Following on from these meetings which were held on November 7th, please click on "Read More" below, to see notes from the minutes of the various committees.
MEETING NOTES - COMBINED COMMITTEES - NOVEMBER 7th 2019
COMMUNITY SERVICES - LOCAL: (Director - Tricia Gerrad)
- The Xmas Foodbank Collection will be held on 14 December from 10am-4pm outside New World Stonefields and members will be encouraged to log on to Clubrunner when it goes online to select a 2 hour slots to assist. Gavin will arrange a van to transport food boxes collected to GI Community Centre. He will liaise with Miles on times etc. After the event all members and family have been invited to gather at Remuera Golf Club to celebrate a great year at St Johns Rotary.
- Christie is doing well with Xmas Pudding sales and looks forward to selling more before year end. Jane has placed an order for 6 Puddings and Tricia 10 from Sacred Heart College.
- Lynette raised the question at the meeting as to whether members thought that having fewer events throughout the year would encourage more members to volunteer, and those present felt it would.
- John and Andy will cleanup the Rotary Footpath Markers along Tamaki Drive this summer.
COMMUNITY SERVICES - INTERNATIONAL: (Director - Muriel Roake)
1. A plaque with the Rotary St Johns logo is being prepared for the Mango tree centre. The presentation has been delayed due to the measles outbreak in Tonga.
2. St Jude's $1,448 sponsorship was queried as the Club has many requirements. AG to contact Alex Mc Kenzie for his input
3. Lunchbox project is on hold while we evaluate which projects we are able to support going forward.
4. MR to prepare requests for Trust funding for ERKs $1200 and End polio campaign $1200.
5. Board proposed a film evening to raise funds - Winter 2020. Penny to advise.
ENVIRONMENT & SCIENCE: (Director - Peter Buchanan)
Updates and plans:
- Sustainability challenges.
Special thanks to Cheri and Robyn for advocating and promoting sustainability challenges, changing monthly. These prompt us all to take action to minimise waste especially of single use plastics.
- Motutapu Island
The Motutapu Natural Heritage Committee has been frustrated and hamstrung for months awaiting resolution of difficulties between DOC and iwi - that saw most of the winter’s planting plans halted. The nursery thus came to a standstill and, while some planting was achieved recently, this has now stopped as soils become drier. Restrictions on use of weedkiller to prepare the ground for planting are also a continuing challenge. Our offer remains to assist with the following items, and I’m in contact with Bridget and Bruce to find out when we can engage:
- re-surfacing of nursery plant standing area
- installation of irrigation system (that we helped purchase)
- clear drains beside Monument Track
- weeding on Sundays (Nandor is in charge of weeding team)
- internal painting of school house
- Tree Planting and Weeding, Maungarei / Mt Wellington
- Cheri now knows of contact person in Council who can advise about the potential for our contribution to planting and /or weeding plans on Maungarei.
- Can Rotary contribute to weeding of “Winifred Huggins Woodland” at end of Fraser Rd, on lower slopes of Maungarei?
Also known as Part of Mt Wellington Domain. One of Auckland’s best kept secrets. A wonderful location covered in a number of specimen trees located on the eastern lower side of Maungarei (Mt Wellington). Dedicated to Winifred Huggins as founder of the Auckland Tree Society 1953. Awarded the British Empire medal in 1969 for her services to the community. This honour created the idea of an English woodlands with the first of the trees being planted in 1969.
Action: Aubrey and Cheri to check with Council contact
- Beach Cleanups
Suggestion of cleanup at Tahuna Torea or another location as suggested by Council
Action: Cheri to enquire of Council to source bags and gloves
- Freshwater Quality Assessment in Omaru Stream, Glen Innes
David Stone (honorary member, and head of Freshwater Foundation) has been in contact with Thais Nafissi, science teacher at Glendowie College. Thais reports use of the $1000 SHMAK kit that the Club purchased with her Yr 9 students, especially testing for phosphate in water. David is encouraging Thais and students to present their work at a 2020 breakfast meeting.
- ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group)
As a member of ESRAG https://www.esrag.org/ Peter is keen to explore how our club and District can become involved. ESRAG assists Rotary Clubs with projects that “promote environmental sustainability, awareness of climate change, and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to mitigate climate disruption”
- Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka Awards
The 2019 Eureka Finals were held in Wellington in September with 4 of the 12 finalists from Auckland. The winner was from Cashmere High School, Christchurch. Students are free to choose any topic across science & technology – and Peter was encouraged that 4 of 12 topics included fungi!RNZ’s radio interviewer Kim Hill (as one of 5 judges over successive years) and Peter were awarded a Paul Harris medal, presented by Dame Patsy Reddy at Government House.
- Rotary National Science & Technology Forum
Rosemary led the interviewing and recommendation of 2 students from Sacred Heart College and 1 from Glendowie College for the Jan. 2020 Science Forum. As District 9920 Coordinator for the Science Forum, Peter has accepted club recommendations for 33 students, including our 3. From 11th to 25th January 2020, 160 Yr 13 science students from throughout NZ will be based at a University of Auckland hostel, with multiple daily activities including visits, lectures, & practical exercises. Peter will host 2 evening visits by groups of students to his institute Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research in St Johns.
- Rotoroa Island
While not discussed at our meeting, Michelle Forman has proposed a trip / stay at Rotoroa Is., and maybe we can assist her to arrange this?
MEMBERSHIP: (Directors - Donald Bowie & Rosemary Such)
Activity Progress
1. Engagement/Meeting Attendance – Donald & Lynette
- Some more delinquent attenders – same ones as previously identified.
- Close watch is kept on meeting attendance
- Good attendance at Projects/Committee meeting
2. Event Calendar/Projects Portfolio – Robyn
- Projects database largely compiled
- Projects list distributed to Committees for review – awaiting feedback
- Events added to CR to compile annual event calendar
3. Use of Club Runner – Robyn
- Aim to extend use of CR by Board
- Sargent to be asked to establish weekly CR challenge
- CR snippets to be introduced to members at meetings
4. Communicating with Members – Shaun
- Communications survey completed
- No recommendations for charge arising
- Results to be shared with Board
5. Shared Drive – Hugh
- CR has shared file area where the project database could be saved
- A shared drive will be trialled by the membership committee
6. Fellowship – Michelle
- A survey about preferred social events to be developed and distributed and responses analysed
- Lots of ideas generated: gin night, coffee groups, 1st meeting of 2020 to be social pizza event, bowling club quiz night
7. New Member Introductions – Robyn, Rosemary & Donald
- New member dinner held Saturday 28th Sept.
- New member nights to be held twice a year
- Mentor/buddy role guidelines under development
8. Club Brochure – Robyn
- Club brochure updated – copy distributed for members to hand out to prospective members
- Generic business cards to be printed for members to carry
9. Professional Mentoring – Rosemary & Shaun
- Catherine Holden very supportive of a joint club mentoring program for younger members and maybe non-members
10. New Members Recruitment Rewards - Donald
- Investigating rewards programs that incentivise members to introduce new members - No progress
Ideas for membership initiatives include:
- Local business evening – first could be the businesses from the new development on Lunn Avenue
- “Mystery Shopper” assessment of the club
- Social impact assessment/survey with target outcome measures