Silence is compliance (May 17, 2026)

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: VD Ngo and family, Nkosi Mandela Khumalo

Chris Dentice

Opening thought:

With Neville Boyce's passing, we reflect that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We honour all the unsung heroes, without whose efforts the Club couldn't function.

Parting thought:

Smile

Smiling is infectious

You catch it like the flu

When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too

I walked around the corner

And someone saw me grin

When he smiled I realised I had passed it on to him

I thought about the smile

And then realised its worth

A single smile like mine

Could travel round the earth

So if you feel a smile begin

Don’t leave it undetected

Start an epidemic

And get the world infected.

- Spike Milligan

Raffle winner: Tim O

Dinner menu: Chunky beef casserole with assorted vegetables and salad, followed by chocolate brownie and whipped cream

Gary

Guy

Ken

Ian and lucky winner Josie

The Golf for Good crew with their award

Chris

Notices

President Paul

5 Members of the Club represented the Club at Neville Boyce's funeral, keeping the group small at the family's request. Neville was a Rotarian for decades, and a Member of our Club for 8 years. He was the King of the Great Walks, and a founding member of the Kāpiti Kruzers. The grandparents for grandkids legacy garden at Otaihanga Reserve was his brainchild and passion. Neville attended all the working bees. The Club stood for a minute's silence to honour Neville.

Al and Paul attended a recent Post Gold Awards evening and to their delight, Golf for Good won an award, in recognition of an exemplary Kāpiti community driven project. It was a great evening and Al and Paul made some valuable connections.

Duties have been amended to make it clear that set up crew also cleans up, including vacuuming the floor. The Club has bought a new lightweight vacuum stick to make this easier.

Chris G

The Foodbank collection roster for 23 May is nearly full. We are covering the whole area now, so this Club is making a tremendous contribution. Please involve friends and family if you can.

Gary

Please contact Gary if you can help with the Mary Potter casino fundraiser on 13 June.

Guy

The Otaihanga Reserve clean-up is this Saturday from 9am. What a fitting tribute to Neville, who had the foresight to plant trees for his grandkids to enjoy. Guy and Doug have already been down doing some weed whacking. Update: the day was brilliantly fine and good progress was made, see photos below.

Ken Milne

Ken and Janet recently visited Ken and Judith Shilling. They are doing well. Keith Flack is feeling a bit lonely and would appreciate a call or a visit - his details are in ClubRunner.

Steph

thanked the Club for all the support during her recent recovery from surgery, and the Members who took notes and photos in her absence.

Ian

Lucky Lotto

Henry, Doug, Marilyn and Josie are the recent winners.

Mike

5 minute speaker: Mike Dunn

Mike spoke about his 6 months with the Club and how he has enjoyed getting involved in projects like firewood and minigolf, and the Youth Committee.

Mike talked about his upbringing as a good Hutt Valley and Wainui boy, before the family moved up to Kuku where he was able to be a cowboy and get into farming.

Mike moved into banking before a spell making furniture and then into sales and marketing. He has 3 daughters and soon to be 4 grandkids, who he lives for. He and partner Linda both work in the government sector.

Mike talked about his formerly crippling anxiety about public speaking, which he has clearly overcome. Plenty of practice for work, and a spell in community theatre helped him find his confidence.

Mike also lives life to the full and likes to give back to the community, particularly after surviving a horrific motorcycle accident. He no longer rides a motorcycle….

------------

President Paul, VD and Chris

VD is a captivating spoken word poet

VD and his gorgeous family joined us for the evening

Speaker: VD Ngo: Silence is compliance

Introduced by Chris Garrett, VD told his story, interwoven with spoken word poetry, which is like rapping without music. The son of hardworking Vietnamese immigrants to the US, VD was born 10 years after the fall of Saigon and grew up in Oakland, California. VD's mother was insistent that her children would succeed by learning English and finding a voice. Although sometimes VD would be judged by other Vietnamese for not speaking the language, he has learned to speak up about his experiences.

VD excelled at school, but deferred studying to join the US Marines. He saw active service including in Iraq. VD was grateful to emerge physically whole and sound. He then met and married his lovely wife Heon and had 2 children, Raewyn and Otis.

VD is a spoken word poet and landscape architect, and is currently a househusband. He and his wife moved to New Zealand after falling in love with the country on their honeymoon. They moved here in March 2025 to raise their children.

VD spoke movingly about his father's battle to express emotions and his harsh parenting style, which he eventually came to regret. At 14, VD and his dad had a few precious months to rebuild their relationship before his father sadly died of cancer. VD's mother made many sacrifices and worked very hard to give her children a good life and opportunities to succeed.

Recently, VD started experiencing PTSD symptoms as a result of his military service. He began reflecting on his own parenting and the trauma he had experienced. VD felt he was at risk of turning into his father, and wanted to break the cycle. VD has found the courage to ask for help and, through therapy and couples counselling, has become a more whole and happy man.

VD talked about finding your voice and speaking up, because you regret the things you stay silent about. Finding his artistic expression required being uncomfortable and sharing his trauma. VD enjoys building rapport and community. He concluded by encouraging us not to run from our best lives, to be leaders and to never give up.

Otaihanga Working Bee