With Inyosi Julian Nagy leading the way, the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn welcomed PDG Jankees Sligcher as the new president for the Rotary year 2025/2026.
This is the third time since New Dawn was established in 2009 that President Jankees has held this office, as well as being District Governor for Rotary District 9400.
Julian, himself a past president, got the ball rolling for the induction with an impromptu appearance as a Zulu imbongi or inyosi, a traditional oral poet and historian. He praised the virtues of the incoming president and his contribution to Rotary over the years, much to the surprise and then delight of the meeting and perhaps disproving the theory that old white men can't dance.
The induction was attended by a number of dignitaries and friends of New Dawn such as Immediate Past District Governor George Senosha and PDG Frances Callard. PDG Frances was accompanied by PDG Ann Janet Callard.
Minenhle Majola, currently president of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg, the oldest Rotary club in Africa, also attended. Minenhle is a previous president of the now defunct Rotaract Club of Johannesburg, a joint venture of the Rotary Clubs of Johannesburg and Johannesburg New Dawn. The two clubs have pledged mutual support in the year to come.
Other visitors were Rotarian Fred Waldeck from the E-club of Southern Africa, joining for a taste of Rotary fellowship, something that is difficult to achieve with online meetings, and Nazia David from the Rosebank/Killarney Gazette, who attended with her husband, Daaiyan.
President Jankees thanked his board members for their willingness to serve and stressed that he is not in office to be served by fellow club members, but to serve them in all their endeavours and to ensure that any potential new members understand the value and values of Rotary.
He also stressed the value of building a three-year plan during which members can shadow the board to eventually be able to take over in running the club.
PDG Francis Callard emphasised the importance of membership not just to the club, but also to District 9400, which at the moment is facing a possible redistricting because of dwindling numbers. Rotary needs people of integrity, people with a good business reputation, and who are willing to serve others in the community and all around the world.
He also said fellowship is at the heart of Rotary and without it, service becomes sterile and without it Rotary becomes just another social club, but that Rotary is and must be selective in approaching membership without being elitist.
At the previous meeting (9 July) club member and past president Paul Kasango re-introduced his son and daughter, Felicity and Michael, to club members.
Michael is studying in China in the city of Hangzhou (not far from Shanghai) towards a degree in data science and data cloud technology and told how exciting and pioneering it is to work close to people in a city known for tech startups.
He said the South African spirit is alive all over China and the expat community often get together to watch Springbok rugby matches with boerewors and biltong and other favourites.
South Africans are held in high regard in China because of Chinese involvement in Africa and his ultimate goal is to be able to act as an intermediary between South Africa and China in the tech field.
Felicity is studying at a university in Florida. She said the university town has a strong community of Rotarians. She has an on-campus job selling tickets to big sports events and enjoys doing that and the financial independence it brings.
She said her goal is to eventually return to South Africa to work in the financial sector, but would like to first get experience in a place like Wall Street.
Proud Dad Paul, who says his main task now is looking after the house and three dogs, spent most of his childhood in exile with his family, so knows all the joys and sometimes pitfalls of a life lived abroad.
Dates to Diarise: Next week Paul Channon will be doing a presentation on the Alexander Education Committee, which he heads up. On 6 August there is a visit to the Soweto book club after the morning meeting. Pencil in the dates of 18 August (online board meeting) and 6 September (possible club assembly).
On 10 September the new District Governor, Dr Angelica Salamoa, will visit the club.
The annual New Dawn Golf Day follows on Friday 19 September.
A Thought for the Weeks Ahead: The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. - Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
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