Roger Wedlake tackles a topic shrouded in mystery, Spring is Sprung for Exchange Student Emma, PETS and Save The Date....

 From the Pen of the President...

Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,

 

It feels very much like we are hurtling towards the end of the Rotary year, with some of our expectations left unfulfilled – so we will adjust them!!

This is why I would dearly love to make a BIG show of our WINTER WARDROBE project. We will be circulating a list of members for you to make your pledge – time, money, whatever suits you.

We have 1500 children to assist with something warm to wear – we will have the sewing/knitting day sometime in April – but still plenty of time for donations and effort before the cold weather hits.

 

I do know that we should have no meeting on the 31^st March – as it is the 5^th Friday. However, I would like to have a meeting – a meeting when you bring your PC, tablet, cell phone and we do a workshop to get everyone loaded onto ClubRunner – onto MY Rotary as well. Members can join online as well and we will demo what to do, discuss people’s particular issues and work together. Those who are not in attendance will be telephoned to get your details!!

The consequence of this will of course be – a comprehensive address list and the potential for a REAL Booklet of members!! How does that sound??

 

It is Water and Sanitation Month at Rotary – we have had lots of rain in our neck of the woods, if you have not fallen into a pothole, spare a thought for those who have had no rain. If you can flush – spare a thought for those who cannot!!

 

Have a good week.

Yours in Rotary.

 

 

Ann Hope-Bailie

Last Friday....

....our friend David Craik from The Rotary Club of Sevenoaks in the UK paid us a welcome visit. His daughter Nicola lives in Johannesburg and he therefore comes to South Africa frequently and he always makes a point of attending our Friday gatherings.

 He brought along some photos of a Water and Sanitation project in Sandspruit that his club tackled in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Northcliff. His club contributed 7 000 GBP to the endevour and David spent considerable time at the coalface.

The photos are a little grainy but they are still worth sharing.

Roger Wedlake then took on an enlightening and controversial topic: The origins and history of Masonry, which is a subject matter shrouded in mysticism. The Masonic Order is considered the largest society in the World with 5 million members - all male, many famous.

 Roger's intriguing presentation was based on a book Hiram Key, written by two Masons Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, who maintained that Masonry can be traced all the way back to the ancient Egyptians, early Christianity and the Knights Templar. 

The talk sparked lively dialogue. 

Spring has Sprung for Exchange Student Emma...

... Back to school again for Emma after her whirlwind vacation and the highlight of the week was being invited to watch an ice hockey game which the local Weißwasser team won.

The snow is finally melting and the first snow drops and crocuses are peaking through. This will probably be the last snowman of the Season.

Emma went for a horse ride which resulted with her getting a few bruises when her horse decided to stop mid-canter and her falling off her steed.

PETS...

On the 18th of February District 9400 held their first post-Covid in person President Elect Training Session (PETS) at Ambrosia Hall in Midrand. 

President Ann and our AG Jean Bernardo attended this session and last Saturday 4th March it was repeated with President Elect Costa Qually attending with Ramble editor Sybille taking part via Zoom (all the way from Stanford in the Cape). Jean had to be present both times because as Chair of the NPC (Non Profit Company) she presented on Youth Exchange, RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Friendship Exchange and also Interact. 

District Governor Elect Riana Pretorius introduced us to RI President Elect Gordon R. McInally, who's presidential theme for 2023/24 is Create Hope in the World.

The seminar was enlightening and essential topics for persons appointed into various positions of office in their club were covered:

 - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

- Empowering girls

- POLIO

- Mental Health

- Rotary Protocol and Etiquette

- Stewardship

- Youth Protection Policy

- Manual of Procedure

- Conflict Resolution

- Club Goals - Rotary has 26 goals to choose from and a club has to set 13 for the Rotary year

- Service Projects

- Club Runner, which is the official District  Communication platform

- Public Image

- Training by the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) or online courses

- Youth

- Rotary Health Days

- ARCom (African Rotary Community Mediation)

Save the Date for our Sew-a-Thon...

In support of our adopted charity  Charity Begins with Me  we are hosting a Sew-A-Thon on Saturday the 15th of April (TO BE CONFIRMED) where we are aiming to sew/knit as many winter garments as possible

It will be a day of creativity, fun and fellowship and every member - male and female - is expected to donate a few hours towards this very worthy cause.

This Friday...

....Listen to Prof Shelley Schmollgruber who will give us a peak at her life story, which is bound to be riveting.