Wow it's now December. Where did the year go? December is when our club does its best stuff...
Sausage sizzle at Bunning’s
Our wonderful team will head out this Saturday with a sausage sizzle at Bunnings to raise more money for Lifting the Lid charity which is my central focus in my presidential year.
Tree of Joy
Is something that brings real joy to so many families. We get to listen to some incredible stories as to why people give to the Tree project. I know everyone of our club members that does a stint by the Tree find it very humbling to hear the stories from those that donate, and often amazed to see the most unlikely of people who don’t have much give are often the ones who give the most
Christmas Party
Please register ASAP for our Christmas party on the 11th December at the Lowry Bay Yacht Club and come dressed as something beginning with “R”. If you come as a Rotarian that will work just fine. We will have a small group from the brass band (part of Wellington Orchestra) providing music and a real Christmas flavour. Be nice to have you all attend.
Nourish Christmas Trust
As a result of the good work that the Nourish Charity do in our community 2,100 families get to enjoy food in their pantry at Christmas and our club contributes substantially by partnering with Packaging Products to provide 4000 printed boxes - 2 boxes per family (with sponsors' names printed as well as Rotary Hutt City). Barry, Allan and I will be assisting with deliveries to the schools again this year on Monday 9th December.
Harmony for Hope
Our club is taking a lead on behalf of all the rotary clubs in the Hutt valley to put on a massive concert on Friday 4th April (please mark in your diaries) in aid of the “Lifting the Lid” supporting youth mental health throughout the Hutt Valley. This promises to be an amazing event with a 41 piece Orchestra belting out very familiar movie themes to a full house at the Hutt City Town Hall.
Andy Barker has kindly produced a website for the event and will show it off at our meeting on Wednesday at which time you will be able to secure tickets and promote the event to your family and friends.
Stuart Hurst from Equip recruitment has managed to get Whittakers to provide a pallet load of chocolate goodies for both the Nourish project and the gift bag we will hand out to attendees on the night. We are searching for a Naming Sponsor for this event and 6 significant silent auction prizes to ensure the evening is a total success. If you can help please get in touch. Big thanks to Whittaker’s & Stuart
Movember
Thank you to all of you who have donated $50 in aid of The Nourish Christmas fundraiser. We will have a mo-off on Wednesday with best Moustache getting the prize. Feel free to add your last-minute donation to our account: Rotary Hutt City BNZ 02-0528-0045469-00, or find Barry at the meeting on Wednesday to pay by card.
We are a club on the move and I only hope you feel as enthused as I am.
Long time member Bruce Gough gave us an insight to his life and career, thank you Bruce.
Paul and Louisa from Maanaki Ability Trust were our guest speakers. The Trust work with people aged between 18 and 65 who are living with disabilities. Programmes offered include with life skills, job preparation and opportunities, art and cultural activities and the Duke of Edinburgh programme.
David Graham from Naenae Boxing Academy talked about some of the recent achievements of club members and how the Academy is looking for part time jobs for their boxers over summer to help supplement their expenses when they attend tournaments and competitions.
Please let Andy (Soper) know if you have any job opportunities for the Boxing Academy students. We have also been approached by Hutt Valley High School who are also seeking to support refugee students with work over the holidays, Please talk to Andy if you are able to help or need more information.
Manaaki Ability Trust students with their entries in the IHC Art awards
4th December: Guest speaker Robb Cranna
Our very own Rob Cranna will be our speaker at the meeting next meeting. Come along and hear about his role with Bluestar and how they lead operations across manufacturing, print management, design, marketing communications, digital and logistics. We look forward to hearing from Rob at the meeting next Wednesday.
Please note: RYLA applications close on 15th December, we currently have four applications and welcome more
Petone Rotary Fair
Petone club are once again looking for help with marshalling on the streets during the fair. Saturday, 15 February 2025.
If you would like to help, please contact Andy Soper. It could be as little as one hour standing on a street corner.
The future of Rotary is going to depend on more cooperation between clubs, so we should help where we can. Petone is now quite a small club but they are active, and have made a very reasonable contribution to Lifting the Lid, both with cash and personnel.
Scottish born Elizabeth Yates become the Mayor of Onehunga on the 29th November 1893 and was the first female Mayor in the British Empire. Elizabeth was a strong supporter of the women's suffrage movement and defeated her only opponent by 13 votes.
Yates’s victory was big news in New Zealand and around the empire, and she received congratulations from both Premier Richard Seddon and Queen Victoria.
On 29 November 1949, Iriaka Rātana became New Zealand’s first female Māori MP when she was elected for Western Māori by a margin of 5871 votes.
She won by a wide margin and held Western Māori for 20 years until her retirement in 1969. As an MP, she focused mainly on social issues such as housing for the elderly and recently urbanised Māori youth, education and training for Māori, and the redevelopment of Rātana Pā.
29 November 1899 – FC Barcelona is founded by Catalan, Spanish and Englishmen. It later develops into one of Spanish football's most iconic and strongest teams.
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:-
- 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.
