President 2023/24: Jan Dempsey
Secretary 2023/24: Michael Archer
Club Website: http//www.rotaryngamotu.club
Apologies for Meetings by 12.00 Noon Day of meeting
To Wally Garrett:
Email: wal.barb@xtra.co.nz
Mobile: 027 859 7580
Home: 7550988
For Meeting: 14th August 2023
Welcome : Jan welcomed 12 members and a Guest: Ainslie Duncan (Race Unity Awards, coordinator)
Apologies had been received from :David Gibson, Tony Bird, Harry Duynhoven, John Pitman, Ian Smiley, Myles Derry, David Lusk
Raffle: Michael Archer
Fines : Murray Gillespie
3 Minute Speaker: Gary Brown
Gary is the chairman of the Lake Taupo Preservation Society
He told the remarkable story of a fishing lady (Heather) who was fishing in the Hydro pool
and suffered a heart attack while standing in the pool. Apparently she was dead before she hit the water. A fellow angler (Veterinary Surgeon) spotted her floating in the river shortly after and managed to got her heart going. She woke up 3 days later in hospital despite 3 broken ribs, her brain was undamaged.
Race Unity Speech Awards :Ainslie Duncan
Ainslie explained that these awards had been held since 2002 in honour of an Iranian Bahai ,Hedi Moani ,who was tragically killed in a racially motivated attack.
A Race Relations Day 21th March (same date as a United Nations equivalent) was established in 2002 in New Zealand through the Office of the Race Relations Conciliator.
The Race Unity Speech Awards were established after his passing as a contribution to eliminating prejudice and bringing about unity. The growing influence of the Speech Awards are confirmation that Hedi’s example has motivated many young New Zealanders to speak out against prejudice and to strive for unity – indeed participants in the Speech Awards often refer to Hedi in their speeches.
The awards are organised by the Bahai Community in New Zealand with support and sponsorship coming from:
The New Zealand Police have been the principal sponsors of the Speech Awards since 2008, with further (and very welcome) sponsorship being offered by the Human Rights Commission, the Office of Ethnic Communities and the Hedi Moani Charitable Trust. The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils and Speech New Zealand also offer very welcome and valuable support.
We were treated to 2 excellent addresses by Zachary (Francis Douglas College) and Anandi (New Plymouth Girls High School)
The theme for the 2023 Speeches was "Nurture the Young"
Both emphasised that we are not born racist but we are heavily influenced by our surroundings, peers, community in shaping our opinions about racism.
Both have over their short years learnt to accept their own cultures and be proud of their heritage rather than being apologetic which has made them determined to speak out when confronted by prejudice.
Special General Meeting :
Rotary Club of Ngāmotu - Special General Meeting
held at the Auto Lodge on Monday, 14th August, 2023
Present : Jan Dempsey, Immediate Past President; Wally Garrett, President-elect; David Brownson; Dennis Eales; Des Friedrich; Gary Brown; Geoff Harding; Michael Archer; Murray Gillespie; Owen McCluggage; Sally Morch and Simon Northrop. ( twelve)
Motion : proposed by the Club Directors ( and three weeks’ notice of the SGM having been given ) to elect the following to serve on the Board of the Club for remainder the Rotary year 2023 / 2024:
- Wally Garrett ( currently President-elect ) to serve as Club President
- John Pitman as Club Treasurer
- Murray Gillespie as a Director.
The motion was seconded by Sally Morch and carried unanimously ( no votes against or abstentions ).
Wally Garrett was presented with the Chains of Office and spoke about the need to address the direction the club was heading particularly falling membership.
The contents of his address have been circulated to all members and there will be further discussion at the August 28th Meeting led by John Pitman.
Wally requested that members who were unable to attend the meeting email him with their thoughts on the direction we should be taking.
Forest of Peace and Remembrance
Des Friedrich mentioned that the NPDC has provided the 400 plants necessary to finish the project. The Special Needs Unit children at Inglewood Primary School will be involved in helping to plant these trees next Tuesday.
He mentioned that working bees to finish the project will be on Tuesday's and Sundays from now on weather permitting. From 10-12.00pm
The completion of planting will be marked with a plaque mounted on a stone to be moved to an appropriate position. There is still a 3.5 year responsibility to maintain the trees before sign off.
