Membership is the Life Blood of the Club

Fana Marivate is welcomed into the club by Paul Kasango. On the right is Ian Widdop, who read out The Charge

Membership and the participation of members, is what makes the wheels go round in Rotary, and it was a happy meeting last week when Fana Marivate was inducted as the newest member of The Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn.
     Paul Kasango did the honors in the absence of president Jankees Sligcher, enjoying a well-earned break from business and Rotary duties with Judy in their new get-away in Mtunzini on the far northern KwaZulu/Natal coast.
     Ian Widdop was on hand to read out the Charge as to why the club thought Fana would make a good Rotarian. This time he didn't sing, though! Pity.
     Fana (real name Martin) is a CA, chief financial officer and a board member of Mitochondria Energy Co of Johannesburg. He hails from Durban and he and his wife have one child.
     Fana is the 21st member of the club (we also have one honorary member) and the first to be inducted this year.
     Fana joined after a conversation on a flight from Cape Town with Frayne Mathijs, for which she must be commended. He seems quite a catch!
     Of course we all get the opportunity to introduce prospective new members to the club next Wednesday, 13th April. An invitation template has been sent to all club members, which you can use to entice people you know to join us for a fun pizza evening at the club, with a bit of Rotary propaganda on the side.
     This will hopefully be a first step to swelling the ranks a bit.

Linda Vink and Sarah Sunker with a group of happy kids and a ton of Easter eggs.

There was also joy at the prospect of having Easter eggs for the Easter holidays, thanks to the members of New Dawn.
     Jenine kicked off the initiative by collecting Easter eggs for the Woodside Sanctuary prior the her and Steve's departure for a holiday in Hermanus, and then the club kicked in with another collection for the 5 Cees.
     Sarah Sunker, administrative head of the orphanage and daughter-in-law of pastor Mike Sunker, was on hand to receive the eggs on behalf of the excited children. Sarah told us that pastor Mike was in hospital to have two toes amputated. We wish him a speedy recovery.
     Dates to remember: The aforementioned membership evening on Wednesday, 13th April.
     This week's meeting: Brian Dick of The Cheese Gourmet in Linden is visiting the cub. Brian and his wife, Jo, exchanged places with a Swiss couple (no cheesy jokes, please) last year and he'll be telling us all about it.
     He's also bringing samples of cheese from his now famous Linden shop, so be sure to be there.
     Thought for the week: A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)