Rotary clubs in districts across Italy worked together to procure state-of-the-art equipment needed to combat the deadly coronavirus disease for 26 hospitals around the country.
International President for 2019-2010 is Mark Daniel Maloney from Alabama, USA.
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President's Opinion
Ross Beal
On 21 March I sent out an email advising that Rotary would be deferred as a consequence of an unprecedented global pandemic, that we would take the lead and stand down on Rotary for a period of 5 weeks to ensure that the health of our Rotarians was protected.
Now here we are 10 weeks later, finally back at Alert Level 2, with social gathering numbers at 100 persons!!
So it is with some satisfaction that I was finally able to send you an email on 27 May advising that we have the green light to resume our regular meetings. Finally, after 10 weeks, we are able to return to some level of normality. So Rotarians “lets get it on” and get the show on the road again.
I am looking forward to catching up with you all on Tuesday, and we will have a great social evening.
In attendance we will have Jennifer Belmont from the Wakatipu Community Foundation. Jennifer wishes to acknowledge the donation made to the ‘Greatest Need Fund’ and it is reported that she may also be bringing some free stuff.
Talking “free stuff”, your President is finally going to open his wallet after 10 weeks and is shouting - so come along and enjoy a light refreshment with complimentary drink on me.
We can exchange some Lockdown war stories and get an update on the success of Bruce Boivin’s exercise regime and if he managed to fill his skip bin with Potato Chip packets, Lee-Ann and Hamish could report on the demolition of their wine stocks, Dave Broomfield will let us know if he made the summit, Chris Taylor on his post Lockdown return to golfing excellence, Stuart Maclean can speak about completing his Jigsaw for 4 year olds in 40 minutes, Keith McIntosh will update the success of Friday night champagne, camp chairs and cul de sac conversations, while Bruce Jefford can give us a blow by blow description of being hit by an SUV. If Mayor Jim turns up he might like to describe the success of his bungy jump in support of local tourism, Tony Robins will explain his panic buying of gin and chocolates, while Steve Maclean should explain why he cheats when playing cards with Hanna. Could be an entertaining evening.
Sergeant Bruce may also be in town !!!
Rotary Tuesday Night: In preparation for the first night back the details below from the aforementioned email are provided for you as a reminder of providing Attendance / Apologies:
For this opening evening, we will need attendance numbers to be with the Hotel by late Monday afternoon.
Confirmation of Attendance will be important as always for catering purposes.
So would appreciate that if you are NOT attending please adviseapologies by say 3.00pm Monday afternoon to queenstownrotary@gmail.com
Hand sanitizer will be available and physical distancing at check in should be observed.
For this the first night back at Rotary for 9 weeks, a Drink each will be complimentary and is a ‘Shout’ from the President.
So with that said the following is the plan for Rotary to once again meet:
The Holiday Inn
Tuesday 2 June
5.30pm gathering for 6.00pm Start
On arrival hand sanitizer will be available
Check in with our Meet and Greet Team
The Rotary Attendance sheet will be used as the Contact Register
Pay for the meal at the bar using Credit Card or EFTPOS
On Payment you can pick up a Complimentary Drink of Wine/Beer/Fruit Juice
We will not congregate around the Bar area
So grab your badge, take your drink, head into the dining room and be seated.
Lockdown War Story from Ralph:
As you are aware, Ralph and Betty are in Lockdown under the USA “Sheltering In Place” provisions. They are in Washington DC and Ralph has agreed to me publishing his email received as a part of his apology for Tuesday’s meeting.
Hi Chris:
Ref. Ross’s note below.
All's well with us, although we remain hunkered down (shelter in place) in this particular county of Maryland. The Governor relaxed the state-wide lockdown on 15 May and left it up to each County Supervisor to decide on relaxing measures. Washington DC remains in shelter-in-place too. Weather finally getting summerish, will be 27C today.
On Sunday Betty and I drove to Annapolis, capital of MD. We thought we’d stroll around the harbour area and look at boats. When we got there - 65 km from here (our apartment) - many other people had the same idea. Lots of people wandering around in summer garb, maybe 25% with masks, and generally paying little attention to social distancing. Annapolis is in a different County from our place. It was difficult to find a park and Betty thought it too risky to go walking anyway. So we drove back home. An outing nonetheless.
You’ll have read about people in the US becoming tired of the lockdowns and disobeying the rules. This, after all, is the land of the free, born of the belief in liberty and individual freedoms. And, but nobody dare take those freedoms away. We have guns too! I say this Chris because the US has such an awful record of cases and deaths in its response to the coronavirus.
You’d think that for such a widely publicised pandemic they’d have their act together, both socially (respecting social distancing) and medically (providing for sufficient tests and wherewithal in hospitals). But no. It seems that the awful record stems a lot from non-observance of common sense behaviour, reflecting broadly held views that nothing - not even a bloody virus - should stand in the way of basic freedoms, including the prerogatives of individual states. None or our friends think like that, and none has been affected. We have not socialised at all. I do go out for a long walk each day.
I expect you’ve seen in the news that last weekend, against regulations, large numbers have been flocking to swimming pools, beaches, and parks, disrespecting social distancing and enjoying the fine weather of Memorial Day weekend, the beginning of summer. Business as usual!
As I write this Email, the US is about to pass 100,000 deaths. So sad.
Cheers, Ralph
Neologisms: Once again The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to a yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words. The winners are:
Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
Gargoyle, olive-flavoured mouthwash.
Flatulence (n.), emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there
Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.
Casualty List: Kerry Dunlop and Geoff Dalzell may have some explaining to do as both of these Rotarians have injured wives, while the Host parents of our Rotary Youth Exchange student may also have some serious explaining to do.
We understand that Kit Dunlop has been recovering from a damaged foot during the last few weeks , while Louise Dalzell has had a fall a week ago and has damaged a pelvis. Louise is home after a couple of days in hospital. Husbands please lift your game!!
Further to that, Hanna the youngster of the trio has also chimed in and has damaged her foot while demonstrating her prowess on a trampoline. She is now demonstrating her prowess on the use of crutches. Doing so with the addition of fashion statement “moonboot”. We wish all you lovely ladies a speedy recovery.
PP Russell McGrouther: Was a pleasure to have a visit at home from Russell and Ruth. Russell reports that he is doing OK, while still on regime of treatment that will continue for a number of weeks yet. While Russell will not be attending Rotary on Tuesday, he was in fine form, and I enjoyed the time and the chat, our thoughts are with him. (Russell has been custodian of the Presidential Chains for the last 12 months, so will be polishing them up for Lee-Ann. Thanks Russell)
Changeover Night: Well the annual changeover night has come around quickly, and this evening provides an opportunity to reflect on the year past, and witness the handover of the Presidential Chains, along with the responsibility for the Club, to our incoming President and current PE Lee-Ann.
Changeover night will be held on 23 June 2020 at the Holiday Inn at the usual start time of 6.00pm. This will, as always, be a Partners night, so diary this and we will look forward to a glam night out.
We will provide a two course menu and pop a cheeky Red and White on the table.
Wedding Anniversary:
Well done to Chris and Maryann Taylor on the occasion of your 49th Wedding Anniversary this weekend.
Love at first sight I am told.
Well done as you celebrate with family. Great effort.
Hanna: Our favourite and much loved exchange student has decided that she has had enough of us and is heading home. She has her flight schedule confirmed and so departs Queenstown on 12th June.
We will provide an opportunity for Hanna to speak at a meeting in the next couple of weeks and provide an opportunity to say bon voyage.
Duties Roster: Don’t forget to check the Duties Roster included at the end of this Bulletin. You may have been selected for a History making duty on the first night back from Lockdown.
Stay safe, stay healthy, continue to look after each other, and don’t forget to let me know if you are attending Rotary on Tuesday. As per previous bulletins, keep me posted and should you be aware of any Rotarians who may need some level of assistance and we will endeavour to provide a solution.
Now the Rotary blog is done for the week I think I will go and have a lie down.
IF IT AIN’T BROKE
When the man in the street says: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it,"
the lawyer will translate that to read:
"Insofar as manifestations of functional deficiencies are agreed by any and all concerned parties to be imperceivable, and are so stipulated, it is incumbent upon said heretofore mentioned parties to exercise the deferment of otherwise pertinent maintenance procedures."
3 min Talk OR Toast to Rotary Project & Parting Thought
NA
Chris Taylor
Brian MacPherson
If you will be away, or for some other reason you cannot do your duty on the nominated day, it is your responsibility as soon as possible, and certainly no later than the Monday night before the meeting, to arrange a substitute. A swap with the person who has the duty the next week is suggested.
Please be there by 5.25 pm if you are on Reception or Meet & Greet.
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