Makino Rotary Working Through Christmas

Not all of New Zealand Rotary is on holiday over the Christmas /New Year period. Friday evening 4 January saw the official opening ceremony of start of the first rounds of the 2013 World Orienteering Cup and the Oceania Orienteering Carnival www.oceania2013.co.nz

Over 1000 competitors from 28 countries gathered at Manfield Park, after the usual powhiri and speeches they were treated to a variety of rural activities like sheep shearing, aerial top dressing demonstration where half a tonne of lime was dropped onto the Manfield turf and a rural themed “competition” where teams had to drive nails into a log, change a tire on a quad bike, roll a wool bale and go apple bobbing.

Makino Rotary was there providing a genuine Kiwi BBQ for nearly 200. Showing the Rotary flag and raising over $1500. Not a bad effort for a night’s work.

Kindly supplied by Chris Dungan

The Last Week Before Christmas

As I write this final BLOG for the year I am reminded of the tragedy in Samoa and Fiji and suffering that people are going through.  I ask clubs to please support the aid effort there and want to recognise the great efforts that our District puts in through the provisions of ERKs and Shelterboxes.

For Christine and I it has been a very pleasurable week attending a number of Rotary Christmas functions.  On Wednesday I had the pleasure of being the guest of Honor at the annual Eastern Hutt Old Folks Christmas Function.  This luncheon is put on for Older Folk in the Hutt area by Eastern Hutt Rotary and we were treated to a great meal, entertainment and some Christmas Carols. 

We also attended Christmas functions at Upper Hutt, Heretaunga, and Otaki clubs where a number of PHFs were awarded.  The Otaki function had Roman theme and it was a fitting way to end our year.



We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and New Year and we look forward to a great year ahead in 2013.

Chris and Graeme 

Update from Shelterbox on the Samoa Cyclone

A ShelterBox Response Team from New Zealand consisting of Walter van der Kley from Ashburton and Lyndon Tamblyn from Bulls is on its way to Apia to assess the need in Samoa following the devastation of Cyclone Evan. ShelterBox also stands ready to respond to Fiji if needed, with ShelterBoxes pre-positioned in Samoa and Fiji to allow for rapid responses in both nations.

ShelterBox is an international not-for-profit organisation that provides emergency accommodation and other survival essentials to disaster victims. ShelterBox aid is delivered in pre-packaged kits - the 'ShelterBox' – that are designed to help an extended family to survive the aftermath of a disaster for at least six months. The kits contain a disaster relief tent for an extended family, stove, blankets and water filtration system, and other tools for survival.

“ShelterBox is very concerned by media reports of loss of life and destruction in Samoa and are similarly concerned by the imminent touchdown of the cyclone in Fiji,” said ShelterBox NZ’s Communications Director, Mike Cahill. “We are well prepared to respond to both island nations, however, and will be doing everything we can to deploy ShelterBoxes quickly and effectively.”

Walter van der Kley was deployed to Samoa by ShelterBox following the tsunami in 2009 when 80 ShelterBoxes were sent from pre-positioned stock in Melbourne, Australia and delivered to Samoa with the help of the New Zealand authorities.

Donations can be made through “Givealittle”, the Telecom Foundation free online fundraising tool. It’s fast, safe and easy to use and where 100% of every donation is given to the charity.

Thousands are left without shelter following Cyclone Evan which has struck

with ferocity across the Pacific.

To make a Donation:

At any branch of the National Bank: Account No: 06 0939 007 1143 02

Cheque Donations: “ShelterBox New Zealand”, PO Box 306, MOSGIEL 9053

Or, via our DONATION HOTLINE: www.givealittle.co.nz/org/ShelterBox/donate

Regards

Warren Irving

Rotary District 9940 'ShelterBox' Coordinator

ERKs in Samoa and Fiji

The following report has been received from Stuart Batty, RNZWCS

Following Cyclone Evan, Rotary’s Emergency Response Kits  have been distributed in Samoa and Fiji. In Fiji, the western division of Viti Levu seems to have suffered the worst effects of the wind in the regions from Rakiraki through Ba, Lautoka, Nadi and Sigatoka.

Rotarians from Suva headed to the Western Region at 6.30am on Tuesday the day following the Cyclone causing havoc to assist the Rotary volunteers in the west.

The team of 7 vehicles with 30 Rotarians also included Peter Lund from the NZ Head of Mission in Suva together with the Australian High Commissioner in Fiji and a US diplomat currently in the country.

Many recipients of the kits have said that it was the first tangible assistance they had received. Rotary’s rapid response is assisted by many community volunteers and businesses who supply logistical support including trucks and 4 WD vehicles to enable the most isolated to be visited.

Rotary in Samoa is already turning its attention to the next most immediate need which is “safer” water. With typhoid cases being reported affirmative action is needed and Rotary is consulting with government agencies to address the issue.

Fijians are very resilient people and there is a flurry of activity as they repair their damaged homes which many some 24 hours later able to move back in. The ferocity of Cyclone Evan has stretched budgets and many will need assistance with building materials.

Ben Lummis - Speaker at 9940/20 Conference

District 9920/40 Gala Dinner

STARRY STARRY NIGHT

Saturday night is party night at the Conference.

STARRY STARRY NIGHT is the theme, so dress up as your favourite STAR, or as your favourite impressionist painter, or as if you are attending the Oscars or even as Don McLean!

Maybe your club could find a theme within this theme for dressing up.

The sky is the limit for your imagination, so go wild and join in the fun.

A Busy Week With A Little Over One Week to Christmas

District Training Committee

The past week has been a busy week as we head into Christmas.  Last weekend we attended a District Training Committee Meeting.  PDG Dexter Bamberry is the Chair of this committee and currently the committee is focusing on preparing for SP PETS.  This is for all PEs and is a great opportunity for PEs to get together with their fellow PEs across New Zealand, and prepare for their year ahead.   It was also an opportunity to consider workshops on membership and building strong clubs that will be run as part of our Multi District Conference  in April 2013 and District Assembly.

District GSE Committee

Following this we attended a GSE Inwards Committee Meeting headed by Andy Watson.  We are now preparing and looking forward to the Canadian Inwards GSE team visit which is due in our District in late March.



It has also been great to attend a number of Club Christmas parties including our own Club, Plimmerton's party, at which a PHF Sapphire pin was awarded to Brian Greaves for his work as District Administrator of the Foundation Grants programme as we have transitioned into the Future Vision Pilot.  


It was also great to attend Eastern Hutt, Western Hutt and Terrace End functions where again a number of well deserved PHF presentations were made to club members and members in the community.

President Malcolm, AG Carol, DG Graeme, and DGNN Simon

The Western Hutt meeting was their last formal meeting as they prepare to wind up the club at the end of this Rotary year.  The club had a great turn out and high tributes were given to the club for the work they have done in the community over the past 37 years.

Western Hutt Club

On a sadder note we and several other PDGs and Rotarians attended PDG Stuart Macaskill's funeral and heard of his great work for Rotary and the Community.

We are looking forward to a number of visits this coming week as we head toward Christmas.

Bidding Farewell to Vocational Scholar Jenny

All the best for the coming week.

Graeme