fox has been recently diagnosed with serious illness and we wish Leigh-Ann and Paul all the best as we support them during this difficult time. Directors approved leave of absence for Leigh-Ann along with Ross Hansen (travel) and Hilary Seagrave (work commitments) for the foreseeable future.
Directors resolved to actively follow up speakers by writing a thank you note and asking if they had ever considered becoming a Rotarian.
Covid is still having an impact and I want to reassure members if they feel nervous or are worried about symptoms please put yourselves first. At this time of year some will be planning trips, and being cautious as well. The new variant is VERY contagious and indeed in the past 2 weeks six members of our club have contracted Covid, even after having the full booster courses. Your safety is at the heart of all we do, so please, if in doubt, stay at home, test if needed and take the appropriate action.
It was a blow to the new D-9999 Conference committee to make the difficult decision to cancel Conference in Oamaru this year. I know several of us were attending. Hopefully the International conference proceeds as planned. I am certainly looking forward to going and I am in touch with other Rotarians in the district and from Gore who I know are keen to catch up.
A number of members have already booked tickets to see Les Misérables in Clyde which opens in May for four weeks. The season has extended a week, so my understudy will step up when I am away in Wellington and then Melbourne for the Rotary Conference. I have attached a show schedule showing which dates I play my role as the Bishop of Digne, but also for those who would prefer not to see me, you can choose the other dates!!! The show is selling fast and tickets are available on i-ticket.
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2023/may/les-miserablesIf you do attend, I am happy to sign your programme!!
In the mean time I look forward to seeing some of you at the working bee on trees at Tony Streeter’s place on the 4th March, and hopefully attending the vocational day at The Packing Shed on the 6th March.
