|
Financial Crisis
A Message
from Lifetime Financial Services - Sponsor of the 2009 District Conference
Back to the Contents List
Conference
Mt Cook
Registrations are now well over 300. Remember,
registrations will be limited to 400 so it is strictly first in first
served.
Having accomodation booked does NOT guarantee
you a place at conference, just a bed in the hotel so make sure you are
registered.
We have some exciting additional activities
which will be advised to registrants closer to conference. All is in place
for a fantastic weekend at Aoraki/Mt Cook in May 2009 so see you there.
Brent Goldsmid
Conference Chair
Back to the Contents List
|
Rotary Club of Nelson
SERIOUS FISHING CLUB
The Serious Fishing Club began fishing
trips in 1993 - the club is now 15 years old, and some of the original
members are still around! Over the years the format of the trip has
changed - initially on John Brown's "Serendipity" staying in Deep Bay,
and later with Danny Boulton out of French Pass then other charter providers.
Last year saw the club venture away from the Marlborough Sounds to Kaikoura
and crayfish were added to the menu!
The club also had a days fishing on the
trip to the Chatham Islands in 2003 There have been many memorable moments
on these trips and some memorable events, but in good fishermans tradition
embarrassing events are not mentioned - except perhaps the adventures
of members with an electric fence while trying to fix the water supply
at Deep Bay. A number of ex-members of the Nelson Rotary Club have returned
to join members on SFC members on further fishing trips.
The latest trip was the first trip with
Seabird Charters and happened on Friday 31st of October. The "Cappy"
left Nelson Haven at 7 am with a dozen keen fishermen. A stiff Souwester
was blowing and the people standing in the rear of the boat retreated
inside out of the spray as we went out of the cut. The boat travelled
along at 20 knots and the wind improved somewhat as we motored to D'Urville
Island and began fishing to the West of Stephens Passage. We thought
the slow start to the fishing was due to one members bringing banana
on the trip but this changed and we began to harvest large blue cod.
Despite trying the grouper spots, none of these were caught - the explanation
being that they were spawning at this time of the year.
Some members on the trip suffered somewhat
from mal de mer and were grateful when we eventually headed for calmer
seas and travelled along the Eastern coast of D'Urville Island where
we saw a large pod of dolphins before we passed through French Pass
with its impressive seas. We finished off the fishing with snapper catches
in Current Basin before we headed back to Nelson Haven, arriving at
about 6 pm. The day involved some 80 Km of travel and 11 hours of boating.
The charter operator was very obliging and provided us with rods and
reels, bait, scones tea and coffee for morning tea, and filleted all
our fish for us - a task that took nearly all the time between French
pass and Nelson Haven.
The next Serious Fishing Club trip venue
and time has not been decided upon though it is likely to occur early
next year - so be prepared to cancel unimportant commitments. Holders
of the fisherperson's trophy, currently held by Peter Robins, in the
past were: Ken Johnson, Keith Ercolano, Barrie Staite, Terri Potroz,
Garth Taylor, Lester Wilson, Graeme Prestidge, Graeme Robertson, John
Ryder, Alex Rutherford and Brian Pratt The Chatham Island trip and the
SFC both feature on the old website, that I can no longer edit. You
may be interested in looking. Some photos of the trip are included here
John RYDER Organiser
 ..
Back to the Contents List
|
|
New Members
A warm welcome to these new members and
their partners:
John Carnoutsis (Michelle) Riccarton 15th
Dec.
Jerome McNeill (Kerry) Hornby 19th Nov.
Stephen Doeke (Carole) Blenheim South 18th
Nov (ex Lincoln)
If we are missing any others please let us
know.
Back to the Contents List
|
..
More happy kids at Wharenui and Riccarton School
with Dictionaries
- Presented by the Rotary Club of Riccarton
Back to the Contents List
|
|
RI Convention
The 100th Rotary International Convention will be held
on 21st-24th June 2009 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham,
England. Details of registration and the booking of accommodation are
on www.rotary.org/convention.
The Convention Website is:
www.rotaryconvention2009.com
Promotional brochures can be downloaded from the convention
website
Back to the Contents List
|
Group Study Exchange
2009
This is the first call for Home Hosting families
for the 2009 GSE Team from Illinois The GSE Team from Illinois will be
in Rotary District 9970 from Sunday 12 April to 13 May 2009 The draft
programme is as follows:
Christchurch Sunday 12 - Friday 17 April
Blenheim Saturday 18 - Tuesday 21 April
Nelson Wednesday 22 April - Friday 24 April
(the team will spend Labour weekend at Nelson Lakes)
Westport Monday 27 April - Tuesday 28 April
Greymouth Wednesday 29 April - Friday 1 May
Hokitika Saturday 2 May - Tuesday 5 May
Ashburton Wednesday 6 May - Sunday 10 May
(Conference is 8-10 May at Mt Cook)
Christchurch Monday 11 May - Wednesday 13
May departure
We would welcome calls from anyone who is
keen to home host members of the team. The vocational interests of the
team members are as follows: The leader has a background in recreation
and local government; A male team member is in pharmaceuticals sales;
A male team member is involved in banking and retail lending; A female
team member is involved in recreation and fitness; A female team member
is involved in educational publishing and is an ex-teacher.
If you are able to assist with home hosting,
please email Julie Battersby from the GSE District Committee on Julie.battersby@xtra.co.nz
Yours in anticipation .... Members of the
GSE District Organising Committee
Back to the Contents List
|
|
PDG Les Dixon
Back to the Contents List
|
Eulogy for PDG
Les Dixon 28 August 2008
Thank you Joyce and family for the honour
of asking me to represent Rotary today.
I first met Les and Joyce during my Presidential
year in 1977 when Les was first inducted into the Rotary Club of Rangiora.
Les came to Rangiora during the establishment of Canterbury Timber Products
where he rose to be the Assistant General Manger and Secretary of the
Medium Density Fibre Board Company in Sefton. His Rotary Classification
was Timber Products Processing
As Rotarians we know that when being inducted
into Rotary we are asked to consider what we will put into Rotary sooner
than what we can get from Rotary. What we were not aware of at this time
was of the very significant contribution that lay ahead for Rotary from
Les. Les went on secondment from his job to in 1986 to Chile where he
joined the Santiago Club in the same year. Upon returning to New Zealand
in 1988 he rejoined the Rangiora Club becoming Club President 1992-93,
District Governor's Area Representative in 1994, and was Awarded the Paul
Harris Fellow Award by the Rangiora Club in 1995 ( the Paul Harris Fellow
award is the highest award that can be granted by a Rotary Club to it's
members) and then became District Governor in 1996-97 " During this period
Les built a lasting friendship with PDG (1965 -66) Jack Bayley of the
Rangiora Club who accompanied him to and from Christchurch for our weekly
meetings.
Following Jack's death, Les found the night
traveling was getting him down and joined the Avonhead Club in July 2001
where he became a most valued and respected member. During 2002 Les was
appointed District Administrator " He was Awarded Sapphire Pin June 2006
(A further Paul Harris Award) and in April of 2007 Les was awarded the
first District Medal to be awarded in our District of 9970.
On behalf of all our District of 9970, and
fellow Rotarians we offer our sympathy and thank you Joyce for the way
that you supported Les during his journey in Rotary and for the many many
occasions where we have all shared fellowship with you. Thanks must also
go to your family, as undoubtedly they must have shared Rotary with us
over Les's 31 years of service.
I will close by reading from the Citation
that Les received upon being awarded The "District Medal Award" that was
established by the District to recognise a Rotarian who truly embodies
the motto of Rotary, "Service Above Self" that very suitably highlights
Les's immense contribution. "Les has injected his administrative
and computer skills into establishing proficient systems at both Rotary
Club and Rotary District level. His governance procedures have greatly
enhanced and benefited the administration of Rotary throughout the Rotary
District. These skills were further recognised when the District appointed
him to the newly created Rotary District Office as District Administrator
in 2002. His commitment to this position has been far beyond any reasonable
expectation of responsibility. The
District has been well served by his dedication and commitment to the
furtherance of efficient systems of administration, which will continue
to serve and benefit District 9970 for many years to come".
Alex J Murray
Back to the Contents List
|
|
Polio Plus
Read the End Polio Now quarterly newsletter
to keep informed about our progress in reaching Rotary’s US$100 Million
Challenge and to provide a regular update on the status of polio eradication.
The newsletter includes the latest statistics
on how many cases of polio are remaining and where they are in the endemic
countries. See how Rotarian contributions are steadily achieving the fundraising
goal of $100 million by the year 2010. In addition, get inspired by stories
about Rotarians from around the world who are meeting the challenge through
community and club events.
Click to read the current issue of the End
Polio Now newsletter.
Back to the Contents List
|
An Update
from ShelterBox New Zealand.
Below are extracts of updates ex the UK
re the current ShelterBox deployments in Pakistan, and in the Congo.
Also attached is an Appeal for the Pakistan situation. Also please find
attached our own Newsletter
and News Release We hear
that a couple of Rotary Clubs in Christchurch have a stand at the Royal
Show in Christchurch this week, and a window display of a box, contents
and pullup banners in the main window of Ballantynes in the centre of
Christchurch--some great support coming from the Rotary Clubs in Christchurch.
Also Canterbury TV is showing the ShelterBox
DVD over the weekend--we understand, several times. All this publicity
is creating great interest in ShelterBox, and with this, Rotary. Kind
regards Graham Beach NZ ShelterBox co-ordinator for the Rotary Club
of Mosgiel Charitable Trust info@shelterbox.org.nz
From Pakistan: Mark Pearson SRT, “There
have been a total of 1024 aftershocks here since the 29th October and
the strongest quake felt by us yesterday measuring 5.2 which brought
down hundreds more houses in Ziarat. The needs are still huge. The Balochistan
Times today said the Rotary along with ShelterBox are bringing in the
first winterized tents to Pakistan and the Army are distributing the
much needed relief. Adjusting to the extreme altitude has taken the
best part of 4 days we were all feeling the effects but this hasn’t
stopped the operation and we’re determined to get the first of the tents
up.”
CONGO: ShelterBox is providing aid for
people displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). It has been reported that tens of thousands of people have been
displaced by the current crisis in the DRC. Volunteers packed an initial
200 ShelterBoxes containing ten-man tents, blankets, cooking equipment,
water purification and mosquito nets, which have been sent to Goma in
the Congo. A further 200 boxes will follow. A ShelterBox Response Team
(SRT) is on the ground to distribute the aid to those in need in Goma
and the surrounding area. The DRC is the 50th different country that
ShelterBox has worked in to date.
Back to the Contents List
|
|
A
MESSAGE FROM THE R.I. PRESIDENT;
Dear fellow Rotarians,
As father of four and grandfather
of five, I have been fortunate to have spent many years in the company
of children. When raising our own children, my wife, Young and I worked
hard to give them what all children need most: a loving, safe, and stable
home. Our children were our first priority, and we made sure that they
always had nutritious food, appropriate clothing, quality medical care,
and a good education.
We knew very well how fortunate
we were to be able to do this. We were grateful that we never had to say
to our children, 'I'm sorry, but there's nothing to eat tonight', or 'I'm
sorry we can't pay your school fees'. When I was a child, Korea was a
poor country, and there were many children who went to bed hungry at night
and had no school to go to in the morning. As a Rotarian, I know only
too well that there are far too many children in the world without the
absolute essentials: food, clothing, medical care, and education. As a
Rotarian who is also a father, I consider all of the world's children
to be my responsibility.
When I see my own grandchildren-happy,
healthy and enrolled in good schools-I cannot help but think of the millions
of children who do not have so many advantages. I think of the children
who have too little to eat and only dirty water to drink. I think of the
children who are sick with diseases that could have been prevented and
those who will have nowhere safe to sleep tonight. And I think of the
children, millions of them every year who won't live to see their fifth
birthday.
December is Family Month.
It is time to focus on our families, to involve them in our Rotary service,
and to challenge ourselves to do even more for those in need. Because
there are so many families and so many children waiting for our help,
we, as Rotarians, cannot look away. We cannot and will not rest until
all children, everywhere, have the chance for a long and healthy life.
We will not rest until we Make Dreams Real for every child in every home
where there is hunger, sickness and want. As Rotarians we can do no less.
Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee President,
Rotary International
Back to the Contents List
|
|
Exchange Rate
The final Exchange Rate for December 2008
has now been set.
US$1.00 = NZ$ 1.79
Or
NZ$1.00 = US$0.55865922
Yours in Rotary Service,
Robin Robin D Stirling
Back to the Contents List
|
PROBUS POINTS
"We are absolutely thrilled that after more
than two years of planning, everything went so smoothly for the Christchurch
Probus Rendezvous" reports Jean Burford, Chair of the organising committee
for the recent annual event. More than 650 Probians from New Zealand,
Australia, Philippines and China registered for the weeklong gathering
filled with activities for everyone.
The next Probus Rendezvous will be held in
Perth West Australia. It is pleasing to note that the Rotary Club of Hornby
is holding an interest meeting on 4 December with a view to establishing
a new Probus club in the Halswell district. Some 40 people have registered
their interest in attending the inaugural interest meeting. There is confidence
that a new club will start here early 2009, thus adding to one of Rotary's
success stories.
Similarly, the Rotary Club of Westport has
been asked to investigate the possibility of establishing a Probus club
in that town. There is no Probus in Westport at present.
For enquiries concerning Probus and Probus
matters, please contact the Euan but see also www.probus.com.au
there is a wealth of information there.
Euan Grant, Chair D9970 Probus Committee.
Tel(03)528-7654, email e.r.grant@xtra.co.nz
Back to the Contents List
|
|
Change
of Venue
Rotary Club of Ferrymead.
From the first 20th of January Ferrymead
Club will have the new meeting venue : THE FERRY SPEIGHT'S ALE HOUSE 2A
Waterman Place (off Ferry road) Ferrymead.
Back to the Contents List
|
RDU Update
Dear Rotary friends,
The RDU Newsletter December-January 2008-2009
is attached and
it includes interesting feedback from Rotarians about RDU magazine and
services. Thank you. Beryl Robinson Past District Governor
Back to the Contents List
|
|
Directory
Sponsorship
Opportunity to help your club and the district.
The concept involves clubs approaching members and business contacts to
advertise in the directory at the rate of $600/page.
The proceeds will be split 50/50 with the
club involved for charitable purposes and the balance to the district
towards the cost of the directory. The letter with full details is attached
.
Kind regards: Heather
District Governor Elect
Back to the Contents List
|
December is set
aside by Rotary International as Family Month.
The Rotary International Board has adopted
the following statement on family: The Board, recognizing that
• the family, which is the basic unit of
society in the community, is struggling with a host of complex social
and economic problems that are attacking its structure;
• in many parts of the world, this breakdown
of the traditional structure is, in turn, threatening the fabric of community
life;
• Rotary’s longtime commitment to Community
Service makes it imperative for Rotarians to actively address the crisis
in the family today;
• Encourages Rotarians, Rotary clubs, and
districts worldwide to:
a) bring their power to bear through existing
programs on the most formidable problems facing families today, including
but not limited to domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, homelessness,
drug and alcohol abuse, gang activities, child-care needs, and underemployment;
b) instill the importance of universal human
values in the homes, schools and communities of the world;
c) continue current projects and undertake
new ones that strengthen the family structure and make it a secure anchor
for the larger community;
d) demonstrate their commitment to family
and community through projects, activities, and events in celebration
of “Family Month” each year.
Back to the Contents List
|
|
Polio Plus Message
In 1988, polio infected nearly 1000 children
a day. In 2007, fewer than 2000 cases were reported in the entire year.
In 2006, the number of polio-endemic countries stood at 4: Afghanistan,
India, Pakistan and Nigeria. Whilst this is a fantastic effort, it means
that polio is still just one plane flight away from New Zealand. If you
give to a charity at Christmas, please give some thought to supporting
the work of Rotary's own charity - the Rotary Foundation and in particular,
the Polio Eradication Programme.
Members who have access to the internet may
be interested in visiting the following site
Wayne Tucker
Polio Plus Committee
|
Ambassadorial
Scholar Graduated
Ambassadorial Scholar Laura Muller Rodriguez
sponsored by District 4110 Mexico and hosted by District 9970 has completed
her year at the University of Canterbury.
Laura was recognised at a graduation ceremony
held at the Christchurch Town Hall on 17th December 2008 receiving a Diploma
in Journalism. Laura studied with twenty other students, but was the only
one to receive a diploma on the day. The University noted that the last
time an International student had gained the diploma was ten years earlier.
Laura is photographed with PDG Stuart Batty
following the ceremony and returns to Mexico on 14th January 2009.
Back to the Contents List
|
|
|
Paul Harris Fellows
Congratulations to: PDG Tom Hurford (1983)
on being recognised with a Sapphire Pin by his Club Rotary Club of Blenheim
South for his continued good humoured and ‘considered’ Rotary service.
Denis Whittington – President of Rotary
Club of Belfast, for his dedicated service to his club.
Back to the Contents List
|
Conference Sponsorship
Hand over of 'cheque' at Golf Afternoon at Windsor Golf
Course. Ross and Mark Rippon of Argent Financial Services Group.
The District Conference Committee appreciates the sponsorship
received from Lifetime Financial Security NZ Ltd and the Argent Group
of the proceeds from their charity golf day held at Windsor Golf course.
A very enjoyable afternoon was had by all and we will be back next year
to support the event
Back to the Contents List
|
Taupo Cycle Challenge
Ross - Participating in the Challenge
‘The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Relay was undertaken and
successfully completed by DG’s from 9980, 9910,9930 and 9970 Full results
and report on the experience next month. Many thanks to the clubs who
have sent their sponsorship contribution.
Back to the Contents List
|
|
Club Presidents and Secretaries
...Please take note ..
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES:
It would assist greatly when a new member is inducted
into a club that Club Secretaries notify by email
the new members full details to our District Administrator, Robin
Stirling, otherwise the only way of keeping our District Data base up
to date is by gleaning information from your club bulletins which often
don’t have full contact details and of course we may miss them completely
or we have to troll through all the available individual club information
eventually available to us after a Semi Annual Return period. This is
arduous believe me!
Also so we have a record, details of those recognised
with a Paul Harris Fellowship would also be appreciated.
Please Club Secretaries / Presidents endeavour (as a New
Years Resolution!) to regularly keep your Membership Data up to date using
Business on Line at www.rotary.org
A number of you do this which is tremendous. Those that
don’t and are ‘computer hesitant’ to do so, can you perhaps get someone
from your club to sit alongside you to assist in the process? It’s not
that difficult once you gain the confidence. If you are having a problem
with technology please speak with your Assistant Governor who may be able
to get someone from the other clubs in your cluster to up-skill you.
If you keep your membership information up to date, this
will give the club a ‘cleaner’ Return / Invoice at end December and June
Semi Annual Return periods as the calculations will be made by Rotary
International, saving you time ultimately and perhaps an error being made
particularly with pro-rata calculations.
We now understand however that these updates need to have
been completed by the end of November and May to enable processing by
Rotary Headquarters of the hard copy version that is sent out to clubs
in the early weeks of January and July respectively. This is a pain, but
Club Secretaries via your club webmaster also need to update Membership
information on our NZ Rotary District website at www.rotary.org.nz
Many clubs still do not have a full and up to date membership
of their club members on this website. Again it assists us greatly at
District level if this is maintained. The old adage of ‘Rubbish in = Rubbish
out’ applies. To do and keep on top of this would certainly be a great
New Years resolution!
Not only but also!: Clubs have to also inform our
regional magazine Rotary Down Under of changes (both additions
/ resignations) to membership as Rotary International at present is unable
to do this yet unfortunately.
This is all due not only to different data bases but also
no doubt to whom Rotary International will release information to.
Incoming Officer Details - RY2009/10: Present Club
Presidents /Secretaries have previously been reminded to submit incoming
officer information for RY2009/10 by the end of December 2008 to Rotary
International if this information is to appear in the next Rotary International
Directory. It is important to also give the contact details of those people
including their email address.
If current Club Presidents / Secretaries are registered
to use Member Access, thereby gaining access to Business on Line, this
information can be entered along with any change of Club meeting information
by using the Update Club Data facility. If this function is used there
is no need to send the hard copy form to Rotary International.
At present 23 clubs of 34 have their RY 2009/10 data recorded
on Business on Line. We can only hope the others have theirs in the mail?!
Clubs can also elect to receive either a paper hard copy Rotary International
Directory or a CD Rom disc.
|
NEW FACILITIES
ON LINE:
Club Secretaries / Presidents if using their online access
will perhaps note several new functions now available on Business on Line
at www.rotary.org.
Daily Club Balance Report: You will (should) be
able to view at the top of your menu a Daily Club Balance Report for your
club. This gives you at a point in time the level of either ‘Indebtedness’
or ‘Credit’ a club has to Rotary International, relative to previous Semi
Annual Returns.
Please make sure these amounts are ‘cleared’ when the
next Semi Annual Return payment is made.
These figures are also on the Semi Annual Return hard
copy sent to clubs. These credits / indebtedness occur either due to an
incorrect calculation and / or payment from previous returns and of course
when exchange rate fluctuations occur. It will depend when a payment is
finally made by a club, when it is sent and therefore received by the
R.I. office in Parramatta. I am assured by Parramatta that the payment
is credited to the club on the date that it is received at Parramatta
office.
Some club officers make the payment by credit card and
then the amount is claimed back from the club as the most expedient method
to make payment and avoiding a delay in getting a club cheque drawn and
sent off. The hard copy is then sent separately to Parramatta.
Be aware when a Club reaches an indebtedness exceeding
US$250 that after 6 months from due date, the ‘termination process’ of
the club commences.
View Current Semi Annual Reports:
This is at the base of the menu and at this point in time,
seemingly still under development. It will allow those with the appropriate
access to view their clubs most recent Semi Annual Return Report along
with a copy of the relative invoice at that time. This will allow clubs
to access that information and save requests to Rotary International for
a copy of that information when it becomes lost, misplaced or simply sitting
somewhere where it shouldn’t be!
It is likely that this function will not become fully
operable until the next SAR period in January. We wait with baited breath!
|
|
WebNews July 2008
... WebNews Aug/Sept 2008 ...
WebNews Nov 2008
Back to the Contents List
|
