Exact numbers attending and apologies must be advised before each meeting. Please advise by 4 pm on the Monday before each meeting. To ph: 442-3484 / fax 442-3494 or email: admin@rilean.co.nz
A nurse fights for peaceIn a nation once wracked by civil war, Liberian Rotarian Elizabeth Sele Mulbah has spent much of her life leading efforts for peace and reconciliation.A past president (2011-12) of the Rotary Club of Sinkor, Mulbah has a remarkable
50 years ago, the first Rotaract club was formed to give young adults a place to connect and take action for good. Rotaract members from each decade share what the program was like and how it shaped their
As thousands of refugees streamed into Berlin, they strained the health care system. Rotarian and physician Pia Skarabis-Querfeld spent the last three years building a network of volunteer doctors to help those in
International President for 2018-2019 is Barry Rassin from the Bahamas.
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M Mulholland
PRESIDENTS BLOG
'Friends of Rotary' (FoR) is a group of people who may not wish to become full time Rotary members (due to time constraints, cost considerations etc) but are interested in remaining connected to Rotary and are willing to take part in Rotary projects.
Members of FoR receive our club Bulletin twice a month, are invited to any social functions that we have, and get an invite to join the various projects and fundraisers that we are involved with.
For the Rotary Club, having a database of willing volunteers (friends) that we can call on allows us to take on bigger community based projects and increase our fundraising for local and international causes. 'Friends' are also potential Rotarians for the future.
Some of the local projects and fundraising we have been involved with, in recent times, include:
The current Rotary Tuckers Beach Trail project (total cost $200,000+)
Purchase of a vehicle for Community Safety Patrols (associated with NZ Police) in the Wakatipu
Financial support for a current cancer sufferer and her family
Southland Hospice motor vehicle expenses for palliative home care in the Wakatipu
Wakatipu Yacht Club purchase of a new rescue craft
Funding a local student to Outward Bound
Funding an academic scholarship for a needy local student attending Auckland University
Funding a local student to attend the Rotary Summer Science School in Auckland
Part funding a local snowboarder competing in the World Champs
Financial support of a new Coastguard facility
Financial support of Happiness House, Queenstown.
Some of the international projects that we have been involved with, in recent times, include:
‘Fountain of Peace’ charity – providing homes to support orphaned children in Uganda
Shelter Boxes after Hurricane Gita
Medical Diagnostics equipment for a medical establishment in Bharuch, India
Village water catchment and supply project in Fiji.
We are hoping to have a breakfast meeting of Friends of Rotary in the next month or so, to determine how best to work with FoR and exactly what they want out of the relationship.
Last Tuesday we farewelled Tony and Jan and presented them with a gift - a book about Queenstown. The Flavell's have sold up and returned to their home in the south of England for the last time.
Tony has been to the fore in assisting with all Rotary fundraisers and projects and Jan has always supported partner’s nights. We wish them a fond farewell and a happy healthy life back home. Tony and Jan will remain ‘Friends of Queenstown Rotary’ and receive our regular Bulletins.
A good turnout of Rotarians, led by Tony Fleming, enjoyed a morning's work and fellowship last Saturday maintaining the garden at Feehly's Hill, Arrowtown. This commitment is part of Queenstown Rotary's partnership with the Wakatipu Afforestation Trust.
On Tuesday 6 March some members biked from Arrowtown to Kinross Winery to join other members and visitors for pizza. An enjoyable social evening was held including a pizza dinner.
Work has commenced on our Tuckers Beach Trail Project, led by Kerry Dunlop, after 2 years of community consultation, fundraising and engineering design. The trail commences at the Rotary restored bridge over the Shotover River (a much earlier Rotary project) and continues along the riverbank. Photos show 'Treecare Southern Lakes' (Rotarian Tony Fleming's) digger removing obstructing trees and Wilson Contractor's digger forming the trail. This the largest Queenstown Rotary project undertaken for some time at a cost in excess of $200,000.
On Tuesday 15 March, Bruce Jefford provided us an insight into the Community Patrol start up, organisation and Police involvement and support. Assisted by Constable Abbé, Bruce provided an account of some recent patrol events and answered club members questions.
We acknowledge those members of our club that are also involved in providing this community service.
Our Art Auction, in aid of The Rotary Foundation, will be held at the Queenstown Golf Club, Kelvin Heights on Tuesday 17 April 2018.
This is not a regular Rotary meeting but a ticketed event (tickets $55/head for a two course buffet dinner) which will also be open to non-Rotarians. The number of tickets is limited, so could you please let Joan Kiernan know in the next week how many tickets you would like for yourself and any friends you would like to bring along? Once we know how many Rotarians want tickets, then we'll know how many we have to sell to others. Rotarians can collect and pay for tickets at any Rotary meeting over the next few weeks.
The Rotary Club of Pakuranga has again organised a Friendship Exchange comprising overseas Rotarians on a NZ tour. Three couples from Australia and two couples from USA will be staying in Queenstown on Sunday 15 April.
We are seeking hosts for dinner only on the Sunday night - they are staying in a hotel. They do need to be picked up from their hotel at 6.00 pm and returned afterwards.
Last year this event worked very well with the Queenstown Rotary hosts providing a meal for one couple and inviting another two people from our club to join the fellowship. No payment is required from our members but it is suggested that the host provides the main course and the invited members provide the desert and wine.
$50.00 pp has already been paid to our club for hosting the dinners.
A profile of the guests is available and can be forwarded when the hosts are known.
Our club is scheduled to deliver Meals on Wheels for the first two weeks in April. A list will be sent around at our next two meetings seeking helpers.
On 10 April I am planning an unprecedented Rotary event, a meeting embracing diversity within our community, in this case the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender (LGBT) component of our community. This initiative has the full support of key supporters of diversity within Rotary - our District Governor, Bruce Cowan, and Rotary International President, Ian Riseley, both of whom have sent messages of support to be communicated at the meeting.
The Guest speaker will be an LGBT counsellor from The Wakatipu Youth Trust and the President’s Guest will be Steve Wilde - well known Queenstown personality and LGBT activist. Bonnie Miller-Perry (Past President of Cromwell Club) will also attend. There seems to be a genuine interest among LGBT people within the Wakatipu in how they and Rotary could work together. Several couples are expected to attend.
There is a real interest amongst LGBT people (especially those who feel marginalised) to join a worthwhile community organization. I think many of these couples could be a real asset and an injection of energy and new ideas into our Club.
The meeting will be a normal Tuesday night agenda. Steve Wilde, as my President’s Guest, will talk about Downtown QT.
In the Director’s Reports slots Ron Mackersy will detail the top 5 projects that we have funded or partially funded in the last 5 years. Joan Kiernan will talk about the Rotary Foundation Art Auction. Keith McIntosh will talk about Friends of Rotary and what we hope to achieve with this new concept. Bonnie Miller-Perry will talk about Emergency Response Kits - she is the District’s Rep on the RNZWCS board. Finally, Ken Fox will talk about ShelterBox.
Each year, the J R McKenzie Youth Education Fund sponsors young people to attend a 21 day Outward Bound Course. This year is no different and we are fortunate to have 2 fully funded positions to allocate, therefore we are again seeking potential course participants.
Rotarians and Inner Wheel Members out walking on Saturday 3 March
DUTIES ROSTER
Meet & Greet
Introduce Speaker
20 March
David Hodgson
John Thompson
27 March
Tony Flemming
Steve McLean
3 April
Stuart MacLean
Alan Dunbar
10 April
Joan Kiernan
Monica Mulholland
Thank Guest Speaker
3 min Talk
Toast to a Rotary Project
20 March
Chris Taylor
Tony Robins
Ashley Adams
27 March
Kerry Dunlop
Richard Cunliffe
Bob Craigie
3 April
Ken Fox
David Hodgson
Brian McPherson
10 April
Steve McLean
Various
NA
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. Also you must advise the Sheriff: Alan Ward Ph. 021 475 0077 Alan@TSQueenstown.co.nz
Please be there by 5.25 pm if you are on Reception or Meet & Greet.
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