Roll Out the Barrow of Fun

The new board had it's second meeting of the year and covered quite a lot of ground. Having the meeting at breakfast time (a necessity because of clashing appointments and commitments) seems to bring a lot of energy and creativity into the meetings.
     There won't be a business meeting tomorrow because of the speaker (see below), but I'll try to cover some of the ground here.
     A lot of the discussion was about speakers and possible speakers, which resulted in quite a few slots being filled for the upcoming meetings.
   

In the shadows ... the board members contemplating breakfast before business at the board meeting on Tuesday. From left it's Debbie (membership), Paul (Foundation), Carol (secretary and president-elect), Mike (president), Jankees (District Governor Elect) and Frayne (Projects)

     In the meantime Joan Donet has organized that our Interact club could put two names forward of learners that will attend the upcoming RYLA camp arranged by the Rotary Club of Springs.
     This has come as really good news, as it is the first time in about two years that we've managed to send anybody.
     The board also decided to recommend that we marshall at the Carnival City Macsteel race again. It has been moved forward to Sunday, 6 November (it was in March this year) so it won't be as cold as in previous years!
     Remember, anyone is welcome to join the board meetings, specially if you have something specific to discuss or push towards a decision. They take place every second Tuesday of the month. Just let me know beforehand so I can add it to the agenda and to help with the catering

We need golfers
     We've got the wheelbarrow, we've got the booze, we've got the date and we're getting the prizes, but now we need golfers!
     Please everybody, speak to everybody you know who plays the game, to come and have some fun at the Golf Day on Friday, 30 September.

The wheelbarrow is starting to look good, but remember, it ain't
 going if it ain't overflowing!

     If each member referred just one name to Greg and Linda, we'll fill the field up very quickly. And the more golfers there are, the more raffle tickets we'll sell, and the more money we will have to do some good in the world.

Donate prizes
     In terms of prizes the very good news is that Europcar have agreed to supply two 3-day car rental vouchers as prizes for two lucky (or very good) golfers. They are also giving us four hampers full of goodies. We do need more prizes, though. time is running out.
     We were in Stax last week, a shop where guest house owners spend quite a lot of time, and had a look around at what they have to offer.
     I started compiling a list of (relatively) inexpensive items that could go down well as prizes for the golfers and thought I would put the list on the blog in case anybody was thinking of sponsoring something. You could even ask friends or family to sponsor a couple of prizes, or team up with someone else in a joint sponsorship. Remember, in the new format there need only be two prizes and not four.

     Stax have already given us two stove-top whistling kettles from Smeg, a top-end Italian brand of appliances.
     Some other possibilities are:

• Two electric woks for R529 each. Electric frying pans cost in the same region;
• Two kettles at R750 each;
• Two toasters at R950 each;
• Two electronic kitchen scales at R249 each;
• Two electric egg boilers at R299 each;
• Two smoothie makers at R899 each;
• Two Soda Streams at R729 each.

     There are literally hundreds of other possibilities, many of which cost quite a bit more than the above, but I was looking at good value at affordable prices.

     If you want to, I can easily go and buy the items for you as Stax is quite close by.

Speaking of speakers

A very colourful Nikiwe Bam with PP Amina Frense, who invited her to speak at the club and introduced her

    Our speaker last week, Nikiwe Bam, had everyone quite exhausted after her talk detailing all the things she does and is planning to do.
     Nikiwe is a member of one of the Eastern Cape royal families and as such a member of the Congress of Traditional leaders of South Africa (Contralesa).
     She hails from Engcobo, which she refers to as "my place" and wants to start a Contralesa Youth Wing.
     She also studies full time for a Master of Science in Science Education at Wits and already has a BSc in Chemistry (2007) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (2010) and has been teacher.

Nike Bam in teaching mode at the club meeting. What a dynamo!

     She's interested in teacher development and district improvement projects with programs that can motivate teachers as well as learners specifically in rural areas.
     She is involved in setting up libraries and science centres where learners will have access to information about bursaries and career development programmes. This she does through a company she set up in 2013 as well as a Non-Profit Organization through which she aims to help with donations for educational programs and bursary schemes.
     She is tackling library projects in Tafelkop near Groblersdal at the moment and is taking aim at Alexandra as well as Engcobo.
     All this ties in neatly with the work of the Humanitarian Centre,of course.
     Nikiwe has also initiated agricultural projects to help young people and unemployed women grow food for their families.
     Whew!

Speakers
     The speaker tomorrow is Derek Engelbrecht from an organization that works with the rehabilitation of urban wildlife. The week after Kathryn Smith, Greg's daughter, who is visiting Johannesburg, will be the guest speaker. Kathryn is a forensic artist. There'll be more about her in the blog next week.
     And finally: The club shirts will be available at the meeting for everyone who ordered. There will be a few extras in case there are late orders. You can arrange the payment at the meeting.
     Dates to Remember: On 17, 24 and 25 the team will be selling raffle tickets outside the Parkview Spar. They will welcome any volunteers. The Golf Day is on Friday 30 September.
     A Thought for the Week: We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. - Pres. John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963).