Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Gary Key (Ph: 021 611169), and Graham Fabian (Ph: 021 826292).
Good afternoon to all Club Members. First, a huge congratulations to Peter B and his team of Happy Happy Tree Planters on such an epic job last Saturday at Apirana Reserve - Well Done !!!!
Great turn out at Thursday’s meeting to hear Ainie, Peter Ross, George Wilson launch the reformed Challenge Camp - great job District Youth Team!!! St Johns is fully supportive.
Our Speaker Jon Marshal gave an enthralling presentation on waste recycling Fantastic!!!
We have a number of projects coming up so please make sure you are keeping your diaries up to date. Thanks Hugh for putting the Foodbank collection together for August 13th,
Regionalisation Pilot - in last week’s Bulletin we inserted an article about what is planned with an overview of the process, please take the time to fully understand and participate in the on-line webinars that are being held. On August 25th DG Allan, with AG Joyti, will be addressing us on this subject explaining in detail.
Have a good week and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday!!!
Members present – 30 including Ainie Kwok in AKL attending RYPEN this weekend
Guests – 3, Peter Ross, George Wilson and our guest speaker Jon Marshall.
Sergeant Patrick invited the gathered to breakfast and introduced Co-President Gary to chair the meeting.
First to speak was Ainie who, apart from being in AKL to attend RYPEN, was announcing the launch of a new format Challenge Camp for disabled students. The camp which will be for 30 students with disabilities, held at Sacred Heart College the week of October 8th. Running the camp and acting as team leaders will be RYLA Awardees, another example of “joining the dots”.
Ainie is now promoting the camp across the District and looking for financial support. We wish Ainie well in her efforts.
George Wilson, a member of the Rotary Club of Papakura was also invited to speak to update members on the ERK’s programme. As the Cyclone season in the Pacific is approaching, volunteers are now being called to assist in packing the kits. Details of the packing as follows;
Venue:NZ Post warehouse, 45D Ben Lomond Crescent, off Cascades Road, Pakuranga
If you can assist, please contact: Gabrielle - gabbygm07@gmail or phone 021 576437.
Gary then called for Directors Reports– No new notices to report on other than a brief update from Co-President / Treasurer Graham who advised the meeting that options to address our operational financial shortfall are still being considered and members will be advised of developments as soon as possible.
Food Bank New World Lunn Ave - Logistics now finalised. Check your email in-box to see how you can help.
"Two Minute Snap Chats” (with the emphasis on the two minutes), to be reintroduced at Breakfast Meetings! Read the Bulletin each week to find out who will be snap chatting at the next meeting – it might even be you!
Last weeks snap chatterer was Kevin just back from an extensive European visit which revolved around Deb & Kevin’s son’s wedding in Italy. The big message Kevin had was – If you don’t need to travel right now – don’t, and if you do need to travel, make sure that you have a big fat wallet handy.
This weeks Snap Chatterer will be our wandering member Robyn Ingram
Guest Speaker – Jon Marshall. Jon works for “TOMRA and his talk was about the “Container Deposit Return Scheme” (CDRS)
TOMRA was founded on an innovation in 1972 that began with the design, manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems that optimize resource recovery and minimize waste in the food, recycling and mining industries.
With an installed base of approximately 80,000 machines in over 60 markets, TOMRA Collection is the world's leading provider of reverse vending solutions. Every year TOMRA facilitates the collection of more than 40 billion empty cans and bottles and provides retailers and other customers with an effective and efficient way of collecting, sorting and processing these containers.
TOMRA Recycling is a global leader in its field and has pioneered the automation of waste sorting. Its flexible sorting systems perform an extensive range of sorting tasks and are able to both prepare and sort various types of metals and waste for either material recycling or energy recovery. Currently TOMRA Recycling has an installed base of close to 6,460 units across more than 40 markets.
The statistics regarding the current waste and potential recyclable containers going into landfill or sitting in containers hidden from view around New Zealand are staggering and we must do something about it immediately.
TOMRA are well down the track talking to Government and local Bodies and the likes of Supermarkets and shopping malls regarding the installation of these machines and the logistics behind the scheme. We wish them well in their endeavours.
THURSDAY JULY 28th - BREAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER: Leo Malloy - Auckland Mayoral Candidate.
THURSDAY AUGUST 4th DINNER MEETINHG - GUEST SPEAKER'S: Erica Hinckson & Professor Scott Duncan - Both speakers are from the Auckland University of Technology, (AUT), and their subject is: "Sustainable Cities and what it means for Tamaki Makaurau."
The following story has been submitted by Peter Buchanan - many thanks Peter;
We had a great turnout of 19 St Johns’ members & friends on a fine July morning for last Saturday’s annual tree planting at Apirana Reserve. Ken, Nanda, and Roger gave us our briefing and planting instructions, and our job was made especially easy with holes already augered in advance, and plants placed adjacent to their destined locations. We managed to plant about 500 healthy seedlings in just over an hour, each surrounded by a ‘doughnut’ of mulch for protection through future summer droughts – in contrast to the squelchy conditions currently underfoot.
If we needed any encouragement, in addition to the pleasure of working together, we had only to look across to our plantings a year ago – to see the significant growth in only 12 months. It was also satisfying to see others contributing to the planting including family and friends of the organising trio, representatives from Auckland Council (re. rubbish removal) and KiwiRail (re. H&S assessment of soil), plus representatives from the Tamaki/Maungakiekie and Ōrakei Local Boards. We were also rewarded with on-site morning tea, complete with home-cooked treats, and KitKats kindly donated by Isabella.
This planting required major investment of time over preceding months by Ken, Nanda, and Roger – along with our contribution of mulch spreading. Recent challenges included inclement weather ahead of the day, the plant delivery truck having an accident en route, and uncertainty whether the KiwiRail soil testing would be completed in time.
This hands-on community restoration project is going from strength to strength - with heaps of potential to extend further up the valley to encompass much more of Apirana Reserve.
Obviously I don't have everyone's email addresses, and nor to be honest can I remember exactly who was there, so my friend if I could leave to you to distribute this email to the Club, and of course to all who gave so willingly of their precious Saturday morning time to plant approximately 500 trees at the stage 3 phase of the Apirana story.
I take full credit for arranging the beautiful sunny morning, but the conditions underfoot were wet, sloshy and extremely muddy, and it was wonderful to see that everyone just got on with the job and there wasn't even the suggestion of a moan or a whinge. In fact all I heard was a lot of laughter and good natured banter. To have 500 plants in the ground in an hour and a half must have surely set some form of Guinness record.
We love the association with you good people and look forward to planning next year's planting in the next couple of weeks. Tammy from KiwiRail was here yesterday during the planting, she was very impressed with the final result, and things are definately in the pipeline for K/R to help us move further up the valley. We do need help however from the Club, and Margaret V. and Dennis Millard should be at the forefront here, to start urgent discussions with the local T/M board and with Council, regarding the area across the stream that we consider ideal for the school projects that SJR are mooting. We and TFS need the blessing and authority from Council before we can go ahead.
Again our heartfelt thanks. Please advise all that they don't have to wait a full year before returning, they are most welcome to visit anytime to encourage the plant growth by pulling the odd weed here and there, so long as they ascertain it is a weed and not one of the zillions of seedlings that are naturally generating. Incidentally Roger is collating photos as we speak and will send a selection when he can.
A cool, big fine morning after all the stormy weather was a blessing for the many who donned their gumboots and gloves and planted the hundreds of native plants in the area where we also piled the mulch in Apirana Reserve. As you will see from the short video (click on picture), we were all having a great time!
The number of members and many from the local community were such that the planting was all done in 1 hours and 10 minutes! The next half hour was spent enjoying each other's company over a well-earned morning tea that had been provided by a number of contributions including from some who could not be there but none-the-less wanted to support, such as Isabella's home baking - believe me the morning tea was well received.
The RYPEN Camp last weekend was lucky to enjoy a glorious Saturday sunshine and the rain stayed away well after we concluded the Camp.
Many Thanks to St. Johns Rotary members, Maddy Faber and Alex Billington who were leaders at the Camp.
There were some last minute cancellations due to health reasons, but overall, there were 52 very excited students who enjoyed the weekend and their RYPEN experience. A total of 16 amazing leaders of Rylarians and Rotaractors did an excellent job over the weekend.
With thanks to RC Papakura for transport duties and especially George Wilson and Tim Wilcock. Look out for 26 to 28 March RYPEN2023
Co-President Gary has asked for all members to do their best to attend the two online Membership Workshops. More details can be seen by clicking on "Read More" below.
You are invited to attend an Interactive workshop with Andy Rajapakse, Zone 8’s mastermind of building clubs & membership.
In Andy’s Governor year (2020-2021) he increased the number of Rotarians in District 9640 (Gold Coast, Queensland) by over 400 though the creation of new-style Rotary club models that were relevant to the community.
In a 90-minute workshop Andy will help to broaden our thinking about what a Rotary club looks like and how to connect the club to the demographic of its community.
The first one is on August 14th at 9am and is for Rotarians only. Register Online
The second one is on August 15th at 5:30 and is for you to bring a non Rotarian friend. Register Online
Get on board with your Membership chairs and Rotarians keen on Growing Rotary!
Don't hesitate to contact Ashwini for any queries.
Our Sergeants have requested that going forward we use the Bulletin as a vehicle to update members of how much is collected each week from fines, and to also advise what amounts from the fund are donated and to whom.
So if you have got any good ideas as to who we can make a small donation to, contact Patrick or John with your idea, how much you are suggesting and a brief justification as to why.
Last week $89 was collected at the meeting and the fund balance is now approaching $5,000. What a generous bunch of St. Johns Rotarians you are!!
Many thanks to all who completed the Bulletin Survey.
There was a high percentage response rate and the results were very clear; members do read the bulletin, the frequency now is good and the content is also good.
So the editor's hope to reduce the frequency and size of the bulletin has been thwarted and we'll carry-on doing what we are doing. However, if of course any members have suggestions on improvement at any time please do not hesitate to contact the Ed.
Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Gary Key (Ph: 021 611169), and Graham Fabian (Ph: 021 826292).
Breakfast Meeting – 21st July 2022
First to speak was Ainie who, apart from being in AKL to attend RYPEN, was announcing the launch of a new format Challenge Camp for disabled students. The camp which will be for 30 students with disabilities, held at Sacred Heart College the week of October 8th. Running the camp and acting as team leaders will be RYLA Awardees, another example of “joining the dots”.
George Wilson, a member of the Rotary Club of Papakura was also invited to speak to update members on the ERK’s programme. As the Cyclone season in the Pacific is approaching, volunteers are now being called to assist in packing the kits. Details of the packing as follows;
"Two Minute Snap Chats” (with the emphasis on the two minutes), to be reintroduced at Breakfast Meetings! Read the Bulletin each week to find out who will be snap chatting at the next meeting – it might even be you!
Guest Speaker – Jon Marshall. Jon works for “TOMRA and his talk was about the “Container Deposit Return Scheme” (CDRS)
The RYPEN Camp last weekend was lucky to enjoy a glorious Saturday sunshine and the rain stayed away well after we concluded the Camp.
Our Sergeants have requested that going forward we use the Bulletin as a vehicle to update members of how much is collected each week from fines, and to also advise what amounts from the fund are donated and to whom. 
