Rotary Club of Plimmerton
Visitors
President Donna welcomed our visiting speaker, Tony Johnson, from the Low Volume Vehicle Testing Association, and his partner, Linda Washington, and also Deirdre Geyser, former Rotarian from Rosebank Rotary Club in Johannesburg, to be inducted.
The speaker said …
After describing some impressive examples of industry self-regulation, Tony Johnson digressed into a hair-raising tour of modern drag-racing, which one suspects is his main interest in life. Read what Mike has to say. Following the meeting, Tony told Philip Mottram that, when he told his work colleagues at Porirua, who are mostly in their 30s, that he was going to talk to Plimmerton Rotary, most responded, 'Oh yeah! They are the folk that
Comings and Goings
Wendy introduced Deirdre Geyser. Deirdre was born and bred near Johannesburg in South Africa. She has an elder and younger sister and they all have sons. It was Deirdre's son, Deneitz, who
Snippets
President Donna expressed her thanks to Phillip Reidy for
Donna regretted that no-one from the Club managed to attend the Jetty Opening at Sailability Wellington.
Donna reported on Board discussions:
- Megan Davidson from Kilbirnie, who works at Land Information, has been selected for RYLA in January.
- The Youth Committee has suggested that Rotarians stand at the next round of BOT elections to offer their expertise around policies and procedures. Members could think about a school they might be interested in supporting.
- The Communications team are responding to the points raised in the web site survey and will address priority issues early in 2019.
- The Pathway Committee reported that the current stage will be finished early in December. There will be an opening ceremony in February. The Trust account has paid over the grants of $60,000 from the Trust House Foundation and $150,000 from the Lotteries Commission. PCC is tendering the next stage in 2019. The road realignment has to be completed by Downers before that work can begin. Now that the Government focus is on cycleways, it might be easier to access funding.
- The Community team has been busy as usual and Tania is almost ready for a brainstorming session about helping refugees. Nick Walmsley is looking at a Trust brokerage to provide expertise with matching trusts and the types of causes and Bryan is looking at a Plimmerton / Paremata street party with food and entertainment at Ngati Toa Domain in the summer.
November is Rotary Foundation month - doing good in the world. New Zealand is currently involved in a million dollars worth of projects. If you have a vocational skill, perhaps you could donate time or skills to a project. PDG Simon Manning always has plenty of ideas.
The Almoner said …
President Donna said that our thoughts were with Nick and Rhonda Walmsley as they start their respective treatments and wished Adrienne a speedy recovery following a visit to Hospital after twisting her spine. She added that we have a lot of illness about us at the moment and asked all members to look out for each other. Our well-being is most important, especially so at this time of the year when we will be having less face to face contact. She expressed the Club's good wishes to everyone who is currently on a wellness journey.
This week’s happenings
Alison Cox, the local coordinator for the Blind Foundation, reports that a total of $736 was collected at Porirua New World. She is very grateful to the Plimmerton Rotarians for the part they played in making Blind Week Appeal a success.
Brenda Callear from Plimmerton Inner Wheel is the Newsletter Editor for District NZ294 and has sent us the November issue. She says she's sure we'll enjoy reading it and suggests that we make a cup of tea first! November_2018_District_Magazine
A new membership list that includes the contact details for our two newest members, Roger and Deirdre, will be up in our Intranet soon. If you need those details in the meantime, please contact Graeme Tongs direct.
There are a few tickets left for the 'Inside-out Arohata' Christmas Concert
The Outside World
Here are six tips for starting a Rotaract club on a tertiary campus from Duke Unversity located near Durham in North Carolina. Could we start such a thing at Whitireia one wonders?
What’s coming up in November and beyond?
There's a lot coming up:
- This coming Saturday, 24 November is the Police Cadet gathering at Porirua College from 12.00-4.30. Terrie Turner asked the thirteen helpers to meet to receive their run sheets after the meeting. If you are not on that list and can still help, please get in touch with Ian or Terrie.
- The Parumoana Speech Competition will take place on Discovery School on Friday 30 November at 9.30 am. David Knight spoke about the competition which he has been
organising for the Club for the past fifteen years and which Bill McAulay has now taken under his wing. The details have always been the same but this year the venue has changed to Discovery School. He urged members to attend to hear what are always stunning speeches from students in Years 5-8. President Donna will be presenting the prizes, Wendy will be the chief judge for the ninth time, and he thanked Mike Scott for preparing the certificates. Please arrive at 9.00 for a 9.30 amstart and remember that parking at Discovery is not as easy as it has always been at Aotea! - Next week, 27 November, is our Christmas Party and celebration of Angus' 50 years in Rotary at Plimmerton Boating Club. Please remember those PHFs. We have invited partners and Inner Wheelers. Please arrive at 6.00 for a 6.45 pm start. We will be eating at about 7.15 pm. This is a special meeting so please confirm your attendance with Sandra at Professionals - 04-2339955).
- Johnsonville Club would like some extra volunteers for car parking at their market, the same day as the Johnsonville Christmas Parade, in the morning of 1 December. Please let Donna know if you can help.
- And remember that you are welcome to just go along on 9 December to the Street Party that Mount Kaukau are putting on in Khandallah. (No volunteering needed!)
- We hope that Annie Grenfell, outgoing Exchange Student to Chile, will give us her talk on 4 December, the night of the last Planning Meetings of the year.
- 11 December is the children and grandchildren Christmas party starting at 4.30 pm. Normal meal cost of $25 with $10 boxes for children. Please bring a named gift of $25 ish for each child you bring. If you are not attending Rotary that night, please
apologise to Sandra at Professionals. - Our last meeting is on 18 December and will feature the AGM.
Porirua Club has asked for help with Christmas wrapping at North City Plaza. Kathryn Beattie is in charge and you can email her on kathryn.beattie3@gmail.com to offer to fill one of the slots where more help is needed. These are the slots that need filling from 13-17 December. The lengths of the sessions vary depending on the time of day. If you email Kathryn direct, she will update the master copy.
- 13th 5.30-9.00 pm - 2 people
- 14th 1.30-5.00 pm - 2 people
- 15th 3.30-7.00 pm - 4 people
- 16th 12.30-3.30 pm - 1 person
- 17th 1.30-5.30 pm - 3 people
Parting thought
Barry McEwen gave us the parting thought, 'Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions'!
Who’s on duty for the next month?
Unable to do your duty? Please find a replacement and inform Philip Mottram. If you're a late 'no show' please tell President Donna.
Please arrive at 5.45 pm if you're on Door duty or on Introduction duty to greet the Guest Speaker and be his/her host for the evening.
Need to
Advise the Receptionist at Professionals before 10.00 am on the Monday before the meeting on 233 9955 or email paremata@dwre.co.nz if you prefer.
Please provide the name (and spelling if necessary). The same applies if you're going to be late.
