Welcome to Two New Members

The club has grown from 27 members in July last year to 35 (not 36 as I reported at the meeting), a net gain of 8 over the past few months.
     The latest two inductees are Bronwyn Taylor and Karlien Kruger. Both were inducted at the meeting last week.
     There's a good chance that the growth will continue, as there are a number of potential candidates waiting in the wings.

Helene Bramwell, President Linda Vink, IPP Carol Stier, Bronwyn Taylor, Graham Donet, Karlien Kruger and Mike MacDonald

     The interesting thing is that most of the new members have been introduced to the club by existing members, thereby widening the circle of people we can reach.
     In this vein, Bronwyn Taylor was introduced by Helene Bramwell, who also joined fairly recently.
     Bronwyn, who was involved in the advertising industry, has helped Helene with the Donate-a-Loo project, which they hope to operate on a larger scale through Rotary.

Carol Stier reading out the charge to Bronwyn at the induction. Dave Marshall and Helene Bramwell look on in the background

     Karlien Kruger's son, Peet, is married to our daughter, Rudi, and showed a keen interest in Rotary and the doings of the club in discussions with Linda and I, but it was Mike McDonald who did the real arm twisting to get her to join.
     We're of course delighted to have two such stalwarts as members.

Graham Donet reading out the charge to Karlien at her induction

     Their membership brings the club make-up to 55% women and 45% men and the average age to 62. That's both a higher proportion of women than either District 9400 or Rotary International and a lower average age than either.
     At one stage the split was 60-40 and the average age 55, but we cannot change the fact that we're all getting older. A good representation of younger members keeps us on our toes.

Members of the Rotaract club shared breakfast with the New Dawners

     It was also great to share breakfast with members of the Rotaract club, which has been very active despite members still finding their feet. They report that they have been meeting regularly with Graham Donet, the New Dawn youth officer, for guidance on the type of projects they can tackle to raise funds and give back to the community.
     One of their members, Alfred Kalunga gave feedback on his training with Meriting and it sounds as if everything went well.
     Three of the Rotaracters will be attending Discon in Middelburg in June for the Rotaract conference on the Sunday.

Carol Stier with one of the collection boxes for the End Polio Now campaign

     Three club members, Amina Frense, Frayne Mathijs and Jenine Coetzer, will represent the club at Discon.  
     At the meeting last week President Linda Vink announced that New Dawn is definitely in line for a RI Presidential Citation, probably in the gold class (there is also a platinum class). Carol Stier has arranged for money tins that can be rubbed under people's noses to add to the clubs' annual contribution to the End Polio Now campaign and at the same time tick an important box to achieve the citation.
     On most other criteria we pass with flying colours,
     It's worth it for members to read through the requirements for the citation on My Rotary, as these and other campaigns are all designed to help clubs to be and remain vibrant.

PE Judy Sligcher, IPP Carol Stier, PP Graham Donet, PP Mike Vink and PP Joan Donet after the meeting

     There were a number of impromptu meetings after the meeting about projects, Rotaract and about the month or so to come before Judy Sligcher takes over as president. The Sligchers and Linda and I will be at the RI Convention in Hamburg from 1 - 5 June and will all be away for almost a month.
     At the convention we will be able to share a stand with other members of the German-Southern Africa group and will use the opportunity to explain our projects to visitors in the main exhibition hall. After all, both Jankees and Linda are good salespeople and both are fluent in German.
     Carol Stier will be running the meetings and Graham Donet will be taking attendance, the breakfast money and writing the blog while we're away.
     Members are urged to keep the momentum in the club going, even if it is a time of year that many people go away.
     The Rotary year ends on 30th June and Judy has arranged for her induction to be on Saturday, 20th July. As announced, it'll be at the Vulture restaurant in the Magaliesberg. Please diarise the date and bring family and friends along. The formalities, Judy promises, will be kept to a minimum.
     A Thought for the Week: It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. - Edmund Hillary (1919 - 2008)