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The President's Pen

Kia Ora,
 
What an agile bunch we have become.  We quickly changed over to Zoom for last Thursday’s meeting and will be back at the club this week.  Look forward to seeing everyone.
 
Troy educated us on some of the “pitfalls” of retirement villages.  Hopefully everyone felt better informed for the inevitable transition.
 
 
 
This week we have Rhondda Middleton from Salvation Army Manukau and a good guest representation.
 
As we gear up for the new year I may ask the sergeant to pose some questions around our 2021 Challenge.  Ring any bells?
 
Take Care and see you on Thursday.
 
Hugh
President: Rotary Club of St Johns
Phone: 021 0813 7313
Stories
Meeting in Review - February 18th 2020
At short notice, we were forced to conduct our second meeting of the year via Zoom. 
 
Considering the short notice, due to the change of Covid19 levels in Auckland, it was good to see 23 members zooming in.  We were also very fortunate that our guest speaker, Troy Churton, was also able to to join our Zoom Meeting.
 
12 months ago, Troy finished 5.5 years as the National Manager - Retirement Villages, at the Commission for Financial Capability and he now holds a team leadership role with the Financial Services Council.  His talk focused on some of the potential "fish hooks" of Retirement Villages.
 
A good number of our members are, or will be in the not too distant future,  looking at moving into a Retirement Village themselves, or looking at such a move for a friend or family member, and considering the significant decisions to be made, it is imperative that those making the move have a very good understanding of what the move entails, from both a financial perspective as well as the lifestyle offered by each of the facilities being considered.
 
Some of the advice given by Troy related to;
  • The financial investment and particularly the various policies revolving around re-sale and capital gain,
  • Care and care facilities  - be it from day 1 or a transition to Care at some later date,
  • Weekly Fees - what they cover and more importantly, don't cover, and whether these fees are fixed or not,
  • Does the facility being considered have a residents committee and a dedicated complaint advocate?
  • Who is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of appliances,
  • The potential impact of "future development" and what may or may not impact on the existing residents.
Troy's advice - be sure to complete thorough research and have good legal advice regarding all of the above, plus plus.
 
Club Activities & Other Important Dates to Diary
 
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25th - Breakfast Meeting, Speaker Rhondda Middleton Salvation Army:

Since 1883, The Salvation Army has fought poverty and social and spiritual distress in New Zealand.  They have helped more than 120,000 families and individuals in need each year—with budgeting advice, food and clothing assistance, life skill programmes and other comfort and support. 

Rotary in our District started to assist with foodbank packing and food parcel distribution (from the Manukau Centre) during the Covid Lockdown. Teams of Rotarians from different clubs (including ours) have kept up the volunteer work at their Manukau Food Bank on a regular basis.

Note:  The first opportunity this year, to help with food packaging will be held at the SA facility in Manukau tomorrow 23rd of February.  If you can assist for a few hours, please contact IPP Robyn.  

 

THURSDAY MARCH 4th - Dinner Meeting - Speaker Simon Yates (LegaSea NZ):  

After a successful career in sports marketing, sponsorship and advertising including 15 years with one of New Zealand’s most successful advertising agencies, DDB, Simon chose to leave the world of fast moving consumer goods promotions and dedicate his remaining years to follow his passion for meaningful environmental change. He joined LegaSea 8 years ago believing that this was the organisation most likely to campaign for and promote change in the way we are managing our fisheries and coastal ecosystems. Simon spearheaded much of their brand, sponsorship and communications development.

LegaSea campaigns for better fisheries management to help restore our inshore fish life to abundance. Fish are our last freely accessible wild resource however there is still a complex range of pressures on the resource whether from commercial, customary or recreational interests, not to mention the impacts of climate and land run off. Our relatively young New Zealand has depleted this wild resource in a little over 100 years.

Simon will provide an understanding of LegaSea’s core purpose, explain their Fish Care and Kai Ika initiatives, give you an insight into how and why our fisheries have been so decimated, what’s happening in the Hauraki Gulf, (including the recent Waiheke Rahui), what’s happening to core species like tarakihi and crayfish, the problems with the Quota Management System and what the chances are like for us to fix it.

THRSDAY MARCH 11th - BREAKFAST MEETING - Speaker: Sponsored Students reporting back on January's Rotary National Science & Technology Forum.

Our Club sponsored three Y12 students to attend the Forum this summer:  Mya and Joshua from Glendowie College, and Peter from Sacred Heart. Now, back at school in Y13, they will share 'some' of their experience of the two week live-in forum with us.

 

Friday April 9th - St Johns Rotary's largest fundraising event of the year.  Contact Dave Hartstone asap if you think that you can assist in any way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotary Snipits - - Did you know??
If you read the last edition of "Rotary Downunder", you will know the answers, but if you haven't read RDU, did you know?
 
 
 
...and the second snipit under the "did you know" heading;
 
"Famous current Rotarians include HRH Prince Charles, HRH Prince Philip, past US President George Bush and Pope Francis (an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Buenos Aires, Argentina).
There is so much entertainment and recreation for you
 
 
 
 
There is so much happening in Rotary just from a purely entertaining/recreational aspect that you should never feel bored and without the chance to meet others for some friendship and fun.
 
Just go to www.rotarydistrict9920.org and look at the events on the left-hand column. Whether it is just yourself or you take your family, friends (or whole neighbourhood 😊) for a good time out, these are open for anyone to join in on.  And that is before we consider the Rotary programmes and projects you can nominate people for or volunteer to help at.
 
PS: the shown Las Vegas evening is on the 10th April.
 
Rotary is so much more than just the club!
Time For A Smile
English is a Funny Language
 
An oxymoron is usually defined as a phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are brought together. 
A few to ponder on:
  1. Clearly misunderstood
  2. Act naturally
  3. Exact estimate
  4. Found missing
  5. Small crowd
  6. Fully empty
  7. Pretty ugly
  8. Seriously funny
  9. Only choice
  10. Original copies
…and the mother of all
 
      11  Happily married
Rotary Four Way Test
 
Next Meeting:
Breakfast Meeting
 
Thursday February 25th 2021 
7.00 am for 7.15 am.
 
Venue - Remuera Golf Club
 
Bulletin Contents: 
  • The President's Pen
  • Meeting in Review - Feb 18th 2021
  • Activities and other Important Dates
  • Rotary Snipits
  • Rotary Entertainment and Recreation
  • Time for a Smile
Speakers
Feb 25, 2021 7:00 AM
Salvation Army Manukau
Mar 04, 2021 6:00 PM
LegaSea NZ
Mar 11, 2021 7:00 AM
Reporting back on January's Rotary National Science & Technology Forum
View entire list
Upcoming Events
New World Golf Tournament
Apr 09, 2021
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
 
ANZAC Breakfast
Apr 25, 2021
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Annual Debate with RC of Auckland East
May 06, 2021
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
MUNA 2021 (Model United Nations Assembly)
May 28, 2021 9:00 AM –
May 29, 2021 5:00 PM
 
View entire list
Meeting Responsibilities
Thursday 25 February MORNING
 
Set-Up
Forman, Michelle
 
Attendance
Cain, Miles
 
Greeter
Mayne, Alan
 
Speaker Host
Richardson-Jones, Aubrey
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Hogg, Janice
 
Set-Down
Roake, Muriel
 
Stand-By
Hutchinson, Murray
 
Thursday 4 March EVENING
 
Set-Up
Gilmer, Gavin
 
Attendance
Cornaga, John
 
Greeter
Figueiredo, Avinash
 
Speaker Host
Mcphee, Angus
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Gunn, Liz
 
Set-Down
Wheadon, Ruth
 
Stand-By
Mann, Michele
 
Thursday 11 March MORNING
 
Set-Up
Rutherford, Christie
 
Attendance
McGarry, Penny
 
Greeter
Lewisham, John
 
Speaker Host
Bell, Patrick
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Leyland, Penny
 
Set-Down
Robinson, Neil
 
Stand-By
Gerrard, Tricia
 
Thursday 18 March MORNING
 
Set-Up
Key, Gary
 
Attendance
Buchanan, Peter
 
Greeter
Bhana, Prabha
 
Speaker Host
Ingram, Robyn
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Wheadon, Ruth
 
Set-Down
Hillman, Mark
 
Stand-By
Peacock, Shaun
 
Thursday 25 March MORNING
 
Set-Up
Fergus, Brian
 
Attendance
Robinson, Colin
 
Greeter
Lucas, Claire
 
Speaker Host
Robinson, Beryl
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Francis, Andy
 
Set-Down
Hartstone, David
 
Stand-By
Roake, Muriel
 
Thursday 1 April EVENING
 
Set-Up
Cain, Miles
 
Attendance
Belthazar, Jane
 
Greeter
Gilmer, Gavin
 
Speaker Host
Mann, Michele
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Richardson-Jones, Aubrey
 
Set-Down
Hutchinson, Murray
 
Stand-By
Forman, Michelle
 
Thursday 8 April MORNING
 
Set-Up
Kevany, Kevin
 
Attendance
Tedcastle, Isabella
 
Greeter
Hogg, Janice
 
Speaker Host
Jolliffe, Cheri
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Harris, Lesley
 
Set-Down
Fabian, Graham
 
Stand-By
Boyd, Lynette
 
Thursday 15 April MORNING
 
Set-Up
McGarry, Penny
 
Attendance
Leyland, Penny
 
Greeter
Robinson, Neil
 
Speaker Host
Cornaga, John
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Mayne, Alan
 
Set-Down
Mcphee, Angus
 
Stand-By
Bhana, Prabha
 
Thursday 22 April NO MEETING
 
Deferred for ANZAC Breakfast meeting
 
Sunday 25 April MORNING
 
Set-Up
Lewisham, John
 
Attendance
Bell, Patrick
 
Greeter
Ingram, Robyn
 
Speaker Host
Mann, Michele
 
Speaker Thanks & Close
Street, Tom
 
Set-Down
Rutherford, Christie
 
Stand-By
Jones, Simon
 

Club Contacts

President: 
Hugh Scott-Russell 021 0813 7313 
Secretary, Treasurer & Apologies: 
Alex Gatt 021 571 722
Presidents Elect: 
Penny McGarry 021 702 310   &
Lesley Harris 027 4935 498
Sergeant: 
Michelle Forman 021 0277 9456
Club Services: 
Robyn Ingram  022 0200 171 
Bulletin Editor: 
Pete Walsh 021 747 858
Membership: 
John Lewisham 021 375080
Website:  www.rotarystjohns.club
Our Meetings
 
We meet Thursday for breakfast at
7:00 am for 7:15 am start,
except for the first Thursday of the month, when we meet in the evening at 6:00 pm for dinner.
 
Remuera Golf Club
120 Abbotts Way
Remuera
Auckland 1072
New Zealand 
 
All Rotarian's are welcome 
including family members.
 
Others wanting to visit are most welcome - please phone or email:
John Lewisham. Ph: 021 375 080, email; jdlewisham@gmail.com
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