14 May 2018-John Erkins Toasts The Rotary Club Of Labgraaf in South Netherlands
Tonight we are toasting the Rotary Club of Landgraaf. Halfway between Germany and Belgium in the Southern part of the Netherlands. The club was established 0n the 27th June 1983. It is part of District 1550.
My reason for visiting this club, it is the nearest club to my home town. I also wanted to take my cousin who lost his wife recently to see what is worth joining, to have some steady influence from friends and neighbours. As well as doing something worthwhile for the community.
The club meets at a gentlemen’s farm established in 1760. It has sufficient room in one of the outbuildings to have a meeting facility set up as a restaurant and a board meeting room next door.
My wife Francia, my cousin and I were welcomed by the president Mrs Van Blaricum. The club has some twenty eight (28) members at present.
A number of projects are conducted each year:
- € 7600 towards an ambulance service providing services for patients who are chronically ill to be taken to hospitals, or visiting relatives for a day out. The ambulances have a doctor and nurse on board.
- International projects for countries where earthquakes or other issues have occurred, by supplying shelter and medical care.
21 May 2018-Glenn Trim toasts the Rotary Club of Halifax Habourside, Nova Scotia, Canada
Tonight we toast the Rotary Club of Halifax Harbourside, Nova Scotia. Darlene and I will visit Halifax in September as part of a seven week trip to Eastern Canada and the US.
The Club is strong with seventy (70) members, has 50/50 males to females and 35% of members are under 35 years of age. I will verify and find out their secret when I visit. The Club speaks up to eight (8) languages and some meetings are conducted in three (3) languages.
The President is Ken Geddes and the Club meets for breakfast on Friday 7.15am at The Westin Hotel. The Club was established in 1989 and has the usual committee structures. They are a bunch of foodies. Their main fund raisers involve food - Ribfest and Mum’s Day Brunch. The Ribfest is like a massive BBQ competition with ribs and pulled pork. The Brunch is a buffet style event, listening to live music, running a silent auction and enjoying bouncy castles for the kids.
Projects including supporting The Halifax Hospice which has the aim of helping people affected by life limiting illness, death, grief or loss. Also support The St George Youthnet aimed at 7-17 year olds to enable them to discover their talent, gain self confidence and learn to dream of a bright future. Also support Blind Sports, Family Service (coaching and advising those in need) and Carpentry Workshop where special furniture is made.
The Club’s International Projects include Polio Plus, Shelter Box and micro loans to African agriculture and education.
In Youth, the Interact Club is strong and the Club sponsors candidates for Peace Fellowships where skills e.g. negotiation, conflict resolution and diplomacy are taught.
28 May 2018-Stuart Diggins Toasts the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand
The Rotary Club of Port Nicholson is the home club of one of my new business partners, David Shackleton.
David has over 40 years’ experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, having started his professional career in London. He has worked in senior management and corporate roles within the hotel industry in Singapore, Thailand, China, Korea, North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. He has held Chief Operating Officer and Vice President roles for major multi-branded international hotel companies such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Dusit International. His roles have included responsibilities for businesses in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East and India.
The Rotary Club of Port Nicholson is in District 9940 and meets on Monday mornings at 7.00am at the Hotel Intercontinental, 2 Grey Street, which is in central Wellington. The President is John Bishop. The Club has about fifty five (55) members, with a 55/45 gender split (the 55% being men). David sits on the Board and is responsible for the main fund raising event which is an auction dinner to raise funds for the Wellington Free Ambulance (NZ’s only free ambulance service) and the Malaghan Institute that carries out research into cancers. This year it raised a record $NZ75,000 surpassing last year’s total by 42%.
There's also an Interact Club and Perambulators activities (a group of Rotarians and others go hiking once a month to various locations around Wellington and NZ).
Pictured here are a significant number of the Clubs members, partners and friends who partnered with the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves on Sunday 10 June 2018 to improve Wellington’s backyard for walks and our native birds. They planted five hundred (500) trees in two hours comfortably achieving their goal of planting a tree for every Rotarian.