District Governor: Gillian Jones 2020/21
President: Sally Morch
Secretary: Murray Gillespie
Club Website: www.rotaryngamotu.club
Present: Sally Morch, Des Friedrich, Mike Makein, Dennis Eales, Wally Garrett, David Brownson, Murray Gillespie, Owen McCluggage, Tony Bird , Jan Dempsey, Harry Duynhoven, Stephen Bovett
Guests: John Snook - WITT CEO Guest speaker
Apologies: Gary Brown, Geoff Harding, David Gibson, Chas Wilcox, David Lusk
Message from President Sally
Greetings in Rotary,
My note last week was too late to go in the bulletin but Murray assures me we will make it this time. From now on there will be a message from me in the Bulletin.
Next week is our Club Forum. It is an extremely important meeting as we have several things to complete and discussions to have as a team.
Please bring a device with you, either a laptop, ipad or smartphone. We have some important forms to fill in for Rotary and these can be done online, however, we will have hard copy for those who do not have a device. We will also be having a look at our website and how to find your way around it easier.
The Board have discussed membership over the last two board meetings and we would like every member to come along armed with ideas around attracting new members. Maybe you could also come with some suggestions for people who you think would make responsible members in the 45-60+ age group. As our Rotary International President, Holger Knaack says, “ No age is a barrier to Rotary.”
We will also be discussing Community Service Projects. Come along with ways in which you can help your Rotary Club do good in the community. We need to come up with a Centennial Project for our club maybe something that helps our community recover from the pandemic. But, then again it could be something altogether different.
On a different note we need a venue for our September social get together. Think about if we can have it at your place. Let me know as soon as possible. The date for this will be the 7th September. Still potluck weather I think.
Raffle: Stephen Bovett
Fines: Sally fined based on little known facts of members
3 Minute Talk: Sally read an amusing short story by a wag from a Retirement Village about the current Virus situation reminding the younger generations that those in the village grew up in the 60's where drugs, sex, rebellion outrageous flirting was a way of life.
This being the case they were not ready to give in easily to such things as viruses, charging their glasses to challenge the lockdown environment and prove that they are still resilient , worthwhile members of the community.
Guest Speaker: John Snook CEO WITT
Introduced by Harry Duynhoven: Harry mentioned that John has been 18 months in his current position. He was born in Christchurch but brought up in Palmerston North, Freyberg College. Came to New Plymouth via Rotorua and is a Bell Block resident. Married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren
John said that his passion was sport in particular Rugby he represented Canterbury in the Under 12 age group. However when the 81 Springbok tour came to New Zealand he abandoned rugby under a family directive.
His passion for Sport took him to Otago University and the Sports Phys'd School.
He worked at UCOL in Palmerston North and involved in the merger of Whanganui Poltech with UCOL.
At Rotorua he was deputy CEO at Wairaiki Polytech and contributed to it growing from a $10M a year business to a $50M business when he left.
WIIT he describes as an entity thats been asset stripped with little investment in the future. He's inherited a deferred $15M maintenance situation, with leaky buildings that are now 50 years old.
Under the Cloak of Knowledge scheme supported by successive governments WITT received $10m annually from the Crown. He pointed out that both Southland and Nelson equivalents received $35M.
There is no community ownership of WITT. Small organisations in Taranaki are duplicating what WITT should be doing diluting its effectiveness in his opinion.
Currently there are 320 staff with a fortnightly wage bill of $340,000. Many staff on on short term contracts that don't provide security for their future.
WITT Ltd will disappear in 2 years time when 16 NZ Polytech's will be merged into one NZSIT.
It will become a Vocational Institution with the intention of stripping out layers of management so that the focus is on delivering practical outcomes by hiring teachers with practical Trade/vocational backgrounds with security of employment being a high priority.
Planning is focussed on a sustainable workforce to 2050, with the region leading change and providing qualified suitable students for employment in particularly the practical, productive sector of the unique Taranaki economy.
Investment will be required in equipping the campus with Smart Technology, workshop equipment, which has been severely rundown over the years.
Thanks: Jan Dempsey, who commented that Johns talk was refreshingly honest about WITT's current predicament and thanked him for taking the time to talk to us wishing him well for the future.
From President Sally:
Cancer Society: Sally has a roster that she would like to see filled up for Daffodil Day Saturday 28th August and manning Centre City and Other sites on Friday and Saturday.
Police Vetting: Required for Reading in Schools (currently on hold with COVID 19 level 2) also for youth and elderly projects. Dennis Eales is the club liaison person and as previously mentioned getting members up to date will be incorporated into the Club Forum on Monday 31st August. Vetting is also required by the Cancer Society for their projects.
RYPEN: Now to be held on weekend 16-19th October. Taranaki network aiming to get 100% support from all secondary schools
Rotary Leadership Institute: Saturday 25th October:
This is available in New Plymouth for any member that wants to know more about Rotary.
Parting Thought: Mike Makein
The two hardest things to say in life are 1.0 saying gidday and 2.0 saying goodbye.
