Camp Quality New Zealand

Dear Rotarian

I am writing on behalf of Camp Quality New Zealand to seek your support for our unique national awareness and fundraising event - Odd Shoe Day.

We are asking Rotarians to join with other service and like-minded organisations to embrace the spirit of the event by wearing mismatched shoes either on Friday 13^th September or at a club meeting or District function around that date and to make a donation to Camp Quality in recognition.

We see ‘Odd Shoe Day’ as an easy, inexpensive and enjoyable way to introduce people to the work of Camp Quality NZ, an organisation which provides fun, hope and happiness for children battling the scourge of cancer.  Camp Quality was established in New Zealand more than 27 years ago to provide a range of support programmes for children aged 5-16 living with cancer, as well as providing year-round support to their families.

Each year during the school holiday break we organise five annual regional summer camps, at a cost of more than $600,000.  Upwards of 300 youngsters receive a week of fun in a stress-free environment, supported by hundreds of trained companions, volunteers and nursing staff providing one-on-one care in a safe environment.

These camps provide an opportunity for children who are fighting the battle with cancer a chance to recapture their childhood in a caring and supportive environment.  More than that, they offer parents and caregivers of these youngsters a brief week of normality and an opportunity to devote rare quality time to their other children.

The chairman of CQNZ, Gary Troup, is someone many Rotarians will be familiar with.  Gary represented Auckland and New Zealand at cricket during the 1970s playing around 40 Tests and ODIs for NZ, and has just stepped down as President of Auckland Cricket.  He has been an independent Trustee of Camp Quality since 2005.

You can find out more about the wonderful work of our organisation at www.campquality.org.nz

In return for your club’s support both Gary and I would be prepared to speak at clubs about Camp Quality and Odd Shoe Day.

I would be grateful if you could promote this cause through your newsletters or during your club visits and am happy to provide your members with more information/promotional material on request.  They can register their interest here: Register

DG Weekly Update - the GSE Team Arrives

It was great to see the GSE team arrive last Monday in Wellington.  On Tuesday a District welcoming function was held at the Wellington City Council Chambers attended by the Mayor of Wellington Celia Wade-Brown and the Honorable Hekia Parata, Minister of Education - see earlier BLOG story.  The first host Club was Wellington Harbor City and the GSE team gave their first formal presentation at the Clubs Wednesday meeting.  From here the team transferred to the Rotary Club of Plimmerton and Chris and I were able to catch up with them all over an informal dinner where we heard their presentation.

We have also selected to candidates to attend the Peace Forum in Hiroshima in May, Faye Elliott sponsored by District and from the Takaro Club and Samuel Stevens sponsored by and from the Wellington Clubs.  Our congratulations to Faye and Samuel and we look forward to hearing from them on their return.





Chris and I also had a speedy trip up to New Plymouth where we addressed the Taranaki 1 Cluster and New Zealand Institute of Surveyors on experiences in Antarctica.  It is always pleasurable to return to clubs at a more relaxed meeting.  We have also been busy preparing for our Joint District conference which is now only 3 weeks away.

All the best for the coming week.
DG Graeme

District Assembly - 19 May 2013

Rotarians Honored

Update on Polio Cases this Year

Officially reported wild polio virus cases on 26 Mar 2013

Total global cases in 2013: 16 (compared with 36 for the same period in 2012)

Total in endemic countries in 2013: 16 (compared with 33 for the same period  in 2012)

Total in non-endemic countries in 2013: 0 (compared with 3 for the same  period in 2012)

Nigeria: 10 cases in 2013 (compared with 13 for the same period in 2012),  onset of paralysis of most recent case: 24-Feb-13

Pakistan: 5 cases in 2013 (compared with 15 for the same period in 2012),  onset of paralysis of most recent case: 12-Feb-13

Afghanistan: 1 case in 2013 (compared with 5 for the same period in 2012),  onset of paralysis of most recent case: 31-Jan-13

Niger: 0 case in 2013 (compared with 0 for the same period in 2012), onset  of paralysis of most recent case: 15-Nov-12

Chad: 0 case in 2013 (compared with 3 for the same period in 2012), onset  of paralysis of most recent case: 14-Jun-12

· Total global cases in 2012: 223

· Total in endemic countries in: 217

· Total in non-endemic countries in: 6

We Are This Close

The Honorable Hekia Parata with DG Graeme and PDG Howard  acknowledging the Rotary Polio Plus programme at tonights GSE Welcome ceremony in Wellington.

'We are this close!'

Welcome Function for GSE Team

Tonight a welcome function was hosted by the Mayor of Wellington Celia Wade-Brown at the Wellington City Council Chambers.  The function was also attended by the Honorable Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, and Ms Chantal Hickey representing the Canadian High Commission to New Zealand.  

Following a traditional Maori Powhiri,  Mayor Celia and Hekia welcomed those present and spoke of the importance of Rotary and the GSE programme.  DG Graeme then welcomed Mary and the Team to New Zealand and those attending to the ceremony and spoke of his pleasure in District working with District 5370 to host the exchange.  Team Leader Mary, Shannon, Laura and Nathalie then introduced themselves and responded to the Powhiri by singing a wonderful rendition of the Canadian National Anthem.  GSE Chair Andy Watson then thanked those for making the exchange possible.  A great evening enjoyed by all and a great start to the GSE visit.

My thanks to all those present for making this such a special night.

DG Graeme