Happy Easter Everyone for Easter Monday - Day 19 of our Level 4 Isolation time. I hope the Easter Bunny visited and that this Easter stay-cation has meant members who have been working harder than ever from home, have been able to have a well-deserved breather.
We are really getting into the groove with our Zoom meetings and each week it is heartening to see another one or two of our members joining us online. Well done “us” for tripping through the technology and having such fun with it! If you haven’t zoomed in yet, I challenge you to give it a try and don't hesitate to phone me, Allan (Club Services) or Donald (Membership) for help to Zoom in. We are really happy to arrange a one-on-one practise zoom session for you to sample how it all works. Our contact details can be found at the end of the Bulletin.
This week we want to have some fellowship and fun online and share our experiences of Life in the Bubble. Please see details further on in the bulletin of our fun dress and photo challenges (if you dare).
Looking forward to connecting again on Thursday at the civilised (?) time of 8:00 am.
Our Zoom Meetings are catching on! 32 participants last Thursday and we are looking forward to seeing the numbers growing, although getting back to normal Breakfast meetings will be great, hopefully one day soon!!
Having overcome a small technical hitch with Zoom, we managed to extend our meeting time and accordingly we were able to invite Patricia McKenzie back to finish her presentation from the week before. Patricia summarised how World Vision works with Rotary International and that they remain keen to find ways to increase their partnership.
Our second speaker was Tasma Fulford. Your Rotary Club recently contributed to the cost of Tasma completing a 21 Day "Classic" Outward Bound course in February 2020, and her talk on Thursday was primarily to thank us, as well as to share some of the highlights of her experience.
The experiences and activities included, Kayaking, Coasteering, High Ropes, Hiking, Cooking, Camping, Orienteering, Mountain Climbing, Service Activities for DOC, Sailing, Rowing, a three night solo bush experience, and finishing off running a half marathon!!
As Tasma relayed her experiences, several members present, namely; Gary, Andy McC, Peter B and Steele could be seen nodding and smiling - all of whom have completed an OB Course in the past.
It was an excellent presentation and it is always so pleasing to hear from these young folk who have benefited so much from the generosity of St. Johns Rotary.
This coming Thursday, April 16th, in celebration of our fellowship “in the bubble” all those attending our Zoom meeting have two challenges:
Challenge One
Wear a “talking point” shirt or headwear (could be colourful, fun, controversial, etc)
Challenge Two
Take a photograph of something you have been doing or have seen while in your bubble. Have the photo handy in your computer or phone file ready to upload as your Virtual Background for the meeting.
All Members (meeting participants) will be asked to share for 2-3 minutes on how they are finding “life in the bubble” (think of something funny and something annoying)
All meeting participants successful at displaying their photograph via Virtual Background will be asked to explain their photograph
Online voting will occur for Best photo and Best shirt – with virtual prizes to be awarded at the meeting (and the real-deal given when we return to physical meetings)
For instructions on how to change your background photo (Virtual background) in Zoom, click "READ MORE", below.
Club activity and regular Thursday meetings are currently restricted or suspended due to the COVID-19 Virus and the associated lockdown.
However, on Thursday April 16th, we will hold our fourth "Zoom Meeting" at 8.00 am. Watch out for your "Zoom" invite via email, from President Robyn, which she will send out on Wednesday evening.
This week calls for an interactive participation - see story above for the two challenges from our President.
Tuesday 14 April, (Tomorrow), at 7:30 pm - the Rotary Club of Newmarket have cordially invited our members to join their next Zoom meet.
RC Newmarket President Colin Lucas advises "Our guest attendee for Tuesday's meeting will be MP for Epsom David Seymour. David gave us an interesting talk early in the New Year and has agreed to talk to us again. Given his role in the oversight committee that acts as a watchdog over the Executive he should have some interesting insights for us.
For security, please email President Robyn for the email link and password if you would like to join this meeting.
Locally, it has been difficult to find any ‘collective’ ways our club members can help, except to ‘stay out of trouble, and stay in our bubbles’.
We have approached the Salvation Army to offer any assistance with their Food Parcel service. Sadly, they advised they cannot accept outside volunteer help due to their need for Police Vetting of all volunteers (either by them or the volunteer organization) and due to the Isolation rules.
We have continued to touch base with Citizens Advice Bureau (Remuera via our member Jan Hogg) and Glen Innes via Patsy. They know we are only a phone call away.
Meanwhile, many of us are quietly assisting neighbours, friends and family with grocery shopping, online ordering, keeping in touch, etc. If you have any ideas on where (as a club) we can look to move into helpful action once we are out of lockdown, please let directors know.
The Rotary Foundation have emailed all Rotarians about COVID-19 and how we can help by applying for Disaster Response Grants (which have been boosted from $1 million to $3 million). To make a donation to the Disaster Response Fund, click this link: making a gift to the Disaster Response Fund
Emergency Response Kits were the first supplies to be handed out to the people of Vanuatu after the recent Cyclone Harold.
It makes all the effort of assembling those ERKs worthwhile. (Photos forwarded on just today from PDG Stuart J Batty, Executive Director, RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand).
We meet Thursday for breakfast at 7 am for 7.15 am start,
except for the first Thursday of the month,
when we meet in the evening at 6 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 to contact:
Donald Bowie donald.bowie.dbc@gmail.com
Next Meeting:
Via "Zoom" at 8 am
Thursday 16 April.
Check emails for invite link.
The Club Bulletin will continue to be published on a Monday evening each week and will update the meeting schedule as required.
BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN OUR VIBRANT CLUB
Did you join Rotary to do good things in the community?
You can help or join in all projects (whatever the committee), just contact the committee director and/or project team leader. In most cases, you can include family and friends. Enjoy your Rotary: Be an active Rotarian
Happy Easter Everyone for Easter Monday - Day 19 of our Level 4 Isolation time. I hope the Easter Bunny visited and that this Easter stay-cation has meant members who have been working harder than ever from home, have been able to have a well-deserved breather.
Our second speaker was Tasma Fulford. Your Rotary Club recently contributed to the cost of Tasma completing a 21 Day "Classic" Outward Bound course in February 2020, and her talk on Thursday was primarily to thank us, as well as to share some of the highlights of her experience.
“Life in my Isolation Bubble” 
Tuesday 14 April, (Tomorrow), at 7:30 pm - the Rotary Club of Newmarket have cordially invited our members to join their next Zoom meet.
Locally, it has been difficult to find any ‘collective’ ways our club members can help, except to ‘stay out of trouble, and stay in our bubbles’.
