Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Gary Key (Ph: 021 611169), and Graham Fabian (Ph: 021 826292).
Presidents Pen for Meeting 14 July 2022
Greetings fellow members,
Our meeting last Thursday morning saw a turnout of 18 members for the committee meetings and we had Chris Osborne as a last-minute guest. Chris is the incoming President for Rotaract Club Auckland and he helped us make a dent in the breakfast as well as encourage us to attend their change over on Tuesday 19-7-22.
Treasurer/Secretary/Co-President Graham presented the club budget for 2023 these are the salient points
A requirement to increase the member fees from $360 to $424 per annum including GST. This increase was simply to accommodate the increases in costs associated with Dues related to Magazine, District and Rotary International totaling $10,335 and Club General expenses totalling $6,306 of which $3,306 relates to accounting services and software and $1,100 to Clubrunner. Total fees for 49 paying members amount to $17,319 which leaves a surplus of $678.
Breakfast meals to increase from $20 to $22.50 per member because of an increase by the Remuera Golf Club (RGC), from $18.50 to $20.50. These increases are effective from 21st July 2022.
Evening meals to increase from $30 to $33 per meal. Consequently, our new member dinner fee will be $36 per member being a similar 10% increase.
A room rental fee of $50 per member was also recommended to make up for a budgeted shortfall of 6 people per breakfast meeting. Our club is charged for 30 meals, and it was felt equitable that all members should chip in for this budgeted shortfall on the meals. This $50 would be charged in two equal instalments of $25 in July and January. Should we have a surplus in meal funds for the year this would be refunded to the members by way of credit or another way decided upon by the membership at the time.
It was also suggested that we could look at a more economical meal solution such as continental only which will be taken up with RGC to see if there is any other way of reducing costs without requesting further contributions from the membership.
If we wish to continue meeting at the Remuera club, which those 18 members present seemed to agree with, then we have no alternative than to raise the room rental fee to account for the meal shortfall over the year, which has been running at about $3,500. This has been paid for by donated funds which is unacceptable to the running of this charity.
The Board agree that we need to reengage the club through projects that rally all the members. To this point then we are challenging all members, either individually or within their respective committees, to go into our area which is predominantly Glendowie, Glen Innes et al and find out what the people need. We can then shortlist, evaluate and prioritise, and then engage members on the project/projects. This is a journey and not a sprint. We can also engage with other clubs to work jointly on projects.
THIS IS A CALL-TO-ACTION DEAR FREINDS
I think we need to recalibrate and ask ourselves why we have joined Rotary, reignite ourselves and IMAGINE what we can do.
Co-President Gary welcomed all including one guest, Chris Osborne, who is the incoming President of the Auckland City Rotaract. He also invited Chris to say a few words. Chris was keen to promote their change-over which will be held tomorrow July 19 at the Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place Auckland. Tickets are only $29 each and can be purchased online at; Linktr.ee/rotaractakl. Are you able to support Rotaract, interested in attending? You will need to register immediately.
Due to the full agenda today there were no club notices, although the "Sergeant" of Slease was still able to find time to inflict his venom on a few members!
Gary then handed the chair to Co-President Graham who shared with us the financial status of the club, which, for a number of reasons, is not good. Graham prepared a short power point presentation which detailed the situation very clearly, but once again we were thwarted by the technology at the Golf Club and this was not able to be shared. However, Graham has covered off all the pertinent points under the President Pen column above.
Issues, concerns and potential actions to remedy the situations will be discussed in more detail at future meetings.
Those present then broke up into the various committee groups to share ideas and discuss options on the direction of the club over the next 12 months. Unfortunately time was very limited, so these discussions will also need to continue in the weeks ahead.
Despite the limited time available there was still some good discussion and a brief summary from each of the Directors follows;
Club Services - Lesley:
Speakers: these continue to be challenging to source. Any ideas to be shared with Penny & Lesley
Off-site Vocational meetings are normally very popular and ideas will be considered. One possible immediate one could be a visit to the GI Police Station and Patrick undertook to talk to Glen Innes Police and see if we could visit.
Graham Fabian suggested Ted's Talks as a source of speakers.
Peter W distributed a short survey related to the Bulletin seeking to better understand what members want in the Bulletin. Many thanks to all who completed the survey - these will be available to others to complete at the next meeting.
Youth - Liz Gunn:
Group discussed both new and existing programmes, including:
RYDA , in the next calendar year
RYLA, under Tom's stewardship with other club member support
MUNA, school staff to lead
CITIZEN Awards, $400 at end of year prizegivings to most Manaiakalani schools, to support deserving or needy students, Kevin and Liz to support
Dictionaries in Schools, Liz to confirm
RYPEN, Ainie to lead with Rotaractors
Trees for Survival, Peter and Gary lead this initiative
Have a Go Sailing. Gary liaises with NZY on this
Basketball Leadership programme, began this year, Chris Herlihy leading this
Manaiakalani Forum, Kevin to attend some meetings
The committee suggested more regular committee meetings would be a way to generate engagement and enthusiasm, particularly with discussion of fundraising needed to support the above initiatives.
Environment & Science - Peter Buchanan:
Committed projects:
Apirana Reserve - continued ground preparation, mulching, and native tree planting - partnering with Friends of Apirana Reserve (Ken, Nanda, Roger), and ultimately expanding to include Trees for Survival. Consultation with Auckland Council and Kiwirail as land-owners.
Science & Technology Forum - preparation for student sponsorship in association with Youth Committee. Also District coordination of applications from all D9920 Rotary Clubs.
Suggested for further consideration:
Advertising to community of service to harvest surplus fruit from home-grown fruit trees, and distribute to community with need
Clean-ups of beaches, streams, or walkways - advertising also to community to gain their participation
Community picnic in Apirana Reserve - promoting community engagement and involvement of local businesses, also potential fundraising.
Calculate carbon footprint of St Johns Rotary, take steps to offset that footprint, eg by planting (or purchase carbon credits), and challenge other Rotary and Rotaract clubs to do likewise. Customised calculator for NZ clubs has been developed through ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group).
THURSDAY JULY 21st - BREAKFAST MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER: Jon Marshall - Compac Sort - 'Bottle Return Scheme in NZ'
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."
Past Co-President Penny is looking for the "Mystery Rotarian".
At conference last month in Wellington some of the St Johns delegates were talking about their favourite coffee roasts and some very kind person, with a better memory than Penny, had a kilo of beautiful Raglan Roast coffee delivered to her door!!
She is now a convert!! It is super good and she would love to be able to thank the "Secret Santa" for their thoughtfulness. It has been very much appreciated.
Rotary International is considering a project in our region (Zone 8 including Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island countries) to address membership, public image, communication, leadership, and fundraising challenges to help define a more sustainable future for Rotary.
We will be hearing a lot more about this programme in the months to come and all members are encouraged to familarise themselves with this.
As a start we recommend you read the attached Fact Sheet and if you have any questions after viewing the links referred to below, don't hesitate to contact Co-President Gary
A doctor, lawyer, and a Rotarian in charge of fundraising all die and arrive at the Pearly Gates about the same time. St. Peter tells them they may each have one thing to take with them to Heaven.
The doctor is first, and asks for $1 million. This is given and proceeds to enter Heaven. The lawyer, not to be outdone, asks for $2 million. "Very well," say St. Peter and opens the gate to Heaven for the lawyer.
Finally it is time for the Rotarian, who had just finished a fundraising project for The Rotary Foundation. St. Peter asks him what he would like to take to Heaven. The fundraiser moves up very close to St. Peter, and in a soft voice asks, "It it's not too much trouble, could I just have the names of those two people who were ahead of me in line?"
Co-Presidents St. Johns Rotary, Gary Key (Ph: 021 611169), and Graham Fabian (Ph: 021 826292).
Gary then handed the chair to Co-President Graham who shared with us the financial status of the club, which, for a number of reasons, is not good. Graham prepared a short power point presentation which detailed the situation very clearly, but once again we were thwarted by the technology at the Golf Club and this was not able to be shared. However, Graham has covered off all the pertinent points under the President Pen column above.
