Notices
The president called the meeting to order - and had remembered his glasses this time!
ERKs - Last night, Tuesday, 9 members packed 67 boxes of emergency supplies ready for transporting to where they would be needed in an emergency. A splendid effoirt which gave the president licence to have a couple of stiff drinks when he got home!
Kepa Rd., Henry reported that the cleanup would probably be on Saturday 14th August . Watch this space.
Golf: Barry reported that there would be a Golf Tournament next year on 18th February. He had been involved in a series of discussion with Countdown. They want to make some changes to align with their charitable objectives, and the charity beneficiary will probably be related to children. Details have to be finalised but clearly Barry has done a great job. He was fully entitled to the round of applause that he was given.
Annual subscriptions: Don S reported the Malcolm had won the competition to be the first to pay their annual sub. Thirteen other members have also paid, so for the laggards - pay up , you're not getting any interest so Rotary might as well have the loot!
Service certificates: Ingrid is organising the printing of the outstanding ones. She was also able to report that Jim Staples joined Rotary in Wellington in 1956 so he's been a member for 55 years! Well done Jim. Naturally the announcement was greeted with a round of applause.
Three minute speaker:
Max went to Rarotonga recently. Highly recommended, a few showers but generally lots of sunshine and golden beaches and dusky maidens (I added that he didn't mention them!)
Sargent's session:
Once again David did a great job - our pockets are lighter and wallets slimmer.
Best line: North Korean athletes have been told that either they come home with a medal or they will have another chance in three year's time in the para-olympics!
The speakers were Doug McKay ONZ, chairmen of the Eden Park Trust Board and Nick Sautner, CEO.
Doug introduced Nick who has a successful history of managing stadia across the ditch. He's been in NZ for three years and plans of staying here permanently.
Eden Park was recently recognised as the Best Stadium in the World.
We were told that stadia had to be multipurpose. Eden Park has a value of about $450 million so it is ludicrous to suggest that it should only be used for a limited range of sports for a few times a year. Doug and Nick were proud f the fact that the venue was able to play host to 50,000 for the recent 6 sixty concert and look forward to hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup next year. In total approximately 800,000 enjoy Eden Park each year. Recently it even hosted a golf event!
Commenting on other stadia in Auckland, and proposed stadia, it needs to be recognised that they are expensive to build and maintain (Eden Park's depreciation is 6 million a year).
Not only was it an excellent presentation Nick came with prizes!
Wendy won a Lego set, Max won a history of the park and Don S won a children's book- all for being the quickest to answer questions based on Nick's speech.