Rotary highlights the active partnership of young people in service projects and community leadership, rather than just as beneficiaries.
President Paul Adams
Secretary
Shirley Stratton
Treasurer
Graham Evans
Hosted by President Paul
Guests: Dave Woods, Nkosi Khumalo, Johanna Wilson (guest speaker) and supporters Avis and Andrea
Graham Evans
Opening thought:
I'm accustomed to my deafness
To my dentures I'm resigned
I can cope with my bifocals
But by gad I miss my mind
Parting thought:
I'm 61 today
A year beyond the barrier
What was once a magic flute
Is now a water carrier
- both contributions from Graham's lovely mum Diana on the occasion of her 61st birthday
Raffle winner: one of our guests
Dinner menu: Green vegetable soup followed by chicken and leek pasta bake, potato rosti and salad
Guy
Richard
Chris G
Doug
Tim
Eddie
Chris D standing in for Ian for Lucky Lotto
Lucky winners Shirley and Cherie
Notices
President Paul
Dave Woods and Nkosi Khumalo have submitted their membership forms!
Board update: Al has generously offered the use of his truck for firewood deliveries, rather than the Club having to buy a trailer. Funding is being sought to buy a cage. The Board has agreed to fund a stall at the Kapiti Women's Expo. The Board has resolved to contribute $100 per member to the Rotary Foundation, topping up donations made by members to make ours a Centurion Club. After a recent housefire in Raumati Beach where the family lost everything, and furniture was promptly donated to help them, the Club funded a new Chromebook for the child heading to College. This was very much appreciated.
Chris G
The Foodbank collection is all ready to roll. This will be a big team effort for the Club and supporters. Many people need the Foodbank's help. Update: It was a chilly but fine day. Everyone worked hard, and a massive 166 banana boxes of food, plus a very full trailer at Pak n Save, and over $1,200 cash were collected. Considering how tough times are for people, this was an outstanding contribution by our generous community. See photos below. What a fantastic bunch of people!
Gary
Please contact Gary if you can help with the Mary Potter casino fundraiser on 13 June.
Guy
A vote of thanks goes to the crew who turned up to the Otaihanga cleanup working bee. Special mention to Ken Milne who managed to work the full day. The Council also collected a pile of rubbish.
Richard Moulton
Well done to the Garretts for their organisation of the Foodbank collection. It's a big job and they have really nailed it. Enjoy yourselves. It's a wonderful way to interact with members of the public for a good cause.
Tim
has had cards printed with Club QR codes. When we are talking to people about Rotary, the cards are an easy way to access our website.
The FIFA world cup teams have been allocated and results will start coming in soon.
Doug
The next working bee for Wood for Good is on Saturday 13 June. Details to be advised.
Eddie
Please keep signing up for minigolf shifts. So far we have been paid profits in excess of $40k which is amazing. A bit of course maintenance has been done.
Chris D
standing in for Ian, Chris managed to distribute winnings to Doug, Henry, Shirley and Cherie.
Cherie in fine form
Don't mess with her…
she's a lethal weapon!
5 minute speaker: Cherie Chu-Fuluifaga
Cherie gave us a run down on interesting things about her life. She has a beautiful family, partner Elia who often helps with firewood, and Celia who is sometimes Cherie's plus one at Rotary. They (and their doggies) are adrenaline junkies, into sports including extreme running events and karate. Cherie and Celia are nearly black belts. Cherie demonstrated her dexterity with weapons called sai: terrifying!
Cherie is a senior academic at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University. She enjoys inspiring amazing young people. She is passionate about expressing her culture, especially through food, preserving treasured family recipes from her Chinese and Tahitian ancestors. In 2024, Cherie was astonished to receive an email advising she was a recipient of the ONZM for her services to education and her community. Well deserved!
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Guest speaker: Johanna Wilson
Aid work in Afghanistan
Anne Marie introduced Johanna
Johanna is supporting Najma and her family
Johanna
President Paul, Anne Marie, Johanna and support crew
Support details
Bamyan: remote but beautiful
Introduced by Anne Marie, Johanna talked about her impressive career helping refugees and doing aid work around the globe. She has worked in remote places, including Georgia and Afghanistan. Johanna's son's father is a Kiwi, so she has settled here for the past 10 years.
Johanna dedicated her talk to an Afghan woman called Najma Hussein, who worked for New Zealand in Bamyan, which meant she and her family had to flee and resettle when the Taliban took over. Najma got a visa and spent years in New Zealand alone, studying for her Masters in business administration, before she could get visas for 6 of her family to settle here. The family is educated and fluent in English, and keen to work and contribute to their new home country.
Johanna graduated from Texas A & M University with a Masters in International Affairs. She then worked for US AID, an organisation created by President Kennedy, doing relief and economic development work around the world, until it was defunded and disestablished by President Trump last year.
Johanna spent 3 years in Georgia after their revolution, and then jumped at the chance to work in Afghanistan, living in Jalalabad. She led a programme to provide support for alternative economic operations, to provide income other than from opium production. This was largely in agriculture and horticulture, and included building up orchard operations, a mint farm, a cold store, and developing international markets. Projects included organising an international produce expo.
Johanna also worked at providing business skills development to young women and girls, which gave them increased confidence. Sadly, girls over the age of 6 are now not allowed education.
Johanna lived in a walled property and had to be driven, or under armed guard to walk the 600m from her accommodation to the office. She didn't have to wear a burqa but had to be modestly dressed with a head covering. Due to the armed conflict and danger in the area, Johanna had limited opportunities to interact with the community. She cherished the opportunities she had to get out into the field.
After working for US AID, Johanna has worked in civilian-military co-ordination and global crisis management, including with NZDF and Emergency Management. She is currently having a break from disasters, teaching Pilates. Johanna would love to return to conflict zone relief work at some stage.
If anyone is able to assist Najma's family in any way, please either donate to the bank account above, or email: johannawilson2021@gmail.com
Kāpiti Community Foodbank Collection Day
What a great team effort!
The barrow boys
Pink Ribbon Fundraiser
Sue Taylor organised a successful fundraiser brunch at the Boundary. Mike Copeland and wife Lesley, Pip and her niece Aria, and Steph attended. Eddie auctioned many items. The event raised over $6,500!
This week:
28 May: John Walker - Retired Head of Forensics, NZ Police
