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The President's Pen

Kia Ora,
 
Thanks to Lesley and Penny for facilitating a great club assembly last Thursday. The club is in safe capable hands. 
 
Please remember to RSVP  for change over and come and enjoy a game of bowls, a meal and  some fellowship.
 
Look forward to seeing you on Thursday. 
 
Hugh
President: Rotary Club of St Johns
Phone: 021 0813 7313
Stories
Meeting in Review - May 13th 2021
President Hugh welcomed 31 members in attendance for the Club Assembly and before handing over the meeting to President Elect's, Penny and Lesley a few club notices were shared:
  • Have A Go Sailing had a great start last week, see separate story below.  If you are interested in learning more about this unique St Johns co-sponsored community project, do not hesitate to visit the teams at Okahu Bay.  Full information from Gary Key.
  • The Clubs Tear Drop Banners have once again disappeared.  If any member can assist in locating these, please contact IPP / Club Services Director Robyn.
  • One of the most important events of the year, Change-over, is rapidly approaching.  See separate story below for full details.
  • DG Nominee Allan also took the opportunity to seek expressions of interest from any members to fill the roll of District Secretary / Admin.  This is a critical role that needs to be filled for Allan's year as DG - Interested - please contact Alan.
Hugh then passed the chair to PE's Penny and Lesley, who together ran a very successful Club Assembly with a very enthusiastic and energetic membership. Penny & Lesley's own words best sum up the mornings meeting and the take outs.
 
"Hi everyone

A big thanks to everyone who came and joined our breakfast brainstorm AKA Club Assembly this morning.

We were thrilled with the great turnout and the really positive energy in the room and the great ideas shared. It confirms that Les and I are on the right track and we will do what we can to integrate all your ideas into our plan, so there is something that spins everyone’s wheels, as we need to acknowledge that we are all different and different things appeal to each of us.

Having said that, community and environmental projects was a common driver for most, along with fellowship, and we intend to make sure we all have fun along the way,  feeling good doing is our aim.

I am also aware we had some apologies so please, if you couldn’t make it, do email or call Lesley or me to share any thoughts and ideas you may have. Colin is going to share the power point that was the stimulus for the discussions so everyone is aware of our focus and questions.

Thanks again for your participation and free sharing of ideas, we are looking forward to a fun and productive year.
 
Penny & Lesley"
 
...and as a further reminder to all of the discussion detail and depth of the meeting and presentation a copy of the presentation can be accessed via this link;
 
 
Club Activities & Other Important Dates to Diary
THURSDAY MAY 20th - Breakfast Meeting - Guest Speakers - RYPEN Feedback
Our Club sponsored five participants to the RYPEN (Rotary Youth Programe of Enrichment) camp this year, held in the last weekend of March. Two students from Glendowie College and three from Sacred Heart will join us to report back on their experience.

THURSDAY MAY 27th - Dinner Meeting - Guest Speaker Simon Yates LegaSea New Zealand.

After a successful career in sports marketing, sponsorship and advertising including 15 years with one of New Zealand’s most successful advertising agencies, DDB, Simon chose to leave the world of fast moving consumer goods promotions and dedicate his remaining years to follow his passion for meaningful environmental change. He joined LegaSea 8 years ago believing that this was the organisation most likely to campaign for and promote change in the way we are managing our fisheries and coastal ecosystems. Simon spearheaded much of their brand, sponsorship and communications development.

LegaSea campaigns for better fisheries management to help restore our inshore fish life to abundance. Fish are our last freely accessible wild resource however there is still a complex range of pressures on the resource whether from commercial, customary or recreational interests, not to mention the impacts of climate and land run off. Our relatively young New Zealand has depleted this wild resource in a little over 100 years.

Simon will provide an understanding of LegaSea’s core purpose, explain their Fish Care and Kai Ika initiatives, give you an insight into how and why our fisheries have been so decimated, what’s happening in the Hauraki Gulf, (including the recent Waiheke Rahui), what’s happening to core species like tarakihi and crayfish, the problems with the Quota Management System and what the chances are like for us to fix it.

 
 
Change-Over!
It's that time of the year again with our all important Change-over event soon to take place.  Full details are in the poster below and your RSVP as soon as possible would be most appreciated.
 
 
Community Working Bee Opportunity
We have another opportunity to do good in the Neighbourhood!  All members should have received the email below from Peter Buchanan, but just in case you didn't or have misplaced the e-mail, herewith a gentle reminder and please RSVP to Peter B at your earliest opportunity.
 
Dear St. Johns Rotary Member,
 
Following on from our first Working Bee on 18th April at Apirana Reserve, Glen Innes, our coordinator Ken Samson asks if we can assist again on: 
 
Sunday 30th May, 9.30 am to 12.00 pm. Meet at the Apirana Ave entrance to the Reserve.
 
The main work will be spreading a large pile of mulch over the planted area.  To achieve this, we will need to bring some wheel barrows and empty 10 litre paint pails. 
 
Please RSVP by Sunday 16th May (also indicating if you can bring a wheelbarrow)  so that I can advise Ken of approximate numbers of St Johns volunteers. 
 
Recommended:
- Wear gloves, sturdy shoes, sunhat 
- Wheelbarrow 
- Empty 10 litre paint pail
 
Our work will be guided by Ken, Nanda, and Roger - as originators of the project and working with Auckland Council.
 
Purpose:  The Apirana Reserve project seeks to establish an accessible native forest and stream reserve for the Glen Innes community. This involves the clearing of land to remove introduced weeds and rubbish, and the planting and maintenance of native trees. Public are thus able to gain access to the reserve, and the vegetation will ultimately attract native birds and other animals. Our restoration work will also improve the water quality and hence habitat supporting life in Omaru Stream. This stream starts from a spring at the upper end of Apirana Reserve near St Johns Rd and descends to cross Apirana Ave flowing on through Maybury and other reserves to the Tamaki Estuary. The plan is to create a corridor of native vegetation supporting the health of the stream, and providing walking paths and a relaxing environment of native forest for the surrounding community.  
 
All welcome to contribute to this Working Bee, and/or to subsequent ones.
 
See the attached map that shows Apirana Reserve. We will focus on the area to the mid-lower right, at the Apirana Ave side of the Reserve.  The main road on upper left is St Johns Rd, where the reserve links up to Sunhill Fruitshop and Garden Centre.
 
Kind regards
Peter
0274 341 832
Have A Go Sailing Underway
St. Patricks School was the first school to participate in this years St. Johns co-sponsored programme and, as can be seen in the email from the school below, once again the programme is a hit with the students.  
From: Michelle George <mgeorge@saintpatricks.school.nz>
Date: 11 May 2021 at 14:44:42 NZST
To: gkey@xtra.co.nz
Subject: St Patrick's Sailing
 
Greetings Gary, Penny and Leslie,
Just another 'Thank You' for giving St Patrick’s the opportunity to Have a Go Sailing yesterday.
The kids are still chatting and bubbling over the experience to friends and staff.
 
I have attached a link to our Class Blog below. The children have also posted to their individual Blogs which you can access through our Class Blog by scrolling down the right side until you can see a list of names in green with the orange Blogger icon next to it. Only Sione and Eli will not be posting as they were both absent on the day.
 
https://spsmichelleg.blogspot.com/
 
Please pass on our appreciation to all of St Johns Rotary.
Your kindness has opened up an opportunity our children would have never experienced.
 
Kind Regards,
Michelle George
This year New Zealand Yachting Trainers; Kim Robbie and Holly.
 
To learn more about the first week of sailing, please click on "Read More" below.
Read more...
Your thoughts on new Homepage design
A new Homepage is being designed to be more outward facing and completely suitable for mobile phone viewing.  Any ideas, comments no matter how small or significant to Colin Robinson cs.bg.robinson@xtra.co.nz 021 652 801 please.  New Homepage will go live mid-June.  The rest of the website pages linked to from the Homepage have be reviewed, so comments welcome on these as well.
 
View new Homepage format at www.portal.clubrunner.ca/13277 - look at it on PC vs your mobile phone, then try same for existing format at www.rotarystjohns.club
 
Left illustrates new PC view and right is mobile view (although there have been improvements since these based on member feedback already received):
Kev's Candid Photo Album
Candid Kev was still on tour, but we continue to be spoilt for good pictures for the album, as Aubrey steps in to click away in Kevin's absence - thanks Aubrey;
 
 
 
An Invitation

From: Demelza Smith <demelza@hpce.co.nz>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 May 2021 3:25 PM
To: gatt@xtra.co.nzcs.bg.robinson@xtra.co.nz
Subject: Invitation: Red Cross, Taste of Cultures - 27 May - Auckland

Good afternoon Alex and Colin

I hope this email finds you well, Deb Gee, owner of Higher Perspective Conferencing and Events, and Papamoa Rotary Club Member, is running this amazing charity event evening, on behalf of Red Cross.

As you know, Rotary internationally is a big supporter of Red Cross, and we feel that this is a very good fit with the Red Cross values. We would so appreciate your support in sending this invite out to, and encouraging your members to attend this fantastic event, all in the name of charity.

See event information below:

We would like to invite you to the inaugural Auckland edition of ‘Taste of Cultures’ at Spark Arena on Thursday, 27 May 2021 at 6pm. This is an evening to experience a culinary and cultural journey brought to you by New Zealand Red Cross.

Guests will start the evening with canapés and drinks in the Spark Lounge, and will then be taken on a worldly journey through food, music, dance and speakers in the atrium - a unique venue space within Spark Arena. 

Taste of Cultures is an opportunity to show the incredible contribution that our refugee-background whanau are making to our communities, and to raise vital funds for the Red Cross programmes to help people affected by conflict or disaster. 

We will be running an auction on the night and have amazing items up for grabs including a signed guitar by Taylor Swift, a signed autobiography by Bruce Springsteen, a weekend escape to Rotorua including accommodation, activities and dining, Hampton Downs Motorsport vouchers and much more.

Tickets are $150 per person and include a three-course bespoke meal, presentations, performances and the opportunity to bid on amazing items.  

Tickets are limited so make sure you get yours today by clicking here and remember to invite your friends.

See attached invitation for further information about the event.

Link below to book your tickets.

https://www.redcross.org.nz/get-involved/fundraise-help-others/join-an-event/taste-cultures-auckland-spark-arena/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Warm regards,

 

Demelza Smith

Business Development & Projects

P: +64 21 564 846

W: www.hpce.co.nz

 

Time For A Smile

The Moral of Auntie Barbara!

A teacher gave her class of 11 year olds an assignment: To get their parent to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it. The next day the kids came back and one by one began to tell their stories.

Ashley said, 'My father's a farmer and we have a lot of egg-laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the car when we hit a big bump in the road and all the eggs got broken.'

'What's the morale of that story?' asked the teacher.

'Don't put all your eggs in one basket!'

'Very good,' said the teacher.

Next little Sarah raised her hand and said, 'Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. One day we had a dozen eggs, but when they hatched we only got ten live chicks, and the moral to this story is, 'Don't count your chickens before they're hatched'.'

'That was a fine story Sarah.'

Michael, do you have a story to share?'

'Yes. My daddy told me this story about my Aunty Barbara. Aunty Barbara was a flight engineer on a plane in the Gulf War and her plane got hit.

She had to bail out over enemy territory and all she had was a bottle of whisky, a machine gun and a machete.

She drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break and then she landed right in the middle of 100 enemy troops.

She killed seventy of them with the machine gun until she
ran out of bullets.

Then she killed twenty more with the machete until the blade broke.
And then she killed the last ten with her bare hands.'

'Good heavens,' said the horrified teacher, 'what kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?'

Stay away from Aunty Barbara when she's had too much to drink!!

Rotary Four Way Test
 
Next Meeting:
Breakfast Meeting;
 
Thursday 20th May 
7.00am for 7.15am.
 
Venue - Remuera Golf Club
 
  • The President's Pen
  • Meeting in Review - 13th May 2021 
  • Activities and other Important Dates
  • Change-over
  • Working Bee
  • Have a Go Sailing
  • Wanted - Your Thoughts on New Home Page Design
  • Kev's Candid Camera Album
  • An Invitation
  • Time for a Smile
Speakers
May 20, 2021 7:00 AM
Reporting back on RYPEN Leadership weekend camp
May 27, 2021 6:00 PM
EVENING MEETING - LegaSea NZ
Jun 03, 2021 7:00 AM
Jun 10, 2021 7:00 AM
Jun 17, 2021 7:00 AM
Jun 18, 2021 6:00 PM
Please diary
Jun 24, 2021
View entire list
Upcoming Events
MUNA 2021 (Model United Nations Assembly)
May 28, 2021 9:00 AM –
May 29, 2021 5:00 PM
 
Apirana Reserve, Glen Innes Working Bee
Apirana Reserve
May 30, 2021
9:30 AM – 11:59 AM
 
View entire list
Meeting Responsibilities
Thursday 20 May
 
Set-Up
Robinson, Neil
 
Attendance
Gatt, Alex
 
Greeter
McGarry, Penny
 
Host
Roake, Muriel
 
Thanks & Close
Mcphee, Angus
 
Set-Down
Hillman, Mark
 
Stand-By
Leyland, Penny
 
Thursday 27 May EVENING
 
Set-Up
Figueiredo, Avinash
 
Attendance
Fabian, Graham
 
Greeter
Rutherford, Christie
 
Host
Fergus, Brian
 
Thanks & Close
Bell, Patrick
 
Set-Down
Lewisham, John
 
Stand-By
Gilmer, Gavin
 

Club Contacts

President: 
Hugh Scott-Russell 021 0813 7313 
Secretary, Treasurer & Apologies: 
Alex Gatt 021 571 722
Presidents Elect: 
Penny McGarry 021 702 310   &
Lesley Harris 027 4935 498
Sergeant: 
Michelle Forman 021 0277 9456
Club Services: 
Robyn Ingram  022 0200 171 
Bulletin Editor: 
Pete Walsh 021 747 858
Membership: 
John Lewisham 021 375080
Website:  www.rotarystjohns.club
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:
John Lewisham. Ph: 021 375 080, email; jdlewisham@gmail.com
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