Rotary Club of Port Nicholson Bulletin
Wednesday 5 June, 2019
  President's Message
 

 

On Wednesday 12 June we will be having an informal club breakfast gathering at the Leuven Bar on Featherston Street. We will meet at our usual time but there will be no formalities. Very fitting for
Rotary’s theme for the month of June - Rotary Fellowships.
 
Please join us and feel free to bring a friend or colleague along with you. We’re a friendly bunch, as you know.
 
I hope you have (had) an enjoyable weekend. Your President is confined to home with a cough and cold. Winter is definitely here!
 
Bev
 

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Speaker Report

                     
Professor Claire Massey 
 
Professor Claire Massey is an agribusiness academic and Director of Agrifood at Massey University.
 
Claire started her presentation by explaining that pictures distract from the talk so she let us know there were no slides and as it happens she did not need them the contact was very full and fruitful.  Claire is a 5th generation NZer who asked us if we can imagine what the world will be like in 100 years, because what we do now will have an impact on the what the world will be like in 100 years!
 
Claire talked about the value chain and the input/output model in relation to the world economy and in particular to dairy farming, which is the environment she grew up in.  The focus then was on value for goods, today the focus is on beliefs, culture and values.  The question is how did we get here!  We are in the age of geographical sciences an era that mankind has made and shaped.  In the past the shape of NZ was about what we have made and exported. 
 
Climate change, alternative protein, bio-diversity and population are all connected and have had an impact on the world economy.  International connectedness is strong we can keep up with news on a blow by blow basis via technology!  Being so connected makes it really hard to focus on what is important or meaningful.  We have moved to oversharing from under-sharing.
 
Claire directed us to three themes based on three important people and their ideas:
  1. Hans Rosling who had a passion for data and his book Factfullness uses data to look at how our world has improved. 
  2. A consultant to governments on nation branding.  His name is Simon Anholt but the focus is on analysing data points on how we feel in order to have countries know how to do good for the world. 
  3. Louise Fresco whose focus is on recycling and moving from a linear economy of take, make and waste to a circular economy of keep using and reusing.
 
The upshot is that we need to think about 5 generations into the future and try to be an example to the rest of the world as a country (NZ is currently 5th on the Good Country Index).  Claire encourages transformations for the good of the world by working toward a circular economy and meeting our values; examples given were mixed use farming and looking at developments out of a company such as Synlait.  
 
New ways of thinking about economies is certainly enlightening and testing at the same time.  Thank you Claire for such an inspiring talk.
 
Anne Hare
Club Reporter

A Board Notice

The Board decided at a recent meeting to update the charges for visitors, guests and Rotaractors attending breakfast meetings. 

(i) Youth (under 18): no charge
School students and parents /caregivers accompanying them 

(ii) Rotaractors: $15 /club meeting

(iii) Potential members: first meeting no charge; full charge for subsequent meetings. Members welcome to subsidise further attendance at their discretion

(iv) Benefactors: e.g for cheque presentations, etc -no charge up to 2 guests

(v) Guest speakers - no charge

(vi) All other guests -full charge

Mike Selvadurai
RCPN Secretary
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Speakers
Jun 19, 2019 7:00 AM
Sex, Drugs, Smokes and Booze - What's Driving the Trends
Jun 26, 2019 7:00 AM
Director Miramar Creative Centre
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Rotary Weekly Meeting Wednesday 12 June 2019 - Leuven Bar
Leuven Bar
Jun 12, 2019
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
30th Anniversary Port Nicholson Rotary Club
Aug 01, 2019
 
View entire list
Port Nich Gardeners
 
let Brent know if you can help on Sunday 16 June in Heretaunga
brent.gerrard@zephyr.co.nz
 
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Tree Planting
 
  
 
Tree Planting Sunday 14 July 1.30pm with Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves
 
It’s time to rally together with friends and family and the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves to plant native trees.  The more the merrier!   There will be afternoon tea too!  Lisa will be busy baking. 
 
Our goal is to continue planting native trees in Tawa to regenerate our native Bush to provide habitat and food for the increasing numbers of native birds, to make lovely walking areas for us all, and to help slow down global warming. 
 
Please email lisa.king@treasury.govt.nz if you’re able to join us, and let her know who will be attending along with their mobile phone numbers in case we need to postpone the event.   Lisa will send out more details closer to the time.  Thank you so much for your support!
Diary now.......
On 1 August a Thursday, the Mayor of Wellington Justin Lester is hosting a Civic Reception for club members to celebrate our 30th anniversary.  This will be an evening event. Details to follow.
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Funnies!!
 

My friend couldn't afford his water bill.

So I sent him a "get well soon" card.

 

My neighbour rang on my doorbell at 3 a.m. Can you believe it!?

Luckily I was still up playing the drums

 
 
 
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Visitors and prospective members always welcome.  We meet on Wednesdays for breakfast at 7am at the Wellington Club, Level 5, 88 The Terrace, Wellington