Rotary Club of Plimmerton
What a party …
Good food, beautiful surroundings, great company and music of the best era to dance to, meant we had an excellent Christmas Party. President Bill welcomed everyone and thanked those who organised the evening and from then on it was all about socialising. It was lovely to see so many partners enjoying themselves too. The talented singer/musician had just the right blend of rhythm and lyrics to get all those dancers showing off their skills. A sight to behold! Our special thanks to the team of Euon Murrell, Bruce and Sue Couch, Phillip Reidy, Kay Phillips, and Philip Whearty for making this great night out possible.
What’s coming up in December and beyond?
Remember that our 2020-21 District Centennial Conference is being held in Wairarapa on 19-21 March. Accommodation is short in Wairarapa so it might be a great idea to register early and also take advantage of the Early Bird price. Celebrity Chef Martin Bosley and Change psychologist Dr Paul Wood, both of whom will be great to hear, are confirmed speakers. Let's make this a Club social outing! You've told Kay you have enjoyed the ones we've had so far so let's resurrect this as a Club fun time. There's plenty to see and do in the Wairarapa as well as good speakers and convivial Rotary Fellowship. The Saturday Night Dinner theme for dressing up is the year of your Club's Charter: 1973 in our case. You may register here.
The roster for this week says 'Committee Night'. How you spend your time after dinner is entirely up to each Committee Chair but it is the last meeting of the year and Christmas so ...
Remember that we're on holiday on 22, 29 December 2020 and 5 and 12 January 2021. As for the last few years, there will be a social evening arranged for Tuesday 19 January though this will not be an official meeting. The first meeting at the Mana Cruising Club will be on Tuesday 25 January. It will not be the Robbie Burns Dinner we previously advertised as we think that would be better held in the winter. All details will shortly appear on our Calendar and on the Events page. Details for the Events page from January onwards will be loaded as soon as they become available here.
This week’s happenings
Michael Parker has drawn our attention to the work done by Peter Sinke in arranging the contribution of the sound system at Holy Family School. Michael had originally identified that quiet children and soft female voices were not being heard clearly in assemblies. Plimmerton Rotary Trust funds have solved the problem and last week the school hosted a celebration for its 60th birthday. With the benefit of the sound system, everyone can hear what is being said, even by the quietest children. Holy Family students love music and to have the speaker to enhance the singing and dancing is great.
MP for Mana, Barbara Edmonds, was the special guest and is seen here with Gloria and Varias, the school's hosts for the Duffy Books Assembly.
Mike Doig, Rhonda Sweetman and Phillip Reidy each received a handmade card from the Rangikura School class they read to every Thursday morning. It is uncertain whether the readers, or the children, get the most enjoyment out of the hour spent in the library. It is delightful to see every arm go up from the class when the readers arrive, irrespective of what the teacher is trying to say!
Richard Sherwin and Phillip Reidy spent some time with Andrew Gray from Porirua City locating and re-baiting some 16 automatic pest traps around Te Ara Piko, in the vicinity of the Horokiri Stream. The duo scored some 10 cent pieces that are used to seal the trap lures while in transit from the supplier so Bruce Couch will have a little more counting to do from the shrapnel tin after the next meeting. A couple of days after, this area was underwater but it did not stop some hardy walkers from using the Pathway. Fortunately, the traps suffered no damage. The November 2019 to November 2020 movement count on Te Ara Piko was 65,000, a very impressive number! It did, however, reflect the impact of Covid-19 on people's behaviour.
On Tuesday evening, Wendy represented the Club at the Titahi Bay Primary School (often called Kura School) Prizegiving. After some singing, dancing, a formal welcome from Principal Kerry Delaney, 
and tear-jerking speeches from each of the teachers, certificates were presented to all the Year 6 leavers and it was astonishing to note that there were over seventy of them. Three of the leavers gave excellent short speeches and these were followed by a photo montage of the year's events accompanied by the song, 'The Time of our Lives'. Students at Kura School are taught the KURA values - they are Kind, they work together in Unity, they are Respectful, and they aspire to Achieve. These values were evident in many little ways during the course of the evening. Finally, Wendy had to slip away to get to the Plimmerton Rotary Christmas celebrations but not before she presented a trophy to the Enviro Cup (girl) to one of the students, captured here by Mayor Baker.
A group comprising David and Velma, Wendy, and Kay, represented our Club at the Porirua College Senior Prizegiving this week and were, as always, extremely impressed by the achievements and attitudes of the students. Having Dr Ashley Bloomfield as guest speaker was an added bonus in an already excellent programme. Kay reported that she'd never seen so many chocolates in one place. Those who have been at Pasifika celebrations will know all about those crowns of flowers and leis of chocolates with which family and friends adorn their successful students. Some were almost staggering under the weight... A heart-warming evening of celebrating success, achievement and music.
Wendy was invited by her Medical Centre to have a free Shingles vaccination when she was there having some stitches removed last Thursday. She mentioned that she had already had the vaccination in 2017-2018 but the nurse said that it would do no harm to have a top-up, especially as it is free for people between the ages of 65 and 80. In the circumstances, she had a top-up. However, the nurse mentioned that these vaccinations are only free until 31 December, after which they will cost $200. So, if you want to take advantage before the end of the year, you might like to get in touch with your Medical Centre. Shingles can be a very painful condition - to be avoided at all costs if possible.
An Update from Rotary International offers courses to improve your communication skills to be a more effective leader. Following on from the Toastmasters evening, it may be something that would be of value to you. If you go to My Rotary, you will need to sign in with your user name and password, as usual, or, if you haven't got one, you can sign in and you'll be given one. Here are the details extracted from the RI Update ...
Thanks to Secretary Graeme, the approved 2019 Minutes for the Board and Charitable Trust have now been loaded into the Intranet, as have the Annual Financial Statements for both the Club and Charitable Trust for the year ended 30 June 2020.
The Almoner said …
Bev Lillico is still in hospital. For those of you who wish to visit Bev she is in the North Wing in A11. Peter reports she is feeling somewhat better today than earlier in the week. Most of our "invalids" are recovering well although Allan has a long way to go before he can drive again and be totally independent (though Barb is getting to be an expert at cutting up his food). Wendy, on the other hand, hopes to get sign-off from her specialist in the next few days. Mike Doig now has an operation date. NB: our Almoners cannot do their jobs if they are not advised how people are.
Parting thought
Ann Scannell was all ready to deliver her Parting Thought but the time never seemed right as everyone was having so much fun singing and dancing. Had she been able to deliver it, however, it was a quote from the Dalai Lama, 'People take different roads seeking fulfilment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road, doesn't mean they've gotten lost.'
Who’s on duty for the next month?
Unable to do your duty? Please find a replacement and inform Graham Wallace.
If you're a late 'no show' please tell President Bill.
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 apologise or bring additional guests?
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.
