Stories

Rotary’s Response to the 1918 Flu Pandemic

An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.

This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year.

The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Photo by Edwin J. McCullagh, 1931-32 club president. Courtesy of the Rotary Club of Berkeley.

Rotary at the Start of the United Nations

Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.

During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter.

Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.”

First Club in Philippines Opens Door to Rotary in Asia

In early 1919, Rotarian Roger Pinneo of Seattle, Washington, USA, traveled to the Philippines to try to organize a Rotary club in Manila. Leon J. Lambert, a Manila business leader helped Pinneo establish the club. Several months later, on 1 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first Rotary club in Asia.

The club would be the only one in the country for more than 12 years. Eventually, Manila club members organized Rotary clubs in the Philippine cities of Cebu (1932) and Iloilo (1933). Iloilo club members then started a club in Bacolod (1937), and Rotary continued to expand across the country.

History of Women in Rotary

Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.

“My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01.

The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.

Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle

Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”

Today's Zoom Speaker - Monday 29 June

Today's speaker is Dr Richard Meade, who is an economist and a Senior Research Fellow at AUT. Richard originates from Wellington, where he graduated with degrees in economics and finance, and statistics and operations research and in 2014 completed his PhD in Industrial Organisation and Regulation at the Toulouse School of Economics in France. Richard began investment banking in 1992, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, privatisations, and valuation and since 1992 he has also advised numerous iwi on Treaty settlements. Richard is Principal of economic consultancy, Cognitus, which he founded in 2002. Through Cognitus he services public, private and Maori organisations in a wide range of sectors. Richard was also a Research Principal at the New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation, where his research focused on the organisation and regulation of sectors such as electricity, agriculture and climate change policy.

President's Message for Xmas 2019

Kia ora Members

A big “Thank you” to all members who have played a role in Rotary during 2019. If you have attended a meeting, volunteered, helped on a committee, run a fundraiser or worked alongside other Rotarians, these are all the activities that make us a vibrant Rotary Club. I look forward to a successful 2020 year as we head into the new decade and the lead up to our Centenary.

And a special thanks to everyone who made an Auckland City Mission donation, as well as gifts for children and puddings, we also raised $1270.

I want to wish you and your families all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a reminder that the first meeting of 2020 will be the week after Waitangi Day - Monday 10th February.

Hei kona mai

Regards

Craig Brown

Rotary Spring into Spring Walk

Dear Craig Brown,

The countdown is on…….

Our save the date of Sunday 29^th September is rapidly approaching, so a good time to send out the details for this event, so you have time to get your walking shoes organized, team outfits ready & for the sun to shine.

Our “Spring into Spring” Rotary walk is as follows:

Sunday 29th September - rain or shine

9am start at Cornwall Park Rotunda (the one by the café & close to carpark)

The park is approx. 5km long with no need for a map, as route will be laid out for you. Just need to follow the colourful windmills showing you where to turn. (Please note you can turn around at any time during walk & do at your own pace etc. It is not a race……)

Some points to note:

- Cornwall Park don’t allow any type of fundraising, so please respect their wishes on this.

- We are however allowed to do this ourselves, so a gold coin donation for the walk would be awesome, & proceeds going to Polio Plus.

- Dress up in Rotary colours, whether it be your green Woman in Rotary colour, club colours/t-shirts. Feel free to add tutu’s or other Rotary bling.

- Bring your friends & family as the more the merrier.

- Remember daylight saving the night before…..9am is actually 8am…….

- We are selling the “Woman in Rotary” green t-shirts. $10.00 each & proceeds going to Polio Plus. Please bring exact $ as we won’t have change.

This event is on our D9920 website events page:

https://www.crsadmin.com/Gen/EventPlanner/EventServices.aspx?accountid=50161&eid=86197f0f-4b9a-4d16-b430-872eb9a6d7b2&tid=2

Please use this so we have an idea on numbers. Any questions re this event, please contact myself, Leanne Jaggs on leanne@searlegroup.co.nz or 021908644

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 9920

Leanne Jaggs

RI Young PDG Committee 2019-2020

D9920 Public Image Chair 2017-2020

Zone 7B Public Image Coordinator 2014-2017

D9920 District Foundation Chair 2011-2016

D9920 District Governor 2009-2010

P.O.Box 753, Pukekohe 2340

Ph: +64 9 2363066 Mob: +64 21 908644

E-mail: leanne@searlegroup.co.nz

Greetings from the Hadera Club of Israel

Dear President Craig Brown,

The President and members of the Rotary Club of Hadera, Israel send greetings to you, your club members and their families.

Each week our club selects a club for the weekly greeting. Our members then honor a toast of fellowship to that selected club.

On September 18th, 2019, we selected your club to commemorate the signing of the Electoral Bill being the first country in the world granting national voting rights to women on September 19th, 1893.

We extend an invitation to the members of your club that may visit Israel in the future to visit our club and attend one of our meetings.

We will be happy to hear from you and explore possible cooperation between our clubs on international projects.

Yours in Rotary,

PP David Solomon

President’s Message

“Kia ora fellow members,

It has been a hectic Rotary week with a range of great events and activities.

I really enjoyed the RYLA graduation dinner last Friday night, what an amazing cohort of young leaders participating in a high quality Rotary programme, our three nominees loved it and we will hear more from them in due course.

On Saturday we had the District Governor Changeover and retiring District Governor (DG) Malini thanked our Club as her local host club, presenting us with an engraved Tanoa, that some of you would have seen at Lunch on Monday. Craig Horrocks was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow by DG Malini for his work at District and Zone and was formally welcomed as the DG Nominee.

World Press continues to do well and is slightly ahead of last year’s revenue level. Please continue to promote it to your networks. A big thanks to Jeff Stangl for leading this important fundraising and profile event for us.

We have had our first meeting of the new Board and we have a strong focus on Membership Attraction led by Sophie Cousso and Membership Attraction led by Monika Levinson and their respective new committees. We are also engaging Massey University to develop a research project to help us develop the direction of RCA towards our Centenary and beyond, shaped by our members and partners.

I thought lunch last Monday was inspiring with Barnaby Marshall from the Flux Accelerator at The Icehouse setting the scene of what innovation is happening in Auckland, and Mark GATT from Think Ladder demonstrating the quality of early stage companies.

We were also joined at lunch by Michael Mueller from the Rotary Club of Freiburg in Germany, who is working on secondment in the bio department at the University of Auckland. Other guests were Dulantha Peiris from Think Ladder, Peter Dine as a guest of Shahrukh Abdali, and nice to see former member Nick Jack who came as a guest of Jacqui Bernards. Always good to see guests at our Club.

It was good to see members enjoying fellowship together and next Monday our lunch will focus on fellowship without a guest speaker, we will try and do this regularly to give more opportunity for members to interact. Petko has invited some young Rylarians to attend, it will be good to meet them. See you on Monday.”

Hei kona mai,

Brett O'Riley

RMH Cook Night - 31 May 2018

The Downtown Auckland Club put on another very successful Cook Night at the Ronald McDonald House on 31 May. In spite of the overwhelming interest within their own

Club, Gill Johnston and Kat Trevor gave us the opportunity to

send a couple of our own RCA members. The lucky ones were Jim Johnston and his wife Deirdre - and Jim, we heard, carved up all the chickens! The benefiting families were, as always, very touched and grateful for a home-cooked meal

in the midst of constantly caring for their little ones currently undergoing medical treatment at Starship Hospital. A lovingly prepared meal can really make a big difference during such a time!

Rockin Roger and his Dancing with the Stars partner Carol-Ann Hanna also popped into lend a hand.
Given the great success of the second Cook Night that our Club has been participating in, we are only more encouraged to put our own Cook Night session on soon and then reciprocating the kindness by inviting our fellow Rotarians from the Downtown Club. Thank you, Gill and Kat, for the great collaboration!”

Annual Golf Tournament

The Annual golf day against the Lions Club was held at Akarana Golf Club Monday April 9^th.

A very small number of members attended with the Lions outnumbering us for the first time.

Our Club Doing Good - City Mission

With a bit of delay, we are finally reporting on a very successful and joyous volunteering event

at City Mission’s Distribution Centre in Grafton on March 17.

Eight of us were packing food bags and toiletries for those in need.

After working out a really effective and efficient assembly line, we just breezed through the activity and packed about 150 bags.

It was touching to see that aside from us there were also a young man in his thirties and a teenager still in high school.

We learned that they regularly spend their Saturday morning helping those in need.

There is much kindness in this world when we open our eyes and look for it.

The event was such a success that we will no doubt plan for another one in the second half of this year.

Look out for communication on it in a few months.

Monika Levinson

Orewa Disaster Preparedness Open Day

Posted by Craig Horrocks

Last Saturday we had our pilot open day at Orewa.

It was a great success and a further report will be provided to the Club at a Club meeting.

We had support from Club menbers and our AGS Interactors on the day.

Special thanks are due to members Monika Levinson and Greg Sayers, the AGS Interact Club and our partners:

The CHIP-In Foundation
Auckland CDEM
The Rotary Club of Orewa
The Rotary Club of Westhaven
Massey University.

The initiative was commended in the joint Civil Defence and responders meeting at Auckland Council.

Auckland Grammar School Interact

The charter night for this historic event is 24 August 2015.

The event is listed on the Events list on this Bulletin so you can register,

If you are an old Grammarian please attend.

The AGS Interact Club members are already assisting us with the Orewa CHIP-In Community day.

We need to have an RCA Club member at each Interact Club meeting, Ideally the member should be an old Grammarian..

If you are willing to attend the Interact Club meetings please let Jackie Hinchcliff know - Jacqueline.Quick-Hinchcliff@nzta.govt.nzt

Orewa Disaster planning - Rotary and CHIP-In at work

Posted by Craig Horrocks on Aug 08, 2015

Our new CHIP-In Foundation comes alive with its first project, a community awareness day in Orewa on Saturday 22nd August.

We need volunteers to help at our pop-up community information centre in Orewa.

Duties are light:

1. accompanying Interactors and Rotaractors as they walk around the shops helping residents complete a survey prepared by Massey University.

2. assisting visitors to the pop-up centre by distributing information

3. talking to visitors about Rotary

Volunteers are asked to email me at craig_horrocks@horrocks.gen.nz or txt or call me on 021683800

The information sheet for the day is in the Downloads section and can also be read here by clicking more

Auckland Rotary - 94 years of service and planning big for our centenary

Posted by Craig Horrocks on Jun 13, 2015

We are celebrating 94 years of service to New Zealand.

Rotary in Australia and New Zealand was founded by chartering our Club and Clubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Wellington in 1921.

A brief history of the formation of Rotary in New Zealand can be found here

The Rotary Club of Melbourne is leading the planning for 2021.

The Melbourne Club has established a website Rotary 100 Down Under and has asked Auckland and Wellington to form Club and New Zealand Committees to start the planning here in New Zealand.

Any help, comments is appreciated and can be made by contacting our Centenary Committee leader Craig Horrocks by email or mobile 021683800

We are working with the Rotary Club of Wellington on plans for Rotary to build on our previous service in New Zealand and ....

Tomorrows Speaker is Jim Donegan US Consul General

U.S. Foreign Service Officer Jim Donegan has been with the Department of State for 20 years

His assignments have included Caracas, Accra, Washington, Rome and London.

Jim's role in Auckland is to lead the Consulate in expanding the United States' political, economic and trade relationship with New Zealand.

Jim has a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and MBA from Manhattan College.

His languages include Spanish and Italian and his wife Susan is a former British diplomat with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

District Conference

The conference theme of Light up a Life was demonstrated by speakers who illustrated how they "Light Up a Life" or in some cases many lives. The conference has been inspiring. There has been a lot of laughs despite covering the realities that are part of our work as Rotarians.

As always the Exchange Students ahd moving stories about their experiences.

This Weeks Meeting - 20 April

This was a special meeting to celebrate our Paul Harris Fellows.

We conferred an Honorary Membership on Past President Marsden Bell.

We awarded our Vocational Award for the Best All-Round Nurse at Auckland Hospital, the Trophy of Tradition, to Adele McMahon, who is a Clinical Nurse Specialist with Neuro Oncology.

This awarded was made possible with the very generous assistance we received by way of a contribution grant from the Chenery Trust,

Our speaker Mark Powell, the CEO of the Warehouse Group gave a wonderful speech to the point one wag cautioned members not to run to call their stockbrokers.

We then conferred Paul Harris Fellow awards on member Ngaio Merrick and a further award (a Paul Harris Sapphire Pin award) on Past President Dave Tibby.

We honoured the amazing work being done by YesDisability and the Rotary youth programmes our Club supports and dedicated the Sergeants collection to those causes.

We had visitors from the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Waiheke and Hong Kong.

It was a very busy and happy event and for the photos and more please READ here

Your Club Needs You - support the Terry Williams Comedy Night

Posted by Peter Woodhead on Apr 24, 2015

Dear Members, you will have received at least 2 emails from me as Chair of the Comedy Night Fundraiser.

I make no apology. This is call for action - book here now by clicking on the date for either the 12th or 13th of May.

Your Club and our very deserving charity, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) need your support by joining with us on one of the 2 fun filled nights at Q Theatre.

The for the invitation details and more here .....

Celebrating the life of John Rutherfurd

A number of members of the Club attend the funeral to honour and remember Past President John Rutherfurd on 2 April.

John was in his 96th year and the funeral was truly a celebration of a life well-lived, well-remembered and a man well-loved.

Remarkably 66 of those 96 years had been as a serving Club member.

John has a long and distinguished career in business and in the community including being a founder of Southern Cross Medical Care.

John was awarded the Military Cross for saving the life of a fellow officer under fire.

John's citation for his MC tells a story of courage, selfness and service and is displayed here.....

Last Week's Meeting - 23 March 2015

At this week's meeting we were introduced to our newest member, learnt a little more about one of our newest members and discovered the importance of acknowledging and embracing diversity in all forms from our guest speakers talk.

2015 Golf Fundraiser

Yesterday was our annual golf fundraiser, travelling to and from Waiheke Island the Spirit of New Zealand to play golf. A great day was had by everyone and the winners were:

1^st PWC Panthers – team leader Danion Tuck

2^nd Rae's Angels – team leader Rae Rigge

3^rd Pukie Pirates – team leader Murray Barber

4^th Wardrobe Wackers – team leader Steve Kane

5^th Levene Wandrers – team leader Craig Lister

6^th Wardrobe Wackers– team leader Nigel Fisher

7^th Patterson Hopkins – team leader Bill Paterson

Many thanks to everyone who participated and who donated items for prizes or to be auctioned.

And special thanks must go to John Lister, with help from John Barker and Mark Kingsford, for all their work behind the scenes to ensure a fantastic day of golf and fellowship.

Thanks also to Dean Lawrence and the crew on the Spirit of New Zealand and the crew of Coastguard New Zealand.

Next Monday's Speaker is Ross Blackman

Next Monday’s speaker is Ross Blackman, who is currently the Director of BlackGold, a partnership between Sport NZ, High Performance Sport NZ and the NZ Olympic Committee, to source philanthropic funding for the Rio Olympics. Ross is also an Advisor to the Sir Peter Blake Trust, having just retired after nine years as a Trustee. Prior to this Ross helped create Team NZ, with Sir Peter Blake, during the nineties, when we won the America’s Cup, going on to be the Chief Executive responsible for all commercial activities at Team NZ from 2003 to 2007. Outside of his sporting associated activities, Ross is the current Chair for Far North Holdings Limited, a council owned company managing $55 million in assets for the Far North District Council.

Urgent Appeal for Donations due to Cyclone Pam

Rotary is now responding to the devastation from Cyclone Pam in the Pacific by providing both Emergency Response Kits and Shelterboxes - to Vanuatu in particular and your donation would be of great help in assisting people who have had their lives torn apart by this disaster.

For how to donate and the contents of an ERK ....

Next Monday's Speaker is Anthony Healy from BNZ

Next Monday’s speaker is Anthony Healy, who was appointed CEO and Managing Director of BNZ last year after having joined the bank in 2009. As a career banker, Anthony has held various senior banking and financial service roles in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Middle East. Anthony is committed to BNZ's mission to be the Bank for New Zealand, by helping New Zealanders be good with money and is passionate about enabling a higher achieving country and seeing businesses, communities and individuals grow and thrive. Anthony champions the bank's focus on diversity, which saw BNZ recognised globally with a 2013 United Nations award. Anthony is also a member of the BNZ Board and the Group Executive Committee of NAB, Deputy Chair of the NZ Bankers' Association Council, a Director of JB Were (NZ) Holdings Ltd and The Icehouse Ltd.

This Week's Meeting

This week's meeting saw us introduced to our Club President Nominee for the 2016/2017 Rotary Year, the induction of a new member, a five minute synopsis of one of our Club's newer members and a guest speaker who showed us what we can expect from the Auckland Trotting Club over the next thirty years.

2015 Fijian Education Scholarship Appeal

Our appeal is now well underway to again raise funds for the Taveuni Island Secondary School Scholarship in Fiji, where secondary schooling is neither compulsory nor free. We are hoping to raise NZ$1300, sufficient to support a number of students for one year and are about half way there already. Donations, which are tax deductible, can either be made to the following bank account (please include as reference your SURNAME/FIJI, so your donation can be reconciled to ensure you receive an end of year tax receipt) or you can send a cheque made out to RCA SUNSHINE to PO Box 105 334, Auckland 1143.

RCA Sunshine - ASB - 12 3057 0059 314 00

Next Monday's Guest Speaker is Dominique Dowding

Next Monday’s Speaker is Dominique Dowding, who changed the 125 year history of the Auckland Trotting Club by becoming its first female CEO. This inspiring business leader has now set about turning Alexandra Park in to a lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality destination for Auckland. Dominique's plans to transform both the business of the Auckland Trotting Club and the sport are well underway.

2015 District 9920 Conference in Taupo

Not long now until the District 9920 Conference at the Wairakei Resort in Taupo from 1 to 3 May. As well as being a fantastic event at a great venue, Friday night will be a Rotary Has Talent evening, where everyone can have lots of fun and let their hair down. If you would like to participate then please contact Linda Dawe at lindad543@gmail.com

This Week's Meeting - 9 March 2015

This week's meeting included details of a number of upcoming golf and fundraising events, member Kevin Harper's interesting account of his life as our 5 Minute Speaker and learning about social housing in New Zealand from Glen Sowry, the CEO of Housing New Zealand.

This Week's Meeting on 2 March 2015

This week we were introduced to our Club's newest member, heard all about Sheltboxes from our 5 Minute Speaker and learnt about the amazing work being done by VisionFund International, from our guest speaker, in helping to provide project funds for the world's poorest of the poor.

Next Monday's Speaker is Glen Sowry

Next Monday's speaker is Glen Sowry, who is the CEO of Housing New Zealand.

Help Support Starship's Radio Lollipop

If you would like to help support Radio Lollipop at Starship Hospital then read on...

Plunket Needs Some Help Please

Plunket is urgently seeking volunteers to help run sausage sizzles around Auckland. Are you able to help please?

Next Monday's Speaker is Jon Hartley

Next Monday’s speaker is Jon Hartley, who is the Chair of VisionFund International. Originally from the UK, Jon’s career in commerce has meant he has worked around the world, with roles as a CEO and a public company director, as well as a number of directorships. Today Jon is the Chair of VisionFund International, the global microfinance operations of World Vision, operating in 36 countries with a loan portfolio of over half a billion US dollars. VisionFund tries to use the market place positively to improve the lives of approximately one million people living in poverty. Jon is also Chair of the Wellington City Mission, a Trustee of World Vision NZ and an Anglican Church priest.

An Update from Ashleight Moat

Ashleigh Moat is one of our outbound RI Exchange students (and also our member David Botting's granddaughter), who flew to France last month for the remainder of this year and her record of her first month in a new country, home and school is interesting reading.

This Week's Meeting - 23 February 2015

This week we welcomed back a former member, heard from a former Split Enz member about the Play it Strange Trust and heard about the current and future changes happening at the Ports of Auckland.

Rotaract Club of Auckland City's 10 Birthday

The Rotaract Club of Auckland City is celebrating their 10th Birthday on Friday 6 March. Dinner will be at Mexicali, 135 Quay Street, The Viaduct at 6.30pm and you will only be paying for what you eat and drink. Please RSVP to rotaractakl@gmail.com by midday 4 March, so the restaurant can be given an indication of numbers attending.

Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children

The Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) programme provides medical treatment for children from developing counties in the form of life-saving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to these children in their own country. We have been asked if we would be willing to take on a hosting role – a truly “Rotary in Action” project and an international project on our own turf (as opposed to donating to causes overseas). More information can be found at http://charityforchildren.org.nz/. If interested in being involved in a hosting role, then please contact Jacqui in the office.

This Week's Meeting - 16 February 2015

President Craig Presents the award to Cathy Zhong

This weeks meeting included:

1. a thought provoking presentation from guest speaker Donald Jessep on why we should be thinking about digital currencies such as BitCoin

2. a five minute from Dr Cathy Zhong, awardee of the RCA Most Distinguished Medical Student award

3. induction of new member Peter Lund

4. banner presentation to visiting Rotarian Larry Robinson

MC by Past President Richard Dodds.

Rotary Constitution Changes

CALL TO ACTION - PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND TOMORROWS MEETING - WE NEED A QUORUM

Rotary International (RI) has changed the RI Constitution and requires all clubs to adopt it. The resulting draft Constitution for The Rotary Club of Auckland Incorporated was presented to the Board who recommend it being presented to the membership for adoption, which will happen at next Monday's meeting. While most sections of the RI Constitution cannot be altered, Clubs were given discretion to amend articles 19(3), 20,21,22,23,24 and 25. The only changes we have chosen to make involve the inclusion of email, proxy and internet tools for communication with members and for voting. All other sections remain unchanged from RI’s Constitution. The Draft Constitution has already been distributed to Club members, but if you would like another copy, then please contact Jacqui in the office.

TOMORROWS Speaker is Tony Gibson - CEO of Ports of Ak

TOMORROW’s speaker is Tony Gibson, the Ports of Auckland CEO.

Tony has 30 years experience in shipping and logistics, first with Seabridge in Wellington and then with Nedlloyd. Tony has worked all over the world, including as European Director of Customer Operations, before being appointed Managing Director, New Zealand and Pacific Islands in 2002. Following a take-over by Maersk, Tony served as Managing Director of Maersk NZ for three years. Most recently Tony has pursued his own business interests as a director and then Chair of ERoad, a road-user charge solution provider and in 2008 was appointed by the Minister of Transport to the Road User Review Group.

This Week's Meeting

This week we welcomed two new members, Tony Caughey and Dean Edwards Click on more ... for details). Both as senior business leaders, well recognised in the business community add to the talent and experience of our members. We heard from the President of the Rotaract Club of Auckland, who was our 5 Minute Speaker. Our key note speaker was the Principal Economist with the NZ Institute of Economic Research, Shambeel Eaqub, whose speech was titled 'Economic Outlook: the long shadow of the GFC'.

Next Monday's Speaker is Donald Jessep talking about Bitcoins

Next Monday Donald Jessep will be speaking to us about Bitcoins, explaining how this form of currency works and why he thinks it has emerged and what it could mean for New Zealand. Donald is a facilitator, who facilitates conversations that allow people to be more effective in their work and his particular interest is in future trends that may affect business. Donald is one of five NZ based facilitators who are certified by the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). To learn more go to www.donaldjessep.com

Rotary Movie Fundraiser

The Rotary Clubs of Epsom and Mt Eden invite you to the movie premiere of THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Richard Gere (Rated: PG, Running Time: 122 mins) on Thursday 26 February from 8pm at the Lido Cinema on Manukau Road.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards RYLA

Applications are now open for this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme which will be held from the 28^th June to the 5^th July. Rotary Clubs are progressing with their identification of worthy awardees. If you personally or your company has a worthy candidate who would benefit from RYLA, please contact Jacqui in the office - applications close the end of February.

RYLA is a week-long leadership development programme for 19-26 year olds hosted and sponsored by Rotary Clubs and is designed to help young people develop their team work and communication skills and fulfill their potential as leaders. Successful applicants are fully sponsored by a local Rotary Clubs. Go to www.ryla.co.nz for more information.

Highbrook Rotary Fun Run - Wed 25 February

The Rotary Club of Highbrook is again holding it's annual fundraiser fun run on Wednesday 25 February - go to www.highbrookrotary.org.nz for more information and to register. This event is held behind the Highbrook business area in a huge parkland and is eliciting great response from the Business Houses. There are prizes - electronic tags for participants - dress up events, all the usual razz-ma-taz, with a sponsored barbaque at the finish line. Rotary Volunteers are also needed to assist with car parking and the "water bottle brigade" and if interested in being a volunteer, please contact Mary Ann France directly at (09) 537 4579

This Week's Meeting - 15 December 2014

This week was our last meeting for 2014 and many thanks to the Stamford to organising great decorations, crackers and meals.

2015 RCA Golf Fundraiser

Thursday 26^th March 2015 will be our annual fundraising golf day, again on Waiheke Island!

Transport to and from Waiheke Island will be on the tall ship Spirit of New Zealand.

Entry is available for only 18 teams of 4.

This is a great full on day and includes all meals, travel on a tall ship and playing 18 holes of golf.

The brochure for this event is thumbnailed in this article.

A link to download the brochure is in the documents section (see the bottom left hand panel of this Bulletin)

Please download for all details and entry form.

You are asked to forward on the brochure to potential sponsors or players.

Update from Jubilee Trust 2015 Recipient Raymond Chan

We have had an update from this year’s Jubilee Trust Recipient Raymond Chan, who is currently enrolled in a Masters degree for Conducting at the London Academy of Music.

Opera on the Gulf - Saturday 28 February 2015

The Rotary Club of Waiheke Island proudly presents A Night to Remember on Saturday 28 February, from 5 to 8pm, with three hours of opera, wine, and canapes.

This Week's Meeting - 8 December 2014

This week’s 5 Minute Speaker was RCA member John Robinson, our speakers were Jon Bridges and David Downs – authors of No.8 Rewired and our Sergeant was Lyle Irwin.

Next Monday's Speakers - Darren Shand & Tony Johnson

Sky Sports Commentator Tony Johnson will be interviewing the Manager of the All Blacks Darren Shand, about next year's Rugby World Cup.

Join us for a Community Volunteer Day

The Rotaract Club of Auckland City will be working with the community this Sunday 14 December from 9am to help build a pocket part at 257 Symonds Street. This land will eventually be used by the City Rail Link; but until then it will be turned into an Uptown community pocket part where people can sit, gather and relax. No prior planting, building or planting experience is required, just enthusiasm and some sturdy footwear. So if you can spare some time and energy, then we will see you this Sunday!

Chinese New Year Gala Ball - Year of the Sheep

The Rotary Club of Auckland Harbouside is again holding a Chinese New Year Gala Ball on Saturday 7^th March 2015 from 6.30pm.

Shelterboxes for the Phillipines

For those concerned about the effects of Typhoon Hagupit on the Philippines, ShelterBox, which is a Global Rotary Partner, has pre-positioned 1,000 tents and 400 ShelterBoxes to help displaced families. The Club after the Indonesian Tsunami raise significant funds for ShelterBox. In in recent years the Club has focused its efforts on the ERKs (Emergency Response Kits) programme which is now being led by our Past President Don Bendall. We now have Club member Bonnie Boyle as our Shelterbox Club Champion and Bonnie is keen to engage with any member interested in the work of ShelterBox.

Next Week's Speakers are John Bridges & David Downs

If necessity is the mother of invention then Kiwi ingenuity - fossicking around the in the middle of the night where he probably shouldn't be - is certainly the father. Invention doesn't need three parents, so good old No.8 wire must be the milkman. John Bridges and David Downs are the authors of a comprehensive compendium treasury of New Zealand inventions - packed with 202 stories of inventions and the people who made them. 'No. 8 Re-wired brilliantly celebrates New Zealanders' disrespect for the status quo.' - Sir Ray Avery

The Rotaract Club of Auckland City’s Quiz Night

Last weekend the Rotaract Club of Auckland City ran a Quiz Night fundraising for Diabetes Youth Auckland towards the $8,000 they need to run a children's Summer camp in January.

This Week's Meeting - 1 December 2014

This week’s 5 Minute Speaker was Hilary Sumpter, who is the CEO of Auckland Communities Foundation. For more information go to http://www.aucklandcf.org.nz/

Our guest speaker was Tim Bennett, the CEO of NZX and apparently this has been ‘a hell of a year – but all good ’.

Sergeant Matt Kemp was in fine form this week.

This Week's Meeting - 24 November 2014

Get introduced to our newest member Craig Brown - the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Unleashed Software Ltd.

Read about Toby Simson, son of former RCA member Michael Simson, one of our 2 outgoing Rotary International Exchange Students for this year.

You missed our speaker, Dame Lesley Max. A moving and inspiring New Zealander doing great work through Great Potentials.

If you have wondered what can be done for NZ children living in a disadvantaged families, Dame Lesley has some real answers.

Thinking about our Sunshine Fund

, Jeff Stangl was Sergeant and helped our Sunshine Fund

along the path to funding our youth programmes, vocational awards and other service to the community.

We followed our Club meeting with our Xmas BBQ and Bowls. This event again was filled with the 3 Fs - Fun, Fellowship and Food.

We had our other Rotary International Exchange Student, Ashliegh Moat, granddaughter of member David Botting and her family.

Next Monday's Guest Speaker is Tim Bennett

Another top speaker - this time Tim Bennett the CEO of NZX. Miss hearing Tim and you will be missing an opportunity to hear from one of our key business leaders.

Next Monday's Speaker - Dame Lesley Max

Next Monday’s Speaker is Dame Lesley Max, who is the CEO of the Great Potentials Foundation, whose aim is to help children, young people and their families to flourish. Lesley developed the Family Service Centre model, now used in seven NZ communities, introduced the Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters, which is now used in 38 communities and also introduced MATES, the Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme, which is now used in 15 schools. Lesley was a secondary school teacher, journalist, author and Winston Churchill Fellow, and has been appointed by successive Governments in health and social service sectors roles. Lesley was made Dame Companion of the NZ Order of Merit in 2010, for her services to children.

This Week's Meeting - 17 November 2014

On Monday, our 5 Minute Speaker was Rob Lutter, the new CEO of Heart Kids, which supports children with heart problems and their families, without any government financial assistance (Rob’s son is one of these children). In New Zealand, congenital heart defects is the leading cause of birth defects and is the leading cause for new born and infant deaths. Annually Starship Hospital carries out 450 open heart surgeries and the families of these children are the greatest users of the Ronald McDonald House. Due to the advances in medical intervention, these children are living longer, but are also more likely to have other associated health issues, so require continual medical assistance, as there is no cure for congenital heart disease. If you would like more information about this amazing organising please visit their website: www.heartnz.org.nz

Our guest speaker this week was Jeff Douglas, who is the Managing Director of Douglas Pharmaceuticals; having begun working there is 1979. Douglas Pharmaceuticals started life in 1967 thanks to Jeff’s father Graeme and is now a leading drugs company, specialising in hard-to-make products and is the world leader in the production of medication for bad acne. Due to the small size of the NZ market, Douglas Pharmaceuticals went offshore and now has two manufacturing facilities in Auckland and Fiji, with the Fijian plant specialising in nutritional products. Douglas Pharmaceuticals is also involved in the development of auto blister packaging machinery, so chemists no longer have to sort out a patient’s daily dosages manually. Douglas Pharmaceuticals currently supplies to mainly western countries and continues to evolve as the markets dictate.

Sergeant John Duder provided a number of different taxes this week, including an alarm clock tax, an aging tax, a driving tax and a young tax, to ensure a boost to our Sunshine Fund.

UNICEF Report regarding Innovation & Disadvantaged Children

On the theme of solutions to inequalities and disadvantage and being inspired read on about UNICEF's new report The State of the World’s Children Report – Reimagine the future: Innovation for every child is a crowd-sourced compilation of cutting-edge innovations and an interactive platform that maps innovations in countries all over the world and invites innovators to put their own ideas ‘on the map’.

Rotaract Quiz Night Fundraiser

The Rotaract Club of Auckland City is organising a pub quiz for Diabetes Youth Auckland, so they can run a Summer camp for 9-12 year olds with diabetes. Teams are made up of 8 people, but don't worry if you don't have a full team, as one can be organised for you on the night. To purchase tickets please email rotaractakl@gmail.com or phone Teri on 027 461 9700

Date: Saturday the 29th November

Time: 6:30 - 10:30pm

Location: Jubilee Hall, Parnell Centre, 545 Parnell Road

Tickets: $40pp & includes a drink and dinner. A cash bar is available

2015 District 9920 Conference

This year's District Conference is at the Wairakei Resort in Taupo from 1 to 3 May and promises to be a fantastic event.

How You Can Help Rotary Help with the Ebola Outbreak

Two months ago Rotary New Zealand launched an appeal in support of the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa specifically for the Rotary sponsored Bo Hospital . The work of Rotary in Sierra Leone has now expanded as requested by health authorities. They are providing basic needs for health professionals to ensure that they have the necessary infrastructure, equipment and consumables until the last case has been reported and dealt with in the current outbreak. Donations to the Rotary New Zealand Appeal will go to those most vulnerable. Spokesperson Stuart Batty records “It is difficult for we in New Zealand to really come to grips with their situation and the realities that it brings upon communities such as a rising number of orphaned children.” “It has been recently tabled that the rate of new infections is continuing to increase in Sierra Leone whereas in Liberia there has been a noticeable decrease” he said. “Family unity is heart warming. Rotary in Monrovia recently acknowledged the bravery of Fatu Kerkula, a nursing student from Cuttington University who single handily cared for four members of her family who had the Ebola Virus nursing them back to health using HIV antiretroviral drugs and other necessary supplies she could obtain. Ms. Kerkula protected herself by using locally procured personal protective equipment in the form of boots, plastic bags, chlorine and face masks.” Youth groups in Monrovia with Rotary support have embarked on an Ebola Awareness Campaign tagged ‘ Kick Ebola OUT of Liberia’. The campaign includes training workshops to create awareness and prevention. In their communities youth groups have placed educational posters on buildings, distributed hand-wash barrels and buckets, soaps and chlorine and are engaging with community empowerment and advocacy groups. Rotary is working directly with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Social Welfare providing consumables including at the Redemption Hospital and local community health centres. In addition reading and activity packets for primary school children are being delivered to their homes as schools are currently closed.

GENEROUS DONATIONS ARE STILL UGENTLY NEEDED
Donations please by cheque payable to:

RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)
P O Box 20 309
Christchurch 8543

Internet Banking: 03 1702 0192208 01
Please put your name in the transaction reference field with code 333

visit any branch of Westpac Bank and lodge your donation to the above RNZWCS bank account.

RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand) Charities Services Reg. No. CC26860

PDG Stuart J Batty QSM,JP

Director

RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)

PO Box 20309

Christchurch 8543

New Zealand

Ph/Fax 64 3 3599218

cellphone 027 2695615

stuart.batty@rnzwcs.org

www.rnzwcs.org

skype: superbatts

Member : Council for International Development

Charities Services Reg. No. CC26860

This Week's Meeting - 10 November 2014

First of all congratulations to our Quiz Team, who represented the Club last Saturday night at the District 9920 Quiz Evening. We can fourth (out of twelve teams) and apparently breathed a sigh of relief when it was revealed to the winning team, part of their prize was to organise the 2015 Quiz Evening.

On Monday, instead of our usual 5 Minute Speaker, this week we had two 2½ minute speakers. Firstly, Donna Buckland thanked the Club for her time as a member, before she moves offshore to Hong Kong for work later this month. Donna has been one of the driving forces regarding the projects we have recently become involved with in Fiji and is looking forward to continuing her Rotary membership once she is settled. We wish Donna and her family all the best on their new venture.

Then Kaye Shannon spoke about our upcoming End of Year Evening Bowls and BBQ function on Monday 24^th November. If you haven’t already let Jacqui in the office know whether or not you will be attending, then please do so. Also, remember we will be collecting Christmas gifts for children in need, which we will pass onto Lifewise for distribution. You can either bring the gifts with you on the 24^th November, or pass them onto Jacqui at the Stamford on a Monday.

Our guest speaker this week was Phil Norman, who is the Managing Director of Nortek Management Services, a boutique business advisory firm for growth companies. Phil spoke about some of the current issues faced by small New Zealand companies wanting to grow, which generally means having to expand offshore. Small businesses need to spend lots of time with their customers to build a sound base and to ensure what they have to offer is what people ‘really need’, rather than what they what they ‘like’. Small businesses need to learn and respond fast in today’s environment and have a product the market is ready for and if the market isn’t ready, be willing to pull the plug sooner rather than later. Moving offshore requires time, money, flexibility and resilience and optimal results are often achieved by experimentation, which may have nothing to do with your original business plan. Business models need to be realistic, not optimistic; always hire the best talent available and have great internal systems to support your business. Also, select your shareholders wisely, as long term they can cause lots of problems if your goals and theirs are not heading in the same direction.

Finally Sergeant Matt Kemp provided a prosperous tax (due to the continuing increase in Auckland properties), a Melbourne Cup tax (as a NZ horse came in 3^rd) and a Sunshine tax to ensure a boost to our Sunshine Fund this week.

Next Monday's Speaker is Jeff Douglas

Jeff is the Managing Director of Douglas Pharmaceuticals, have begun work there in 1979 - initially part-time as a student, then moving to full-time employment in various roles including sales representative to doctors, pharmacists and hospitals and product, sales and export management. Jeff is a Trustee of the Waitakere Trusts Stadium, a Station Officer at Kumeu Fire Brigade, a Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Board Member and he also farms cattle on 90 acres at Kumeu.

Rotary Volunteers Required

Always wanted to visit Nuku’alofa Tonga - if you have for two weeks in early 2015 you could visit and help build a workshop for the disabled.

This Week's Meeting - 3 November 2014

This week we began with a very inspiring 5 Minute Speaker – Jaden Movold. Jaden, who is 10 years old, has spina bifida, which means he is unable to walk, but he still has a huge passion for sport and so far this year has completed five triathlons for his age group. As well as being an athlete, Jaden is an ambassador, an advocate, a performer and a fundraiser, whose hope is to represent New Zealand in para-swimming. Jaden never sets limits on what he can achieve, but embraces challenges with incredible positivity and enthusiasm. His drive, attitude and competitive spirit will no doubt see him achieve his dreams of representing NZ in sports one day.

Jaden was then followed by our guest speaker and Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy. Susan described the time when she took on this role as a ‘baptism of fire’, but things have since settled down and she is enjoying her job. There are approximately one hundred different commissioners in New Zealand, with Race Relations coming under the Human Rights Commission, which answers to the government and ultimately the United Nations. New Zealand is a changing country, which is extremely multi-cultural and the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude no longer cuts it. We need to move past viewing ‘diversity’ as a descriptor and rid the country of our ‘inherent’ racism, which for many people they won’t even realise they do on a daily basis. We need to understand that ‘diversity’ isn’t a static concept and stereotyping a person just because of their race, religion, etc. does an injustice to everyone involved. For example, we need to understand the difference regarding ethnicity when a person has been born in New Zealand verses when a person has travelled here. It is not enough to just welcome the ‘other’; we need to look at the bigger picture and to take a holistic approach to ensure newcomers are included into our community.

Finally, our newest member of just two weeks, Greg Woodd, was thrown in the deep end and given the task of Sergeant and what a fantastic job he did. Our 5 Minute speaker showed us what The Sunshine Fund is all about – the support of youth programmes. Greg ensured the buckets with ringing with cash, by fining those who didn’t know what the second most common language in New Zealand is (Hindi), those who didn’t attend any Rotary function last Monday (which just happened to be a public holiday) and those who hadn’t completed at least five triathlons this year (which our 5 Minute Speaker had done).

Next Monday's Guest Speaker is Phil Norman

Phil is Managing Director of Nortek Management Services Ltd, a boutique business advisory firm providing investment banking, strategy and governance services for growth companies. Phil has over thirty years experience working with small and mid-sized companies in a number of industry sectors and has been an owner, manager, director and investor in a number of local and international businesses. Phil was the founding Chair of Xero Ltd, one of New Zealand’s most successful publicly listed technology companies, and retired from their Board in 2012 after five years. Phil's current director roles include the Independent Chairmanship of Loyalty NZ Ltd, Chair of NZAX listed VMob Group Limited and Chair of Unleashed Software. Phil served as Chair of the NZ Venture Capital Association during 2002 and 2003 and for six years was a member of NZTE’s NZ Beachheads Advisory Board.

RCA End Polio Now Awareness Campaign

Posted on Oct 31, 2014

24 October was World Polio Day - The Rotary Club of Auckland Response

We had a simple idea of engaging the CBD tower cafe operators and having a Rotary member presence during the day. Easier said than done. Huge thanks are due to Jai Basrur as Director Community Services, Brian Aitken as Task Group Leader, the team of members that fronted at the cafes but most importantly the cafe operators and staff that took up the call to service. Pictures speak louder than words so here are some:

We had information packs and brochures which we asked CBD tower customers to take back to their lunch rooms. We had collection boxes so collected a small amount of money. We heard stories of relatives and others known to the cafe customers that had been afflicted with polio. We talked about the 5 REASONS for eradication (below). We had fun while getting the message out about both the importance of Rotary's campaign to End Polio and ROTARY.

Rotary Emergency Response Kits (ERKs)

REPUBLISHED FROM OUR OCTOBER BULLETIN

Auckland Rotarians are helping to prepare for New Zealand's emergency response to the Pacific Islands during the upcoming cyclone season. RCA members Don Bendall and Claire Hewitt have been supporting the Emergency Response Kit (ERK) programme run by the Rotary NZ World Community Service (RNZWCS). This weekend Don spent time helping to pack up the Kits along with a group of Rotary exchange students.

A dozen or more named cyclones are forecast in the Pacific this year and Rotary is mobilizing its members to make a practical difference by buying, packing and shipping ERKs. When disaster, such as a tsunami or cyclone strikes, families can lose everything, but with an ERK, a family is able to construct a basic shelter, clothe themselves and find food for several days. Each kit holds over 60 items packed in a 78-litre container – including fishing gear, a hunting knife, cooking equipment, a folding shovel for digging trenches, a medical pack, clothing and bed covers for warmth. With a little ingenuity, families can create a shelter from tarpaulins using the hammer and nails provided. The container itself can be used to capture and store water safely with the purifying tablets provided.

The approx. cost of an ERK is $600. Every Club is encouraged to make at least one annual $600 donation. Part donation may also be made, with the simplest way to donate being directly to RNZWCS Ltd at 03 1702 0192208 02. Use your Club name as a Reference. Alternatively go to www.rnzwcs.org for further details or contact Jacqui in the office.

Christmas Bowls on Monday 24 November 2014

Our Sport’s & Fellowship committees have organised another Outdoor Lawn Bowls

and barbeque evening on Monday 24^th November from about 5pm, which will also be our Club’s Christmas outing for this year. This is a relaxed night made up of teams of 3 members, with family and friends welcome and there will be instructors on site if required! Please save the date and we look forward to seeing you there whether bowling or just for dinner. Cost will be $35 per person for bowls and dinner and $20 per person for dinner only. And this year we will again be asking for small childrens gifts that can be donated to Lifewise – if you chose to bring a gift then please wrap and include a visible note as to whether for a boy or girl and the appropriate age range the gift would suit.

Rotary Club of Mt Eden's Movie Fundraiser

The Rotary Club of Mt Eden has organised a movie evening to raise funds for Rotary’s PolioPlus (www.endpolio.org)project. Tickets can be purchased from the Chapter Book & Tea Shop (442 Eden Road for cash sales only) or you can contact Frances Loo at info@chapter.co.nz or 021 635 027:

Movie: St Vincent, starring Bill Murray, PG-13 and 102 running time (www.stvincentfilm.com)
Cinema: Lido Cinemas, 427 Manukau Road, Epsom
Date: Thursday 13th November
Time: Arrivals from 7.45pm for 8.10pm start
Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/391053957708474/

Next Monday's Speaker is Dame Susan Devoy

Dame Susan Devoy DNZM, CBE is a former world squash champion and was also a member and former Chair of the Halberg Trust. Susan’s time with the Halberg Trust was motivated by her wish for better outcomes for people with disability. The Trust runs the country’s major sports awards, with the mission of raising funding to give disabled young people sporting opportunities. For similar reasons, Susan has played an active role as a member of the Sustainability Council and is currently the patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand. Susan was CEO and Chair of Sport Bay of Plenty, an Auckland District Health Board member and is currently a Trustee of the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust.

Inter-Club Engagements

Posted by Editor - Jacqui Bernards on Oct 24, 2014

This week our Club was involved in two inter-club engagements. Firstly President Craig and Nikola attended the Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland’s 30^th Anniversary Dinner at the Northern Club. This Rotary Club came about when a number of our Club’s then members decided they would prefer a Breakfast Club. A great night was had by all.

Then on Wednesday evening, President Craig and Jacqui Bernards attended the Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside’s meeting, when Jonathan Wheeler, an Auckland pediatric surgeon spoke about the work he does with ROMAC NZ – the NZ branch of Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children. The New Zealand branch is live and well and its work is something to be proud about - look here for details ROMAC NZ which began in 1988, provides medical treatment for children 15 years and under from developing countries, with life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery not available in their own country. This was an amazing presentation from one of the many un-sung ROMAC heroes.

This Week's Meeting - 20 October 2014

This week’s meeting was a special lunch and our MC for the day Ngaio Merrick began by welcoming all the Paul Harris Fellows and Honorary Members in attendance, followed by the large number of Rotarian and non-Rotarian guests who joined us on the day. Then President Craig Horrocks, with the help of Past President Craig Dealey, honoured four Club members with Paul Harris Fellows – 3 sapphire PHF for Sir David Levene in honour of his work with last year’s Great ASB Debate, 2 sapphire PHF for Eric Keys for all his work with the JR McKenzie Trust, 1 sapphire PHF for John Holding regarding his tireless work regarding our Club’s membership and a PHF for Regan Hall for all his work behind the scenes regarding our websites. Congratulations David, Eric, John and Regan!

We also welcomed a new member on Monday – Greg Woodd, who is solicitor with Simpson Western and whose classification will be Law – Commercial Contracts. As well as work, Greg trains and mentors young lawyers, is a keen sports-person and in particular enjoys off-road running, when he is fit enough. Greg is married to Amanda and they live at Matakatia Bay in Whangaporoa with their two teenage children. Welcome Greg!

Our guest speaker this week was Sir Peter Gluckman, who spoke about his commitment to, and the importance of, the role of science and society. When it comes to ‘Science Capital’, New Zealand is somewhat lacking, illustrated by our generally poor investment into science research and development – yet science and technology is critical to our future growth. Today’s knowledge and pace of change regarding technology in particular is changing exponentially and our understanding of knowledge today is very different to what it was in the past. By default, the internet does not require an expert to check for content accuracy and anyone can post anything whenever they want to, with many people believing what they read without any critical evaluation, accepting what is written at face value – which is inherently problematic. Combine this with the reality that scientific knowledge in general is quite low; things don’t look good for the future. New Zealand needs to improve overall science literacy, so that everyone will at least know the basics. One way we can achieve this is to ensure all primary school children are taught the basics, which in turn will set them up in later life, as well as helping to educate their family and friends. This is why the Science Equipment Library for Schools (SEL) is such an important resource. Currently many primary school children receive a poor science education, as not only do their teachers have little scientific understanding themselves, but there is minimal resources available to stimulate student’s interest and help them grasp a basic scientific knowledge - science should be exciting, relevant and have a discovery element and our primary schools need to provide such lessons for their students.

Following on from Sir Peter Gluckman was Wayne Tollemache, (who is a SEL Trustee together with our member Ally Cui and Tony Hunt) and spoke about the Science Equipment Library initiative. The aim of this project is to establish a ‘library’ which supports schools across New Zealand in fostering students’ scientific knowledge and interest, by making available appropriate equipment, supporting materials and advice.

Through this library, schools would be able to access a wide range of science equipment specifically targeted at the New Zealand Curriculum with guidelines, teaching materials and technical advice. The outcome of this will be that students’ interest in science will be stimulated and their grasp of basic science capabilities and content knowledge increased, so they will have a better grounding for citizenship in the twenty-first century, and be encouraged to consider science-based careers in their future lives.

Finally, Sergeant Barrie Brown took the podium, with the aim of raising even more funds for the Science Equipment Library (as a portion of today’s ticket sales was also being donated to the SEL project). From fining former RCA member John Waugh for shifting allegiances to Lions, to a UN Nations Security Council Quiz, to the final feel good tax if you owned Auckland property, people dug deep to help raise funds this library project.

Next Monday's Guest Speaker - Sir Peter Gluckmand

Peter trained in New Zealand as a paediatrician with an interest in endocrinology – hormonal biology. But after only 2 years as a doctor he entered the research track, ending up at the University of California working on how fetal hormonal systems developed and how growth was controlled. Peter then returned to New Zealand in 1980 and spent the next 17 years developing a group of people focused on developmental endocrinology and neuroscience. In 1991 Peter was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, while continuing to lead an active research group. Peter left the Deanship in 2001 to set up the Liggins Institute, in the belief that New Zealand must have critical masses of scientists doing world class research. Peter now leads the Epigen Consortium, comprising six centres in three countries trying to progress developmental epigenetics to improve the human condition. Peter also believes that science must not be immune from its community and so developed LENScience — an elaborate programme of experiential involvement of school children in science. Peter then recently became the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, stepping down as Director of the Liggins Institute and of Gravida, but he will continue his research interests in the developmental origins of health and disease, epigenetics, the public understanding of science, evolutionary medicine and in the interface between human and pastoral animal biology. And to avoid any conflicts of interest, Peter has undertaken not to apply for any grants from New Zealand sources while in this role.

2015 Gallipoli Fellowship Function

D2430, the Rotary District encompassing Gallipoli, is proposing to organise a hospitality event for overseas Rotarians in connection with next year's centennial memorial of the Dardanelle War. This will be a great opportunity for Rotary fellowship! Anyone interested should contact John Holding, our interclub guru, for more details.

Next Monday's Guest Speaker is Fran O'Sullivan

Fran O'Sullivan has written a weekly column for the Business Herald since its inception in April 1997. In her early journalistic career Fran was a political journalist in Wellington and subsequently an investigative journalist who broke many major business stories, including the first articles that led to the Winebox Inquiry in both NBR and the Sydney Morning Herald. Fran has specific expertise in relation to China where she has been a frequent visitor since the late 1990s. Fran is a former Editor of the National Business Review; has twice been awarded Qantas Journalist of the Year and is a multiple winner of the Westpac Financial Journalism Supreme Award.

The Week's Meeting - 6 October 2014

One of our newest members Jeff Stangl was this week’s 5 Minute Speaker. Jeff was raised and educated in California and due to his lack of interest in school work, at 16 years old, was given the option of bucking his ideas up or paying board. Jeff decided to leave school and home and get a job. Jeff had always had an entrepreneurial streak and so embraced work forming his own business. Then at 28 he sold his business and finally went to university, which was followed by working in Indonesia for eleven years before moving to New Zealand. Jeff is now a Senior Lecturer in the School of Economics and Finance and Director of Engagement & Enterprise at Massey University’s Albany Campus, where his passion is the interface between theory and practice.

Our key note speaker this week was Graeme Wheeler, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, who spoke about the economic outlook for New Zealand. The four areas Graeme spoke about were:

The International Economy
The Domestic Economy
Inflation
Interest Rates

Overall in the developed world, New Zealand’s economy is relatively strong, even with the recent reports of a lower than expected return for dairy products (to expect the previous very-high dairy prices to continue was unrealistic). Combining this with our strong housing market, our tradable and non-tradable inflation and the strong New Zealand dollar, inflation is expected to rise at about two percent over the next few years.

D9920 Pub Quiz on 8 November

District 9920 has changed their annual quiz format to a one-off pub-style quiz on Saturday 8^th November, 6pm for a 6.30pm start at the Waipuna Hotel. Cost is $55.00 per person, which includes a buffet meal with complementary wine on each table, plus a cash bar. There will be eight rounds of questions, including several Rotary rounds. If you would like to be part of our Club’s team, then please let Jacqui know in the office.

This Week's Meeting - 29 September 2014

In response to Club feedback and the Stamford wanting to improve their Monday lunches with us, this week we trialled a new menu and an alternate drop service format and asked for your feedback. Of the 48 people present, 31 indicated they were happy, 7 were unhappy and 3 neutral, which is an 85% response rate. Many thanks to everyone who responded. We are looking at ways to address the issues people believed could be improved on, but overall it seems we are heading in the right direction. We will continue to ask for feedback as we make changes.

Our 5 Minute Speaker was your Bulletin Editor and Administrative Club Secretary Jacqui Bernards, who spoke about what her job entails and for members to contact her should they have any queries about the Club or Rotary in general.

This week’s key note speaker was Steve Jurkovich from ASB, who spoke about the past, present and future of banking, particularly since the introduction of the internet. Prior to the internet, banking was generally carried out face-to-face at a bank’s branch, where people tended to be loyal to an individual bank – but no longer. While it took nine years for internet banking to become the ‘norm’, it has only taken 18 months for people to embrace phone banking. No longer are people confined to what their bank has to offer, they can now go online and see which bank provides the best services for their particular needs at any particular time. Mobile phone banking also means people can do many of their own transactions very quickly and if anything goes wrong, they can’t really blame anyone else – so they tend to only make any particular mistake just once. Will this mean the number of physical branches will decline? – Very likely, but not anytime soon. As anyone visiting a shopping mall will know, queues in bank branches, particularly in the weekend, are seldom short; so there is still a need for face-to-face interactions with banking staff. Technology is and will continue to change the way banks and their customers interact and as the changes in technology seem to be evolving at an exponential rate, change could now be regarding as the ‘norm’.

Next Monday's Guest Speaker is Graeme Wheeler

Graeme was appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in 2012. Previously Graeme had been employed by the World Bank until 2010, where his roles had included Managing Director Operations, Vice President and Treasurer. In his role as Managing Director, Graeme led the World Bank’s interactions with the IMF on the Global Financial Crisis, and represented the World Bank at the G8, G20, Development Committee, International Monetary and Financial Committee, and Financial Stability Forum. Graeme was also awarded the World Bank Staff Association Good Manager Award for his leadership. Previously, Graeme worked at the New Zealand Treasury as Deputy Secretary and Treasurer of the Debt Management Office and had also run his own advisory business in the United States from 2010.

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