Greetings everyone.
Another interesting speaker last Monday night. Evan Davies from New Plymouth Boy’s High School speaking about the community service a group of boys are involved in. Also accompanying Evan was Oliver, Year 11 student who has transformed his life being involved since Year 9. Murray will tell you more in this bulletin.
We are still having trouble with people not ringing or messaging apologies. Wally rings the Auto Lodge just after lunch on the Monday, when we are having a meeting, with the numbers. If you don’t put in an apology then the numbers are not a true and correct record of attendance. The club pays for the numbers that are rung in. If you consequently don’t attend we need to charge you for your meal otherwise the club will run out of money.
We would like a full attendance on Monday 19th April when we are making decisions on the running of the club. You will have read in the last Bulletin the ideas that were discussed. We need you to have your say, it is your club. The Board make day to day decisions but we need guidance on the big things from members.
Guest speakers
David Lusk introduced Evan who in turn introduced Ollie
Ollie is a year 11 student at NPBHS who has from year 9 been actively involved in a CAB (Community Action Base) programme at the school.
He along with other boys has volunteered
every second week at the Taranaki Retreat
Gardening, moving firewood.
Completed a path to a sleep out.
Helping to set up a quiet area for time out and space.
They've also been helping the Food Bank, The Holy Trinity Church with meals for churches sorting left over food from
Cafe's, Rest Homes, Supermarkets and doing street collection for The Women's refuge raising $3-4000
Evan explained that it was an honour for him to introduce Ollie as a truly remarkable and heroic young man who arrived at the school as a very quiet and introverted person in year 9 and has overcome tremendous hurdles in his life
to be a role model for others.
Evan who is Director of Culture at NPBHS (Arts, Drama, Community) explained that he is focussed on investing time in others to gain a greater sense of purpose in life.
His focus is to support organisations working with the most vulnerable in the Community needing food, safety, dignity, shelter and often suffering from mental illness.
He says the boys are superb in supporting those in need.
He used the phrase :
That empathy is the greatest strength in life and is achieved through sensitivity.
Evan is working with The Strategic Collective to develop a website for Hope HQ Taranaki.
This site aims to identify and prioritise the needs of Volunteer Community organisations. Hoping to Unify, Inform, Support, provide outcomes. He sees linking community is the key to transformation.
Evan has worked in Springfield Prison doing a programme with prisoners of songs from the inside, with creative expression towards a better tomorrow.
What Evan didn't mention was that he has recently taken up Standup Comedy, appearing as a support act at the 4th Wall Theatre recently.
Evan is keen to have a trailer, with a lawn mower/tools and the ability for the boys to keep gardens and lawns for those in need.
Stephen Bovett thanked Evan and Ollie for their presentation and their laudable efforts in the community mirroring Rotary's objectives.
