Sargent David belatedly announced that the eggs were available so the meeting could start! 

 

There were 14 members present, plus three guests. 

 

Apologies were received from Greg (at a board meeting) and Max (still tiki touring around Oz)

 

Colin publicised a Food Truck Nite (sic) on Thursday 23rd March at Buono, the new eatery at 69 St Georges Bay Rd, It's sponsored by the Parnell Business Association and sounds as though  it could be an fun event - 5-9 pm

Malcolm  told members that Henry, Ingrid, Don C, Malcolm and prospective member Drew had been involved in an event supporting a charity drive by the Salvation Army.

President David said that district has asked the club to donate $1,000 to the cyclone relief fund. The proposal received the general assent of the meeting however it was pointed out that the donation would have to be approved by the board. YHC believes that if a donation is made it should go to a Rotary Club in the area (Napier, Hastings or Gisborne) and District should issue a press release publicising the donation.  

 

David had his normal range of cv quotes. One he forgot was "I used to be conceited  so I went to a psychiatrist. He fixed that. Now I'm perfect". 

 

YHC reminded members that the census is now due. He encouraged all members to describe their ethnicity as inuit, mainly because it's a damn stupid question designed to reinforce the woke's racial divisions in the country. And he wants igloos in Queen Street!

 

Cheryl Adamson, General Manager of the Parnell Business  Association updated us on happenings in the village. 

The association sponsors features to attract more visitors. For example the Christmas display in Heard Park and last year's Whale Tail Trail. Tourism is slowly picking up after the covid lockdowns and show a 7% increase on last year. 

 

New enterprises like Faradays on Faraday St (seriously up market) and Buono (see above). There are new apartment blocks being built although Summerset has decided not to go ahead with their development by Parnell railway station.

The crime rate is up by 70%, largely driven by the  'homeless' people being housed in old boarding houses.

Finally, there were serious floods at the bottom of The Strand, possibly caused by blocked drains with a furniture store losing $500,000 worth of stock.

 

This was an interesting talk about the club's area. Members can benefit from interactions with the business association.  

 

Enjoy this bulletin! YHC will be in Cambridge next Wednesday and standby editor Rory has an appointment so he won't be able to substitute.  Next week's speaker is a very capable person with an interesting story to tell and a personal friend of YHC!