President David opened the meeting. There were 16 members present including Malcolm who has recently returned from the sub-continent.
Apologies: Don S, David J, Wendy, Colin, Phillippa (on grandmother duties).
NB: If you want your apologies recorded, (and who doesn't?) send YHC a note at nickhamnz@gmail. com so he can try to remember to put them in the bulletin!
Sargeant's session. In the absence of David J Corporal Stephen collected. The traditional fine "birthday" was included - going back the last six months. that was a real money spinner! Malcolm 'bought the bag' to very briefly tell us of the thrills and especially the spills of motorbiking around India.
Three minute speaker: Rory told us how he met his wife - on an flight between LA and Boston. That lead to a long distance romance and eventual marriage. Be careful who your husband/wife sits next to on a 'plane - you never know! (PS Both Rory and his wife were single at the time!)
President's announcements:
The first meeting every month is a 'collection day' for bathroom toiletries for the Care Foundation. An opportunity for all of us to make life a wee bit easier for people less advantaged than ourselves.
ERKs packing - see details in the left hand side of this brilliant piece of literature!
You'll see that this is an updated bulletin format - very capable people have added "Events' to the left hand column. So there are no excuses people. Open your diaries and entre all the events that you can contribute to. Many members joined because of the projects - here are some!
The Speaker: (s)
(Actually before there's a comment on the speech YHC has to commend the people who set up the projector - it worked first time! Is this a record?)
District Governor Alan Smith (plus wife Sue) gave the presentation.
Alan's parents were "Ten pound poms" who immigrated to NZ after the war. He was born in Kaitaia, played rugby league, joined the police and was promoted to sargent then went into the private sector. He knew Ted when he was working so he's well connected!
In our district, 9920, nine different languages are spoken. Alan emphasised the importance of diversity, mainly physical, gender, colour, etc. rather than diversity in attitudes and beliefs.
Alan picked up on Rotary's 2022/3 theme of "Imagine Rotary" which was interpreted as telling others of Rotary's achievements and said, "If you have a good idea give it a go".
He commented on Zone 8's regionalisation project. The zone, which covers Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, should reduce costs, both in money and volunteers' time and improve interaction between clubs.
Alan's wife Sue told us of ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Age for Children ). The charity brings children from the Pacific islands to Australia or New Zealand for sophisticated medical treatment which isn't available in their home country and has trained medical professionals in Vanuatu.
The District Conference will in March at Karaka, with a shortened programme to keep costs down.
The RI Convention (that's the world wide one) will be in Melbourne in late May 2023. Currently discussion are taking place to organise a hotel for members going from our district so it could be quite fun. (The Ever loving and YHC went to a RI Convention in Brisbane some years ago, very enlightening and great fun!)
The meeting finished at 8.38am.
