cloud chatter june 2014
TRANSCRIPT
After discussions with Cornelia Basson and a
lot of emails and Rotary data, I approached
them to look at forming a satellite Club within
their work environment, to which they were
pleased and were very excited about the whole firm working with Rotary to benefit their communities, which in
the long run would benefit all.
Although they stated that weekly meetings would be a problem, they liked the idea of meeting online.
The possibility of staff from their other branches joining R.I. is also an objective in the near future. I
have approached 5 other large businesses (with this concept) who have “outreach or community
commitments” to join Rotary which will benefit all as the EClub suites our younger generation who are
go getters and don’t really have the time to sit in on meetings every week. It has the same potential as
face book.
George Rautenbach approached the Nelspruit Rotary Club last year for help with funding for some of
the clients who need prosthesis devices but can’t afford them. He was also proposed by myself to
become a member after I and some others helped him to supply some prosthesis to persons in need and
the aged. He even made a device for a horse that was going to be put down!
Welcome to our new members - we look forward to working with you
all in the future.
Our club continues to grow….
E-Club Newsletter
Club President: Kanthan Pillay
www.rotaryeclubsa9400.org
Issue 3
June 2014
Cloud
Chatter
Nelspruit - 19 May 2014
By Leon Pitallo, Nelspruit
NEWLY APPOINTED MEMBERS
I do business with them and was invited to
attend their end of year function in 2012 and
again in 2013. In both instances they did a
presentation on their outreach and putting
back into the community. I was impressed
with their passion for helping others, and
decided to discuss the possibility of one of
them joining Rotary. Five of the newly
appointed Rotarians work and Hendrik and
his wife are senior partners in the Law firm.
Left to right: Cornelia Basson; Chantell Stroebel;
Carlia du Plessis; Tersia Marshall; Jan Hendrik du Toit
and George Rautenbach
Many benefit from the
knitting project in Northcliff.
Senior citizens help keep many youngsters warm.
The senior citizens who live near Northcliff started knitting early enough to be able to bring
warmth to the littley ones.
They kept very busy making up patterns; coordinating the colours and ensuring that there
were enough sizes so that everyone gets a jersey.
Below are some of the delft hands that made it happen. Thanks to all these wonderful people
for keeping our youngsters warm this winter.
In preparation for the winter chill, Sešego Cares and members of the eClub
have already launched its annual winter drive that will see special hand
knitted garments in order to spread warmth to the most vulnerable
communities across various beneficiaries.
The “Wool Project”, as it has become known, entails the donation of wool by the
readers and supporters of Northcliff Melville Times. Items are knitted by a
retired women from East Town, Roosevelt Park’s Rose Village in Northcliff and
Sophia Town. They work their magic and produce high quality hand knitted
items for distribution among charities that care for the needy.
Iris Feyt started this project 4 years ago. She has inspired Doreen Smith and
the ladies at Rooseveldt Park as well as Elsie
Emerich. They are determined to beat the
winter deadline in order to deliver much needed
scarves, beanies, blankets, gloves and jerseys for
the 2014 chill.
‘On behalf of the beneficiaries of this project, I
would like to thank all the knitters and
volunteers for their incredible work, passion and
kindness. I am always amazed by the swiftness
at which they produce these items. The love,
creativity and care that has gone into making
each garment is clearly evident.’ says
PE Annemarie Mostert.
Special thanks must also be extended to all who
donated the wool, but it’s never enough.
General news
President’s induction
Please keep the 12 July free as we plan to have President Kanthan Pillay’s induction
event on this day at the YFM studios. More details to follow.
Website
Plans are in place to uplift the website and soon you will see a lot of new things listed and
announced. Thanks to Rory of YFM who will be managing the website—he has been invit-
ed to be involved with the club’s PR/Comms committee chaired by Shirley.
District conference
Six of the club members and partners have registered for the annual district conference.
You still have time to register - this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Rotary
and make new friends. For only R 3990 (sharing) you will enjoy three nights at The Ranch
Hotel, near Polokwane, listen to guest speakers and Rotary subjects as well as enjoy three
nights if excellent entertainment and you can dance all night!
You can still register up to 6 June...so hurry and book your place. It is the long weekend.
Directory
A hard copy of the new 2014/15 directory is available. We will try and post one to you in the next 6
weeks.
Alternatively, you have received the electronic version - and this will enlighten you on the various
Rotary areas.
Humanitarian Distribution Centre—book and linen for free
Books from Texas have arrived and you can invite schools, churches, orphanages etc to collect
books from the Humanitarian centre in Bedfordview.
Please ensure that you send them a letter of invitation first (which you can get from Shirley) and
they also need to take along a letter from the beneficiaries of the books and linen.
Without these two documents, the collector will not be allowed to get the goods.
Shirley can send you the map as well although it is in the directory. Please read all the rules in the
directory related to the HC items.
REMEMBER TO ….. Visit the site every Wednesday night at 19:00 and
login to see what’s new for you to read and learn about. If you have
attended another club visit, you can do a make-up online too.
As a club member, which avenue would you
like to be involved in?
As a club’s structure is made up of members, board members and various committees, it is
important to invite as many people possible to serve on one or more of the committees.
The various club committees are listed below. Please let Rhett know which one you are
interested in joining. Separate committee meetings will be held and the frequency, time and
date is dependent on the committee members. Your meetings can be conducted face-to-face
and/or on ‘Go To Meeting’ or on skype.
The committee chairperson will report the committee’s findings to the board. All the members
will be privy to the committee meeting outcomes through clubrunner or the newslet-
ter….depending on what we keep private (on clubrunner for members only) or in the
newsletter.
Club Administration Services
Vocational
Service projects
Rotary Foundation
Membership
Public Relations and Events
Finance
Youth
International
A separate synopsis of what the committees do will be sent to you with a form that you can
submit with your committee choice. You can belong to more than one if you can manage this.
Please do join a committee and let’s all work together to offer exceptional service to people
and to work closely as a club.
DISTRICT GRANT APPLICATION IS IN!
Our club has applied for a district grant for the Covenant garden estate, Mathibestad, NWP.
Covenant Garden Estate (“CGE”) was launched on 5 April 2014 by The Pat Francis Trust
South Africa, to transform the lives of destitute and abandoned children from systemic
poverty to systemic prosperity and to transform the communities in Mathibestad.
Tunnel shade netting, equipment and starter packs (plants, fertilizer etc) and the value
proposed is US$ 2762.
We would like
to profile you!
Rotary’s biggest assets is it’s members and the fellowship and
networking amongst members has proved to be invaluable for projects; knowledge
and business connections/referrals
As we are rapidly expanding, we would like to introduce our members through the
newsletter. It was suggested at the last board meeting that we highlight three
members by including a head and shoulder
photo and a very short
summarized CV of the
member.
The profiles will be done in alphabetical
order—by surname.
Rotary at its Best on the
African continent… Shirley Downie
I have three different size suitcases.. all pre-packed with toiletries and
Rennies... My first Africa trip started off in April with a trip to Durbs by
the sea with the annual conference being held on the MSC cruise on the
Opera. D9370 decided to cruise through their year and have fun and
fellowship on the high seas. This was followed by the fund-raising cycle
tour that took us from Krugersdorp to Luderitz in 9 days covering 1679
klms and crossing three districts with seven Rotary clubs en route.
From here, back to the coast to Dar es Salaam for the annual Reach
Out To Africa (ROTA) conference with RIPE Gary Haung and RIPN
Ravi Ravindran in attendance...together with many PDGs, RI
Coordinators and incoming
officers for the next few years.
ROTA was initiated by PRIP Wilf
Wilkinson and the main goal was
to increase membership and
implement incredible projects to
support the African countries. And
ROTA strives to assist to develop
and improve the economic
situation by guiding community
members.
It is envisaged that we increase our membership in Africa from
27 795 to 50 000 by June 2020. It is achievable.
Next was the D9350 conference in beautiful Knysna and it was held in
a school hall; and the formal evening event was held in a municipality
car park all dolled up - the conference content was good.
I then left for Lagos and then Kaduna, Nigeria, to represent the RI
President at the D9125 conference. I was very well looked after and
the content was excellent. They invited many famous Nigerian
entertainers and actors (known as Nollywood) to address the
delegates - all of them with powerful messages of how Rotarians
continue to change so much in the world.
And then back north to a 5 hours drive from Harare to attend the
D9210 conference at a beautiful lodge by the lake. Every district
has it’s own challenges and strategic plans. Each club brings new
ideas and projects to the fore. Africa is alive and well!
Share your ideas with us as you may have a
project through your company or church that
our club can be involved in.
Our district’s
conference will be
held 13-16 June
at The Ranch
near Polokwane.
Please book your
seat urgently.
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Congratulations! As active sponsors of new members, you are cordially invited to join me at the member sponsor reception to celebrate your achievements. This special event is to recognize those who reached the gold-level in member sponsorship, the highest recognition Rotary bestows upon a member in honor of your commitment to Rotary’s membership growth.
• Date: Saturday, 31 May 2014
• Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
• Location: Sydney Olympic Park ANZ Stadium, Level 5 West, Platinum room
• Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served
• Your membership pin with gold backer and a copy of this invitation will serve as admission ticket for you and up to three guests
Your achievements have qualified you for recognition at this event, however, convention registration, travel, lodging, and meal costs will not be covered by RI. Please be also reminded that spouse or partner costs will not be covered by RI.
If you are not currently registered for the convention, but upon learning of this recognition you have decided to attend, you may do so by completing the online registration form or registering on-site in Sydney.
Respond today to [email protected] to join your fellow honorees!
Please include the number of guest you expect to join you.
I look forward to seeing you Down Under.
Sincerely,
Ron D. Burton
eClub is acknowledged for it’s achievement!
When PE Annemarie was tasked by DG Anneas to start a new eClub and satellite clubs in D9400 as
district membership chairperson, she rose to the challenge. After many months of hard work,
promotions and visits with various people seeking information and advise, Annemarie was successful
in chartering the first eClub in D9400.
On 29 January, 17 transferee Rotarians and 14 newbies were inducted at a ceremony in Randburg.
The club officially chartered on 5 March and today we are now have 40 members.
When an individual works this hard, the Rotary International President honours such folks. Below is
the invitation from RI President Ron Burton inviting Annemarie to join him and others for a special
recognition. Well done Annemarie!
Let’s keep the club growing!
Firstly, a huge thank you from us in South Africa. I
cannot describe the joy upon receiving many
boxes of Toms’ shoes at my home. When I opened
them I was amazed at the shoes and knew that the
children who received these would feel special and
be truly blessed.
The bulk of the shoes went to a feeding scheme in
Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Diepsloot is a large,
informal settlement on the outskirts of
Johannesburg’s residential suburbs. It is a densely
populated area, with both government (RDP)
homes, brick and mortar bonded homes and shacks
constructed of sheets of metal and scraps.
Most dwelling’s have no internal plumbing, so there
are outside toilets and washing of clothes and
bodies takes place in buckets, inside or outside,
weather dependent. There are schools and churches
within this community. It is unfortunately an area
of high levels of crime and often this crime is
directed towards children. There are many child
headed households (where parents are deceased or
have abandoned the children), as well as many
extended families looking after children.
Unemployment is rife. So, the shoes we well
received by the youngsters.
Wendy Ruiter from
Isinkwa Outreach
Team (Beaulieu
Preparatory School)
sends her note of
appreciation… see
below.
Feeding
scheme for the
toddlers
First day of the Convention in
Sydney - 31 May 2014
AG Belinda
Alport’s
Toms Shoes
project.
She has just
become a
member of
our club
Education Minister Angie
Motshekga and ABSA CEO Maria
Ramos at the Sesego Cares/Toms
Shoes event.
Thousands of youngsters have
benefitted from this amazing
project.
One of the
blankets
handed
out at the
golf day
event
It’s a wonderful life!
Some of us work all day; some work for
Rotary and in our own business and the
rest work for Rotary only! PDG Mark
Doyle (seen left) is one of the latter
lucky folks to be retired and being able
to passionately help with Rotary
projects whenever he can.
Sesego Cares arranged a very
successful fund-raising golf day on 31
May at the Houghton Golf course.
As part of the district’s blanket drive,
Mark diligently stood by the 7th hole
asking the players to donate R 50 for a
blanket for the needy and he raised R
5020 in total. So, 100 blankets will be
donated soon.
Well done Mark for your excellent
dedication to this project. You have
once again done us proud.
To attract attention, the Rotary Family
health Days banner and other posters
were erected (seen below).
Left to right: Tara, Annemarie with
Dina Diamond and Glenda Chagan
Rams Mabote, with
Charlotte Khoza both Board
members of Sesego Cares at
the golf event He was also
part of a 6 week
friendship exchange
programme to Australia
Annemarie inducting Tara Ison
into the club whilst Pres Hans
(Northcliff) looks on.
Club treasurer
Liana with food
that she donated
to Filadephia Ark
in Kameeldrif
near Pretoria
West
Below: Annemarie and Liana at the
jersey handover.
Feeding scheme for the
toddlers.
The Book project
container becomes an
extension of a kitchen
for the needy!
Sesego Cares’
contributed to four
containers transported
from Durban to
Bedfordview and this
container was awarded
to them to convert as an
extension to the kitchen
and linen area at
Covenant Garden
Estate Mathibestad
near Hammanskraal
Brak en Jan Creche
Annemarie visited the Brak en Jan
Crèche at Helderberg near Somerset
West with Rotarian Andre v Eeden
(seen below) from Helderberg
Sunrise Club.
Sesego Cares made a donation of
R25 000 to assist the school to enclose
an open area to help them to use as
an additional classroom.
First day of the Convention in
Sydney - 31 May 2014
Greetings from Oz! Directors of RFHA, PDG Anton Meerkotter (left) who is D9400’s finance chairperson and William Asiko (member of our club—seen right) pose with RFHA Country Manager for Southern Africa, Sue Paget....having fun in Sydney! They are expecting 25 000 Rotarians from around the world at the Sydney convention which ends on 4 June.
New Rotarian saves a life….
Newly appointed George
Rautenbach saves Hope’s life with
these new prosthesis braces.
Hope was going to be put down but
George avoided this from
happening.
Well done indeed George—Hope
certainly looks great in the funky
new leggings.
If you know of any animals that
need help, please let George know.
His details are on the newly
updated membership list sent to
you a few days ago.
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
Every year, the incoming Governor arranges an Assembly to showcase ideas and plans
for his/her year ahead.
DGE Annie Steijn’s Assembly was held on 24 May in Pretoria and seen above from left
to right are club members with DGE Annie.
PDG Mark Doyle, Rhett Gardener, DGE Annie, PE Annemarie and Liana.
Enjoy the long weekend and if you are
travelling, do so safely.