The Speaker said ...
Our Club has a strong relationship with the Life Education Trust and this week their CEO, John O'Connell spoke to us about the new programmes they are starting in secondary schools. To read Mike Doig's summary please click here.
Visitors
President Donna welcomed our guest speaker, John O'Connell, and Brett Jones, visiting again from Melbourne Central Rotary Club. She also welcomed partners and other visitors: Alison Cox, Faye Rafan and Emeline Bertheol, who as an Exchange student ten years ago, was visiting host families.
Viewpoint
This week's Viewpoint was presented by Ron Lucas, who spoke about 'My Dilemma” which considered the morality of some sources of charitable funding.
This week's happenings
President Donna reported back from the District 9940 Annual Conference. She spoke glowingly of the interesting range of speakers including Paula Ormsby, a member of the Women's Chapter of the Mongrel Mob, Hinewhirangi Kahu-Morgan who spoke about her drug and alcohol addiction recovery, and polio survivors Jeanette Aldrige and her husband Gordon Jackman who demonstrated the amzing difference blade runners have made for him. Dame Tariana Turia and Hon Chris Finlayson explained the unique Treaty settlement which personified the Whanganui River. Rotary Peace Scholar, Sarah Agnew, and the Hon Chester Borrows, Chair of the Justice reform Advisory Group both presented some horrifying data and information in their presentations. It was a proud moment to hear Graeme Blick's name from the RI Australian representative, Wendy Scarlett, regarding the RI International Council of Legislation. District Governor Elect, John Mohi announced that the 2020 District 9940 Conference will be held in Lower Hutt on 1-3 May 2020. Together we connect; Ko tatou tatou e. President Donna urged us all to support Matua John and connect with other People of Action. Save the date, please.
Snippets
Bill McAulay asked for help on behalf of the Friends of Taupo Swamp & Catchment Inc who are having a series of volunteer days...
Where: just south of the NZ Motor Caravans Assn park, at the foot-bridge onto the sports field, Ulric St, Plimmerton.
When: 1-4pm Saturday 25th May and then the following four months as the last Saturday in each month.
Who: anyone willing to cut a little black berry and do some weed removal.
Why : as preparation for planting suitable wetland plants and trees as part of the rehab of Taupo Swamp.
What to bring: thick gloves, gum boots, secateurs, eye protection, high viz jackets ( I will pick up the Rotary & PCC ones).
We will start with a briefing at 1 pm. Even if you don't want to be cutting blackberry, come along to have a look at what we are doing.
The report of the 2019 Council of Legislation has been received and is available for you to read here 2019_CoL_Report
Applications for RYLA 2020 are now open. For further information please click here.
We have received a newsy letter from Jessica Sebastian from Berlin. Jessica has had a lot on her plate with some issues that arose including a racial assault, in which, although not seriously injured physically, impacted her well-being for some time as you may imagine. This meant that Jessica has had several moves, first from Frankfurt and then within Berlin, thus losing contact with some Rotary Clubs. However she is settled again and enjoying the fellowship and support of a Club near her university.
Jessica’s grades have remained very high. She commented that “Spring is beautiful here in Germany and we have had vacillation in the weather from being quite frigid to summer temperatures. Berlin has become very green and about a month ago, very pink from all the cherry blossoms in the city.
"I am into my second semester here in university and the papers are getting quite interesting. I had two exams last week so now that it’s done and dusted, I have much more space to think about other things. I’ve been accepted to attend an International Criminal Law and Human Rights conference hosted by an INGO in Sicily in June. I’m really excited about this because there will be 60 others from all around the world, ranging in experience and professional levels. There are also some Australian representatives who work on a global level who will be presenting and it is as close to home as I will get at this stage! I am excited to do the course.”
She has also applied for a fellowship in Berlin called the Aryeh Neier Fellowship with an NGO with the Open Foundation.
Ricardo Krauskopf forwarded to President Donna a letter from Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Timor Leste’s Minister for Education. The letter is addressed to Spend it Well, our in-country partners, but it is a ’thank you’ letter to all those who contributed to the construction and fit-out of the Belola Primary School and Kindergarten.The delivery of the ‘Railuli Primary School’is the second school project in partnership with the Balibo House Trust [BHT] and Spend It Well [SIW]. Railuli will open in July 2019.
President Donna has confirmed accepting Cristobal Suarez from Chile. Many thanks to mentor John O’Connell, host families; Peter Sinke with a farm home stay, Tania Woodcock and our outbound exchange students Rosie Darragh and Annie as well as District 9940 Youth Committee coordinator Gaylene Lines from Tawa Rotary Club as a final back up. Peter’s grandson Rhys has just returned from his exchange in France
Cristobal will be covered for his monthly allowance to travel to Rotary and District Events by an increase of our fees of $80 for his year from July to July He will pay for his own South Island tour and activities.
Comings and Goings
As usual our travelling members were variously welcomed home and farewelled.
What's coming up in May and beyond?
Next week, four senior students from Porirua College will participate in a panel discussion. The panel will be comprised of their head boy and head girl and their deputies. What do youth of Porirua want? This will be a fantastic opportunity to listen to our youth. You are all invited to bring partners, spouses and friends to hear these young leaders.
Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ presents the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival at the Michael Fowler Centre on 1-2 June. If you want more information please click here.
For all future events go to the Events page.
Parting thought
From Gwen Hoople, “If what you do is satisfying you don’t need leisure in the old-fashioned sense. No-one ever asked what Newton or Darwin or Bach did to relax, or how they spent their weekends. I wish you all a very satisfying week and that you don’t need any leisure time.”
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 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.