Club Assembly, our Goals and an exciting event to look forward to...

Monday, 24th August

 From our President

Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,

 On the 29th of August Africa will be declared Polio free, as Nigeria, the last country to have active polio cases, has been polio free for three straight years. This is something to celebrate especially as we are all aware of Rotary’s involvement in the fight against Polio. The eradication of polio is one of Rotary’s longest-standing and significant efforts.

As a club we are aiming to raise and donate R5000 to PolioPlus this year. Are you aware of the many pluses in PolioPlus?? The pluses vary from one area to another.  When we talk about PolioPlus, we know we are eradicating polio, but do we realize how many added benefits the program brings? The “plus” is something else that is provided as a part of the polio eradication campaign. It might be a hand-operated tricycle or access to water. It might be additional medical treatment, bed nets, or soap. Of course we can raise more – let’s do it!!

 Spring is in the air and it reminds me of a joke my Dad used to tell us – the merry Bishop and the grumpy Archdeacon were walking along the road one day and the Bishop said “Spring in the air Archdeacon!”, to which the archdeacon replied “Spring in the air yourself Bishop!!”

 I attended some training regarding ClubRunner which we are all going to be using as our Club directory!! We are really moving into the 21st century!! It is just a matter of getting used to it all and you will need a smart phone. Please do not worry – we will send you a list which you can print out if you insist! Training to the Club soon.

Have a lovely warm week.

Ann

Last Week

We combined our monthly business meeting with Club Assembly and the main take-away from this was to review and highlight the Club Goals we have set for the year ahead.

Every member of our Club will no doubt contribute in their own way to collectively achieve these goals. As a family and as a team we can make it happen.

Rob Caskie Fundraiser

We would be very grateful if every member could circulate this invitation to friends and family. This promises to be a wonderful event.

We are ready to accept your bookings.

A Zoom link will be forwarded on proof of payment to: 

Rosebank Rotary Club 

Nedbank

Account Number: 1145 9991 23

Branch Code 198- 765

Reference: Your surname - Caskie

A Plea from Fourways Main Reef - In honour of our Women

This Friday

In our line-up of excellent speakers we are very excited to have Hayley McLellan talk to us this week.

Don't miss it.

Hayley McLellan, an Environmental Campaigner at the Two Oceans Aquarium, is passionate about a healthy environment and conscious, sustainable living choices. Rethink the Bag – an initiative striving for a plastic shopping bag free South Africa, is what gets her out of bed in the morning!

McLellan is generally inspired by conservationists and leaders who sincerely walk their talk. She adds: “I am also motivated when I reap positive results from the environmental action work that I engage in, especially with regards to human behaviour shifts that result in best practice for our earth.”

Loadshedding and Technology, Mandela Month update, Momo's July Report and a Covid Story.......

 Last Week

.....Or should we say, the week that wasn't.

In these times of Covid we have all become quite adept at adjusting to the New Normal and except for some minor glitches we have all embraced technology and slipped into the routine of our usual Friday Zoom meetings.

But lest we become too complacent, Eskom decided to re-introduce us to Hello Darkness my old Friend. And those of us who have not invested in a generator or an inverter and were on the 12:00 to 16:00 load-shedding schedule were snookered. So too our Zoom organizer who had no option but to cancel our meeting at very short notice. Thank goodness it coincided with a Social Meeting, so no damage done.

July - Mandela Month

Last Tuesday Sonja and Sybille used the donated funds from our Mandela Month initiative and  shopped up a storm for Stefan Ferreira's Charity Begins with Me feeding program.

Every Saturday Stefan selflessly distributes much needed meals to hungry communities in the West Rand and Rotary Club of Rosebank's contribution went a long way to fill some empty tummies.

Stefan's food item list came in handy

Covid Stories 

Jean, thank you so much for sharing your story with us:

One Friday afternoon, some weeks back, I heard Jerry return from work. He was frantic and tore through the house like a mini tornado. He was opening cupboards, the fridge, pouring water and then milk into his eyes.

I could not make any sense of what had happened other than him repeating like a mantra: the pain, the pain, you have to get me to a doctor.

As I drove him to Medicross, I finally discovered he had gotten sanitizer (ours also contains antiseptic) into his eyes and the pain was such that he was convinced that he would lose his sight.

All I could think was “the last place I want to be is a medical facility with Covid-19 flying around!”

He was immediately seen by a doctor, who put anesthetic drops in his eyes to dull the pain and then drops to ensure his corneas were not damaged.

The doctor then prescribes eye drops which Jerry proceeds to SQUEEZE into his eyes, as he is craving relief from the pain.

We get home and Jerry is yet again frantic and beside himself with pain in his eyes! I get him into the car and off we go to Sandton Clinic and yet again I’m thinking – COVID ALERT!! I don’t want to be in these places!

As it was not our regular doctor, we realize that the eye drops contained cortisone to which Jerry is allergic and he was experiencing a major allergic reaction.

I drop him off at emergency, park and proceed to go through the rigmarole of having my temperature taken, filling in  details, etc.

I find a quiet corner to sit in with no one else about and think I am safe. The receptionist informs me, that I need to move, as I may not sit there, I must join the others in the waiting room and in my mind I’m like – there is not sufficient space between these people. I’m thinking – Oh my word – this is a COVID den and here I am sitting with these people that touch the doors with their hands, use the same pen as the receptionist, touch the clip board and then use the sanitizer that everyone else has used.

Then I hear the nurse say to the lady next to me – please fill in everyone you have been in contact with as we are admitting him for Covid. I nearly jumped out of my chair. My mind was SCREAMING – COVID and you are sitting next to her!!! ARGH!!!

BREATHE JEAN, BREATHE – as my rational brain kicks in, I realise the nurse needs the info as they want to admit her husband and will test him for Covid. My shattered nerves!

They washed Jerry’s eyes for about an hour and then let him go home. Off to the emergency pharmacy to fill a script for pain killers, and voila – the pharmacy is closed – now what!! Luckily we had some painkillers left over from his fall and he was able to rest an recuperate.

Save the Date......

Our Fundraising Committee was not going to let Lock-down with all it's social distancing restrictions be a deterrent, and they have come up with an exciting and refreshing Zoom event that none of you will want to miss.

We are ready to accept your bookings.

 A Zoom link will be forwarded on payment to: 

Rosebank Rotary Club 

Nedbank

Account Number: 1145 9991 23

Branch Code 198- 765

Reference: Your surname - Caskie