Welcome to the latest edition of our Club Runner sent bulletin.
Richard Nabarro is away on holiday in November (Vietnam and Cambodia), so a big thank you to Sue Colville who will be putting together the next few Newsletters. Sue's email for contributions is: sue.colville@gmail.com
If you have any comments on the layout, content and information provided, let us know, because the Newsletter is yours.
Rotary Hutt City breakfast meetings
Meetings held 7am to 8.30 am on the first and third Wednesday of the month at Boulcotts Farm Heritage Golf Club, Military Road, Lower Hutt.
Breakfast cost $25 per person payable on arrival. Please RSVP to Anna on annagy91@gmail.com
Look forward to seeing you there.
Members, do check the Duties Roster (Management Responsibilities) below for your nominated duty for our next meeting on 16 October.
Meeting Responsibilities
Greeter
Webb, Douglas
Reception Desk
Geremia-Young, Anna
Reception Desk
Ramsay, Ian
Opening thought
Petersen, Charles
5 min What is my Business?
3 Minute Who Am I?
Tatham, Peter
Intro to Speaker
Hughes, Gaylene
Thanks to Speaker
Gough, Bruce
Quizlett
Brockelsby, Sandy
Closing thought
Eaddy, Vidette
President's Report
Hello once again.
Hutt City Rotary are on a roll just as Kevin Grimes was last week! Next week we will be inducting three new members into the club which is fantastic. I’m delighted how the Club is growing and want to thank everyone for being part of our revival.
It’s almost November and I would like to put out a challenge to all the men in the club (and women if they think they can grow one) to participate in Movember - Changing the face of men's Health. for the month of November. This should be done, via the Movember website at:https://nz.movember.com
Alternatively please donate directly to our club to support our Lifting the Lid project for mental health.
It will be great to see all our men with fluff above the lip and we will provide a prize for the best moustache to be judged by a panel of experts on Wednesday 4th December.
It’s great when we get the opportunity to meet socially and that opportunity is coming up at the end of the month when our club member Carl Longstaff is hosting us to an amazing Halloween party on Thursday 31st October.
You will never have seen anything quite like this before so it would be great to have as many of you as possible attend. We will have a small cover charge of $20.00 (includes two drinks), and all funds will be used for the Lifting the Lid charity. Katrina will have more details about this on Wednesday 16th October, and in the meantime, you can register for the event: see "Coming Soon" below.
Please note that after this Wednesday's coming presentation from our guest speaker, Sophie Williams on behalf of Star Jam, Andy Soper will oversee our AGM at the end of our meeting. Further details can be found immediately below.
I'm pleased to say we now have a commitment to Lifting the Lid from four local clubs: ourselves, Hutt Valley, Petone and River Valley with a total starting budget now of $26,000. Most of that will be committed to assisting Taita College, Naenae College, Hutt Valley High School and Wainuiomata High School through until our big "Walk the Trail" fundraiser next year. When the principals are back for Term 4, we will be aiming to have them sign a memorandum of understanding so the project can begin.
Meanwhile, President Cameron and I attended a district-wide meeting on 3 October to compare notes with the Wellington and Kapiti Lifting the Lid teams and begin discussions about a possible overarching organisation such as a charitable trust to run the program over the lower North Island. It's early days, but watch this space.
Tutukiwi Orchid House and Gibbes-Watson Conservatory (Significant) Update
At our meeting on 16 October, Allan Brown gave us an excellent presentation on the latest news in regard to the future of Tutukiwi and Gibbes-Watson. This has followed after the considerable help given by the architectural students in offering solutions.
In conclusion, there is no obvious answer for the Tutukiwi Orchid House, but the Gibbes-Watson Fern House offers up significant scope. The suggestion is that the structure is stripped back to the basics, and it could then be used for weddings and other public events (the nearby conference centre itself is used as a wedding venue).
The presentation was considered in late September by Hutt City councillors who offered a favourable response; but it will be the Council officers themselves who will determine whether the proposals are both feasible and economic within current budgets.
Perhaps the key rests with Heritage New Zealand who have written a letter in support of the proposals:
"We have considered the Rotary submission to repurpose rather than demolish these buildings. From a heritage perspective, retaining the two buildings as stripped back structures for public events and activities is a supportable alternative to full demolition. Not only is the concept design compatible with the Lower Hutt Conservation Area, but ensures the original design, form and use of the buildings remain identifiable. In our view, the concept presents a unique and innovative opportunity to retain and reinterpret the Tutukiwi Orchard House and Gibbes-Watson Conservatory for the future."
Our speaker next week will be Sophie Williams from Star Jam.
All over New Zealand, StarJam inspires young people with disabilities (their Jammers) to express themselves through music, dance, singing and performance.
Their workshops, gigs and discos provide fun and exciting spaces for Jammers to grow in confidence, discover musical and performance talents and make lifelong friends.
Originally from Christchurch, Sophie has been with StarJam for more than ten years. Her brother was a Jammer which resulted in her initially working as a volunteer. She quickly became a tutor and now works as a coordinator, her dream job.
Sophie creates flexible workshop plans that consider the Jammers in the workshop, according to their needs, abilities and preferences. To encourage Jammers to participate and be engaged with the activities, she helps create a positive workshop environment where Jammers and volunteers feel safe, respected and can be themselves while having fun.
Sophie enjoys reading, crocheting, watching movies (at home or the cinema), loves all food (especially lasagna, donuts and cheesecake).
....... by the way, Whitstable is a beautiful seaside town in Kent, east of London notable for wonderful fresh fish....
Today's Date 11 October
Tapped by Columbia Records as the Next Big Thing back in 1973, Bruce Springsteen had been marketed first as the “New Dylan” and then as America’s new “Street Poet,” but unless you were a rock-journalism junkie or had been witness to one of his raucous three-hour live shows in an East Coast rock club, you would probably never have bought one of his records or even heard his name. That would all change when on 11 October 1975 the epic single ''Born to Run'' became Bruce Springsteen’s first-ever Top 40 hit, marking the start of his eventual transition from little-known cult figure to international superstar.
Continuing the American theme, of course everyone knows that 11 October is also Sausage Pizza Day!? Apparently the second most popular variety after pepperoni, who knew?
And finally, my apologies to the McCombs family: it has been pointed out to me that in the previous Newsletter under the Today's date heading I said that Elizabeth McCombs was Peter's Great Aunt. In fact, Elizabeth was Peter's Grandmother.
Kevin Grimes and Chrissi Walker from Roll.nz explained their journey in growing their thriving unicycle business, using an informative and fun presentation. Kevin had bought his own unicycle to get to work in 2015, (upgrading to a higher spec. when the battery ran out travellingg up hill) and decided to set up his own business in 2017, with Chrissi.
Unicycles themselves were only part of the growth. A catalyst was a Facebook post showing the cycle protection covers that Chrissi makes. This went viral, was picked up in the US, and the order book grew exponentially. Thinking of outsourcing initially, they decided to bring production in house, making their own. They now operate out of an industrial unit in Avalon Business Park and have a retail store at the top of Jackson Street in Petone, retailing all things unicycle and have added scooters too.
And then there came the practical presentation of how "easy" it is to ride one! Kevin did a tour of the Breakfast room and then it was Katrina Harding's turn. In a Facebook post, she remarks that there is no footage.....sadly no movie, but the next best thing - see below!
Craig Deadman's Quizlet featured questions focusing on his recent trip to the UK, and excellent fun it was too. Did you know that his beloved Liverpool had not lost a home game since 1805 (that's right isn't it Craig!?) And what game does he choose to see? Yes their first defeat since then!
Living in the Western Hills, you find that your unicyle runs out of puff going home....
A nice problem to have................
This is how it's done..........
Kevin Grimes and Chrissi Walker of Roll.nz aid Katrina Harding in her quest to find an easier way to get around the Boulcott Golf Club........
RYLA 2025
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.
''James, your hair has all fallen out'', said Miss Moneypenny. That's why they had to replace Shorn Connery with Roger Moore, by the way.......
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........
From our District Newsletter
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 and more info will come out about each one in due course.
- Halloween Cocktails - 31 Oct - club fundraiserJoin us at the Longstaff's central Hutt house from 5-8 pm on Thursday 31 October
The house will be decorated with more Halloween paraphernalia than you can imagine!
BYO plate of themed food (see photos for ideas) - prize for the best plate
Come along in your best Halloween costume to really get into the theme of the night.
- 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.
6 November
Our speaker will be Harley Dixon from Bastion Security Group, who will be giving a presentation on Cyber Security.
Finally, I asked you last time - according to Google, how many miles is it from Tbilisi to Melaka to the nearest five hundred miles? 4.500 (4470)
This week's question: where was the first non-English speaking Rotary Club established:
