She accepts the President's chain with trepidation, but also with pride, said Judy Symons, the new president of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn at her induction last Wednesday morning.
It was a festive morning to welcome a loyal member to the presidency of New Dawn.
Judy takes over from PDG Jankees Sligcher, who has been president since January 2025, marking his third term in the post. She promised to carry on the good work of her predecessors.
She has specialised in spearheading many hands-on projects, projects that have in the past been categorised as "small potatoes". Brenda Sakellarides, in her reflection to kick off the meeting, said the accumulation of these projects amount to "large potatoes" and have ultimately led to Judy's presidency.
In accepting the presidency, Judy quoted the new president of Rotary International, the Nigerian Yinka Babalola, whose theme for the year is: Creating Lasting Impact.
He believes that people are drawn to Rotary as volunteers and that it is the task of clubs to turn that into action. That is precisely what she aims to do, Judy said. We must harness that which we have done, that which we're doing and that which we will do to create lasting impact, she said.
Guests at the meeting included District Governor Grace van Zyl, who will pay an official visit to New Dawn in September, our new Assistant Governor Brenda McCallum and her husband John, past member Carol Stier and Lorraine Keenan from the Soweto Rotary Community Corps and Jozi My Jozi.
President Judy also announced her new board, which will consist of herself as president, PDG Jankees as immediate past president, Audrey Gatawa as deputy president, Joan Donet as executive secretary and treasurer, Yasmin Shapurjee as secretary, Alistair Dry as Foundation chair and Linda Vink as fundraising chair.
The new board will be formally announced at the next meeting.
In taking his leave, PDG Jankees looked back over his 18 months and thanked his board members for their contributions. He also thanked the project champions for all the club's main projects: Paul Channon for the Alexandra Education Committee; Helene Bramwell for Donate a Loo, Paul Kasango for Woodside Sanctuary and Brenda Sakellarides for the National School of the Arts.
He also mentioned the book sales that Judy Symons had arranged for Donate a Loo; her recent efforts to get supplies for the Princess Alice Home; the help at the Humanitarian Centre by Amina Frense, wheelchair donations by Lucille Blumberg and the work Zena Kimaro has done in establishing an Interact Club at Parktown Girls.
He singled Lucille out for her talk to the club on the Hantavirus and the meeting at the Wanderers Golf Club earlier in the year where Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of ex-President Thabo Mbeki, was the main speaker, talking about South Africa and the road to the future.
Another highlight of the meeting was the bestowal of a Paul Harris (sapphire) recognition for Lucille for her work regarding the Hantavirus. Lucille also provided yet another highlight of the morning with her salmon pancakes.
Other speakers in recent months have been Maria Malepa, widow of Lebogang Malepa, the founder of Lebo's Soweto Backpackers, who has now relocated to her native Sweden with their two teenage sons, while keeping the popular Lebo's going.
Lebo's also acts as host to the Rotary Soweto Community Corps. She told the club that in her years in Soweto entrepreneurship has grown and tourism has flourished, but that much still needs to be done.
Also as a speaker was Lorraine Keenan, who spoke about the work Jozi My Jozi is doing to regenerate the Johannesburg CBD, and about the successes the Soweto Rotary Community Corps have achieved.
The Interacts from Parktown Girls reported back at the beginning of April on their attendance at RYLA and also told the club about their charity work.
Looking forward, the Wine Tasting fundraiser to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Alexandra Education Committee, looms large. Don't forget to diarise it and also to join in. It promises to be a fun occasion, to learn a bit a more about wine and to enjoy fellowship. Although bookings have been brisk, there's still space for more people, so if you know of anybody who will enjoy the evening, please invite them. There'll be an auction with great items for sale and a raffle to raise funds for the AEC's programme of teacher training.
A Thought for the Weeks to Come: Many people take no care of their money until they come nearly to the end of it. And others do the same with their time. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
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