As we move out of April, we are reaching the sharp end of a very enjoyable Rotary year. Planning is well underway for the change over which will occur on 24th June.
Since our last presidents’ get together with ADG Keith McIntosh, where the presidents agreed to push forward with supporting Queenstown’s objective toward a Rotaract Club. This will provide a pathway for the many young people who have attended RYLA in the past, to get more involved with Rotary.
Richard attended a meeting held in Cromwell this month to discuss progress, and it seems there is a general sense of support from younger people, including our RYLA candidate, to be involved. This will be a great vehicle for people to experience the Rotary way in a group of peers. The concept will support young people across the Central region, and meetings will rotate around the district in an attempt to even out travel issues.
We hope to report on our dementia project that has been determining the benefits of music to dementia patients. It began 7 months ago and is nearing completion. The benefits will be determined after talking with families and a report completed.
As Pete mentioned at club last week there is an opportunity for non-dementia patients to access these headphones, and Pete has asked for Rotarians to provide some CDs to him for loading of material.
Fin White and Grant Lunn have had another successful morning with Rotarians, splitting wood last Saturday morning. This wood is destined for those in need. It is ‘not-for-sale’. If anyone knows of deserving people, please contact Grant Lunn. There was a good supply of wood split, with much of it moved. The remaining trailer loads will be shifted during the first weeks of May.
April has been a quieter month with Easter and Anzac Day holidays generally dominating our calendar. We enjoyed a great vocational visit to Design Windows, Cromwell. They are a South Island leading aluminium window and door manufacturer. We were hosted at a great venue with generous refreshments. As always, thanks to Doreen for the varied vocational experiences that she arranges each month for us all.
May beckons as a very busy month for me. As you know Les Misérables opens in the Clyde Hall on Friday 5th and continues through the next four weeks. I will be committed to that and covering staff leave in Invercargill. As always, I am very grateful for the way the club responds to assist me. Our president-elect Richard has been busy standing in here and there and I note he is getting his 2023-24 team together. Please support him as you have supported me.
We are looking forward to the International Rotary Conference at the end of May and learning about the global work Rotary is currently involved in.
Until next time.
