From the Pen of our President....
Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,
I am getting my ducks in a row – getting an asset register
in place, checking on our club goals, archiving photographs – ticking the boxes
and dotting the i’s. And “about time too!!” you may say – it is like spring
cleaning!! I can safely say that as a Club we are in good shape – we made our
goals, paid our dues and have money in the bank!! I would like to make sure we
look after our assets and archive our memories – please help me to collect
photographs and digitize them to preserve our club history. Bring along any
pictures you would like to have scanned or I will fetch them.
Check your garages and cupboards for banners or Club assets
and we will try to take more care of them in future.
A week or so ago I mentioned the Rotary Exhibition Centre –
we need to buy bricks to have our Club represented – I think we should buy 37
bricks @ R50 each – that is one per member – what do you think? Time is running
out so please let me know.
DID YOU KNOW?? Rosebank is well represented in District –
Jean Bernardo, Peter James Smith, Costa Qually, Kevin Wolhuter, James Croswell,
Richard Moloney – when we have our social meeting this Friday, 28th May, at
Wanderers - ASK THESE MEMBERS what they have been up to!! Then there is also
David Bradshaw and Chrispin Matthieu – they are also busy behind the scenes –
what are they doing??
There is always something to talk about – looking forward to
seeing you all on Friday.
Yours in Rotary,
Ann
Last Friday.......
... was our monthly Business Meeting.
President Ann's tenure is nearing its end and PE Costa asked us to save the date for his induction on Friday evening, the 2nd of July at the Old Johannians Club. It will be a formal occasion.
Pam Donaldson reported back on Attendance for the past month, which averaged out at 22 members per meeting. For now the plan is to continue with hybrid social meetings at the end of the month. It is felt that the need for Fellowship is great, and we will rather adhere to more stringent Covid regulations than forfeiting in person get-togethers.
Last month quite a few of us paid our R50.- lunch money into the newly acquired Yoco Point of Sale and we ended up not having sufficient cash to pay for the pizzas. It is great being able to pay by credit card, so no doubt someone will be able to pick up the tab and then get reimbursed.
Our treasurer John Symons reported back on Club Finances.
All subs are up-to-date.
Thus far R73 130 have been deposited into the Rotary Project account towards the Blanket Drive, R40 000 came from the Bryanston Methodist Church and was remitted to District.
Lorenzo made a very generous donation of R4 000.
Peter James-Smith received two requests for financial assistance to procure wheel chairs for needy persons, one from St Vincent's and the other for a gentleman living in Park Cottages, Bertrams.
We were sent a photo of the grateful Martin Botha, whose life will have been made just a tad easier.
David Bradshaw reported back on Membership: Our goal was to expand our membership by 5 members in this Rotary year, which we have achieved despite lockdown restrictions and David is hoping that we might be able to induct two further new members at Costa's Presidential inauguration.
As Club Almoner David also stays in contact with members, Anns and friends of Rotary who need additional attention. He had spoken to Bernard Neuhaus, Judy Powell and Carol Lawrence and Hugh Rix who were all bearing up. Peter Margolius had developed an aneurysm behind his knee and sadly had to have his leg amputated above the knee. David said that he had sounded surprisingly positive when he spoke to him shortly after the operation. We hold him in our thoughts and all wish him a successful rehabilitation.
James Croswell will be handing over the reigns of the International portfolio to Richard Moloney at the beginning of the next Rotary year, but plans on still having a formal handover of the palliative care container at Baragwanath before the end of June.
He urged the members to join HEWRAG (Health, Education and Wellness Rotary Action Group) now that you no longer have to pay to belong to the AG.
And on that note Ann Hope Bailie asked us to consider joining the Environmental Action Group.
Ann reported back on Jean Bernardo's Youth portfolio in her absence: The annual Youth Leadership Course will be going ahead; it has not been decided yet whether it will be in person or online. They are aiming for October.
While attending the opening of the newly built classroom at the Highlands North Boys High School donated by The Class of 81, Marianne Soal met the President and Vice of the HNBHS Interact Club, and remarked how evident it was to her that these young men are in desperate need of mentoring and career guidance.
Career's Day will become part of the Youth Portfolio in the new Rotary Year.
Most of Sybille Essmann's Community and Vocational Services Report Back was dedicated to the successful completion of this year's Blanket Drive.
With the funds raised we will be able to supply the following:
100 blankets to Phuthadijhaba (Alexandra)
25 for Assemblies of God (Alexandra)
50 for the Boeregemeenskap
50 for St. Vincent de Paul
15 for Kaya Manzi (Crossings Church)
50 + for Boikanyo
30 for Charity Begins With Me
30 for the Fordsburg Old Age Home
80 for Inner City Street Children
20 for Refilwe (Gracepoint)
That is a total of 430 blankets
Jeannette Horner is in constant touch with Florence Sebeko of Umnotho for Empowerment who were instrumental to get get the sewing project in Muldersdrift off the ground.
Among other community driven projects Umnotho is very involved in Youth Development. They offer training programs in:
- Plumbing
- Welding
- Waitering and Bar Tendering
- Computer Literacy
- Business Development
- And Job Seeker Support
To that end Florence sent us a wish list that could assist in setting up their training centre:
Please peruse the list and if you are in the position to assist in any way you can get in touch with Jeannette who will liaise on your behalf.
The District AGM and Club Assembly....
DG Annemarie presided over the AGM and her final Assembly as District Governor.
Various topics and issues were discussed which will no doubt be covered in the next District newsletter.
One slide worth sharing from DG Elect Stella Anyangwe:
On behalf of PDG Grant:
We believe it is in everyone’s interest to take cognizance of the present thinking at Rotary International and in particular the committee titled “Shaping Rotary’s Future Committee" which you can find at the following link:
In addition we herewith also recommend your club watches the following YouTube presentation: