Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.
We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources and advance ecological sustainability. We empower communities to embrace local solutions, create innovative service projects, and access grants and other resources to foster harmony between people and nature.
President Paul Adams
Secretary
Shirley Stratton
Treasurer
Graham Evans
Hosted by President Paul
Guests: Iona Elwood-Smith and Jenny McDougall speakers from CanSurvive Dragon Boating
Guy Weaver
Opening thought:
Rotary Grace
Raffle winner: Eddie Winkel
Dinner menu: Delicious dinner of sticky lemon chicken and turmeric rice, stir-fry vegetables, seasonal salad and rhubarb and apple crumble with custard for dessert
Roger made some parting witticism
Ian
Doug
Notices
President Paul
John Allen, Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand is the speaker this week. John is an engaging and candid speaker and a highly experienced public figure. Members, partners and other guests are encouraged to register for what will be an interesting address.
Ian
Ian Ayson has six lucky Lotto tickets left; proceeds towards End Polio.
Tickets will be available next Thursday.
Be in quick as there are only 40 tickets in total for multiple winning draws.
Doug
Wood for Good
Doug spoke of the success of Wood for Good in gifting $4300 31 metre x3 and sold 100 cubic metres $13k worth. Demand is very strong - 140 calls for wood. A news item this week showed the price of wood has gone up substantially as fuel costs bite across the sector.
Update: Another successful working bee yesterday. 2 days before the event we were short on numbers, but on the day, as usual, my prayers were answered, and the numbers were enough to get completed what was required.
We delivered 20 m3 sold and 3 m3 to the last of the 3 needy names I have been given and split approximately another 20 m3 to dry.
Thanks to all those that turned up on the day: those that supplied trailers, vehicles and splitters, and those that helped load and unload trailers, helped split and stack the wood, and supplied sustenance.
The help we had from non-Rotarians yesterday was also a huge help: Corrections, 2 Rithamer's raising money for a scout jamboree, and 3 Landacres raising money for Nelson's Outward Bound trip, both of which the Club is sponsoring.
Sue Taylor
Sue invited members to a pink ribbon breast cancer luncheon on 24 May at one’s own cost 11- 2pm at the Boundary pub Raumati in support of her sister in law who is undergoing treatment. Please let Sue know if you can attend: suemiriamtaylor88@gmail.com; ph 027 284 7934
Al
Al spoke of Legends League game versus Kāpiti Bears at Matthews Park on 23 April and the need for some helpers on the day for a few hours. Please contact Al if you can help out: ph: 027 565 0293
Steph
Youth Committee: RYDA volunteers required
8.30am - 2.30pm 29 April
Southwards
RYDA is Rotary Youth Driver Awareness. This youth road safety programme run by Rotary is being supported by our Club. Rangatahi do not drive on the day: instructors and first responders teach the teens about road safety and making good choices.
It has taken a couple of years to pull this together and now Kāpiti College has come on board. We have sponsored the costs for 2 workshops, on29 April and in September.
We require 6 - 8 volunteers for a half day, 8.30am - 2.30pm at Southwards. Volunteers are required to read and sign up to a code of conduct in order to work on the event. Duties are simple: helping with set up and marshalling, guiding groups from one activity to the next, supporting the instructors and teachers. Smoko and lunch are provided. You need to be able to stand/walk for the half day. Information about the course and volunteer duties are available from Steph and are uploaded to ClubRunner in Documents.
Please sign up in duties on ClubRunner or contact Steph: 027 2803 444 or dyhrbergsa@gmail.com
Iona and Jenny
The team
Julia with Iona and Jenny
Guest speakers: Iona Elwood-Smith and Jenny McDougall
Dragon boating - CanSurvive
Introduced by Julia Palmer, who praised the commitment these two women have put into dragon boating over many years and the inspirational approach they have taken following breast cancer to learn a new skill, train for years and compete successfully at international level.
Jenny spoke of the development and history of dragon boat racing and its development by Canadian sports Doctor Don Mackenzie in an effort to address lymphodema which was at the time seen as an ongoing untreatable impediment to women post breast surgery. From Vancouver the sport took off in NZ and Australia. 20 women per boat and all train very hard up to 3x a week under coach Ewen McDonald of Raumati.
CanSurvive dragon boating team was first established in 2003 in Wellington and initially for all cancer types. Now it is linked to breast cancer for women and can include men who have a diagnosis. The team was low key to start with but then decided to train and enter competitions. In 2014 they competed in Sarasota at the IBCPC participating dragon boat festival and came third. In 2018 the team travelled to Florence and competed on the Arno and came 2nd.
A second team Can2 was set up in 2015 for families and friends of cancer survivors and competes too.
Iona was successful in being selected for the world champs in Italy in Ravenna. They won gold in all three races -the 200 metres and 2 kilometres events and the heats for the 500 metres.
The Black dragons as they are called is a team selected from all across NZ and competed in the IBCPC international race in 2025 and won gold, silver and bronze.
The women were inspiring in their dedication to the sport, achievements and fundraising efforts. Dugald’s doppelganger with better hair was a key photo in their power point and caused much mirth.
Kevin joined Rotary late last year. His father was a Rotarian in Kāpiti and Kevin is a stalwart of the region, having been born and bred in Paekakariki. He returned to live in Kāpiti with his second wife Alison and her family after some years away in the Hutt Valley. He has two 2 children to his first wife and 3 step children and 6 step grandchildren, so leads a very busy family life. He is a qualified painter-decorator by trade and, with his son, established his business Elite Painting. His son has been overseas for 3 years but is returning at the end of the year to come back and work with his old man.
Kevin is very keen on Rotary and volunteering. He is a Life Member of the Patriots motorcycle club in Wellington which fundraises for veterans and their families who have PTSD or other troubles post serving for our country. Kevin was a Territorial in his youth and rides a Harley Davidson. Kevin showed us his tattoos of his family and his Patriots ‘patched’ jacket.
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Members and partners enjoyed a convivial evening on Saturday, Guess Who's Coming for Dinner, hosted at each other's houses. Thanks very much to Roger for organising this popular annual event.
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Sustainable Leadership
Nir Har-Paz has offered free places on a great Sustainable Leadership webinar:
Due to overwhelming demand, our free Sustainable Leadership Webinar on Tuesday 28th April now has two sessions:
9:30 a.m. – Fully booked
10:30 a.m. – Only 5 spots left!
Don’t miss this chance to learn practical strategies to lead effectively, build resilient teams, and align wellbeing with high performance.
Claim your 10:30 a.m. spot now:
email Nir: harpaznir@nhpspecialists.com
We look forward to seeing you at the Sustainable Leadership webinar!
Ngā mihi nui, Sarah Tocker & Nir Har-Paz
NHP – Nurturing Human Performance
Sue's pretty kitchen garden
Did the cat or Paul's new bestie Louie the dog get the icecream?
A lively dinner party at Sue and John's
Marilyn regaling her dinner companions with a tale about a missing Japanese toilet door
WOOD FOR GOOD WORKING BEE
Many thanks to Pip Bascand for the notes, and Cherie and others for photos.
Please volunteer to take photos and notes to help Steph produce the Bulletin for the next couple of weeks - signup on ClubRunner or message Steph.
This week:
13 April: Board meeting
16 April: John Allen - The Ombudsman's Role
Coming up:
23 April: League game - contact Al if you can help out
Meeting: Mike Fackney, Whakaari White Island
29 April: RYDA event 8.30 - 2.30pm Southwards - please sign up on ClubRunner or let Steph know if you can help out
