Last night we experienced a very special and unique end of year function hosted by Elsbeth and David Broomfield in their wonderful home and garden setting. It was a truly special night in a beautiful environment with superb food and wine plus musical entertainment. It was great to have several guests join us including one of our two outbound RYE students Jasmine Sowerby and mother Yvonne, international guests from Germany and UK and several of our Inner Wheel colleagues. You really spoilt us David and Elsbeth - thank you very much for your hospitality and creating a memorable night.

 

Back to the Marathon where we raised $5,000 for traffic management and other duties to go to the running costs of the Hospice Palliative Care Nurse’s car. It was great to have such a good representation from our NRG group and also to share the initiative with our Inner Wheel colleagues. Thank you to all that participated but especially to Bruce Jefford for his meticulous planning and for Pat’s support. It was a big undertaking and a tremendous effort. We will present the cheque in the New Year. Bruce and Pat also led the project to purchase and distribute “Be my Friend” safety tips brochures, for safety around dogs, to every primary school child in the Wakatipu. Another great Rotary contribution from the Jeffords - thank you again Pat and Bruce.

 

The Foundation Dinners continue to be enjoyed by all that participate and this time raised over $1700 for the Rotary Foundation. Thank you in particular to the hosts who readily offered up their homes. Some have indicated to me how appropriate it is to enjoy sharing, and being in, each other’s homes. I believe there is an appetite for a second Foundation Dinner night this Rotary year - perhaps nearer winter. More about that later.

 

We have held our AGM and endorsed Monica as our President-Elect for 2017/18. At the AGM we learned of the NRG group’s plight to retain and attract membership. We have also received a number of resignations from the ‘parent club’ in recent months, particularly from those moving away from the Wakatipu. We wish them all well for their futures but we do need to replace them with new Rotarians. The NRG group are embarking on a regular BBQ initiative in the lake Hayes Estate to reach out to potential young Rotarians. I assisted with their first effort and membership Chair George Carver is pleased with the result via interest shown.

 

From the Club Membership Team and some others, we have formed a “Visionary” team to consider, determine and plan our environment and  “modis operandi” for the years that lie ahead. This will include finding and attracting new Rotarians. We will ask everyone to take part early in 2017.

 

I wish you all a safe and  happy festive season, relaxing time out to recharge your batteries and look forward to working with you all again in the New Year. I will miss the first two nights, the BBQ at the Dunlop’s in Quail Rise on 17 January plus the following week (24^th) due to a Region work commitment. I will see you again on 31 January.