Heavenly Father you created the world in the first place and saw that it was good. We thank you for your world that we enjoy this morning especially this oasis of peace and calm in this city of movement. We thank you too for Paul Harris who on this day started the great service organisation of the world Rotary International.
May those joining as new Rotarians this morning quickly feel welcomed and loved, enabling us all to avoid the sin of indifference, to love the common good, advance the weak and care for the world in which we live.
The poor and the earth both cry out. We hear their voices today as we all put Service Above Self. Amen.
With his stirring and thoughtful grace, Rev. Nick Bell set the tone for the meeting on Wednesday; to celebrate Rotary's 117th birthday; to celebrate the induction of seven new and vibrant members and to celebrate the recently instituted and sponsored recycling efforts Zoo Lake.
Some 60 people joined the meeting, which started off with coffee and scones, muffins and cupcakes at the Moyo parking area and ended with a visit by those who could still be around, to the Zoo Lake recycling centre.
Amongst them there were many esteemed guests, led by DG Stella Anyangwe, IPDG Annemarie Mostert, District Governor Nominee Designate George Senosha (the Rotary Club of Waterkloof), PDGs Francis Callard (RC Northcliff) and Jankees Sligcher and our interim AG, Peter James-Smith (RC Knights Pendragon).
In his short talk about Rotary International, Peter James-Smith predicted that Rotary will eventually become a predominantly women's organisation. "It's the way the world is moving and if Rotary doesn't follow it will die as an organisation."
Also there were Michael Baretta as speaker, Lucy Gallard (Babette's daughter), Fiona Brokensha of the Rotary Club of Meyerton/Henley-on-klip, Sarah Koning of the Rosebank Gazette, our resident saxophonist Norbert Kayombo, Susie Sibanda (a guest of Joan Sainsbury), Chris Nortje, CEO of Impact Investment (a guest of inductee Lawrence Ruele), Hannah-Marie Bartlett (David Marshall's partner), Linda Twala, his daughter xxx and other visitors from Alexandra. My apologies if I've left anyone out.
Between coffee and a visit to the new Zoo Lake recycling centre for those who could still make it, there was a talk by Michael Baretta about recycling, the induction of new members and a prize giving for the person who brought the most plastic for recycling. Karlien Kruger claimed the hamper filled with sustainable goodness.
Michael, MD of dotGood, brought along an aluminium can, a PET plastic water bottle, a piece of cardboard and a glass bottle as examples of what is being recycled at Zoo Lake. These are also the items with the greatest value to the recyclers.
"For every kilogram of paper collected we donate R7.50 to Zoo Lake, R16 for a kilogram of cans and R25 for plastic bottles," he said.
They employ a woman, Nomsa, at the recycling centre. She works from a Friday to a Tuesday, and will receive recyclable waste from those who take it there. On other days you can just throw it over the wall. The waste then gets sold to the organisation Waste Entrepreneurs.
Why not just recycle for the municipal collectors? Because there is little guarantee that the stuff will actually be recycled and not just end up with other waste in the landfills, he said.
He also pointed to new benches and picnic tables and chairs dotted around the park, which have been made from waste plastic.
President Ian Widdop read out the charge ". . . because you will be a good Rotarian" to the five inductees who were present (the other two joined later as a result of an accident blocking traffic from Soweto) after which certificates and badges were handed out to our newest members.
First up was Shaun Khoza, who described Rotary as "everything I stand for in the world." He said he loved the warm welcome and the smiles with which he was greeted and that he "respects the selflessness of Rotarians".
Ntombi Maselwa said the first thing she saw when she came to Rotary was "the passion in everybody's eyes". Ntombi runs her own NGO because "we can't wait for government "to take action. I started an entrepreneurship academy because I believe we must be the change we want to see".
Ivone Vosloo, who was introduced to the club by Karlien Kruger, said she was brought up in a home where she was taught to always give back, "because the more you give, the more you get".
Paul Chinn, like Shaun Khoza, joins New Dawn with family ties. Paul is married to Babette Gallard and Shaun to Olivia Schoombie. Paul says he's forgotten how many countries they've lived in, but that he's relatively new to Africa. He'd been a Rotarian in France and he and Babette were involved in building a sustainable hospital in Tanzania. There they saw that you have to understand the needs of the society you're in.
Lawrence Ruele, understudy to Linda Twala in Alexandra, said "every working day of my life, I give. I see a massive challenge ahead of me in Rotary, which allows me to touch people in the way I aspire to".
I must confess that I had to go and sort out payment for the coffee guy while Mbali Zulu introduced himself to the club, so we'll just have to wait until the opportunity arises again. (By the way, the club pockets R3 200 after we had paid CuppaJozi). Mbali and Tshepo Ramutumbu arrived while the inductions were going on after having been delayed in traffic from Soweto.
Tshepo Ramutumbu is from the Umbuyisa Art School in Soweto and said he looks forward to being a "part of this exciting movement" that is Rotary.
After the first five inductions DG Stella Anyangwe told the new members that it is wonderful to see people inspired to join Rotary, but reminded them that Paul Harris and his three cohorts had met primarily for networking and fellowship. The charitable aspect of the organisation only came later. She also pointed out that in 101 years of Rotary in South Africa, she is the first black District Governor .
"We must strive for equity and diversity, not just equality and said inclusion is not just being invited to the party, but being invited to the dance.
She also pointed out that the Rotary Foundation is the engine that makes Rotary work.
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