Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Gary Key (Ph: 021 611169), and Graham Fabian (Ph: 021 826292).
Good afternoon fellow Rotarians, we all acknowledge the sad passing of the Queen and the dawning of a new era. The epitome of Service above Self.
Thank you to all members who attended our meeting on Thursday. Committee meetings are an essential Rotary function, it provides the platform for members to put forward their projects to discuss, debate, plan, fund, and implement them, Rotary is about doing!!
We spoke about the Regionalisation Project and the question was asked if any member was vehemently opposed to the formation of the Project Pilot. No responses were received or points that members felt needed to be further explained, to the members that where not present please if you have questions contact either Graham or myself, If we don’t have any responses then we will take it that you support the proposal - rest assured we will ask the same question again over the next couple of meetings.
Thank you to all members who were involved in the set up and break down of the Disability Connect Expo, and to Liz, Kevin, Ainie, Brian in the Science Forum application process.
Welcome back Tom and Lesley from your overseas excursions. Great to see both of you again!!!
Co-President Gary chaired the meeting as Co-President Graham continued holidaying in Cairns.
Guest Stewart attended for a second time and he is involved in Basketball Youth and leadership.
Regionalisation - Gary asked everyone if they agree with the regionalization proposal and everyone in the room agreed to it. Hopefully this will give the “ok” to move ahead with the trial.
Miles did comment that it needs a 75% club vote to pass it and probably only 35% of the club were present.
Miles was congratulated for being awarded the volunteer badge from the Auckland City Council for his hard work. Well done, Miles
Ainie was in Auckland and said she had visited the venue for the Disability Day which is scheduled for 8 October - 9am to 5pm at Sacred Heart College. Ainie is putting a lot of effort into this programme. This Day Camp is an opportunity to improve self-confidence and enhance self-development. For participants and young leaders, it will also provide the valuable opportunity to connect with peers and meet new people. The cost of the day is sponsored by Rotary Clubs in District 9920
Beryl and Colin: Another big thank you. Beryl for contacting past sponsored RYLARANS and trying to convert them into club members. Meanwhile Colin has been organising the Orakei Volunteer Expo at the Auckland Netball Centre which is on September 17 and he is looking for help with that.
Good luck was passed to Angus and Margaret with their election campaigns. Someone said they have the black felt tip pens for graffiti on their signs. Angus said he wouldn’t mind a beard if anyone could help out!
Quiz Night is fast approaching and Aubrey once again pressed members to purchase a table. Only 8 tables purchased to date. There is also a list published of jobs needed to be done to make this a success
24 September: Stream Clean-up - can you help? Please contact Peter B if you can.
Tom Street, who has just spent 8 weeks in England ,gave us a quick (2min) snap chat about what he has done in 10 years since his last snap chat. Both his sons live on the North Shore and he has 3 grandsons which is great to have them so close. He is semi-retired, however manages to complete a few contracts with his consulting company. He has been with the Eastern Suburbs Football Club for 20 years.
Following the above notices, those present broke into committee meetings. Minutes of the various meetings are recorded below.
NOTE: In the Editors absence last week, Editor Elect provided the above notes for the Meeting In Review story above - Many thanks Lynette.
Craig is a former engineer and now freelance media operator doing a mix of videography, presenting, broadcasting, writing, voicing. He is also an event MC and Marriage Celebrant.
Craig is also a husband of 26 years, and a father of a 24-year-old daughter and 20 year old son, and he will be the 4th Candidate who we have been fortunate enough to have speak to us and help members decide on who they will vote for in the upcoming Local Body Elections.
Craig has a long and ambitious "TO DO LIST" if he is the successful candidate. Want to know what's on the list? Then all you need to do is be present on the 22nd, now just a couple of weeks before the elections.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd. BREAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER: Wayne Brown, Auckland mayoral Candidate.
Wayne is a passionate Kiwi who wants to see communities across our biggest city thrive and prosper. He is a New Zealand business man and former mayor of the Far North District Council. He is known for leading large public and infrastructure organisations with a turn over of more than $1 billion and a staff in excess on 10,000. He cares what happens with your hard-earned rates and it frustrates him to see them wasted. He will be relentless in delivering results that will actually have an impact for Aucklanders.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29th. BREAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKERS: Candidates from De La Salle, Sacred Heart & Glendowie Colleges, sponsored by the RCSTJ, reporting back on their RYPEN experience.
The following are notes / minutes from the Committee meetings held last Thursday;
Lesley & Penny - Co-Directors Club Services:
Retention of younger members was primary discussion, in readiness for the Board meeting on Monday where it will be discussed further.
Kevin & Liz - Co-Directors Youth & Community:
Primary discussion was around our attempt to deal with the year ahead with about a third of members. Succession and Back-up was the theme.
We welcomed Stuart McEwan, who delivered his Basketball leadership and well-being programme at GTS for Manaiakalani earlier this year.
David from Glendowie College noted their Interact had gone dormant. He was concerned that the Interactors had a credit of some $8,000 with RSJ.
Tom briefed us on his typical involvement with RYLA. He too feels the need to have a shadow, as he is dialling back his consulting commitments and will travel more, etc.
Kevin noted he would be meeting with Michele Mann to take over Dictionaries in Schools, to assist her medical recovery. This is one of the most onerous tasks in terms of time and administration, but possibly the most rewarding. He would be looking for an immediate successor to distribute to 6/7 schools pre-Christmas. Likewise with Citizenship Awards.
Peter B - Director Science & Environment:
Due to Peter's absence, notes to follow at a later date
This week, (September 15th), our Snap Chatterer of the day will be Angus Mcphee. Be sure that you are in attendance to hear what's old and new in Angus's life.
Clean-up of Omaru stream and surrounding Eastview Reserve - heading upstream from Line Rd and crossing Apirana Rd to finish up in Apirana Reserve. Come and enjoy meeting others for a couple of hours. Click on Read More to see flyer with full details.
The clock's ticking and we are now only 4 weeks away from our Quiz Night.
This is one of our few major fund raising events of the year, and as we have missed the last two years, it is essential that we make this one a winner!!
Full details are clear on the attached flyer - just click on "Read More" to see this.
All that you need to do right now is;
Book your table of 10 and invite your best mates to join you at your potential winning table.
Donate Silent Auction items - these can be any item that is capable of triggering the audience to identifying the item as something that they must have, and will have them digging deep into their pockets, bidding high, thinking that they are getting a great deal, while helping us raise funds for our array of Youth Programmes.
Last week the "Transition Expo" was opened by the newly appointed head of the new Ministry of Disabled People, Paula Tesoriero. Paula was previously the Disability Rights Commissioner at the NZ Human Rights Commission. This is the first Transition Expo, after a 2 year hiatus due to Covid19.
There were over 100 stands of various providers of services from vocational, employment, recreation, information and social enterprises. Students from various schools with Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO) were present, together with parents and guardians.
One of those 100 stands was manned by St. Johns Rotary member, Ainie Kwok who took the opportunity to showcase D9920 upcoming inaugural “Breaking Barriers Disability Day” Camp to be held on 8 October 2022 at Sacred Heart College. The idea of the Day Camp, devised by Ainie, is to give opportunities and experiences to every young person and to show that disability should not be a barrier for them. For the participants and the young leaders, it will be an opportunity for them to connect with peers who they may otherwise not meet in their daily lives. (See promotional flyer at the end of this story).
The early morning start did not deter the ever so helpful team from St Johns – Miles, Aubrey, David & Gary to help set up the tables & chairs for the Expo at Auckland Netball Centre and special thanks also to Brian, Angus and Kevin for the afternoon session of super fast pack down and cleanup and to Murray and his leaf blower, makes sweeping the entire gymnasium a breeze. Can we do the same again on 8 October?
Click on "Read More" for photos of the all important helpers!!
Not only do we have District 9920 Conference to look forward to, get ready to Imagine what’s next with Rotary!
With the success of the 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, our first in-person convention since 2019, we’re more excited than ever about meeting again at the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia, 27-31 May. Join us in this beautiful city to connect with other people of action. We’ll hear from great speakers, enjoy fantastic entertainment, take part in inspirational breakout sessions, and so much more.
Did you know that if you register today you’ll receive the reduced rate? Don’t wait — pay in full by 15 December, when this rate expires.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to share your passion for Rotary with fellow members in Melbourne. We can’t wait to see you there!
Co-President Gary has asked for the latest Apirana Reserve Newsletter, received by the club ,be circulated to all members; Please read to the end to get details on how you can be more involved in the project if you wish.
From: ken samson <kensamson@hotmail.com> Date: 9 September 2022 at 13:52:14 NZST Subject:Apirana Reserve newsletter
Hi everyone in the remotest way associated with our wonderful little green space in Glen Innes, with this to keep you up to date with what has been happening at the reserve over the past month or so. Sorry that it's not a flashy 12 colour glossy but then again that's not our style.
Our planting late July was a huge success thanks to all those who so willingly turned out, and despite the place at one stage looking like a duck pond because of the massive amount of rain we had, we have had few deaths and the plants are now relishing the sunshine and will forge ahead as summer approaches. The previous 2 planted areas are reaching for the sky and we are already getting canopy cover.
Subsequent to the planting, our friends at KiwiRail, most notably with the help of the wonderful Tammy Dickinson and Craig Barnes and his team, have totally cleared the next stage of the project up to the rail tunnel entrance. An extremely generous act from KiwiRail and an absolute godsend for the 3 geriatrics, and it has enabled us to seriously plan for the next planting. We are now thankfully able to access the banks of the stream to clear the mass of nasties that we couldn't access before. We have already taken out a swathe of gorse, moth, woolly, and masses of blue morning glory, and although there is still a huge amount of ground prep to do it is now seen as manageable. The work done was a massive lift to our spirits.
The Omaru stream that bisects the reserve has some pretty big problems, it has been a dumping ground for years, and we have it on our radar. Roger continues to monitor it on a very regular basis and all technical and scientific info is fed back to WaiCare for their records. Dani Newton and her team at WaiCare have removed some of the big willows that were blocking the stream, but there is still much to be done to make the stream flow as it should and to encourage its life. With the generous help of Steve Jardine, Auckland Council's sustainability response manager, we have recently cleared masses of historical, and not so historical, rubbish. Rubbish begets rubbish and we are conscious of maintaining an example at the reserve, something we feel is starting to work.
Must make mention of our growing tight knit and collaborative association with Gary and Peter and all the members of St. John's Rotary. An amazing bunch of people who have been so supportive and willing to help with whatever we ask of them. Sarah Peters, our long suffering park ranger at Auckland Council has been marvellous. We're most concerned at times about her nervous health as we are continually needling her to do so many more things at the reserve, and we are seemingly constantly over-spending her budget. Her work to arrange CVNZ volunteers on a regular basis has been great and recently 10 vollies spent the day working at the reserve.
Lastly to all our friends who come out in the weekends, who are so forthcoming with their vast ecological knowledge, and who willingly weed, and weed, and then do more weeding, just for the promise of our wonderful and amazing company and a cup of coffee. Dependant on the weather the 3 of us go out most weekends, and we send out a generic email beforehand advising that we would love some help. There is absolutely no pressure, but if any of you would care to join us on occasions for a couple of hours on a saturday or sunday morning we would happily add your email address to the list.
I am bound to have left people off the list so please share this email. Please click on "Read More" to see more "Before & After photo's".
Rotaract Auckland is taking part in an international awareness campaign and fundraiser which supports the Zone’s centenary project, "Give Every Child A Future". The project has been set up in a way that makes it accessible to all club types from the largest city clubs to the smallest rural clubs, as well as satellite, e-clubs and passport clubs. Rotaract Auckland would like to see the Clubs coming together for a single day of movement in support of this cause.
This campaign has awareness and fundraising elements and is a great opportunity for us to imagine Rotary making an impact and engaging with our communities to show them the amazing work that Rotary is doing in the Pacific.
If you would like to know more, or to get involved, please see details attached by Clicking on "Read More".
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15th. REAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER - Craig Lord, Auckland Mayoral Candidate. 
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd. BREAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER: Wayne Brown, Auckland mayoral Candidate. 
The clock's ticking and we are 
