New Dawn on a high note!

New Dawn is always up for a challenge!  Especially when our President Elect, Ian Widdop sets us one a little out of our reach.

As you all know, Ian is a keen singer, and it has long been a dream of his to involve the Club in one of his musical ventures  With the help of this weeks Guest Speaker, Sue Cock, (wife of the well known conductor and radio presenter, Richard Cock) he has set New Dawn the task of putting together a "Concert from scratch" performance of Faure's Requiem on 23 May at St Martins in the Field Church, starting at 4.30pm.

This will be a fundraiser for the Club, with participants and audience paying for the privilege of performing this magnificent work. Furthermore, it will be presented with a live orchestra of 20 musicians, which we will pay for by donations and fund raising.
Sue made the point that everybody can sing by getting the Club members to get into the act at the meeting!

Carol Stier, Karlien Kruger and Joan Sainsbury will be assisting with the marketing/fundraiding for the event, and the Finance/Admin team will organise the payments and collection of monies. So, start warming those vocal chords!

Sue Cock in action!

Julian Nagy gave an update on the Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status.  The PBO is different to the NPO status (which we already have).  A NPO status gives sponsors and donors a sense of comfort in that they are dealing with an organisation with an Object and a Purpose for acting for the Public Good, whilst a PBO is to do with SARS and ensuring that the first R200 thousand of nett income is exempt from tax.  Additionally we have a Section 18a status and can issue a tax certificate to donors and sponsors.  (There are a number of rules to this, so please check with Julian).  Kudos to Julian for his persistent effort in obtaining our registration.


It is always very special when we induct new members, and todays induction was no different. A hearty New Dawn welcome to Joan Sainsbury and Audrey Gatawa, who were inducted this week. Please welcome them both with open arms to our Club membership!

Audrey and Joan, suitably inducted by President Judy!

A special New Dawn welcome also to our guests, Nick Bell, Sarah de Lapasture, Kasthurie Singh and Chibesa Chitangala (who leaves shortly to return to Zambia).



Thought for the week:  Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything"  Plato