From the President..
Just back from the outstanding Rotary District 9940 Conference!
I was kindly taken by David and Sheryn out to Southwards on Friday night for the opening St Patrick’s Day cocktail party.
On Saturday morning, David decided to ‘do differently’ from human navigational assistance…and an ‘exploratory’ trip up the new Expressway resulted in us arriving via Otaki! (Permission given to relate this!) We arrived in time for what all agreed was the best set of speakers ever. Tony (R), Bill, David and I were moved by the 2 Finns on Zoom, relating their hair-raising delivery of 6 ambulances to Ukraine, Air Commodore Digby Webb talking on the NZ Defence and Ukraine, a poignant interview with the stunning transgender Mary Haddock-Staniland, the impressive latest Rotary Peace Scholar Miriam Mylvaganam, Liv Philpott-Esterhazy with a frightening ‘reality check’ on aspects of the biodiversity status of the world, Orthopod John van Dalen on a project to increase orthopaedic services in Tonga, Rotary International Katey Halliday from Adelaide, Seb Grodd on Lifeflight…and more.
Tony will elaborate further on Wednesday. The dinner was accompanied by a beautiful 16-year-old
singer and a highly appropriate band drawing many onto the dance floor!
Congratulations to Steph Dyhrberg and her team from Kapiti Rotary Club for creating such an
informative and enjoyable event. It was a shame it did not have the level of attendance it deserved.
Well done to Bill Day, who also spoke, on being selected as a Finalist in the Welly Awards.
Meanwhile, thanks to Michaela, others enjoyed dinner and In Bed with Schoenberg at Circa.
Thank you to all who spoke and paid up generously to our 4 weeks of Buy the Boxes for our
contribution to District 9930 towards the cyclone ravaged regions. DG Kevin Forgeson from Te Kuiti
Rotary Club spoke of how the money is being distributed directly via the Clubs in the affected areas and the greatly appreciated effect it is making. Left over Rotary embellished face masks have been sent to Hawke’s Bay for people to wear whilst dealing with the toxic silt.
All of the above paints a picture of the impact Rotary has in so many directions and how all our efforts and contributions help facilitate them.
Thank you Hayley for preparing and sending out the survey on charities to support – do complete it please.
This is Youth Week - do come and hear how the students we supported to attend RYLA and IYM have benefitted from their experiences.To cap it off, we look forward to finally welcoming DG Marilyn Stevens to speak and hear what we have collectively achieved.
A fulsome session – look forward to seeing you at it.
Dawn
President
