Greetings in Rotary
Wow what a great night we had at Summerset Mountain View with our special guest District Govenor Gillian Jones and her partner Kevin Prestney. The Board met with DG Gillian prior to the evening meeting and we had a frank and full discussion with her about the state of the club and where to from here.
It was my pleasure on behalf of the club to present Jan Dempsey with a Paul Harris Fellow and as a complete surprise to Jan her son Nick had joined us from Auckland.
We were entertained by a group of ballroom dancers from Dance Connexion followed by a beautiful meal catered for by the cafe at the Village.
I announced that the club had been chosen for a Team Award by Volunteering New Plymouth as part of their Community Awards. We were nominated by the Cancer Society.
This will be presented on Saturday 5th December at 10.30am at the NPDC Chambers in Liardet Street. Anyone who would like to join me for this to represent the club please let me know as soon as possible. We have an allocation of 10 seats so first in first served as they say. We need to be at the council building by 10am.
Don’t forget we have a fifth Monday this week so there will be a Forum meeting next Monday.
Yours in Rotary
Sally Morch
Paul Harris Fellowship awarded to Jan Dempsey:
DG Gillian's address:
Gillian is a member of The Rotary Club of Wellington and resides in the Wairarapa. She thanked President Sally for the warm welcome she and Kevin had received and the positive discussion she had with the Club's Board prior to the meeting.
Gillian congratulated President Sally and the club for the Volunteering Team Community award we are to receive.
She spoke about the challenges clubs face with declining membership (2 clubs are to close this year) within the District. The need to adapt and be innovative cannot be over emphasised. The COVID 19 Pandemic is an ongoing challenge. Identifying need in the community was important noting our clubs assistance with the New Plymouth Foodbank as a good example.
She emphasised the Rotary in New Zealand Centennial projects: Give Every Child a Future, Trees for Peace and Remembrance, The centennial publication: History of 100 years of Rotary in New Zealand and the Regional Chidren's Hospital being built in Wellington (Rotary naming rights sponsorship fitting out of Whanau Rooms). All projects our club was endeavouring to support.
We were encouraged to attend the District Conference in March 2021. Each club was to dress in the decade of their inauguration for the Saturday night festivities.
Assistant Governor Des Friedrich thanked Gillian for her address and also for her comments that our club and the Taranaki Network were punching above its weight in supporting the District.
General Business
Wally Garrett
Mentioned the Garage Sale the club is organising for Chas and Pat Wilcox on Saturday 28th November 7.30-9-30pm at their home 51 Brois St,Frankleigh Park
Principally to sell items that Pat and Chas no longer need
Any club member that has items they would like to sell are welcome to bring them along.
He also called for volunteers to assist at The Cancer Society on Tuesday.
David Lusk
Reported on his attendance with Raewyn at the opening of The New St Johns Centre held on Friday 20th November. A booklet was circulated listing all sponsors which included acknowledging our club's contribution to St John from the 2019 Golf Tournament.
