Onyi Nwaneri, who has a title much longer than her name, Head: Development, Marketing & Communications, regaled us with the amazing work that Afrika Tikkun does in South Africa. She gave us an extremely interesting overview of our country and what resonated with many of us was that only 4% of the population pay tax. I rather wondered if that wasn't a decreasing percentage? Maybe inflation keeps it stable.
There are so many NGO's involved in training, education, job creation as well as government and service organisations like Rotary. The small tax base really makes one appreciate the need for the work these organisations do to try and improve the lot of the majority of the population.
We have partnered with Afrika Tikkun in the past and maybe we should explore joint opportunities again.
Play Pump Kuruman District
Brian Leech has ensured that the Play Pump approved at the Club Assembly was installed last week. This really is a worthwhile project as it is completely sustainable and fits in with one of Rotary International's areas of focus. Many thanks, Brian. Let's hope that we have sufficient funds to install the one that was proposed for the Free State.
The TJ Acoustic Club
This was attended by Richard Tonkin, Cuthbert Gumbuchooma, myself and our partners. It was an interesting evening with various 'turns' of varying quality taking the stage. It was also inexpensive at R25 per head to get in and the most expensive dish on the menu was R45. They seem to be interested in doing something with Rotary and we will see what pans out.
Lunch
We seem to have got it right....thank you everyone for your cooperation. The next step is to see that it arrives on time!
This Week
Back by popular demand! Geoff Green, as requested, is going to talk to us about growing vegetables at home as opposed to the townships. Is this the beginning of the Rosebank Rotary Vegetable Fellowship I wonder? My cucumber is bigger than yours? We shall see.
This barren piece of ground became a vegetable garden and I'm sure our back gardens look nothing like this!
Blanket Drive
David Bradshaw attended the Blanket Drive Breakfast on our behalf. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say.
Rotary Family Health Days
John Symons has this in hand and is contacting Morningside Club so that we can partner with them again this year.
SHELTERBOX AND ROTARY CLUBS TAKE ACTION FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, killing more than 240 people and trapping an unknown number beneath rubble. Tremors were felt as far away as Rome, 100 km (65 miles) southwest of the quake's epicenter.
International disaster relief agency and Rotary International project partner ShelterBox is sending a response team from its headquarters in the United Kingdom to the remote mountainous area of Italy where the destruction is most severe. The response team will arrive Friday, 26 August, to assess the area's needs.
Luca Della Volta, president of ShelterBox Italia, the affiliate organization in Genoa, will accompany the response team. Della Volta is working with the Rotary Club of Rieti in District 2080, the club closest to the earthquake-affected sites, and will meet with officials of the Italian Civil Protection Department, fire department, and Red Cross to coordinate efforts.
If families and individuals made homeless by the disaster need emergency shelter, ShelterBox will send tents and other equipment from its locations in Italy and other sites across Europe. Della Volta says the most urgent need is for tents and relief supplies for the hospital of Rieti, where most of the patients from the destroyed hospital in Amatrice were taken.
"I am truly heartbroken over what has happened," says Della Volta, charter president of the Rotary E-Club of 2042 Italia. "As Rotarians, we are always available to help people in need."
Follow ShelterBox on Twitter for the latest updates.
Learn how you can help at ShelterBox.
Rotary Districts 2080 and 2090 in Italy have created a joint fundraising campaign to help communities damaged by the quake. Visit their Facebook pages for more information:
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