Tennis, Football and now for Golf

After the glut of tennis and football and even cricket and rugby on TV for us diehard fans, it's time for the British Open golf at Carnoustie, starting on Thursday, and Mike MacDonald's Pro-Am version at the Wanderers on Wednesday.
     As he has done before, Mike has pledged R10000 of the proceeds to New Dawn, which will eventually go to The Link Literacy Project.

The details of the Wanderers 2018 Open Pro Am

     Wednesday is also what would have been Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday.
     To commemorate this, the club has decided to donate 7 bookshelves, one for each of the houses at the Johannesburg Children's Home in Observatory, with books selected by Frayne Mathijs and Peta Thomas.
     This is also a reminder that there is no meeting on Wednesday morning. Instead, any New Dawn members who are able to take a bit of time off during the morning, are welcome to go to the Johannesburg Children's Home for the handover.
     Five club members are sponsoring the bookcases and they should have been delivered by Mistry's in Fordsburg by the time we get to the Johannesburg Children's Home on Wednesday morning. Members who are there can help to unpack the books. You're also welcome to bring more books along, as long as they're suitable for children from about 6 -18 years old.
     The contact person at the home is Fiona and the address is 59 Urania Str, Observatory. We'll be meeting there at 9am.

Carol Stier with her Arpic hat on, talking about the new Rotary image

     Carol Stier was the speaker last week, in her new District role of Assistant Rotary Public Image Co-Ordinator.
     Carol will be travelling to clubs all over the district in the coming months to tell them about Rotary's attempts to revitalise the brand with a new emphasis on "Rotary in Action".
     She also explained the importance of using My Rotary with Rotary Club Central and Brand Centre for clubs to keep going in the modern arena.
     To many Rotarians that sounds a bit alien and no doubt alienating, but it has become critical for the organisation to grow again and that can't happen if clubs try to live in the past.

Listening intently to Carol's talk on creating an appearance for Rotary

     The aim of Carol's campaign is to create a consistent picture throughout the zone of the way in which Rotary appears to the outside world. We all know that to many, it appears to be an organisation of old white men; the challenge is to become, and portray Rotary as, a group of people taking action where it is most needed.
     She said Rotary needs campaigns that promotes, enables and supports the focus on creating new Rotarians.
     Next week's speaker will be Carin Holmes, talking about human trafficking.

Lucy Mbugua, president of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg North East

     One of the visitors at the meeting was Lucy Mbugua, newly elected as president of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg North East.
     Lucy came to discuss the possibility of their club joining New Dawn on 1 August for District Governor Charles Deiner's official visit (they will be there) but also to tell us about their club's by now famous annual jazz event.

The poster for the Jazz in the Garden event

     The details are on the poster above. A number of club members have already indicated that they'll be going and it sounds like a wonderful way to spend a Highveld Sunday.
     There's been yet another change of date for the first club assembly of the year. It moved from 4 August to 11 August, but that is too close to Women's Day on 9 August, so the assembly will now be held on Saturday, 18th August at 9am at Twickenham Guest House.
     Another date to diarise so long is the quiz night of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg, which has been changed to 2 November. We'll be competing at the club, so start polishing up on your general knowledge.
     Also diarise Friday 9 November, when we'll be holding the annual Golf Day at Parkview. Everybody should be talking to all the golfers they know by now, as we're aiming to make R100000 this year. We need the money, as we've already paid out almost R75000 of the R100000 we pledged to The Link for this year.
     Please remember, there's no normal meeting on Wednesday, instead those who can make it, will be meeting at the Johannesburg Children's Home later in the morning for Mandela Day.
     A Thought for the Week: The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. - Socrates (469-399 BC)