Welcome Back & A Happy New Year!

Our members have been scattered far and wide over the holidays so we'll do what we did last year, let anyone who wants to talk about what they've been up to over the holiday period.

We will already have had our first Board Meeting this year so there will almost certainly be a bit of business to transact but other than that it's a slow social start!

Enjoy the Teddy Bear's Picnic and "I said my Pyjamas and put on my Prayers" in the video bar.

And our New Year Champagne Festival thanks to Jankees & Judy Sligcher!

We would also like to remind you of our invitation, to have an informal New Year “Champagne on the Sligcher Stoep” (weather permitting otherwise the house will have to do!) for “New Dawn” Rotarians and their partners.

We hope you all can make it on Sunday the 16^th of January from about 1 pm to 9 Sutherland Avenue Craighall Park

Coming from Jan Smuts avenue, you  take “Eastwood” in the direction of Parkhurst. Eastwood becomes Sutherland, when you take the left “fork” after the little circle.

Just hop over the “stop” street and drive down approximately 350 m and find the house on your right hand side.(Number 9 is next to number 13)

Could you please confirm your intention to take part in this “bubbly” affair by Wednesday the 12^th of January during our regular meeting or reply by email. We would like know whom to cater for as we will do some Satéh on the braai !

We will supply a couple of bottles of bubbly, but you are welcome to bring your own, should you be afraid we will run out or when you are particularly partial to your own brand!

A couple of salads may come in handy as well as some bread (French Loaves), Please let me know who would be volunteering to do a salad!

See you on Sunday the 16^th of January

Cheers,

Judy and Jankees

9 Sutherland Avenue

Craighall Park

011 7882548

0832514795

jc.sligcher@pixie.co.za

Rotary at the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

Float entered in the 1923 Parade by the Rotary Club of Pasadena

Since 1890, the Tournament of Roses has been ushering in the new year with a parade of spectacular floats and enthusiastic marching bands down the streets of Pasadena, California, USA.

Rotary became a part of the pageantry in 1923, when the Rotary Club of Pasadena entered a float in the 34th annual Rose Parade.

The club participated in three more Rose Parades – 1927, 1946, and 1966 – before making it an annual tradition in 1980. That year, recognizing the parade’s potential for promoting Rotary to an audience of millions worldwide, clubs in the western United States decided to sponsor a float in honor of the organization’s 75th anniversary. The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee was later formed and continues to coordinate the fundraising for and construction of the float today.

Putting together a float is an ambitious undertaking, not least because parade rules dictate that the entire surface be covered with organic materials such as flowers, fruits and vegetables, or seeds. Hundreds of Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact club members from the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico, donate their time to build and decorate the float.

Float themes have reflected Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio, its commitment to service, and its humanitarian programs. The theme of the 1998 float, “Bringing the World Together,” celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships and highlighted the Foundation’s work to build peace.

The 2001 theme, “Recognizing Tomorrow’s Leaders,” celebrated the many young people Rotary has channeled into positive leadership roles through the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program.

On 1 January, the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee will celebrate 32 consecutive years in the parade with a float proclaiming the 2010-11 RI theme, Building Communities -- Bridging Continents .

Rotary International does not fund the float; the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee receives donations from individual clubs and Rotarians.