Hearing about the varied and interesting lives of our own members is always popular. It’s one of the most liked aspects of the club, as we have learned in survey after survey.
So it was again when Anne Hare, who has actually been a member for a little while now, told us of her life on Wednesday. I knew she had been a runner, but wow, what a record; three appearances at Commonwealth Games and one at the Olympics where she made the final of the women’s 5000m race. An inspiration to us all.
I was drawn to her emphasis in her coaching career and in her professional life to helping people. Very much in accord with the Rotary ethos.
Congratulations again to Linda Wellington who was made a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her service to the club and the community. She sets us all an outstanding example of giving service, and the PHF award was very well deserved.
Elsewhere in the bulletin are reports of a couple of items discussed at Monday’s board meeting. I am seeking proposals for projects and causes we should support in 2017/18. Members will be invited to rank the projects in an online poll.
Also, there is a summary of a report from a group of members, (Julie, Victoria, Hayley and myself) which met to consider what other ways the club might give service (rather than just give or raise money).
I will also be reporting soon on the club visioning session which we held at the end of May.
Also confirming (ex Christopher Robertson) that we at in the Intercontinental as usual on Wednesday 2 August. Details of arrangements for August are elsewhere in the bulletin.
Anne very appropriately kicked-off her talked with a disclaimer: ‘I know, I know, it is boring but it has to be said I could forget what I am talking about soon, so just in case there was an explanation in The Dominion Post last week:
Major life events can raise risk of dementia.’
In calculating where she should be at on the dementia track, she estimated having lost the massive total of 44 years of clear thinking. And in the belief of reaching the ripe old age of 97 – she’s very close to her cut-off point. I think not!
Caroline Anne, as she was born, told us – unsurprisingly given her achievements – that in her earlier years sport was her number one priority, seeing her represent New Zealand from the age of 16. (Family has taken that # 1 spot now!) She even confessed to having wagged classes in favour of running …
Anne’s highlights in her athletic career are many. To name a few the inaugural Women’s 5,000m Olympic Finalist 1996; NZ Record Holder over 2,000m 1986; Inaugural World Road Relay -1st place 1986; Three Commonwealth Games 86, 90, 94; World Track & Field Champs –team captain 97; World Cup 1985; World Half Marathon 1994; Three World Cross Country Champs 93, 96, 97; Multiple Ekiden’s (long distance relay running races) 1986 to 1997.
She recounted the story of her selection for the 1996 Olympic team. Anne had not expected to be picked, but running her personal best in the fastest heat qualified her for a place.
To Anne, people and performance are the most important considerations in her life. The choices we make – eg. her’s was to wag economics, the need to prioritise – being organised, problem solving - she had to overcome allergies and asthma for optimum performance, and people. She credits all the people in her life – including John Walker, fellow competitors, team mates and coaches – for having given her the tools for her successful career.
Anne is still involved in sport coaching athletics and swimming. She and her two teenage daughters have the goal to ensure everyone in Wellington can swim.
Her earlier wagging of economics classes has not been detrimental to her career. Anne works as a financial advisor helping clients make decisions and create strategies - again, coaching.
When President John made excuses for his poor choice of ties recently, telling us he would wear each of his vast collection one last time before retiring it from duty, Anne immediately popped up with an opportunity for fundraising and has offered to lead on the ‘great tie sale’ of the century. Leading from the front … no surprises there!
One of the decisions the board made at its meeting on Monday was to poll members on which charities they wished to support in 2017/18. A three step process was agreed.
A list will be circulated and members will be invited to add to it.
Members will get to vote on their preferred charities, and
The board will confirm the decision.
The causes currently on the list are:
Malaghan Institute
Wellington Free Ambulance
House of Grace – a home for unmarried mothers
Kahurangi School in Strathmore where some members help out the teachers and where we have also donated funds to buy things like a whiteboard.
Rotary Foundation – our own charity which funds a range of club projects, particularly for young people
Outward Bound – seeking $3m to rebuild their facilities
Nepal – smokeless stoves and other projects
Wellington Children’s Hospital – very much in the news at the moment
Mary Potter Hospice
Members are invited to put forward other causes and I will give members an opportunity to pitch their case at a club meeting. Please send your suggestions to me by Monday 7 August.
Once we have a final list, we will conduct an online poll to determine which ones will be supported. This applies in particular to the auction funds, because that is our most significant fundraiser, and normally the profits are divided among two or three causes, including our own Rotary Foundation.
In March and April at the request of the board, I convened a small group of three relatively new members of the club – Julie Hood, Hayley Burns and Victoria Triegaardt – to get some new thoughts on how the club might provide service to the community.
In the background was a feeling that we should not always be asking members to put their hands in their pockets to support worthy causes. We were looking for both other causes and for other ways to support causes.
Currently club members give time by (for example) taking part in street appeals, staffing the blood pressure clinics at New World supermarkets, and helping out at Kahurangi School and at the Waitangi market.
We contacted a number of organisations including Downtown Community Ministry and Age Concern, all of whom said that they currently had enough volunteers at present.
One cause which did have appeal was a social enterprise based around Eat my Lunch, a commercial catering operation. Conventionally it is online lunch delivery service, but promises that for every lunch ordered and paid for, it will prepare and deliver another lunch to a Kiwi kid in need.
It says on its website that “In our first 18 months, we've had over 2000 people help us make over 300,000 lunches for Kiwi kids in need!
See www.eatmylunch.nz. The group is active in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington where three schools - Kahurangi, Holy Cross and Wainuiomata are involved. Schools sign up and order lunches each day. They need five volunteers on any given day, three to make the lunches between 0700-0900, and two to deliver between 0900-1000.
Julie Hood volunteered and made lunches and found it to be a well run organisation. Subsequent inquiries show that they seem to have sufficient numbers of helpers, although there is no reason why club members can’t offer themselves.
WELLINGTON ON A PLATE LUNCH – SUNDAY 20TH AUGUST – 12 NOON – BOULCOTT STREET BISTRO
A special lunch for Rotary Club of Port Nicholson members, family and friends. Lunch - two courses and one beverage (using the more extensive dinner menu). $55 per person (includes $10 donation to Rotary Foundation).
Main Course
Cook Strait crayfish in a tomato, cream and Cognac sauce with Prana Greens and sautéed broccolini with almonds
OR
Angus beef fillet with chicken liver parfait, sautéed spinach, Parkvale mushrooms portobello crumb and Arobake crouton with a red wine sauce.
VEGETARIAN OPTION AVAILABLE
Desert
Whittaker’s white chocolate and kiwifruit parfait, berry jelly vanilla custard in a meringue bun.
Beverages
Six Barrel Soda Celery tonic or Escarpment Chardonnay 2014 or Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2015.
Most of us do as with recent changes to our coins we seem to accumulate old coins which can no longer be used but we can't quite bring ourselves to throw out. These coins still have value and can be cashed in at the Reserve Bank in exchange for the current issue.
Through our Pigs, waterfront piano and auction collections Port Nich has accumulated an amount of old coins and we are going to cash these in.
Do you have some old coins lying around and happy to add to our collection ? If so bring them in and either deposit in the Pigs or give to Chris or Rick.
Go have a look. Who knows what you may find at the bottom of your cupboard, sock draw or where ever you toss your coins !.
Every year, each Rotary International Director convenes a meeting of senior leaders in their Zone. This event, known as an Institute, provides an opportunity for past, present and incoming Rotary officers to share information, ideas and resources, build new connections and reacquaint with old friends, and exchange ideas about Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
A more recently added event, the Future Leaders Seminar, open to any Rotarian wanting to learn more about Rotary from a leadership perspective, also takes place in conjunction with Institute.
The combined New Zealand event in 2017 will be known as the Rotary Symposium and this year it’s doors will open to all Rotarians.”
There is a Leader’s Symposium as well.
Open to all to attend.
RI General Secretary John Hewko will be attending.
RI Director Noel Trevaskis as well.
Along with RI President Nominee (soon to be Elect) Sam Owori (who attended Deb Gimblett’s Conference in Foxton)
At our recent session John Bishop, our incoming President, encouraged us as member of Port Nicholson to be proud of our association with Rotary. We have a strong Club but can always improve by attracting new members and with that they comes new ideas and new commitment. ‘Rotary on the Move’ is circulated widely amongst Australian and New Zealand Rotarians. It is a monthly circular that has excellent articles.
One article states:
Clubs who are well organised attract members
Clubs who communicate well attract members
Clubs who develop strategic partnerships attract members
Clubs who understand that their 'clients' are their community attract members
Clubs who know their demographics attract members
Clubs who listen to their members and respond to their interests attract members
Clubs who have a great Public Relations /Marketing team attract members
Clubs who have effective programs attract members.
New ideas increase our desire to do more for our community through the time we give to serving others.
Please click HERE to view - download the ‘Rotary On The Move’ Newsletter for June 2017.
I have received a number of requests to change the rosters due to other commitments which is par for the course for us all. Please check week to week as it can be a bit of a moving feast to keep up with, especially while I have my trainer wheels on. Change over, with new people coming into new roles has added an additional dimension.
Thanks for your patience.
Julie
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