It was great to see another full house last week with plenty of energy and banter in the room as we worked through another busy agenda.
Thanks again to David Percy for providing more insight into his innovative business. I hope the presentation from Bastion Security was of value to everyone to better understand the very real on-line cyber threats from around the globe.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Nourish Christmas Trust, and in particular a big shout out to Chrissy and Kevin who very kindly donated one of their Wheels to Nourish Christmas Trust to auction off. Gabe and Clare from Nourish went away with a big smile on their faces from the support they received from club members. Next week PPL will be printing the boxes (with sponsors' logos) that our club has helped to fund, in preparation for the big distribution to families in early December.
Thank you to all of you who contributed to our Movember challenge in support of The Nourish Christmas Trust and there is still an opportunity to donate. While I think only Andy and I took up the challenge of putting whiskers above our lip, plenty of you have shown your support with a donation.
This week we have 3 representatives from the Manaaki Trust (Previously the Hutt Valley Disabled Resource Trust) who have been supporting our most vulnerable people with physical and intellectual disabilities for 43 years.
Hard to believe we have just 3 meetings left before Christmas. Remember to put Wednesday 11th December in your diary for our Christmas party, 6pm at the Lowry Bay Yacht club
Last night representatives from Petone, Hutt Valley, Eastern Hutt, River Valley and Hutt City Rotary clubs met in my boardroom to pledge (on behalf of their clubs) their ongoing support for the “Lifting the Lid “programme set to start in the first School term in the new year.
We are currently planning a big event on Friday 4th April at 6pm next year in an effort to inject significant amount into funds into a newly formed “Lifting the lid charitable trust” thanks to Andy Soper. Will provide more details next Wednesday but pencil this date in your diary.
Just 3 meetings to go this year before we break for Christmas but still plenty happening. Look forward to seeing you all next week.
David Percy from Pertronic updated us on recent developments, and President Cameron inducted Emma Walker as a new member of the club. Emma is with Kiwibank so another great addition to our Rotabiz network.
Harley Dixon from Bastion Security spoke about cyber security and explained threats to our businesses via online and computer hackers and how to protect our workplaces.
Gabe and Claire from Nourish charity thanked Rotary and Packaging Products for our contribution to the 4000 boxes required to deliver their food hampers via schools to needy families prior to Christmas.
Manaaki Ability Trust (once known as Hutt Valley Disabled Resources Trust) was formed in 1981 and have been at the same address for the past 30 years, behind St Mark’s Church at 60 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt.
They started life as a trust, operating a sheltered workshop which was formed by parents who were concerned about their intellectually disabled children once they left school.
In 2005 the trust closed the workshop and started to provide a more holistic range of services. The Trust operates vocational services programmes for people with physical and intellectual disabilities aged between 18-65 years living in the Wellington Region and a Transition Service for ORS funded students in their last year of college.
We look forward to welcoming our guest speakers at the meeting next Wednesday.
Please note: RYLA applications close on 15th December
End Polio Now
Since 1985, Rotary’s key humanitarian priority has been to rid the world of polio.
As we enter November the rate of Wild Polio cases for this year continues to climb in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and while the numbers will not reach the 2020 totals, it is still a backward step for the last 3 years.
This is not the time to give up, when Rotary started this fight to eradicate Polio there were a thousand new cases a day worldwide and we have come a long way from that point with the total number of cases being down by 99.9%. We need to renew our efforts and support this programme to reach our goal.
Although World Polio Day has come and gone we need to continue to inform the public that Polio is still affecting people and raise funds to eliminate this dreadful disease.
Total Wild Polio cases
Year-to-date 2024
Total
2023
Total
2022
Total
2021
Total
2020
Globally
64
12
30
6
140
In endemic countries
64
12
22
5
140
Fundraising ideas are welcome. A movie night Katrina?
On November 15, 1861, the first issue of the Otago Daily Times was published in New Zealand making Dunedin the first town in New Zealand to have a daily newspaper.
English-born Julius Vogel (who later became premier of New Zealand) had been recognised as a talented journalist in Victoria before arriving in Dunedin, which was gripped by gold fever.
He formed a partnership with William Henry Cutten, editor of the weekly Otago Witness and the Otago Daily Times was born as a ‘symbol of the progress of Otago’.
Vogel also became a key figure in a movement to separate the North and South Islands, and the ODT became a strong advocate for the province of Otago. To this day, the newspaper provides comprehensive coverage of the region and advocates regional causes.
On November 15 1884,The BerlinConference opened, in which a number of European countries involved in the colonialist "Scramble for Africa", met to discuss their claims on the continent.
The origin of the scramble tracing back to 19th century European explorers sharing information about the physical geography and the vast natural resources that remained unexploited by local populations.
Historians today view the conference as a cover for profiteering and imperial ambitions.
And finally, on the 15th of November 1904 American inventor King Camp Gillette was granted a U.S. patent for the first razor with disposable blades....they will come in very handy at the end of Movember !
Some photos from the recent Halloween fun at Carl and Tracy's house.
P.S No one fell into an upholstery machine at the Halloween event :)
Breakfast guidelines
Please note, a prospective member is entitled to one breakfast funded by the club. Subsequent visits will need to be paid for either by the individual or their host.
All attendees at a breakfast meetings must pay for breakfast whether they eat or not, as a portion of the cost goes towards the venue we utilise.
Loose change and Buying the Box
Remember to bring some loose change along to the meeting so you can contribute if you answer a Quizlett question incorrectly. :)
If you should have any interesting stories about fellow Rotarians then please pass them onto Craig so he can share them at the meeting. Email: craig@packprod.co.nz
Payment is now available by Eftpos onsite - no excuses!
Last call for this.........incidentally, a new member has asked why the slot named "Buying the Box" is so called? A robust search of the 'Net has turned up very little, but I have it on good authority that the "Box" in question used to be retained by an army's Quartermaster, who in many cases might turn out to be the Sergeant Major. In order for someone to be called out for poor behaviour simply on the say so of fellow soldiers, contributions were put in the Box.
What I want to know is what evidence if any was provided about the indiscretion? Did the Sergeant Major make a huge profit?
Still no responses on this by the way........
A reminder of Club Meeting Duties: (Opening Thought)
Our opening thought helps set the mood of the meeting.
• While we share a common goal, we are all different and everyone brings their own character to this task;
• The opening thought should be wise and brief;
• Try and link it with current happenings, with the theme of the meeting, or the speaker’s topic;
• Make sure you know where the microphone is, that it is turned on, and how to use it;
• Speak plainly and in a loud clear voice so that you can be heard by everyone in the room;
• Be free to have a practice before the meeting starts.
Coming Soon
A message from Katrina Harding our President Elect and Events Coordinator:-
We've got a few events coming up over the next few months so please pop the dates in your diary:
- Bunnings BBQ/Sausage Sizzle - 30 Nov - fundraiser for Lifting the Lid Walk for Mental Health
BBQ will run from 8.30 am-4.30 pm on Saturday 30 Nov at Bunnings Petone
Please advise Katrina if you can help what time would suit and will add your name in - first in first served. :)
- Christmas End of Year Dinner - Weds 11 Dec
Join us for dinner at the Lowry Bay Yacht Club, Port Road for some end of year celebration and fun.
Cost is $60 per person
More information and registration link soon.
Advance notice - the roster for the 2024 Tree of Joy at Queensgate will be out soon. We'd love your help to fill the slots to enable us to donate presents to Lower Hutt children.
