Rotary Club of Port Nicholson Bulletin

Wednesday 17 February 2021

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President
Mike Selvadurai
 
“Together we make a Difference”
 
Tena koutou katoa
 
Sad to hear of Stuart Young’s passing on 17 February. Most of you will remember Stuart as a very special person and a stalwart of Port Nicholson Rotary. A gathering to celebrate Stuart's life will be held at 11am on Saturday 27 February at the Breaker Bay Community Hall. Members are invited to join.
 
Thank you Brent for the Karakia at Wednesday morning’s breakfast. This initiative was started by Nicole Barker and I am pleased that members are taking that on board. Your explanation of the vowels and lesson in Te Reo Mãori pronunciations was very useful and educational. Maori culture should be a more visible part of our daily lives and recognised as an enriching part of New Zealand culture we all share. I would like to see Karakia become a common feature when we open our meetings. Nicole circulated laminated copies of examples of Karakia we could use. I would ask members proficient in it to assist and guide us make it a standard feature.
 
Over the last two weeks we heard from two inspiring leaders, one in the form of a seasoned and vibrant leader- Murray Edridge, CEO of the City Mission. The other, an unassuming but charming young man, just 18 years old and a budding leader in the making. Miguel Yap, was a former Interactor and one of two recipients of the 2021 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), sponsored by Port Nicholson. For those who may not know and our newer members, RYLA is a experiential live-in programme designed to help young people develop their team work and communication skills and fulfil their potential as leaders. It was refreshing hearing Miguel give a honest account of the fear and apprehension he felt before he attended RYLA and how the programme helped him overcome his fears and unleash the potential within him.
 
 
That is the success of RYLA and a cornerstone of Port Nicholson’s youth programme. It never ceases to amaze me the quality of the young people we sponsor. and support. We will see more examples of this at the Goal Setter awards on 10 March. If you missed out this year, be first in next year!
 
We have a busy social calendar for the last week of February:
  • Rotary Club of Wellington’s Chinese New Year and fundraising dinner at Dragon Chinese Restaurant on Sunday 21 February.
  • Port Nicholson’s social dinner at Great India Restaurant on Tuesday 23 February. If you have not registered and wish to attend please contact Heather ASAP
  • If you missed out on the above, you can join the motley crew of  Friday Flashback over lunch and a pint at Panhead brewery in Tory Street from noon-2pm.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Port Nicholson and attendance at our breakfast meetings. It’s your involvement and enthusiasm that energises and creates fun.
 
Kia Kaha
Stay Safe
 
Mike
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RYLA Recipient - Miguel Yap
 
RYLA changes a person for ever. That was Miguel's experience from his recent attendance at RYLA which he shared with members at last week's club breakfast meeting.  
 
Miguel was initially self-conscious going to RYLA as he felt he was not only a younger attendee but also youthful looking for an 18 year old. He pressed ahead and was determined to not let these feelings overcome him and diminish the opportunities presented to him by RYLA.
 
When he arrived, Miguel found he fitted in well and enjoyed his new fellow RYLA friends. This taught him a first and early lesson: that everyone is nervous and tentative when faced with new people and experiences and the secret is to press ahead and 'fake it until you make it'. Ultimately, we are all human and we are just the same.
 
Miguel recalled that RYLA consisted of life lesson exercises, team building and socialising and bonding. All aspects of RYLA were designed to challenge pre-existing thinking and to impart new wisdom about how to do well in life. 
 
Miguel describes exercises such as writing a letter of gratitude to someone who had influenced him, and baking for charity. These showed the importance of being grateful and thinking of others rather than being self-centered. 
 
Exercises also focused on being able to be real and authentic with others. It is through openess and vulnerability that one can connect with other people and build positive and productive relationships.
 
Miguel found that RYLA helped him develop better personal habits such as exercising and sleeping well. This included rising early to make the most of the day ahead. There were also exercises that revealed the importance of self-control and steadfastness in the face of conflict or set-backs. 
Miguel with Interact support people -
Paula, Darryl, and Gillian
Miguel thanked the club for supporting him. He is off to study engineering at the University of Auckland this year. 
 
David Barnes
Reporter
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ROTARY CLUB OF WELLINGTON 
 CHINESE BANQUET 
to celebrate the New Year of the Ox 
and 100 years in Rotary in Australasia

A handful of Port Nic members and partners attended the evening, enjoyed the 10 course banquet and were delighted to hear the guest speaker Prof. Michael Baker MNZM.  
 
 
Proceeds from the evening were going to the Charity "Give Every Child a Future" (see banner in picture below).
 
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SHORT TERM HOME REQUIRED
 
Looking for a home for a 23 year old female nursing student, attending Wellington Hospital, mid August to October.  Independent person, tidy and responsible.  Parents will meet boarding, food and related costs.
 
Mother known by Joy for many years and her daughter is expected to be reliable and no problem.

If you can help with accommodation, during this period, please let Joy know – joy@prosperity.co.nz and/or also for more enquiries. 
 
Thanks, 
Joy Durrant
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Speakers
Mar 03, 2021 7:00 AM
Climate Change - Antarctica
Mar 17, 2021 7:00 AM
National Science & Technology Forum Candidate
Mar 24, 2021 7:00 AM
Forensic Pathologist Author - Aftershock
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Waitangi Market Carparking
Feb 28, 2021
7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
Rotary Meeting 3 March 2021
Wellington Club
Mar 03, 2021
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Tour of House of Grace
Mar 03, 2021
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
 
Goal Setter breakfast
Banquet Hall Parliament
Mar 10, 2021
7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
 
Perambulators R100 Baton Walk
Avalon Park
Mar 14, 2021
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
 
Rotary District 9940 Conference
Carterton Events Centre
Mar 19, 2021 4:00 PM –
Mar 21, 2021 1:00 PM
 
View entire list
Club Duties & Roster:         
NB: If you are rostered for duty and cannot make it, then please arrange for someone else to take your place and let Brent know at brent.gerrard@outlook.com or 021 725060 Txts are fine too!
 
Duties
24 February
 
Desk: Louise Bray-Burns
Greeter: Mark Cassidy
Opening Thought:
Keith Hales
Buy the Box:
Anne Hare
Introduction:
Rick Hughes
Thanking:
Sue Walbran
Parting Thought:
Bev Wells
Reporter: John Bishop
 
4 week
Roster below
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Goal Setter Awards 2021
Wednesday
10 March
47 Applications were received and the committee has selected 10 people to be interviewed this week.
The 3 winners have now been chosen.
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Parking 
21 February
 
 
John & Philippa on a very windy Sunday
 
The takings were $279.10, a bit down on where we would like to be; on the other hand it is all ours and next week will be better.
 
Many thanks to all who helped, and especially to Bill and Ross who had  a very lean time of it. 
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A QUICK RAT TRAPPING UPDATE
 
Our Rotary Predator Free Wellington Waterfront trapping group has now been operating for just over 12 months. In that time our 20 traps have snared 50 vermin - mostly mice - which do untold harm in particular to skinks and lizards in Waitangi Park.
 
We have in excess of 18 gallant trappers [Bev, Jeff, Brent, Brenda and Dave, Howard and Jenny, Noel, Steve, Warwick, Paula, Dennis (from RC Courtenay Place), Rick, Ross,  Bill,  Peter, Marc, and Chris (Anne's husband), and apologies to anyone I may have missed out].
 
Many thanks to all and we are always looking for more  to help out. As trappers work in pairs there is scope to match new trappers with experienced ones, or those who don't wish too close an encounter with a dead bad guy can instead attend to the record keeping side of things.
 
Finally our top trappers are David and Steve with 7 catches each closely followed by Howard and Jenny with 6.  Now affectionately known as the  "Rat Pack" .
 
Many thanks to all   Rick         
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Rio's not short of Babysitters!
 
Winston's turn this week!
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Funnies!
 
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Paraprosdokians

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.
 
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In filling out an application, where it says, "In case of emergency, notify..."
I answered "a doctor."
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I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.
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You're never too old to learn something stupid.
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Rotary Predator Free Waterfront Trapping Schedule
 
Kia ora Trappers

Please find the updated trappers schedule to take us through to March 2021. Many thanks to all for helping out.  In need give me a call  Rick  022 071 0064
 
Week Ending
   
January 9/10
Peter Whittington
Steve Lawton
January 23/24
Ross Buxton
Rick Hughes
February 6/7
Bev Wells
Jeff Lee
February 20/21
Paula McKnight
Dennis Small
March 6/7
Brent Gerrard
David Shackleton
     

Please note: As always swap if your allocated date doesn’t suit and arrange which day and time that suits you both. Text Fraser Ebbett (WCC) 021 765 694 when you arrive and leave the site.
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