New Dawn Rotarians On the Go

Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn were out in the wide world doing many good things again this past week or so, a testament to some of the lesser known efforts of a dedicated group of people.
     The new community based Rotaract club is fast becoming a reality and it was great to see them getting involved with our planned Mandela Day celebrations next week, along with members Frayne Mathijs and Peta Thomas.

Bridget Mukhavuli, Frayne Mathijs, Peta Thomas and Nadine Mitchell at the Humanitarian Centre

     They joined forces at the Humanitarian Distribution Centre in Bedfordview to choose books for the Johannesburg Children's Home in Observatory. The club is donating bookshelves filled with books, both educational and leisure reading, for the 64 kids at the home. The books were chosen under the careful guidance of Frayne, our Humanitarian Centre champion.
     She was helped by Peta Thomas, champion of the Rotaract club which is being inducted into Rotary on 1 August in the presence of DG Charles Deiner, a date for every club member to diarise and make every effort to be there. It will also mark the DG's official visit to the club.
     Also present at the book collection were Bridget Mukhavhuli, who will be the first president of the Rotaract Club of Johannesburg and Nadine Mitchell, who will also be a founder member and the first club secretary.
     They chose 380 books, once again underlining what an incredible resource the Centre is.

Lucille Blumberg handing over medicine to Michael Ntuli

     Another Rotarian who is often out and about is Lucille Blumberg, who annually sees to it that Immaculate Hall in Rosebank, one of four Mercy Shelters in Johannesburg, is stocked with relief medicines for colds and flu and other ailments that afflict the homeless in the area. Lucille has been doing this for many years now.
     She is also currently in Bushbuckridge with a fresh malaria outbreak, but also with a wheelchair for a needy person there.

Carol Stier with Charmaine Williams in Benoni

     Another roving New Dawn ambassador is Carol Stier who, as one of her last tasks as president of the club, was at hand to induct Charmaine Williams for a second term as president of the Rotary Club of Benoni.
     For those who know their Benoni history, Carol's Dad, PDG Billy Hills, was a president of the Benoni club, as were her grandfather Billie Hills and great-grandfather William Hills. Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were also very involved with Rotary and the Anns.
     Carol has recently been appointed Arpic, or to us ordinary Rotarians, Assistant Rotary Public Image Co-ordintor and will be speaking to the club tomorrow about how to promote Rotary and how to use the on-line tools available to do so. This is in line with a worldwide Rotary thrust to improve the image of our unique organisation.

Carin Holmes on screen

     Carin Holmes is of course the consummate professional when it comes to carrying out the image of the Salvation Army, but also of Rotary and it is an honour to have her as a member of the club. Just in recent weeks she has been interviewed on kykNET (above) and on E.tv News and caused a very positive stir with her presentation on human trafficking to the Rotary Anns breakaway conference at the District Conference in Skukuza in June.
     Watch this space, as Carin will be the speaker on the topic at an upcoming club meeting, her very busy schedule permitting.

Linn Jarte, the speaker last week

     Speaking of speakers, last week we had Linn Jarte as our speaker, addressing the club on her experiences a a roving doctor. Linn, a Swede by birth, recently qualified as a medical doctor in London and is on her way back there to specialise in anaesthetics.
     She did her first year of internship in Malta and was in South Africa with the organisation Park.doctors, who supply medical services to game lodges and the communities involved in running them. She has served in some or other medical trauma capacity all over the world, including Tanzania, the Middle East, New Zealand, India, Kenya and South Africa.

Ian Widdop with his Paul Harris certificate

     Also at the meeting last week Carol Stier handed over Ian Widdop's Paul Harris certificate and pin, which hadn't arrived from Geneva quite on time for the Induction Dinner last Friday.
     During that meeting incoming president Linda Vink set out her goals for the new Rotary year, as she also did at the first club board meeting of her term in office, at the Parkview Golf Club on Friday late afternoon.

Linda and Carol discussing club business

     She also laid out a framework for club committee obligations, which are worth repeating although I write under correction and a more formal list will be circulated later.
     In no particular order the committees and subcommittees are as below. The president serves on any or all of the committees.

• FUNDRAISING: Julian Nagy, Ian Widdop (The Link), Greg Smith and Mike MacDonald (Golf Day), Linda Vink and Julian Nagy (Bridge Drive), Carol Stier and Mike Vink (Christmas Dinner).
• PROJECTS: Carin Holmes, Judy Symons, Amina Frense and Frayne Mathijs (Humanitarian Centre), Ian Widdop (The Link), Paul Kasango and Jenine Coetzer (Woodside), Mike Vink (Hotel Hope and 5Cees), Sam Deverneuil (Blanket Drive), RFHD (Paul Kasango and Steve du Plessis) and Wheelchairs (Lucille Blumberg)
• YOUTH: Graham Donet (Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, Youth Exchange), Peta Thomas, Carol Stier and Steve du Plessis (Rotaract)
• FOUNDATION: Ian Widdop, Paul Kasango and Mike Vink
• MEMBERSHIP: Debbie Smith, Jankees and Judy Sligcher, Carol Stier and Judy Symons
• FELLOWSHIP: Jenine Coetzer, Debbie de Vries, Debbie Smith and John Vink
• ADMINISTRATION: Steve du Plessis (executive secretary and IT), Joan Donet (secretary), Mike Vink (treasurer and the blog), Carol Stier (public relations, social media), Carin Holmes (public relations), Jenine Coetzer (photographer and public relations).

     If your name is not on the list, or not on the list often enough, contact Linda as a matter of urgency, there is much work to be done!

     Dates to Diarise: 25th July: The first business meeting of the new Rotary year, to prepare for the DG's visit on 1st August.

     On Saturday, 11th August (moved from the 4th) we'll have the first club assembly of the year. It'll start at 9am and will be held at Twickenham Guest House in Auckland Park.

     On Saturday, 6th October the club will be visiting the vulture feeding scheme of the Rotary Club of Brits Hartbeespoort.

     A Thought for the Week: When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. - Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)