Discon 18 Was Owned by New Dawn

A year ago we were bidding Jankees and Judy Sligcher a happy bon voyage as they set out on their journey, quite literally, through District 9400 and all 80-odd clubs that make up the district.
     This weekend a year full of Rotary fellowship, but also of Rotary achievements, came to a close.
     I'm happy to report that the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn featured prominently in Skukuza, which turned out to be an inspired choice of venue.

The New Dawn contingent at Discon 18. From left are RIPPR Eric Kimani, Carin Holmes, Judy Sligcher, Lucille Blumberg, Jankees Sligcher, with standing Margaret Kimani, Paul Kasango, Carol Stier, Ian Widdop, myself and Linda Vink, Amina Frense and Frayne Mathijs

     There were 11 members in Skukuza, more members attending than all but a small handful of clubs in the district.
     Lucille Blumberg's talk, which focused on malaria under the theme of The Big Five vs The Little Five, was one of the highlights on Saturday. She shared the podium with a vet who spoke about the impact of elephants on the tree life in the park, hence the big and little of the theme.
     Jankees and Judy Sligcher were the stars of the show, as can be expected.

District Governor Jankees and District Governor Anns Judy Sligcher at their Discon

     Pictures tell more of a story than words, so here are some for the club album of our attendance this year.
   

DG Jankees in his coat of many (orange) colours, specially made
 for him, as were the bright blue and yellow jackets worn by
 committee members

Ian Widdop was a newbie at his first District Conference and came away inspired

Lucille Blumberg at one of the conference sessions

Amina Frense and Frayne Mathijs doing what they do best; caring and sharing

The club won the award for best blog and I was happy to accept it, and a wonderful gift of Ngwenya wine goblets, from DG Jankees

Carin Holmes addressed the Anns on human trafficking

Ian and Robyn Widdop and Amina Frense toasting New Dawn

Lucille Blumberg, Amina frense and Paul Kasango enjoying the Skukuza heat

Paul Kasango and Carol Stier accompanied RIPPR Eric and Margaret Kimani on a visit to the Soweto club. Here Paul is with the Kimanis and members of the club

     The Rotary International Presidents' Personal Representative, Eric Kimani and his wife, Margaret, were also prominent attendees at Discon and he proved to be an inspiring Rotary leader. No wonder DG Jankees said nobody at Discon would be surprised to hear that there was a new RI president in the making.

The Kimanis with Peta Thomas, Carol Stier and the four prospective Rotaracters who attended the meeting last week

    He emphasised the necessity of opening membership up to make more black people feel welcome in the organisation and spoke again of the changing nature of Rotary membership in Kenya over the past decades, as he did in his short speech to the club last week.
    Speakers: The speaker tomorrow is none other than Professor Nick Vink, an agricultural economist from the University of Stellenbosch (also known as the twin brother of the guy who won the best blogger award for his club at Discon 18!) He'll be speaking on The South African Wine Landscape and telling us how wine is consumed in South Africa, although he no doubt won't be able to tell us why we consume so much of it.
     Next week brings another family connection. Linn Jarte is a recently qualified medical doctor who is about to begin specialising in anaesthetics, and has taken time off before her training starts to spend time with a rural doctor practice in South Africa. She'll be speaking about the differences between practicing medicine in the first world and rural medicine. Linn's stepmother and my ex-sister-in-law are sisters (work that one out!)
     She is a Swede by birth and completed her medical studies in the UK. She has travelled widely.
     Concert tickets: Linda and I have to be in Cape Town for the rest of the week for a funeral, and cannot use our season tickets for the symphony concert at the Linder Auditorium on Thursday evening. They're playing the Greig Piano Concerto and Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakoff. If anybody wants the tickets, let me know and I'll bring them along tomorrow morning. It'll be on the basis of first come, first served.
     A Thought for the Week (also used as the Discon 18 slogan): If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together. - (African Proverb)