Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Gary Key (Ph: 021 611169), and Graham Fabian (Ph: 021 826292).
Thank you to all members who attended our away meeting at the Men’s Shed last Thursday. Editor Peter will cover the meeting and visit in a little more detail, but what a great organisation, well presented by Chairman Alan. Unfortunately Mal McLennan was unwell and did not attend, Mal has been the driving force behind the Men’s Shed and the result that we witnessed is testament to him.
A big shout out to New World for suppling the breakfast and Penny/ Lesley for organising.
It has been a tragic week in NZ and I know you all join with us in prayer and thoughts to those who have lost Love Ones and literally have had their Lives turned upside down !!!!
Sunday morning 0830 we were weeding at the Apriana Reserve - thank you to those who helped and in the afternoon a number of members were involved in the Stonefields Music in the Park, again our thanks —nobody can say that St Johns is not actively involved in the Community!!!!
We hope that you all had a great week and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday.
A very good turnout at our first "Vocational" meeting of the year, at our neighbors just over the fence at the "Men's Shed".
Prior to the tour of the facility, Men's Shed member Alan Minson spoke to the group, talking about the history behind the organisation, how the building, land and facilities were aquired and how they are funded and operate.
The current membership sits at 195, (including five females) and the membership has been growing at a rate of 5 - 6 new members every month.
The Men's Shed is a not for profit organisation, but their costs to operate grow and are high. Apart from individual members fees, and grants, a large percentage of the income is derived from securing contracts to support activity in the community. One of the most successful projects undertaken has been the construction of "Traps", (to catch rats and stoats), on behalf of the Eastern Bays Songbird Project. To date the Men's Shed has made over 9,000 traps.
Another very successful contract that they have had has been the construction of "Plant and Seedlings Storage Frames", made on behalf of Trees for Survival, another successful Rotary associated organisation.
Following the introductory talk a BBQ Breakfast, cooked by Men's Shed members, was served, followed by a tour of the facility. Once again Mr. Fabian put his hand in his pocket and supplied all the ingredients for the meal. Thank you Graham again, for your very generous and much appreciated support of the club.
These few photos don't do the facility and the wide variety of activity carried out on the premises justice, but it is a very impressive organisation and obviously a very well used and equipped "Shed".
St, Johns members certainly appeared to enjoy the opportunity to visit our neigbours and our sincere thanks to the Men's Shed for hosting us.
Spencer is the Superintendent of the Remuera Golf Club which is set within 72 hectares of stunning woodland park reserve you are constantly surrounded by an abundance of nature, birdlife and tranquil beauty at all times. They were the first, and one of only a few courses in New Zealand, to be fully Geo-Certified for our environmentally sustainable practices.
Spencer will explain how he does it and what sets Remuera GC apart from the rest.
THURSDAY MARCH 2nd DINNER MEETING. GUEST SPEAKER - MIKE POTTER - CEO DISABILITY CONNECT:
Mike is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the Not-for-Profit Sector. Prior to a motor vehicle accident in 2008 that left him with a spinal cord impairment he was a competitive international runner and a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at AUT. Mike is a reflective thinker whose upbringing, vocation, life experience and understanding of the disability paradigms are helping him to advocate for an inclusive world for people with disabilities and their families. He is a proud husband and Dad to two teenage daughters, one of whom has a learning disability and is an advisor for The Cookie Project. He has an MCom (Hons) in Marketing and International Business from the University of Auckland.
NB. Mike was a key resource in the instigation of the "Breaking Barriers Disability Day", which Ainie Kwok ran.
THURSDAY MARCH 9th BREAKFAST MEETING. GUEST SPEAKER - TANIA THOMAS - District 9920 Chair, Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Rotary St Johns, your club, is responsible for hosting this important event so your support is needed by coming along for a great time. The programme is now finalised and it is a wonderful mix of social/networking events and incredibly inspiring speakers. Being close to home, it is easy to get to, and the venue is impressive, as anyone who has been to Karaka Bloodstock will attest to. So register your place today, especially as you will want to get along to the full programme (Friday night dinner is limited to the first 120 registrants).
Friday: Foundation Dinner and charity auction
Saturday: Conference
Saturday: Past District Governor Cocktail Hour
Saturday: Awards Dinner
Please click on the following link to view a short video from Allan & Sue, sharing details of the programme and inviting you to attend the conference.
Stuart Batty, Executive Director, RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand), has asked us to circulate the link to the Rotary Appeal for victims of Cyclone Gabrielle. The link can be found at the end of Stuarts email.
Uppermost in our thoughts is that many Rotary friends known to us all in the Hawkes Bay and possibly elsewhere have lost everything, their homes and livelihoods.
Some are being housed by Rotarians as they come to terms with the reality and in the days ahead are faced with returning to what remains.
Please circulate this appeal notice far and wide to enable us to do the utmost.
Compared to last Sunday, the weather on Sunday the 19th was a pearler and a small, but hard working group turned up to commence a weeding programme as part of making the next area in the reserve ready for planting in July.
Included in the team of workers were five from St. Johns Rotary, Gary, Peter B, Aubrey, Peter W and Margaret who delivered morning tea. A big job lies ahead, but the preparation has begun! Watch out for more dates for additional working bee's over the coming months.
St Johns Rotary had a presence at the first ever, "Stonefields Music in the Park", held on Sunday Feb 19 and no surprise, but Co-President Gary, (direct from Weeding in Apirana reserve), was on hand, taking names of potential members. We look forward to hearing just how successful you were Gary, and thanks again for giving up much of your weekend on behalf of St. Johns Rotary!
Our friends at Habitat for Humanity are also fund raising as detailed in the email below, sent to Co-President Gary. if you are able to support please click on "DONATE NOW implanted in the email.
As Cyclone Gabrielle passes, we are seeing the scale of destruction across Greater Auckland and Northland and just how many families have been left without shelter or belongings.
Please donate to help support our work through local iwi and community partners in providing immediate and long-term support to those most in need. The devastation to some of our more isolated and vulnerable communities is hard to comprehend, and may take months if not years to put right.
Our thoughts are with those whānau who have lost loved ones, been displaced from their homes and feeling distressed and overwhelmed by the cyclone’s impact
Your support is vital to build homes, communities, and hope.
Ngā mihi nui, Conrad LaPointe CEO Habitat Northern
Gary help spread the word by sharing this your friends and family
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23rd - BREAKFAST MEETING: SPENCER COOPER, SUPERINTENDANT REMUERA GOLF CLUB: 
THURSDAY MARCH 2nd DINNER MEETING. GUEST SPEAKER - MIKE POTTER - CEO DISABILITY CONNECT:
THURSDAY MARCH 9th BREAKFAST MEETING. GUEST SPEAKER - TANIA THOMAS - District 9920 Chair, Diversity Equity and Inclusion
