Secretary 2022/23: Michael Archer

 

 

 

Present: , Stephen Bovett  Murray Gillespie, Geoff Harding, Mike Makein, Owen McCluggage, Jan Dempsey, Michael Archer, Simon Northrop, Harry Duynhoven, David Lusk, Dennis Eales, Wally Garrett, Tony Bird, David Gibson

 

Apologies: Des Friedrich, Gary Brown, Sally Morch, Judy Hanline, Richard Handley

 

 

 

 

Fines:Wally Garrett (on Royal matters)

 

Raffle: Owen McCluggage

 

3 Minute Speaker: Mike Makein

 

Mike spoke about the Polio Virus

 

He mentioned that this had been around (in the bowel and sewage) in 3 forms for eons back to the Pharoh's, Became a real issue in the 1950's. Of those that contracted the virus most had mild flu like symptoms, a few had menangitis type symptoms, a very small 0.2%  had paralytic, motor neurone serious symptoms.

 

Vacinations have successfully inactivated the 3 types of virus worldwide through WHO, Rotary and Bill Gates Foundation efforts. Elimination has been successful like Smallpox through this avenue for types 2 and 3. Unfortunately type 1 in the wild form still exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, largely because of an anti vaccination culture. As a result its been inevitable that with people from these countries travelling world wide a few cases are being detected elsewhere. Monitoring sewage for Public Health reasons is an important preventative measure most countries adopt to manage the potential threat.

 

 

 

Introduced by Harry Duynhoven who has known Elizabeth as a friend for some time, mentioned that she had helped his son to earn a living writing reports.

 

Elizabeth's a New Plymouth born nationally  and Internationally recognised poet and author.

 

She was the the 3rd poet to become a New Zealand Poet Laureate.

 

This award was initiated by Sir Peter Buck (in 1997 the year of the Centenary of Te Mata Winery)

 

The award is now administered by The National Library.

 

When Elizabeth was made a laureate the grant(for 2 years was $5000.00 plus a stipend of Te Mata Wine!)

 

The Grant is now $100,000 and a stipend of Te Mata wine.

 

Elizabeth recited some of her recent Poems:

 

The case of the left handed lady

Vacuum Cleaner Robot- getting tied up in curtains!!

Au la la Rag Doll

House on the Hill

Courtage of sisters- about a funeral procession where the pallbearers were all women.

 

In her words the images we have, lift us out of the ordinary and convey beauty

 

She emphasised that anyone can write poetry about anything it's entirely up to the author's imagination. Harry was challenged to use the council meetings as an opportunity!!

 

She's a prolific writer of published poems and mainly short stories.

 

In thanking Elizabeth for making the time to talk to us Michael Archer mentioned how fortunate we are to have someone so talented within our own community and what a pleasure it was to hear her poems.

 

 

 

Jan and Stephen attended this only 9 Rotarians from Taranaki attended.

 

Here are the main points coming from the meeting

 

 

1. Must be relevant to the community

2. Rotarians have donated $38M to Ukraine and Slovakia- young people impressed

3. Keep flexible

4. Passport to the world- desire to belong for friendship, integrity, diversity, service, leadership

5. What are we doing great/what could we do better

6. Connect with prospective members- give them a flyer to fill in

7. Customise a club brochure

8. Engage young professionals

Engage prospective and current members.

 

 

 

1. Improve connectivity with our community-ask what they want

2. Up our publicity-Facebook?

3. Be more active in the community.

4. Practice 'Service before self"

5. Re-introduce subcommittees for various activities- needs based

6. Agile leaders

7. Engage young leaders from schools: Prefects, Rotaract, Interact Clubs.

8. Projects educationally focussed

9. Support those with a disability and/or economically disadvantaged.

 

 

Jan requested that she would still like to hear from members (only 3 so far) on their thoughts on the health of the Club at present and what they would like to see happen in the future. 

 

 

The directors have decided that we should still meet on this night even though it will be a public holiday

 

 

Dennis Eales

 

With all our thoughts we loved our Queen