Club Meeting at the Auto Lodge, Monday, 12th February, 2024
Present : President, Wally Garrett; Immediate Past President, Jan Dempsey; David Brownson; Geoff Harding; John Pitman; Dennis Eales; Murray Gillespie, Sally Morch, Des Friedrich, Simon Northrop, Tony Bird, Myles Derry( 12)
Apologies Geoff Harding, Michael Archer, Ian Smiley (LOA) (3)
Visiting Rotarians: Majoie Hemelaar ( SouthAfrica),
Guests: , Olivia Williams (34th Rotary Science and Technology Forum Student) and her mother, Abby Rawlinson- RYLA attendee.(Guest speakers)
Grace :David Brownson
Fines were levied by Murray Gillespie on pertinent subjects.
Olivia Williams-
Introduced by Jan Dempsey
Olivia is from Sacred Heart College (Year 13). She attended the same 34th Rotary Science and Technology Forum that our previous speaker Patricia Malapat attended. 168 Students from around NZ
Inspired by an address from Dr Michelle Dickinson- Nanogirls cofounder- a passionate. researcher and teacher with a love of science and engineering. Michelle has made it her life mission to make science and engineering fun and accessible.
Her Dragon's Den challenge was to explore a way to unite bus, trains and cars, her group came second in this challenge.
During the 2 weeks they were exposed to a very broad range of branches of science and visits to several different science related companies.
Some of the activities she was involved with included:Artificial Intelligence and how to use it, Psychology -optical illusions, Recrysailisation, Liquid nitrogen (turning onions into concrete), distilling Methanol from Wine, Forensic DNA, Robotics (including coding), biomedical engineering.
Social activities included: Skits, debates, volleyball, disco.
She obviously gained experience by being exposed to a wider range of science opportunities than she had previously realised were available as career options
Thanked by Des Friedrich.
Abby Rawlinson
Introduced by Jan Dempsey.
Abbie attended a 5 day Rotary Sponsored RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) course at Otaki.
For her this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Age range was 18-24 (35 attendees) which she thought was a good range of ages.
Supported by a Blue team of ex RYLA attendees she described as special people who were dedicated to volunteer their time and planning towards the course outcomes.
She described it as a full on participation experience, with social interaction, learning to cope with new ideas, learning from others particularly as she was from a provincial town when most of the attendees were from the Wellington area with diverse views she hadn't ben exposed to before.
Many speakers addressed them she mentioned in particular: Kaibosh a non-profit organisation started in 2008 works towards zero food poverty and zero food waste in the greater Wellington area. This is done by ensuring potentially waste food from supermarkets, food outlets, markets etc don't end up in landfills but is distributed to those in need.
She participated in a RYLA bakeoff demonstrating how different people can work together, product donated to Kapiti Foodbank.
Wrote Life goals- one of hers is to have her own home by 25 which she's well on the way to achieving.
David Williams who has has run the RYLA course for 25 years was a real morale booster for all those attending.
Olivia is a water technician with the NPDC and this course gave her confidence to continue to take on leadership roles presented in her career and elsewhere.
Thanked by Des Friedrich.
From President Wally.
Majoie Hemelaar formally welcomed to the club as a transferring member this is her 5th Rotary Club.
Dinner at Flourish: Monday 22nd March, 6.00pm
The club has been invited to a meal at Flourish in the New Plymouth Racecourse Tuson Stand to thank us for the donation from the Golf Tournament.
Meal being catered will include beef Lasagne, A chicken dish, a vegetarian dish and will be buffet served.
Cost is $30/person attending. Partners, friends and family invited.
6 indicated they would go at the meeting.
Please confirm numbers to Murray Gillespie: mandagillespie@xtra.co.nz, 0279244281 by Friday 22nd March please.
RYDA- Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (now delivered by Road Safety Education Ltd in Australia and NZ)
Wally mentioned he had been contacted by Ruth Nicholls (from RSA) on 18th March for volunteers to assist at Francis Douglas College Tuesday 19th. Unfortunately a little late at this time.
Update from Ella Hawthorne (Optician we supported to go to Mercy Ship)
Murray to send this out to all members.
Centennial Committee.
Jan provided an update.
Dennis Eales offered to replace Judy Hanline (Resigned) on the committee. He will be attending the District Conference and Whanganui Club's Centenary celebrations (will provide feedback)
Rotary Club of Palmerston North are having a Centennial Celebration on May 25. Some members of the committee may attend this celebration.
Primary School Leaders Workshop -NYLD (National Young Leaders Day)
Sally Morch moved that the club via The Trust support sending 8 Moturoa students and parents to a Primary School Children's leadership workshop in Palmerston North 9.30am-2.30pm
Cost $49/student $25/adult
Approx cost $500 seconded by Myles
Agreed.
Trust Report: Des Friedrich
Re Rotary Flats. YTD nett profit $20,000 (cf to $19,000 last year) going to a maintenance reserve fund investment.
$9000/year still available to be given away.
Des also mentioned that the Trust and Club need to be aware of a Guide for Treasurers Role Booklet written by Graham Evans District Treasurer re responsibilities around Income tax liability etc..
