Of Cyclists and Other Adventurers

One of the first groups of cyclists come screaming around the bend, a sight that would repeat itself with almost monotonous regularity

It's not for nothing that this blog is titled Rising Sun; on Sunday morning we drove to the pretty little town of Henley on Klip near Vereeniging with the rising sun, arriving there at just before 6am, where Jankees Sligcher was already waiting.
     The rest of the New Dawn marshals for The Fast One Cycle Race started joining us soon afterwards and by 7am we were all at our posts.

Another day, another new dawn! The group of 13 marshals that did duty at points 33-36 on Sunday: Myself, Carin Vosloo, Carol Stier, Niel Vosloo, Debbie de Vries van Buuren, Henk van Buuren, Bob Wahl, Linda Vink, Judy Symons,  Paul Kasango, Samantha Donet, Rob Deverneuil and Jankees Sligcher

     Although these stints as marshal are fun in terms of Rotary fellowship, it is hard work in the hot sun. With a field of over 3 500 cyclists this year, we only got away after 12.30, by which time there was plenty of evidence of sunburn, tired legs, great thirst and hoarse voices.
     A big thank you to everyone who could be there, both members and friends, and for all of the others who were with us in spirit!

Henk proving that he's a deft hand behind a broom. It is obvious from this photograph that the road is in a shocking condition.

     It's a bit of a miracle that no cyclists got hurt at the big intersection where seven of us did duty, as the road is full of potholes and cracks, although the traffic didn't seem quite as bad as in previous years. Marshals had to keep on warning the cyclists of potholes, as they come around the corners at breakneck speed. The race seemed to be well organized, which always makes a difference.
     Anyway, we've done our bit for the time being as far as cycle races are concerned, and only need to think about it again in November with the next Macsteel race.

Do you know the way to San Jose? Or
rather to San Diego! Jankees took time
during his marshaling duties to reflect on
what lies ahead

Another Great Adventure
     The year started with another big adventure for DGE Jankees and Judy Sligcher, who went for DG training to San Diego in California.
     They had to travel halfway around the world to get there, but it sounds as if they thoroughly enjoyed their stay.
     This week it's a privilege to publish the piece Jankees put together for DG Grant Daly's next newsletter.

         International Assembly in San Diego January 2017.

                             An incredible experience!

January 6, 2017

It seems incredible now that only three weeks ago we were at OR Tambo Airport on our way to our home hosting experience courtesy of the Rotary Clubs (yes, there are more than one) of Vero Beach in Florida, before the start of the International Assembly in San Diego.

     Our classmates, DGE Wally and Arlene Jacobs of D9370, joined us for the flight to the USA. The mood was one of great excitement tinged with apprehension.

     We traveled and we traveled some more via Dubai to Orlando in Florida, where we were collected from the airport by some very efficient ladies dressed in unmistakable Rotary outfits.

     We arrived at the home of our hosts, Maureen and Larry Labadie, some 27 hours after our departure. Fortunately, the first two days where easy and for the rest of the week the Rotarians of the various Rotary Clubs of Vero Beach treated us, a mixed crowd of British, Norwegian, Swedish and Indian DGE‘s and spouses, to a great mix of hospitality and entertainment as only the Americans can.

     This included a club visit to the RC of Vero Beach Sunrise, cocktail parties, lunches and sightseeing events. Alligators, nature conservation and a museum explaining the pirate history of the Florida coast were all on the itinerary, ending with a Grand Luncheon at the Country Club, with as guest speaker Jennifer Jones, RI Vice President.

     We left by bus for our Orlando hotel accompanied by the ever- present Home Hosting Coordinator Bob Hyde and his dear wife Patricia, also known as Dagwood and Blondie, who again hosted us to a memorable “Last Meal” before the next day we all made our separate ways to San Diego!

     Partir c’est mourir une peu! Leaving is like a little bit of dying and for all the good friends we had met, this held very true.

 

Jankees and Judy Sligcher get to meet the incoming RI president, Ian Risely and his wife, Juliet, from Australia

     Air Alaska brought us to San Diego, where miraculously we arrived at the same time as a group of Rotarians from Britain with the result that a near South African taxi load full of DGE’s (they build them cars big in California!) made a grand entry at our hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt. What a remarkable hotel and what a superb place to host an International Assembly!

     Saturday was San Diego Day and we spent much of it on a sightseeing hop on, hop off trolley.  We met up with Wally and Arlene again on a tour of this great harbor city, a mix of Mexican influences and tall skyscrapers, navy vessels, aircraft carriers and military training facilities and of course the Gas Lamp quarter with tortillas and spice, tequila and Corona Mexican beer.

Sunday January 15

     We registered for the Assembly and our networking campaign started in earnest.

     We were a group of 539 DGE’s and their spouses from all over the world, RI President John Germ (USA), RI President Elect Ian Riseley (Australia), RI President Nomine Sam Owori (Uganda), Past RI presidents, trainers and Rotary staff, a recipe for a true cultural cocktail.

     The festivities that evening started with a Great March and we all obliged and dressed up, some more traditionally than others!

     The International Dinner Dance followed. Presentations and introductions were a taste of what was to come.

Monday to Friday 16 to 20 January 2017

     The week that followed was a mix of eight general sessions with at least three to four presentations by fantastic speakers on various topics (The Rotary Foundation featured prominently), two selected group break outs led by highly qualified trainers on a multitude of subjects, Partner Discussion Group meetings, buffet luncheons for networking and a photo session with RI President Elect Ian Riseley.

     The aim was to train and guide the class of 2017 into a homogeneous team, able to serve their individual districts with a single purpose.

     How we found time to attend a home hosting event on the Wednesday, let our hair down to the tune of A Hard Day’s Night and the final closing banquet, stops short of a little miracle.

Jankees and Judy at the closing banquet in San Diego

     We trained hard, shared ideas, debated, learned and played hard.

     On Saturday, 21^ST January we left for Johannesburg and 10 time zones later we arrived back on Sunday at 6pm.

     Reflecting on this incredible week my mind turns to Our Rotary International President Elect theme for the year.

     ROTARY: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

     To me this summarizes everything that we learnt during that unforgettable week.

     My gratitude also goes to Judy. She truly was an inspiration with whom to share such an amazing time.                     

     What an incredible experience!

Gretchen Wilson Prangley, whose passion
 is making children play

Playing for Africa
     Last weeks' speaker, Gretchen Wilson Prangley, spoke very passionately about her work at Play Africa, of which she is the founder and CEO.
     The concept of a children's museum was particularly interesting. There are a whole chain of them all over the world, in North and South America, Europe and other parts of the world. Play Africa is keen on establishing a permanent home for their museum in Johannesburg and already have their eyes on a site.
     In the interim they operate a series of "pop-up" children's museums at various locations where children can go to play and learn at the same time.
     The club and Rotary in general come into contact with many, many deserving causes and we have in the past helped where we can, but not many organizations have captured our imagination as much as this one and there will surely be a lot more contact between Play Africa and Rotary in the future.

     A Date to Remember
     This time it could be a real date ... don't forget the Valentine's Dinner on Tuesday, 14th February. Above all, don't forget to invite a few friends along, we're relying on everyone to help make the evening a success.
     Thank you to Sam Donet for designing the invitation, which has been emailed to everyone. Pass it along to people you know who might want to join us for the evening.
     Birthdays in February: Jenine (7th); Frayne (9th); Ian (21st); and Debbie Smith (22nd).
     Humanitarian Centre: Linda and I will be on duty on Saturday. In March Carol and Judy Symons will be there. In April Paul and Debbie de Vries are on duty. We're still looking for volunteers for the rest of the year.
     NB: There is no speaker tomorrow, so we'll spend the breakfast catching up, planning for the Valentine's dinner and asking for suggestions on what to discuss at the board meeting next week.
     A Thought for the Week: Never give a sword to a man who can't dance. - Confucius (c.551-478 BCE)