Visitors: Ashdeep, guest if Indeever Duhan is going to join as member. Indeevar’s daughter also a guest.
Doug Bell – gave welcome with the efficient commanding voice of an engineer.
Environmental speaker –
Shiv Thammalla – spoke about waste management, recycling opportunities. He first saw recycling plant projects 30 years ago, however the time the technology was not developed enough to be efficient so did not pique his interest sufficiently back then to work as a chemical engineer on such projects. He said he is particularly interested in paper, plastic and electronics recycling. Now that a new recycling plant being built in Waikato, Shiv is excited to contribute his skills to this project in an effort further environmental improvements.
Notices & Announcements
Red Cross – Neil Matson is looking for volunteers to collect on Friday March 22.
Rhonda Wisbey– reminded people it is end of tax year and would appreciate donations to Rotary if people wished to and could likely get a tax deduction.
Rypen – Indever Duhan looking for volunteers and particularly a female person to assist while planning the upcoming camp which is from Friday 15th March 4pm, to Sunday 17th March 1pm.
Erina Islam – the very energetic young lady that spoke enthusiastically last week after being sponsored by Rotary to attend the Rotary Science & Technology forum in Auckland is seeking funding to assist her to go to London. Michelle has shared the details via email for those that wish to contribute or can make helpful suggestions on funding.
Te Puna Quary Park Rotary BBQ is being held on 19th March starting at 5pm. $25 per head of which $5 will go towards facilities upgrades at the Te Puna Quarry park. Entry by presold tickets only.
Rotary Peace Fellowships are open until 15 May – offering fellows opportunities to study at universities around the world.
Rotary Board meeting next Wednesday and the board would appreciate an update from each committee please.
K.Valley cycle ride prize – Rhonda to speak to My Ride about possible sponsorship please.
RYLA (Rotary Young Person Leadership Awards) – Indeever looking for a young leader between the age of 21-28 who could be sponsored for a week long leadership development programme.
Lisa Phillips is updating the website and looking for additional content from people for the website please.
Guest Speaker
Ray Feeman – mother in law sadly passed away so is absent and did not speak this week.
Committee Meetings
International committee: Glenys Parton updated the international committee that Bailey, our contact for the Vanuatu book project has gone missing so speaking to local RSE workers to find another contact to facilitate book distribution to Vanuatu schools on the outer islands. A number of pallets of books are in storage inside an orchard shed in the Kaimais ready to go.
Discussed that recent request to remove inappropriate books before collection made the sorting and marking of books before palletising ready for transport much easier.
Discuss the option of boxing books in NZ so easiest for them to be distributed in Vanuatu, but also mindful not to create any additional work of sorting books on the Vanuatu end.
Raffle: winner was John Carlson
Sergeant at Arms –
Doug rounded out the meeting with an anecdote about the weight of a glass. It is not the weight of the glass that
influences its heaviness, it is how long you have to hold it.
If you can let go of your burdens each evening you will well lighter for it.
Doug also gave us some parting thoughts such as:
“Always read stuff that looks good if you drop dead in the middle of it”
“If you lend someone $20 and never see them again, it is probably money well spent”
