Rotary Club of Waikanae
Bulletin No. 14 – 44th Year

INotices: 

A good turn out by Members and Partners for the visit of our District Governor, David Watt and his Partner Michelle Sutherland.

Fellowship commenced in the Lounge Bar of the Waikanae Hotel at first until Barry Herbert asked us to take our places in the Hotel Restaurant where we were invited to make our choices from extensive menu provided. President Tony then thanked Barry for the tremendous effort he had put into the preparations for the evening. He then welcomed District Governor David and Michelle, - D.G.'s Rep.John Granville, our Ladies of Rotary and visitor David Sutherland who has been with us for now several weeks . President Tony's wife Trena presented Michelle with a lovely bouquet. Tony then asked past President Steve Botica to say Grace

Graham Oliver spoke of Garry Ward’s funeral earlier that day at Old St. Paul’s in Wellington, he and John Algar attended.

President Tony, as part of his membership drive, asked for Members to invite suitable candidates from the Plumbing Industry as visitors for next week.

Steve Botica recorded a make up at the Rotary Club of Levin on 22nd.

Sergeant:

Graham Oliver extracted his fines from a wide range of perceived misdemeanours and celebrations – names are excluded this time

Raffle:

Graham Benbrook announced that 'the recession is over and we would have 4 draws'. Winners were Steve Golledge, Peter Nation, Gordon Patching and Roger Lawrence

Our speaker:

Steve Botica introduced District Governor David Watt indicating that David has been a Member of Tawa Rotary, President of the Rotary Club of Karori, and has had a career in Public Relations, Industrial Relations and Historic Heritage Management. He has been a Press Secretary to Senior Govt. Ministers in both National and Labour Governments. The last Mayor of Tawa and deputy Mayor of Wellington to Former Mayor, Jim Belich.

David said that he had spent a very pleasant afternoon with the Directors at Tony and Trena’s home at Reikorangi discussing our Club’s aims and activities. He related a humorous incident in that Tony’s chain of office  came apart and he was able to produce a pair of pliers to fix it – apparently his own chain, many times larger is subject to the same problems and he carries the pliers wherever the chain goes.   He told a few stories about his time working in Government, his more recent trip to the Conference in San Diego and meeting so many people from so many Nations.  David said that Rotary is like a huge family -doing things together, and we can do so much, especially related to World President John Kenny’s challenges around the six strategic Rotary International themes. -Peace and conflict prevention and resolution , Disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, health and hunger, Education and literacy and economic and community development.   David said that Clubs should combine their efforts locally as well because together they can accomplish much more and handle bigger projects.

He spoke of the ever increasing aging of Rotarians - and of meeting recently with Stuart Hayton, a Past District Governor who at 99 is still an active committee member of his Club. Older Rotarians have a lot of experience to give to Rotary, we should treasure and encourage them.

David said that he was pleased to be leading the Rotary team this year, he touched on the Shelter Box program and  encouraged us to consider hosting for the visitors to the Rotary Conference in Wellington next year - also to look out for the NZ wide Motor Cycle ride fundraiser to be led by Gareth Morgan, he said, remember the future is bright and there are exciting times ahead.

Past President John Algar thanked District Governor David for coming to us and sharing his reminisces about travels to other Rotary Conferences and said we should take his lead to stay with Rotary until we make 100.

Parting Thought:

From Steve Botica, If you always do what you've always done- You'll always get what you've always got !

Statistics:

Raffle    $69              Sergeant:     $ 28      Members Present:    21      Guests: 15