Sergeant: Lucy
Grace: John Pickering
Chairman Graham welcomed all of us to the meeting as well as our speaker Jack Evans
Makeups and visits to other Clubs: Graham and John P to Ahuriri.
Apologies: Peter G, Ira, Ben, Lyndal, Shona, Gail, Malcolm, Linda, Wayne.
Notices:
Graham, the Faraday Centre is calling for volunteers for Monday Wednesday and Fridays.
Fellowship Friday is this week at East pier at 5pm.
Lynne, reported on Ben Keet's complications with knee surgery.
Xmas puddings, please get orders in.
Andy, Cycos will meet at Aquarium on Tuesday and have lunch at Clive.
All theatre tickets now sold, please be sure to pay.
Graham…. East Pier have requested that we all wear masks when coming in and leaving.
Sergeants session: Lucy extracted money from many including Cycos who have new cycling shirts, especially John P who seems to keep coming up with bright ideas. The shirts are very bright and attract lots of comments.
3 min speaker
Graham has been delving into Rotary treasures…. He consulted members on a new way to display the many banners that are stored away. Members support the proposal to have digital record made. John Lyon has offered to do the photography.
John P introduced our speaker Jack Evans, sporting his Taradale High School uniform, the best dressed man in the room.
Jack is Head boy and described his roles and responsibilities. Running school assemblies has been hampered by Covid lockdowns and the fact that the school hall burnt down.
Within the school population he has to be a conduit between the juniors and seniors as well as staff. He enjoyed representing the students with a submission in Maori wards to NCC and he also can be heard occasionally on Radio Kidnappers.
Jack outlined his plans post school, Otago University to study law and politics.
As he welcomed questions there many and they were varied.
Jack is very capable on his feet and gave most interesting and thought provoking answers.
Student attitudes to climate change, housing shortages, housing intensification, effects of Coved lockdowns on schooling (ok or better for some others opting out/giving up), conspiracy theory and distrust of science, confirmation biases, affected by social media.
Why do bullies bully? A big and ongoing issue in schools, self esteem undermined by social media is best handled by dropping contact but young people find that hard to do. Parents need to instill values and independence and individual students to should “not question their own worth”
Transport and environmental issues, climate change needing sacrifices now and in the future.
John P thanked Jack for his excellent speech and congratulated him on his ability and eloquence.
There was a parting thought but once again the scribe missed it.
Graham closed the meeting.
