From the Pen of the President...
The troubles experienced with enabling my computer to link with our data projector has highlighted just how dependent we have become on technology. The use of computer chips has developed exponentially in recent years. My mother-in-law, when she was a young child, went on holiday from Pedi in the Eastern cape to the coast by ox wagon. She never used a computer cell phone or ATM in her life. That is almost inconceivable for a young person to accept these days. With AI and other modern developments, who knows when we will be regarded as ignoramuses!
Costa Qually
President
Tailpiece
“Let’s go invent tomorrow rather than worrying about what happened yesterday.” ~ Steve Jobs
Zoom link...
The correct zoom link for joining the Rosebank Rotary meeting is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86496040522.
It is the same each week.
Skittles ahoy...
There has been an enthusiastic response to the Skittles evening which is scheduled for 1 September. Diarize this fun event. Remember to donate prizes.
This Thursday - a quiz between the Rosebank Rotarians and the Rotary Anns...
This Thursday, there is a quiz with a difference! The Rotarians are one team - and the other team will be Rotary Anns. It should be interesting and entertaining!
Mille, our exchange student from Oslo, arrives in Johannesburg...
Michelle von Benecke writes:
Mille arrived on Friday 04 August, Jenny Cannon (Youth Exchange Officer), Jean, Liya (my youngest daughter) and I went to fetch her from the airport.
Straight from the airport, we went to the Wanderers Club for the Rosebank Rotary meeting.
After dropping Jean at home, we came back home so that Mille could freshen up and then hurried to Helpmekaar College's annual production. Here all 1300 scholars get a chance to strut their stuff. It was held at the Mosaiek Teatro and this year's theme was Mamma Mia.
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Mille got to meet some of Emma's friends. hopefully, when school starts on 04 September, there will be some friendly and familiar faces.
We, at Rosebank Rotary Club, were delighted to welcome Michelle, her youngest daughter, and Mille, our exchange student from Oslo.
Mille looked remarkably poised and well - despite the long flight and all the emotion of meeting her host family and Emma's friends! Only ONE Rotarian has stepped up to take Mille on an outing and so we are again appealing for assistance from Rosebank Rotarians to make her stay in Johannesburg memorable and fun. Please check with Michelle for the time slots between 07 August and 24 August. Michelle's contact number is 084 624 1634,
News from Emma...
She is enjoying the last couple of weeks of their summer holiday at home in Weiswasser. Typical of Emma, she is reading Harry Potter in German whilst drinking Rooibos tea.
She is also practicing her Grade 7 piano pieces and getting to grips with some of her Grade 11 work from Helpmekaar College to ease the load when she returns.
The new intake of exchange students is arriving soon. Emma has run out of pins...
but is now making her own.
Hopefully, next week we can publish some new adventures with the new exchange students.
Madagascar - armchair travelling with Eric Dabbs...
We enjoyed sharing with Eric what he had enjoyed discovering about Madagascar, which he visited in the best time of year which is June! He taught us to approach all our travels with an open-ness to what we may discover and to not constantly compare the 'foreign' places to 'home'.
In his first PowerPoint slide, Eric showed how the average earnings per capita is one tenth of the average per capita income of South Africans. These people are very poor indeed, but friendly and gentle.
Eric described how Madagascar was once part of Africa but, over millions of years, was separated from the continent. With his intense interest in genetics, Eric also highlighted the fact that, as an island, the flora and fauna of Madagascar had been isolated from external influences of nature for around 88 million years and because of this, Madagascar is home to some of the World's most exotic and unusual flora and fauna. He described the many different biospheres that are found in Madagascar - from lush rainforests to arid, rocky desert terrain. Eric's tour, which involved using the local people of Madagascar as guides, was focused primarily on nature.
Some interesting facts gleaned from the talk were:
- There are 110 species of chameleon, who 'choose' to live in habitats where they are camouflaged by blending into the surrounding foliage or bark.
- Madagascar is home to the Venus fly-trap flowering plant.
- Some animals became extinct through hunting such as the Elephant Bird and the Moon Moth.
- One interesting animal was the Tomato Frog, which by its vivid tomato-red colour, announces that it is extremely poisonous, and so it's avoided by predators.
- The ring-tailed Lemur has been proven through DNA testing to be related to Africa's Bush Babies. The Lemur's habitat is high in the forest canopy.
The first people of Madagascar travelled from Asia. In time, Africans from the northern areas of South Africa arrived in Madagascar. Inhabitants of the Arab states also settled in Madagascar. Over many centuries, these different nationalities intermingled to produce the people of Madagascar. It was a French colony for years. Very little English is spoken on the island and it retained the Asian influence in the architecture and language.
40% of the people are Christians, 10 % are Muslim and the remainder believe in traditions based on ancestor worship. Some of their customs, particularly those surrounding death and burial, seem strange to Westerners.
Most of the people live off the land and catch fish using primitive nets.
This talk was well received and when James thanked him, he encouraged Eric to talk to Rosebank Rotary club whenever he wanted to!
An awesome project has been undertaken by the Anns...
Hilary Humphries of the Rosebank Rotary Anns submitted this report for publishing in the Ramble:
Recently eight Rosebank Rotary Anns paid a visit to the EARTH Centre in Ruimsig with a view to assisting them by sponsoring items of equipment they are always in need of. We were welcomed by fundraisers Julia Morris and Michelle Ndlovu who showed us around and explained the various equine activities which take place.
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The Centre partners with 11 special needs schools and has various Equine Therapy Riding Programmes for children with disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, hearing and mental challenges. We were very impressed with all we saw – the Centre is really well organised and run with a spacious paddock where staff and volunteers guide and help the children to ride. There is also a sensory trail with very colourful and imaginative stimuli through which the horses are led with their riders. Another area is used once the children become more confident - it is a slightly rougher labyrinth style course.
We were able to watch one riding session for a group of children and it was obvious how much the children enjoyed the activity, which undoubtedly helps tremendously with strengthening body core as well as giving confidence and enjoyment. It was also a joy for us to see the beautiful horses and the two very friendly donkeys who also reside at the Centre. It was agreed that this is a really worthy cause to support.
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Prizes for fundraising events...
Sonja Hood appealed to Rotary members for prizes that could be raffled in September and October. The grand prize is a fantastic holiday.
Invitation by Rotarians Club Timisoara...
An invitation from Daniel Marou, the President of the Rotary Club of Timisoara to the members of Rosebank Rotary Club...
Dear David,
As you know, starting with 1 of July I have the honor to be president of the Rotary Club of Timisoara. Timisoara is the European Capital of Culture in 2023, a beautiful city in the west of Romania which is a "have to" visit! -
As already informed you, the most important event of our club in 2023 will take place on 27 and 28 October. Your numerous participation from Rotary Club of Rosebank , would make us a great pleasure! Enclosed we send you the first invitation ( in English Language) with "SAVE THE DATE" with the request to register it in your diary! Of course we will come back with all the details (detailed program, hotel, etc.).
On the 27th of October we will spend a great evening in the most famous winery of the western region, Cramele Recas: https://cramelerecas.ro. In this international networking evening, the wine will give us a good atmosphere as usual, but also we will enjoy a good Romanian music!
On the 28th of October we will put on the stage the world premiere of the operetta "Greet my Banat", with the purpose of supporting the surgery department for children with heart malformations, by enabling the training of doctors in Germany and in Italy.
We also plan a guided tour of the Timisoara city, but also a visit to the exhibition of Constantin Brancusi - the most famous Romanian sculptor - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/
I wish you warm greetings from Timisoara and I am looking forward to a numerous participation of the Rotary Club of Rosebank to this beautiful event!
Daniel Marcu
Rotary Club of Timisoara, Romania
Daniel sent us a video link: https://www.youtube.com/
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For your diary...
11 August: David Heritage: "Revive".
18 August: Business meeting
25 August: Social
Birthdays in August...
Lyn Collocott: Tuesday 8 August
Costa Qually: Saturday 12 August
Jean Bernardo: Wednesday 16 August
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