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The Presidents' Pen

Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Penny McGarry (Ph: 021 702 310), and Lesley Harris (Ph: 027 4935 498).

 

Sorry Alex no Egg and Bacon provided at the last meeting, but we did have excellent speakers in Beyond Water's Sharon and Peter Crean, who updated us on their work in Africa providing water and sanitisation (loo's) to people in need.

As the fundraising was described it was the Rotary system at it's best in terms of dollar value raised and matched. 
Thanks Sharon and Peter you are truly inspirational, and compared to the people you help we are simply just blessed and so  lucky - even in Lockdown!
 
L and P
Stories
"Zoom" Meeting in Review - September 9th 2021
 
The number of Zoom Participants for our weekly meetings are becoming quite consistent, last week 22 members plus 2 guests, our guest speakers, Sharon and Peter Crean.
 
Before handing the screen over to Sharon and Peter, our Co-Presidents and Directors shared club notices and of note were;
 
  • Peter B advised that due to lockdown, the deadline for registrations for the 2022 Science Forum has been pushed out, which is good as it will give us the time we need to work with our schools to identify the right students to attend.
  • Murray briefed the meeting on two upcoming Rotary Events, Salvation Army Food Bag Packing and the Polio Train - both of these events are explained in more detail further on in the Bulletin.
  • Quiz Night - the club will do all possible to hold this important fundraiser as soon as possible and the current date we are aiming for is November 19th.  Please put this date in your diary now and watch this space for more details as we emerge from lockdown.
Following our notices, our guest speakers were introduced, although Sharon and Peter are no strangers to our club having spoken to us at least twice before.  Covid19, restrictions on travel, lockdowns and other related regulations have made it difficult for Beyond Water to operate fully over the last 18 months, but the work still goes on. 
 
In November 2007 Pete and Sharon Crean were living in Sydney, Australia.  They were presented with the fact that one billion people don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water and another two billion don’t have the use of a toilet. They gathered a team of volunteers who were enthusiastic in doing something to alleviate poverty in East Africa and started BeyondWater.  Today they are a not-for-profit organization working across East Africa.  Their focus is on ensuring schools, medical clinics, childrens' homes and remote communities have access to safe, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.  

10 years on they have been able to give over 100,000 people across East Africa sustainable solutions and a way out of poverty.  These facilities include deep bore wells, guttering, water tanks, hand washing facilities, toilets and health education programmes.  It is a registered trust both in New Zealand and Kenya, and a charity in Australia.   

A big thank you to BeyondWater for the work they are doing and for taking the time to speak to us and update us on the work you are doing, and to share ideas on how we may be able to assist you with your efforts. 

 

Club Meetings and Other Important Dates
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16th -  Breakfast ZOOM MEETING - Guest Speaker, Simon O'Conner MP Tamaki

Simon O'Connor is our local MP and well known to many of our membership.  He is a member of the National Party and is the spokesperson for customs, and associate spokesperson for housing and social development.  He is also Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade committee. 

 

Salvation Army Food Bag Packing

Volunteers Needed!

We have been asked by Auckland East Rotary to provide volunteers to assist them to pack groceries for The Sallies this Wednesday, September 15th.  Volunteers will receive a Sallies Essential Worker Status Letter enabling work and travel in Levels 3/4.  All volunteers would need to bring and wear  a mask and will be required to maintain 2 meter distance.  Morning Tea in a secure dining area will be provided.

Can you help??  Please contact Murray H. asap. murrayh1@orcon.net.nz

Polio - All Transit Appeal

St. Johns Rotary Club wishes to support this year’s POLIO ALL TRANSIT Appeal. Friday October 29th.

This is District’s appeal to raise money to defeat Polio in the world.  Some 40 cases still arose last year in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Rotary and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have invested over USD 1 Billion so far and the campaign is working.

On the 29th October, Rotarians will have free use for the day of the AT network; Ferries, Trains and buses, (where substituting for trains) when wearing Rotary gear.  We can collect donations; carrying pails but really the collection is now using QR codes to enable internet banking. We want a good turnout.  It is proposed that the St Johns members pickup the train at Orakei / Meadowbank at 7.45am.  Ride the train to Swanson; have  a coffee and return.  Keen riders head out South to Puhinui Road station then Pukekohe. Others ride the ferries to Waiheke.

The club has traditionally donated to the Appeal and we would like to do the same again this year.  

Can you help??  Please contact Murray H. asap; murrayh1@orcon.net.nz

Life Bouy For MS!
Our Honorary Member and now Taupo Rotary Club Member, Donald Bowie is still very active with the MS Society in Auckland and he has asked the good members of St. Johns to consider supporting the following MS Fundraiser. 
 
All details are in the flyer below and it would be great if a good sized group from St. Johns are able to support the event - all subject to Covid19 restrictions of course.
Gibbs Farm Tour
A few weeks ago , we published in the Bulletin, details of another Fundraiser for MS and Donald Bowie has advised that there were several members interested in this event.  Unfortunately the current Lockdown may impact on this event going ahead, and Donald has asked us to share the following email to update any interested Rotarians.
 

Good morning to all MS Auckland event supporters and purchasers of tickets to our Gibbs Farm event currently scheduled for Friday 24th September.

We are sure that quite a few of you will be wondering what the situation is in regards to your Gibbs Farm tickets in our Covid affected environment.

Gibbs Farm has informed us that at this point, the event has not been postponed or cancelled and is still scheduled for the original date.  However, they are waiting to hear Government guidelines as to what Covid Alert Level Auckland will be at on that day and any outdoor event restrictions before making a final decision.

If Covid restrictions do not allow the event to be run on Friday September 24th Gibbs Farm will postpone the event to a mutually agreed date.

So please bear with us for a short while and we will be back in touch with further information as it comes to hand.  Thank you for your support and understanding.  We hope you are keeping well in these COVID-impacted times.

Kind regards,

Mark Blackie

Business Manager

Food For Thought- A Good Read!

Membership: Food for Thought:

We all know that success in any organisation relies on a host of components or ingredients. See what Barton Goldenberg, immediate past governor of District 7620 (Maryland and Washington D.C., USA) says are the 5 key ingredients of a successful Rotary club, via Rotary Voices via the following Link:

 https://blog.rotary.org/2021/09/07/5-ingredients-of-a-successful-rotary-club/?fbclid=IwAR3lyK4VaaOE2iQkVWrR2tqIpfCgDLYmdV37vjUw1z7JL1Lwd-f44TdJ5Mk#more-12533  

From the Inbox - Rotary Image Volunteers Wanted!

Calling for Rotary Image volunteers!

Dear Rotarians,
 
 
Presenting the Rotary brand in the right way is important and we're looking for a dedicated Public Image Committee for District 9920 to help showcase Rotary and what it means to be a Rotarian.
 
Calling anyone who can help with:
- PR/Journalism/Content creation
- Graphic Design 
- Brand identity
- Social Media
- Web content
- Driving the Rotary Image
 
If you're keen to get involved, please contact Letitia Eyes, letitia.eyes@gmail.com.
Photo's From Lockdown!
Many thanks to those who have submitted photos of their time in Lockdown.  If anyone else has photos or stories that they would like to share, please send to walshp@xtra.co.nz
 
The Robinsons enjoying beautiful weather in the Bay of Islands
 
 
Well maybe the Winterless North isn't always sunny with Beryl having to find shelter in a phone booth!
 
 
Not sure if Colin is sheltering from the rain, having a shower under the Rotary Shower, or both!!
 
 
Who said our resident Handyman Miles wasn't capable of building a house.
 
 
,,,,and as long as lockdown continues, Miles just keeps on building more lego.
 
 
Has Aubrey gone one step further than lego with his Lockdown project?
 
 
Cant wait to see what comes out of next weeks lockdown!
 
 
..and the Robinsons continue to enjoy level 2 as the rest of us wallow in Level 4 - on this occasion Colin is enjoying Lunch at Ake Ake Vineyard in Kerikeri. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time For A Smile

LEXOPHILIA

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.

This girl today said she recognized me from the Vegetarians' Club, but I'd swear I've never met herbivore.

I know a guy who's addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A.

I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

More next week

 

 

Rotary Four Way Test
 
Next Meeting:
Breakfast Zoom Meeting.
Link to follow via email.
 
Thursday September 16th 
7.30am
 
Contents:
  • The Presidents' Pen
  • Meeting in Review - September 9th 2021
  • Club Meetings & Other Important Dates
  • Salvation Army Food Packing
  • Polio Appeal
  • MS Life Buoy
  • Gibbs Farm Tour - Update
  • Food For Thought
  • From the Inbox
  • Photos From Lockdown
  • Time for a Smile
Speakers
Sep 16, 2021 7:00 AM
MP for Tamaki
Sep 23, 2021 7:00 AM
Sep 30, 2021 7:00 AM
Auckland Councillor
Oct 07, 2021 6:00 PM
New Zealand’s Housing Crisis: An overview of the real stats and state of housing in NZ
Oct 27, 2021 6:00 PM
TBA
Oct 28, 2021 7:00 AM
Combined meeting with RC Auckland Harbourside
Nov 04, 2021 6:00 PM
Scott Brown Carpentry
Nov 11, 2021 7:00 AM
New CEO Tamaki Regeneration Company
Nov 11, 2021 7:00 AM
Nov 18, 2021 7:00 AM
Nov 19, 2021 6:00 PM
View entire list
Meeting Responsibilities
Thursday 9 September MORNING
 
Set-Up
Hartstone, David
 
Attendance
Mcphee, Angus
 
Greeter
Fergus, Brian
 
Speaker Host
Tedcastle, Isabella
 
Thanks & Close
Jolliffe, Cheri
 
Set-Down
Francis, Andy
 
Thursday 16 September MORNING
 
Set-Up
Rutherford, Christie
 
Attendance
Richardson-Jones, Aubrey
 
Greeter
Lucas, Claire
 
Speaker Host
Lewisham, John
 
Thanks & Close
Jones, Simon
 
Set-Down
Street, Tom
 
Thursday 30 September MORNING
 
Set-Up
Fabian, Graham
 
Attendance
Robinson, Beryl
 
Greeter
Mayne, Alan
 
Speaker Host
Key, Gary
 
Thanks & Close
Gulani, Namrata
 
Set-Down
Robinson, Colin
 
Thursday 7 October EVENING
 
Set-Up
Ingram, Robyn
 
Attendance
Cain, Miles
 
Greeter
Belthazar, Jane
 
Speaker Host
McGarry, Penny
 
Thanks & Close
Gilmer, Gavin
 
Set-Down
James, David
 

Club Contacts

Co-Presidents': 
Penny McGarry 021 702 310 &
Lesley Harris 027 4935 498
Secretary, Treasurer & Apologies: 
Alex Gatt 021 571 722
Presidents' Elect: 
Gary Key 021 611 169 & Graham Fabian 021 826 292
Club Services: 
Robyn Ingram  022 0200 171 
Foundation: 
Gary Key 021 611 169
Community: 
Hugh Scott Russell 021 0813 7313 & John Lewisham 09 5288908.
Youth: 
Tom Street 021 685 651
Science Technology & Education:
 Peter Buchanan 027 434 1832
Sergeants: 
Michelle Forman 021 0277 9456, Angus McPhee  09 575 1007 & Cheri Joliffe 021 037 7559
Membership: 
Beryl Robinson 021 652 802. Email: berylrobinson@xtra.co.nz
Bulletin Editor: 
Pete Walsh 021 747 858. walshp@xtra.co.nz
 
Club: Email:  stjohnsrotary@gmail.com
Website:  www.rotarystjohns.club
Area Govenor:
Ashwini Sadhu
021 305 261,
email: marysadhu99@gmail.com  
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:
Beryl Robinson 021 652 802. Email: berylrobinson@xtra.co.nz
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