From Solene

Kevin read out a post card he received from our former Exchange Student, Solene:

Dear St Johns Rotary Club,
Your favourite and truely missed exchange student wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
2011 was full of good surprises and great actions:  building houses for Habitat for Humanity, giving a big help to Varayame, raising money for Cure Kids etc.
You guys enlightened my Thursdays with your jokes, laughs and cheerful mood!
That's why I wish you all to stay the same friendly club, or should I say: the best Rotary club!!!
And lasy but not least, you're more than welcome to come visiting me in France!!
Best wishes from the Pyrenees where I'm enjoying a wintery Christmas!
:)  XXX Solene

Interesting meeting? - Absolutely! Everytime.

Mary Ann continues her outstanding sourcing of a wide variety of quite amazing guest speakers for our weekly meetings.  While the first meeting of the year was one of tall (holiday) tales, along with a muffin or three, Chris Kalin (CEO - SPCA) has tugged at our heartstrings with an enlightening address about the work of the SPCA, then Myriam Heyman from the EMA talked about employment law with an emphasis on recent and proposed changes affecting everyone in business whether an employee or employer.  On the 23rd Feb, Laurie Guy spoke about the shaping of 'God Zone' by recounting how historical Maori-Pakeha issues over the last couple of hundred years have moulded our culture.  Absolutely thought provoking!  Invariably our own members provide some of the most interesting topics - how about: "Are you ready to die?" - quite what we are in for is yet to be revealed.

The Gallant Cavalier

Immediate Past President Andy is about to start his fifth and final leg of his round New Zealand sailing adventure.  The first leg in December 2011 from Auckland to New Plymouth had club member Gary K along and he plus Alex M will be crewing this last leg Picton to Auckland.  At various other stages other current and past members of the club have also take time out to crew.  This is but another example of the friendships made in Rotary and how these lead on to new opportunities.

Andy at the helm

And Mary Ann also steering the right course

Varayame is finally home

At the club meeting of 2 February 2012, Sarah  Graham Read reported that Varayame returned home to a welcome by 30 family members in his village in Fiji.  He has been very diligent in continuing to learn to walk and is now able to cover 500m unaided on the gravel road.  His smile is amazing and his quiet determination has touched many hearts.  This project involving the club, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) and others has been an outstanding success!