Presidents Time
A number of Directors attended the Alpine Energy community sponsorships presentation, hence them rushing in at the last minute.
Our Club has gained 4 years of sponsorship support from Alpine Energy for ‘Carols by Candlelight’ and the ‘Hadlow to Harbour’ projects – it is great to have certainty about this funding support in these uncertain times.
Recognition of the Week went to our Farmers (who made their presence felt across the country last Friday) who help feed us and the World.
A reminder was given to utilise the email sent out by Geoff to update Members details. Please use the link in the message to update any change to your contact details with any change of address, change of email address, phone number, mobile number. It is really helpful to have the correct details for all Members that loads up Clubrunner. Thank you to all Members who may have already completed this action.
Westport Flood Relief
Westport on the West Coast of the South Island has been hit hard by flooding, Westport Rotarians have been busy assisting in the clean up and recovery effort.
PDG Gary Hopkinson of the Rotary Club of Greymouth is co-ordinating our response. Please contact Gary direct if you have the skills and the time to assist, phone 027 220 3301 or hopkinson1945@icloud.com.
DG Nick Courtney has asked that Gary coordinate our districts’ flood relief response, after establishing the needs of the Westport Rotary club and its community.
At the moment, we understand Civil Defence is coordinating the work on the ground. Greymouth Rotary has one of its members working on that team. Peter Campbell is setting up a relief fund in the Westport Club, to distribute funds to those in need. There are many who will be underinsured or carry no insurance, and this is an area where we can help. Peter and his team will work with the mayor who also has an emergency fund. (Greymouth Rotary had a similar arrangement post Pike River, and had a MOU to handle donated goods)
If you are able to assist financially then here are the Bank details Westpac 03 0897 0015628 00
Hold off on donated goods at this time until the needs are established. Cash is King! Providing bedding is going to be the biggest project according to Peter Campbell.
I has been suggested we offer a self-supporting team of capable volunteers who have access to a campervan or caravan and can travel to Westport. We will be looking at basic building skills, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting. A major challenge will be finding accommodation and tradesmen to do the work, which is why we need to be self-sufficient. Peter has asked that we have a clear capability schedule that can be coordinated after the insurance assessments have been completed. It is likely we will help those who are not insured, or under insured, please let Gary know if you can help in this way.
It's early days, so please keep those in Westport in your thoughts over the coming weeks and months ahead.
3 Minute Speaker:
Don George spoke about life after Firewood, the difficulty in finding a tenant for his store shed and having sold his Redruth shed investment, bus driving to while away the first part of his day then tending to his lifestyle block and future plans to sell and downsize.
Robin Hood was absent, but...
Stand in Sergeant Harley Smithson and stand in Corporal Gerry Ford did a good collect for Club funds from most members.
Guest Speaker
Chair Don George introduced Ron Lindsay of the NZ Raptor Trust. The Raptor Trust is based in Redruth, and is licensed to hold all New Zealand Raptors for treatment, rehabilitation and release and provides and cares for sick, injured and orphaned raptors until they are fit for release back to their natural habitat. Ron said his fellow Trustees aim to educate and inspire current and future generations, raising awareness and boosting populations of our vulnerable birds of prey. There are 5 native Raptors in NZ, the Falcon, Harrier Hawk, Morepork Owl, Barn Owl and Little Owl, sometimes known as the German Owl. Ron brought his friend Tom the Falcon and two small Owls which provided a very interactive session when the birds were brought out on Display.
Tom Henderson proposed the vote of Thanks to Ron for a very interesting presentation.
The weekly investment: Peter Prader took away the Raffle with #72.
The meeting wound up with a couple of items from this week in History and the 1969 first men to walk on the Moon and a Thought for the Week:
Friends are like snowflakes – if you pee on them they disappear!
A stand-in Scribe is required for the meeting on 29 July, this Thursday – please let John know if you can help provide the script for Bulletin Editor Tony.