cloud chatter august 2014
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Cloud Chatter August 2014TRANSCRIPT
President Kanthan is inducted for a second term!
]Fellow Rotarians and friends
Let me start with a tale that has been told many times over but is worth retelling.
Little over 100 years ago, Paul P. Harris, an attorney, got the idea of creating a professional group with
the same friendly spirit he felt in the small towns of his youth.
On 23 February 1905, Harris called together a meeting of three acquaintances in downtown Chicago.
Gustave E. Loehr was a mining engineer and freemason; Sylvester Schiele was a coal merchant, and
Hiram E. Shorey was a tailor.
This was the first Rotary club meeting. They
decided to call the new club “Rotary” after the
practice of rotating meeting locations.
Today, Rotary has grown into 1,2 million members
who come together to create positive, lasting
change in our communities and around the world.
We do not comprise the largest organisation by
numbers but we are certainly the most influential.
Rotary was key to the founding of the United
Nations. The first meeting of the UN took place in
London on the 16th January 1946, hosted by
District 13 at the Caxton Hall, presided over by RI
President Tom Warren, who declared it to be the
'touchstone for a gesture of international goodwill unique in the history of
Rotary'.
Rotary is the trusted partner on the ground for global players such as the
Aga Khan University, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, the Global FoodBanking Network,
UNESCO-IHE, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation.
In some ways, the world of the young Paul Harris and my own world were
not very different.
Harris enrolled at the University of Vermont in Burlington but was
expelled with three others in December 1886 because of his involvement
in an underground society. I was expelled from the University of
Durban-Westville because of my involvement in the student protests
of 1980.
Issue 5
August 2014
Cloud
Chatter
DG Annie Steijn pinning
the President’s badge on
Pres. Kanthan
eClub members with IPDG Anneas
Balt & DG Annie Steijn
Paul Harris and his business colleagues lived in a world where time moved more slowly. One would
dictate a business letter to a secretary, have it posted, and wait weeks for the correspondence to flow
back and forth before the real work got done. This left lots of time for weekly lunch or dinner meetings –
they were leisurely affairs no doubt.
Our world today is very different to that of Chicago 1905. We have instant communication with global
partners 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In a world where one travels overnight halfway across the world,
the idea of committing to a weekly meeting in a fixed location is just not feasible.
At the same time, the need for Rotary to continue to thrive as a global payer remains unchanged.
We play a vital role with our health programmes, spearheaded by our quest to eradicate polio in the
near term as well as tackling malaria and HIV
throughout the continent.
We bring life-saving water and sanitation projects
to people forgotten by their governments.
Our educational programmes from scholarships
through to our Peace Fellowships influence the
course of global events.
Or it can be as simple as providing a blanket to a
homeless person in the dead of winter.
Our Club, the Rotary E-Club of Southern Africa
D9400, provides a way for those of us who are not
able to commit to a regular meeting in a fixed
location, to be able to play our part in these goals.
As members of the E-Club, we fulfil our obligation
to meet on a regular basis by taking part in online discussions on our website – spend a half hour there
once a week and we are compliant, as my friend Valentin Mičić is fond of saying.
But the real work is in our projects. As president-elect Annemarie Mostert has shown us through the
photographs lining these walls, for a fledgling club barely 6 months old, we have not done too
badly at all.
I stand before you today as charter president of this new and exciting club. Frankly, the selection
process went something like this: someone asked, "Who should be president?" and everyone except me
took a step back. Like me, my fellow board members have served as
president in their former clubs in the past, and no doubt share my
view that the best job in Rotary is "past president".
The people most responsible for getting us to this point are IPDG
Anneas Balt and President-elect Annemarie Mostert.
When organisations get to
be as large and as estab-
lished as Rotary, there is a
tendency for older members
to frown upon new
approaches. Anneas had the
vision and Annemarie had
the drive and determination
to see out the process.
Charlotte Khoza; Annemarie Mostert;
Tara Ison; Dr Pat Francis & Judith
Chinkumbi – Sasego Cares Board
members
Pres Kanthan with Tara Ison
who celebrated her birthday on
12 July.
Tara receives flowers for her
birthday
Rtn Brett
Gardner in
his kilt
We have yet to finalise our flagship projects for the year ahead with my fellow board members.
Personally, I'm a fan of bricks and mortar projects where one builds a library or a sports court or a clin-
ic and hands it over.
We are all aware that in this country, land own-
ership is one of the most emotive issues.
A project that has caught my attention is one
spearheaded by the Free Market Foundation,
which involves funding the transfer of state land
to people who have lived there for generations.
The model has been successfully tested in Parys
in the Free State. Little over 1200 rand is what it
takes to turn a family into property owners. I will
be engaging with the Free Market Foundation to
see whether there is room to work together, given
that the FMF is not in the business of raising
funds.
Also on the question of land, there is now a strong case being made for ownership of so called tradition
lands in the former Bantustans to be turned over to those living there. Some of this land in the former
Transkei and KwaZulu is extremely fertile and can generate wealth, but one needs ownership of land
before one can invest in its development. I believe there can be a role for us to play before and after
through fundraising for the process, irrigation pro-
jects, and education on modern profitable farming
techniques. Such actions can provide a more sane
business model to land distribution than that which
led to dead pigs at a politician's farm.
But these are all ideas at this point. I invite our fellow
Rotarians to put forward projects for consideration by
the board. Be aware though – if you put forward a pro-
ject, you will be expected to champion the project and
see it through to completion.
Thank you for the honour of allowing me to serve as
President. I look forward to an exciting year.
Left: Trevor Watson-
Thomas. PDG Mark
Doyle & Brett Gardner
seen at the induction.
DGE David Grant, DG Annie Steijn
& PDGA Lyn Doyle
… Liana van der Walt
and KG Govender (KZN)
KG Govender. Shirley Downie, Denise
Cruickshank, Belinda Alport, Clive Chetty,
Sue Paget, Pres Greta du Bois
(Morningside) & Pres Kanthan Pillay
???????????????????
Left: Such a beautiful pic of a child
with big dreams……with a
nurturing house mother
Zandspruit Water &
Sanitation project
Below: Cabbage and spinach
gardens at Govenant Garden
Estate’s Gardens at Zandspruit -
ROTARY DUES
Please remember to pay
your membership fees.
Rotary International
needs to be paid in the
next few weeks.
By October, shoulder high bush has been cleared and some 20 beds have been established . This is a development which will grow and adapt at a slow pace according to the development and input of the gardeners.
They are increasingly gaining confidence in the program as well the fact that Rotary Northcliff is not going to disappear and leave them in the lurch as has been the scenario with many similar ventures.
We are predominantly dealing with semi-literate students and the elderly unskilled and they develop at a pace within their comfort zone.
Within the next 18 months we think that , with continuous input from ourselves and training, they will have sustainable gardens but within this period continuous training and assis-tance will be essential.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Please remember to send your project details to PE Annemarie
Mostert as soon as possible: [email protected]
Zandspruit Bread project
Now if any of the club members
are on the Tim Noakes diet—
where no bread is allowed… then
don’t look at the pictures!
This delicious bread has been
made by the locals. It is an
exceptionally successful project.
Books from the Humanitarian
Centre were taken to the
project….and whilst the adults
bake bread, the youngsters read
and study hard…. See the next
page.
2015 São Paulo convention dates changed
Rotary International President Gary C.K. Huang and the RI Board have changed the dates for the 2015
Rotary Convention in São Paulo, Brazil, to Saturday, 6 June, through Tuesday, 9 June – starting
and ending one day earlier than previously scheduled.
The dates were changed because the original opening day (Sunday, 7 June) coincided with one of the
city's most popular parades. The new start date will dramatically reduce traffic congestion and make it
easier for Rotary members to attend the opening plenary sessions. It will also make it convenient to
attend our very own Rotary Carnival, a Host Organization Committee event, on Saturday evening.
Please share this information with club members by updating your websites, newsletters, and calendars.
Check riconvention.org regularly for dates, deadlines, and registration and housing details. Find
information about Host Organization Committee events at www.rotary2015saopaulo.br. If you still have
questions, contact [email protected].
Win Bauer doing documentary of the cen-
Covenant Garden Estate
benefits from the donation of
books from Humanitarian
Centre
Happiness!!! Visiting CGE on Saturday morning - the farm is
growing!! Win went with us and is busy with a short video.
Above: Annemarie is seen with her husband, PP Hand Mostert
(Northcliff)
Doreen &
Joan Rose
Village, Iris
Fey
Charlotte and Banele joined Annemarie at the Whishing Well Nursery School - to spread the warmth Below: 28 July - Thank you to Iris and Doreen and the ladies.
Nelspruit induction of two
new members.
PDG Shirley Downie met with
the current eClub members in
Nelspruit and inducted
Douglas Mabuza and PP Bar-
ry Liebenberg
Blankets were handed out for
the old age home
residents.
Also in attendance is PDGA
Sylvia Knoop (white t-shirt)
and Manfred Paulmann (2nd
from right)
Douglas Sylvia
Leon
Rtn Sue Paget is
recognised for her out-
standing work on the
RFHDs programme.
RFFA Programme Director, Sue
Paget received an award on 19
July in Johannesburg.
RFFA’s CEO, Marian Bunch is
seen with Sue and PDG Anton
Meerkotter )Director of RFFA).
Below: Marion & Sue seen with
the group of RFHD’s team of
executives.
Below: The SAPS Mamelodi East used Madiba Day celebrations to
hand over all the Blankets and shoes donated by the eClub to suitable
recipients.
Seen below is Annemarie with Andre van
Eerden and the lads who received Toms Shoes
at the Strand Sekonder school giving TOMS to
1200 learners. If you want Toms shoes, please
contact Cornelia on [email protected].
D9400 Membership Committee Chairperson prepared an excellent
paper on Membership aspects….here
are some of the ideas.
Accept the premise:
We need to increase membership by …
Who will do what? 1. The Membership Development Strategy and Plan: 3 year target: 100 active Rotarians by 2015/6 50 by December and 75 by June 2015 Identify the markets • Attend seminars and training sessions Initiate, design and support the recruitment efforts of each membership country and hub (ie
Nelspruit/Mafikeng) Promote innovation, flexibility, transformation and diversity Use the “tools” Constant PR and communication
Promote the recognition pro-grammes (membership pins) Use guidelines from “Attracting and Engaging Members” Engage in the coordinated district wide membership development activities Set up Club Membership Com-mittee 2. Extension:
Establish The Rotaract E Club of Southern Africa 9400 and automatically take those members into Rotary ranks.
3. Tools for Action: Connect the new Leaders - Ask them and Link them
with current Rotarians (Mentors) Engage the knowledge of the Collective and Individual
Leadership Leverage social media platforms to mobilise volunteers
/ Rotarians i.e. The internet makes creation of interest groups possible.
Engage volunteers from their respective areas of com-petence - vocations.
Find something worth changing and then assemble groups that spread the idea where the idea becomes far bigger than ourselves - Projects • Talk Rotary in the media, boardrooms, schools, family – invitation to those to truly live their social strategic intents and values - Fel-lowship
Showcase volunteers or Rotarians using their passion and convictions with moral responsibility and moral boundaries
Invite members from your local community
Newest member seen below: Dr Mashadi
Motlana was inducted by Pres. Kanthan on 18
August just before the board meeting. Welcome!
She was an exchange student, is a physiatrist as
well as running a few companies including her
father’s Trust – the great Dr Nthato Motlana.
eClub Board members together
with our newest member Dr Mashadi and
many of the YFM staff members...
August is Membership month
Nelspruit arrange a security system for an
old age home
Nelspruit club member Leon Pitallo hands over a Community
Service Award certificate to Hi Tec Security. They installed a
security system valued for R 22 000 in the Oranjezicht Retire-
ment Village.
Well done to Leon for finding the donor and organsing safety for
the elderly.
Nelspruit induction of two
new members.
PDG Shirley Downie met with the current eClub
members in Nelspruit and inducted Douglas
Mabuza and PP Barry Liebenberg
Right: Blankets were handed out for the old age
home residents.
Also in attendance is PDGA Sylvia Knoop (white
t-shirt) and Manfred Paulmann (2nd from right)
Douglas Leon
Barry Shirley
PDG Chris
Potgieter is inducted as
an Honorary Member by
Shirley during the
Nelspruit visit
On Friday 26 July, PDG Shirley
took a wheelchair to Nelspruit.
Leon was going to hand it to a dear
lady (93) in need.
On Tuesday 30 July when Leon
called the daughter to make ar-
rangements to hand the wheelchair
over, he established that she had
passed away over the weekend.
Leon has donated the wheelchair to
the old age home that he does a lot
of work with.
Graeme Reid (PHF )and Rotary e club member from Kenya receives a club scarf from Sue Paget.
Spreading warmth in the Western Cape at "Brak en
Jan" crèche. Items knitted and made by the ladies of Rose Village in Emmerentia Johannesburg were handed to the toddlers. Below: Pres Clive Reed with Andre van Eeden (both from Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club) and PP Hans Mostert (right)(Northcliff) and Annemarie Mostert (E-Club)
It’s always wonderful to see these
smiles of happiness and gratitude.
Thanks to the ladies who spend
hours knitting these beautiful
garments.