A Very Busy Rotary Year

There won't be many opportunities to start off a blog like this with an iconic photograph of Tour de France cyclists pedalling through bright yellow sunflower fields, but our speaker of two weeks ago. Kim Ludbrook, provided just that.
     Kim, a photojournalist based in Johannesburg but working for an agency in Europe, gave us some fascinating insights into coverage of the Tour de France, the most famous of all cycle races.

The Tour de France peloton in France

     Before he had the opportunity to cover the race himself a few years ago (he's subsequently done two more), he swore he would never take a photograph in the sunflower fields. Too much of a cliche, he thought. He of course ended up doing just that because it is such an iconic image and the Tour is as much about tourism as it is about cycling.

Ian Widdop pretending to be a cyclist while Kim Ludbrook tucks into his breakfast

     Towns, he said, pay up to 500 000 Euros for the honour of hosting a stage closing of the race, that lasts three weeks during the European summer.
     Kim was followed as speaker by Ian MacDonald, the better looking of the MacDonald brothers, although every inch as tall as his Rotarian brother, Mike.

Paul Kasango and president Carol Stier flanked by the tall MacDonald brothers Ian (left, the good-looking one) and Mike!

    Thanks, Mike, for bringing Ian to the club. He spoke openly and movingly about his involvement with the Tabatha Ministries, an orphanage in the Pietermaritzburg area in KwaZulu-Natal, and the challenges they face.
     Ian has lived in the USA for the past 25 years but retains his involvement in charitable work in South Africa. He approaches his work from an obviously very strong Christian perspective and there is no lack of commitment.

Local heroes ... it was great to see DG Jankees Sligcher at a couple of recent meetings in between his visits to the 79 clubs in the district. Here he is with Paul Kasango

Busy, busy, busy
     This has been a particularly busy Rotary time and there I was thinking that things would slow down once I handed over the presidency to Carol!
     Involvement with the Zone 20A Institute and latterly with the upcoming District Conference for Jankees has been a steep learning curve for Linda and I.
     We're not the only ones learning the ropes: Carol has also been very involved with the Institute meetings over and above her work as president of the club and was in charge of arranging media coverage apart from all her help at the registration desk.

The Discon 2018 committee met at the Skukuza Conference Centre in the Kruger National Park last weekend. From left are Peter Oudhof (chairman), Jankees and Judy Sligcher and Janet and Frances Callard, with Louis Greeff, Linda and I and Ann Roberts standing at the back

     Jankees and Judy have of course been on the road, sometimes seemingly endlessly I'm sure, visiting all the clubs in the district.
     This is one of the main tasks of a DG every year and is compulsory to anyone who wants to take on the job.
     It ensures continuity in the movement and at the same time gives clubs and their officers an opportunity to showcase the work they're doing on a larger stage.
     Visiting 79 clubs as far away as Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and all places uo north in South Africa is no easy task, however.
     Within New Dawn there has also been a lot going on. Most notably, Ian Widdop has been working on a global grant for The Link, which has now been approved by District and is only awaiting final approval from Rotary International in Evanston, Illinois in the USA.
     Read that again: DG Jankees has already signed off on the application, if you didn't hear the news last week. It shows what can be done with a lot of passion and application.

Lucille Blumberg and Judy Sligcher listen to Kim Ludbrook

     Julian Nagy led the efforts to set up a forum to discuss fundraising for the club, something which is long overdue if we're ever to get out of the rut of being primarily a social club with lesser impact.
     Julian and Ian are both also involved (as is Carol) with a proposed arts/foodie evening in Maboneng next year, a fundraising project that is slowly coming together and is already sounding very promising.
     In the wings Steve du Plessis has headed up the Gauteng arm of the Rotary Family Health Days as well as having his finger in many, many pies at district level because of his IT involvement.
     Not forgetting, of course, that he is also setting up an off-road cycle tour for next year which should also become a major fundraiser for the club.
     In terms of club duties Debbie Smith volunteered to become secretary for this year and is slowly learning the ropes. It is good to know that there are people who are used to getting things done, who are prepared to make sacrifices in terms of time and effort to keep the New Dawn sun rising every morning!

     In the meantime Paul Kasango just keeps on going like a Duracell bunny, doing good wherever he has even half an opportunity.
     The club salutes each and every one of you.
     There is lots for everyone to do in the short time leading up to the Christmas break. Please diarise the following dates:
     Discon 2018: Bookings for preferential accommodation closes on 31 October, after which the rooms will be released to the general public, and will no doubt be sold out very shortly afterwards.
New Dawn owes it to DG Jankees to be there in numbers, so please book. If you're not staying in Skukuza, you most likely will not be able to attend.
     The Discon is from 15-17 June 2018. Registration for the Discon will open in the new year.
     RFHD: The health days are upon us and start tomorrow and continue on Wednesday and Thursday. We're at 81 Albert Street in downtown Johannesburg this year. If you're available, please volunteer to Paul or Carol. Participation in the health days is important to the club in terms of participation in non-district efforts involving other clubs.
     Please remember to take photographs and forward them to me.

If you can remember these labels, you could probably have had more of the wine at the time!  Some old bottles of Alto Rouge and KWV Roodeberg at Winex 2016

     Winex: The club has decided to try helping out at Winex this year, although the rewards don't seem to be that large. Winex is from Wednesday, 25 October to Friday 26 October and we've pledged five people to help out per day. If you can be there, please let Linda know.
     Macsteel: This cycle race is on Sunday, 29 October and we've committed 8 marshals on the strength of commitments by club members. Let Carol now if you'll be there.
     Golf Day: Apart from a nice donation of bottles from Jenine and Steve and some from my cellar, we've received no booze for the barrows yet and things are looking a bit desperate. Please bring anything spare you may have around the house. Although money from players and sponsorships has started coming in, we still need as may players as we can muster, as well as prizes for the players. Time is running out, as the Golf Day is on Friday, 10 November.
     Christmas dinner: This will be on 8 December. Details to follow.
     The money we raise from these events will have to see us through until a bigger project or two can get off the ground, so please everybody help where you can.
     Birthdays: There are no club birthdays in October or November.
     Remember: There is no meeting this week because of the Health Days.
     A Thought for the Week: When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fail. Think of it, always. - Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948).