The meeting started at 7.36 am;
Members Present:
Twelve members were present plus one guest speaker.
President:
There is a working session at Gizmo's Garden scheduled for Thursday 20th and a load of horse shit to shovel the following Thursday. KO is getting very bureaucratic about the street-side section - which they want to sell. It seems that the inmates can not be trusted to be in public view!
Mention was made of a meeting to be hosted by Steve Corbett - "Rotary Means Business". This is about business-to-business connections, incubation, and overseas promotion. The meeting is scheduled for 1 April - all welcome.
The President is attending a President-Elect training session - better late than never!
Three-Minute Speaker:
There was no three-minute speaker on account of Max's absence. His turn will come.
Sargeant Colleen:
Environmental factors can lead to a shorter life! Just as well that none of these have affected the current membership! Eat more cheese, go to the gym, and keep physical - who would have guessed?
School fees of $28k, police training spreading to Auckland, meth in the wastewater, no participation in Round the Bays, Five Eyes intelligence group should be "Four Eyes" as the US seems to lack the essential ingredient!, and singing Danny Boy on St Patricks Day. None of this could be blamed on the members present, but they paid up anyway. Nick got a mention for his letter in the Herald on Saturday.
Rory bought the book - he turned up one day late to the Newmarket dinner!
President - Part II:
Duffy Books in Homes. GI role-model assembly later in March (Not much left now!) Attendees please!
You are all invited to dinner with the Waiheke Club on the evening of Monday 31st. Please make the effort - let's be sociable! Don and the scribe will be available for transportation.
Do we need the scheduled Cafe Lala session as well on Wednesday 2nd? Probably not!
Main Speaker:
Our speaker was Nicola Christie representing the Anglican Women and Children Trust (ATWC). This has been around since 1865 in various forms, changing its focus as social mores have changed over the years. It started as an orphanage which burnt down in 1905 and in due course became a home for "fallen women". The service grew to many other locations as the city itself grew over the years.
It has now changed from residential care to overall support Now based in Otahuhu the Trust runs ten programmes that cover many aspects of social care. Two programmes mentioned in more detail were:
1. The Mother and Children at Risk Programme, which teaches personal skills and addresses family violence.
2. The Family Start Programme, which teaches parenting skills and helps families adapt, such as when a grandparent has to take on the child-rearing task.
The Return to School Day helped over 500 people with the necessities for the new school year.
Staff come from all societal groups. Financial challenges are perennial, and lobbying is a major activity for the Trust.
The Trust has, and is, addressing the issues that have been brought to light by the Royal Commission.
The Trust receives about 80% of its income from services funded by the Government. If you wish to know more about the Trust - then please visit their website.
Finally, Kathy's teddy bears got a very positive mention - well done Kathy!
Malcolm thanked Nicola on behalf of the Club.
The meeting closed at 8.30 am.
