the rotary club of knysna newsletter october 2016...
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THE ROTARY CLUB
OF KNYSNA
NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2016
_____________________________________________________________
FROM MICK BY CLEFT STICK
Dear Friends
The Americans like to discuss events in the first hundred days of a term of office. Well, it is about 100 days since I was inducted and I feel a bit like our 100 day old Bouvier puppy, Rosie, never standing still for a second and always running at top speed. First there was the Cycle Tour and what a successful event that was! Everyone shared the opinion that the event was superbly organised. Congratulations to all our Rotarians and friends that participated. Then there were a flood of financial issues that needed attention: arrangements for the transfer of the Club’s accounts to a new business banking platform at Nedbank,
transferring the financial responsibilities from Rob to Sue, progressing the resolution of the Trust financial issues and preparation of the Club budgets by all the Committee Directors. The next hurdle was preparing for the visit by the District Governor in early August. Again each of the Committee Directors rose to the occasion and prepared a slide presentation to give to the DG. The Club took the opportunity to propose to the DG the idea that the clubs of the District combine their strengths to support a new Global Grant to assist the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town with their project to build and equip a new intensive care unit. The hospital treats severely ill patients from all over Southern Africa and occasionally, from other parts of Africa. Their burn wound section is world renown. The DG was keen on the idea and gave the task of selecting a suitable Rotary project to our club. Negotiations have proceeded with the hospital and have resulted in a recommendation to the DG that the clubs, through a Global Grant, support the procurement of Multiparameter Monitors of which the hospital requires 29. At the time of writing, we were waiting to see whether our recommendation has been accepted. Now the attention is swinging towards preparing for the SPLASH Festival in December. It is really important that we put on a slick show to help entice a major sponsor which is needed to make the event a financial success. The four events making up the Festival will be the Mud Run, Quack Attack, Knysna Lagoon Mile Swim and the Canoe Challenge. The timing and tides are awkward this year which has resulted in a decision to hold the festival in the week between Christmas and New Year on the 27. - 28. December. This is one of the three fundraising projects that our club undertakes annually and deserves the support of all our Rotarians. Time is also getting nearer for our club to host our visitors from overseas on the Rotary International Friendship Tour No. 35 in early November. A big thank you goes to Louise who is the organiser.
This is an excellent opportunity to extend our circle of overseas Rotary Club friends who could even become partners in our projects. Such a partnership with six Canadian Rotary Clubs was behind the successful Global Grant application to build a model preschool and preschool teachers training centre in Concordia, Knysna. After some frustrating town planning issues, the refurbishment of the school buildings is on programme to welcome the first intake of children and learner teachers early next year. Thanks to John Satchel, our Membership Chairman this year, two new members have been inducted since July. Chris Vermeulen and Owen Govender will no doubt both prove to be valuable members. In closing, I would like to thank all the members of our Rotary Club for their dedicated commitment to club activities, particularly the Board of Directors who have been called on to go the extra mile during the first few months of the Rotary year. Best wishes, Mick
ROTARY AWARENESS DAY The Club’s Rotary Awareness Day is organised to showcase some of our beneficiaries and to
remind the Knysna citizens of the work Rotary does together with our partners in the community.
The Awareness Day was recently held in the Knysna Mall. Each beneficiary set up a display with
information on its activities. Representatives from the various organisations as well as Rotarians
engaged in conversation with the public about their work. The organisations on display were the
NSRI, the Sea Cadets, Masithandane, Knysna Sport Academy, Knysna Education Trust, Hospice,
Red Cross, FAMSA, ePap, Epilepsy, Outward Bound and TSiBA University. Rotary Interactors and
Rotary Anns were also represented. These are just some of the organisations that benefit from the
fundraising efforts of Rotary Knysna, one of the most active clubs in the country.
Red Cross Outward Bound
Sea Cadets Performing President Mick celebrating 100 years of Foundation
ANNUAL INTERACT TRAINING DAY
Rotary Knysna recently held its annual Interact Training Day at Belvidere Manor. Interactors came
from eight Knysna schools as well as from George and Mossel Bay. At the training day the
Interactors learnt more about Rotary and how Interact is an integral part of Rotary. In addition the
annual Rotary Awards were given.
Knysna High School won the overall Interact Prize for 2016. This was for the amazing work that
this group of young people have done not only within their school, but also in their immediate
communities. Amongst some of their many achievements were helping raise funds for two Grade
11 learners who could not afford to attend their school camp, helping Loeriehof with their street
collections and founding a project called ‘Adopt-a-Grandfriend’. In this project they visit residents
of Loeriehof, read to them, play games with them and make them feel special on days such as
birthdays and Mother’s/Father’s Days. They were also very helpful during the Knysna Cycle Tour
in July when they helped out with the packing of cycle packs. Rotary Knysna congratulates the
Interact group of Knysna High school and wish all the Interact schools every success for the year
ahead.
TWO NEW CLUB MEMBERS
The Rotary Club of Knysna welcomes Chris
Vermeulen and Owen Govender as our two
newest members. Both Chris and Owen are well
integrated in the Knysna community and are
known for their commitment and dedication.
Chris is the director of FAMSA in Knysna and
Owen is the Knysna Estuary Manager at
SANPARKS. We look forward to many happy
hours of work and fellowship together.
Rotary Interact Students during Interact Training Day
Owen Govender Chris Vermeulen
ANNUAL EPILEPSY-ROTARY CRICKET CHALLENGE 2016
One of the highlights of the Rotary Club of Knysna is the annual cricket challenge between Epilepsy
and the Rotary Club of Knysna. The Epilepsy team is a strong force and spends much time during
the year practising their bowling and batting. This year the Rotarians had to fight fiercely to win the
coveted cup. It was the female contingent of the Rotary team, however, which batted in great style
and won the match for the club.
Afterwards spectators and players were rewarded with boerewors rolls, cold drinks and ice cream.
The real winners of the day, however, were the spirit and camaraderie that were generated with a
group of people who are not as fortunate as others. Some of the Knysna Rotarians have been
involved with this outing for more than 15 years and we have seen the ups and downs of most
residents of Epilepsy. This is one of the club’s most rewarding days. It makes you proud to be a
Rotarian.
INTERACT ART PROJECT
The Interact Clubs have been busy with an intensive and
creative art project. The learners were asked to
photograph informal and formal businesses throughout
Knysna. In this way they were forced to identify and
define “businesses” and careers. Rotary supplied some
cameras to the learners who did not have their own. The
learners were then asked to use the photographs to
construct a mosaic picture of a subject which they found
powerful and emotive. The Knysna turaco aka lourie on
the right is an example of such a composition. It is made
up of many small photos to form the composite picture.
This was composed by Interactors of Montessori. The
final products were exhibited during the recent Knysna
Arts Festival.
ERA’S EARLY THOUGHTS
In July 2016 I took over as President of the Rotary Anns, feeling out of my depth and
wondering how I was going to handle my first meeting, let alone guide the Anns through
an eventful year!
A sea of expectant faces of experienced Anns greeted myself, Secretary Isabelle Clark
and Treasurer Carol Emmanuel at the 1. August meeting. However, any doubts, fears
or anxiety simply evaporated as we got on with the business of a busy year! What a
wonderfully supportive group.… participating and encouraging myself and each other!
Next on the Anns’ calendar was the visit by Rotary DG Ian Pursch. Our challenge was
to present a five minute power point presentation outlining the aims and projects of our
busy service organisation. Ian was suitably impressed and congratulated the Anns on their
continued involvement in local projects.
The Rotary Awareness Day followed on 20. August at the Knysna Mall. The Anns once again rose
to the occasion and enlightened shoppers and visitors of their community projects. A wonderful
comradery was evident amongst Rotarians and other participating charity organisations.
Coming Up: The 21st Anniversary of the Vermont Service Centre! Anns have been longstanding
supporters of Vermont and are planning a scrumptious celebratory lunch for 20. October. The
service centre has 40 men and women volunteers who weekly attend Vermont to facilitate mental
and spiritual stimulation as well as craft activities and sport. A weekly exercise class is held by our
own Dot Purchase.
Our annual donation of Christmas gift bags is starting to take shape and will be delivered to the
elderly in time for the festive season.
Sincere thanks to all the Anns for their continued support and good advice. And, as the year races
on, together we will continue to strive to bring happiness to those less fortunate.
With warm greetings,
Ann President Era Law
UPCOMING EVENTS
23. October Bowls Day – Leisure Isle
29. October Rotary District Mini-Conference - Hermanus
8.-11. November RIFT 35 Visit
8. November Dinner with RIFT guests - Belvidere
12. November UN Rotary Day
29. November Bring & Braai – Knysna Yacht Club
27.-28. December SPLASH Festival Knysna
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
May you never miss a rainbow or a sunset because you are looking down – Anon.
We have enough people who tell it like it is – now we could use a few who tell it like it can be –
Robert Orben, b. 1927
Board Members 2016/2017
President – Mick Furman Past President – Peter Southey
Secretary – Graham Waterston Treasurer – Sue Fairweather Membership – John Satchel
Club Administration/President Elect – Doug Emanuel Service Projects – Henry Fairweather
Youth Service – Lesley Satchel Rotary Foundation – Neil Rotherham Public Image – Julie Staub
Anns’ President – Era Law
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