The big news this week is that Google has approved free advertising for our new Wheelchair Trust and Mauna Healthcentre websites for up to $US10,000 per month. This is not a donation but allows the club to use credit up to the allocated amount per month.
Further good news: the Project Shed again opened last Saturday and was well attended.
A vote of thanks goes out to Nicole Hickey (Des La Rance’s daughter) for the donation of medical supplies to the Project Shed and a Certificate of Appreciation was presented on Saturday
A big note of appreciation goes to Bryan Tuesley of all the effort and work he does at the project Shed
All members are requested to assist at the Project Shed assistance 28th August 2021 to load wheelchairs and load and unload school desks
Refurbished bikes will now be sold on an ad hoc basis from the Project Shed, instead of a single bike sale day
Volunteer numbers at the shed are low, so if anyone knows of anyone who would like to help on a Wednesday and/or Saturday, please let Larry know
The construction of the X-Ray unit for Vanuatu is approaching the lock-up stage. A big thanks to all the Rotoractrors for all their efforts
Our annual Golf Day is now scheduled for October, with final details to be made known soon
At last Wednesday’s social meeting, Mario arrived on his bicycle. It is well noted he has had no accidents but has seen hundreds!
The 'formal' meeting this coming Wednesday 18/08/21 (COVID regulations permitting) is designated to President Paul Seymour to outline his vision for the Rotary year 2021-22. It is also a Club Assembly, so that is the time for members to come up with constructive criticism, ideas for programs, fundraisers, and of course, questions.
In the olden days, for a new member to join a Rotary club the unofficial rule was, expressed in simple terms, he should be "somebody who is in a position to hire and fire". Yes, 'he'. Thankfully, around 1987, the 'he' was expanded to also include the fairer sex. There were lots of other rules too, for example, weekly attendance at our meetings was considered to be just about essential.
These days, the rules are very simple and straightforward. Here is an extract from the Membership section of our Club Consitution of 2019(1):
Section 1 — General Qualifications.
This club shall be composed of adult persons who demonstrate good character, integrity, and leadership; possess a good reputation within their business, profession, and/or community; and are willing to serve in their community and/or around the world.
That should be simple enough. In other words, the majority of people in your circle of friends, in business, your suppliers, your customers qualify. Rotary is absolutely non-denominational, absolutely gender-neutral. All we ask for is of good character, has integrity, and a good reputation. Start making a list and invite them to come to one of our meetings.
(1) Members can download the Club Constitution from our website: (you need to login to the Member Area, top right of home page), then select Organisation, Documents and search for Constitution.
Last Saturday, Wheelchair Trust Chairman Larry Murray (photo left) presented Des La Rance with a Certificate of Appreciation to give to his daughter, Nicole Hickey. Nicole, who together with her husband runs a business "in the pharmaceutical industry", provided all the supplies necessary to re-fill our much depleted First Aid station at the Project Shed. Thank you! Much appreciated!
[Old German Proverb: "Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.' Translated: 'The apple doesn't fall far from the trunk'. The English equivalent is 'A chip off the old block'. I think the German one is more precise... Ed.]
We had to postpone it again, it's now on Thursday 7th October 2021, from 12:00 pm (the current COVID rules would only allow maximum 60 people). All people who have booked have been notified. All tickets have been sold out, but if any cancellations were to come in, Johnny has a waiting list. If you want to be on that list, please contact him directly.
There will be plenty of Italian style Christmas dishes. Johnny has secured a major sponsor: My Carte, and a number of corporate tables have been sold as well. The price includes all food, unlimited wine and beer, entertainment. All proceeds go towards the X-Ray Unit and Blood Analyser for Vanuatu. Note: COVID restrictions impose an upper limit of just 120 attendees.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
After all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done.
If the Earth could be made to rotate twice as fast, managers would get twice as much done. If the Earth could be made to rotate 20 times as fast, everyone else would get twice as much done since all the managers would fly off. ‘Augustine’s Law’, posited by Norman Augustine, US businessman
Wife: Did I get a fat bum during Quarantine?
Husband: You weren’t exactly skinny to begin with!
Time of death: 8:00 pm. Cause: COVID-19.
Last night, when I ordered a glass of wine with my dinner, the waiter asked for my ID. "Do I really look that young?" I asked.
"No" she said, "I just wanted to see if you qualify for the Senior Citizen discount..."
In the olden days, for a new member to join a Rotary club the unofficial rule was, expressed in simple terms, he should be "somebody who is in a position to hire and fire". Yes, 'he'. Thankfully, around 1987, the 'he' was expanded to also include the fairer sex. There were lots of other rules too, for example, weekly attendance at our meetings was considered to be just about essential. 
