New Dawn Called The Shots At The Institute

To say the the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn was well represented at the Zone 20A Institute which ended at the weekend, would be to put it mildly.
     We rocked!
     Like everybody else, we were outnumbered by the Nigerians (and of course they dress more colourfully than everybody else) but in every other way New Dawn made its presence felt.

The New Dawn contingent and friends. Carin Holmes is in front in the middle and from left are Rita Millan (registration), Linda and I, Julian Nagy, who came to help last Thursday, DG Jankees Sligcher, the ever present Frayne Mathijs and PDG Nick Phillips, chairman of the Institute
   

     Linda and I were heavily involved in the registration (starting at 6.30 some mornings!) and either or both of us were there every day from last Monday right up until the gala dinner on Saturday night. The last person to register, pitched up at 4pm on Saturday when we had gone back to change for the dinner!
     President Carol Stier was not only a star at the registration desk, she also saw to the outside publicity for the event, something she handled quite superbly.

District Governor Jankees and DGA Judy Sligcher with RI Ian Risely at the Zone 20A Institute

     In this she was, of course, helped by Jenine Coetzer who, although she couldn't be at Misty Hills, helped pull strings at the SABC to ensure wider coverage of this unique Rotary event.
     Frayne Mathijs was there most days and Julian Nagy, Carin Holmes, Debbie de Vries and Paul Kasango came to help.

Rotary International Director Elect Yinka Babalola of Nigeria being interviewed by SAfm about the Institute and Rotary. Between them Jenine Coetzer and president Carol Stier set up the interview, which went very well.

     DG Jankees and DGA Judy Sligcher were there for the Institute and were honoured for their generous donations to Rotary.
     By the way, Jankees will be at the meeting on Wednesday morning and will be leading it in the absence of president Carol, who is taking a well deserved break in the Drakensberg.

Linda and Paul used the opportunity at the gala dinner on Saturday night to meet up with RIDE Yinka Babalola, one of Africa's rising Rotary stars

     To repeat for those who didn't know; an Institute is an annual meeting much like a District Conference. The first half is training for incoming district governors and their spouses and the second half is what Rotary calls an Institute where ideas are swapped out, discussed and in many cases resolutions made to carry back to Rotary International. It is second only to the annual Rotary International Convention in scope and influence.
     The Johannesburg Institute for Zone 20A was graced by the Rotary International president, Ian Risely, and his wife Janet from Australia.

Now that's what I call a Rotary shirt! The self-styled Lady Sunshine (president Grace Uzunma Nmah)
handed over a club banner from the Rotary Club of Aba Blue River Garden

     The Nigerians were by far the largest contingent (at least 65% of all the attendees) and very colourful to boot.
     They do things differently in Nigeria. One of the delegates had been corresponding with me for a while about her registration, about when and how to pay, and quite a stream of matters until we could eventually issue an official and certified letter of invitation to accompany her visa application.
     I don't know why, but the SA embassy in Lagos only issued her visa and those of two of her fellow club members last Wednesday. Despite a delayed flight, they still traveled to Johannesburg, arriving in time for the Saturday plenaries and the gala dinner.

     She is Grace Uzunma Nmah, president of the Rotary club of Aba Blue Garden and she calls herself Lady Sunshine, as you can see from the photo above!
     For her induction she had a whole magazine printed with messages from dignitaries and family members, with photo galleries and other matters pertaining to her year as president of the club! I'll bring the magazine to the meeting this week, it's quite something and a sign of how seriously Rotary is taken specially in some sub Saharan countries, making Africa one of the very few Rotary growth points in the world.

Some of the colourful outfits

      Our very own DG is of course also not slow in adding colour to events and this he did with quite a coup for the Institute, by organising Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse and his band to play at the closing gala dinner.

DG Jankees on stage thanking Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse for agreeing to play at the gala dinner. The band is famous for hits such as "Burnout"

Paul and Susan Kasango made a striking couple at the dinner

... as did Carol and Nic Stier, although Nick wasn't very happy with the food that was served. It wasn't, to put it mildly, very nice. Or even very warm!

The table raise their glasses in a toast

Speaker
    Please remember that the photojournalist Kim Ludbrook will be the speaker tomorrow morning.

Golf Day
     We need to start getting more serious about the Golf Day, which is now fast approaching. Each member of the club should try to:
1. Get at least four players
2. Get or sponsor at least some prizes for the golfers
3. Arrange or sponsor sponsorship for the 18 holes on the course.
4. Bring a few bottles for the Barrow(s) of Booze! These won't fill up on their own and we need them so that we can show it when selling raffle tickets.
     A Thought for the Week: Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much. - John Wayne (1907-1979)