President’s Post

7 August

We had an excellent speaker at our meeting – a poised and confident Courtney Gehle who has a passion for making a difference to environmental issues.

Our RI President, Ian Riseley must have been listening to young people like Courtney when he said that Rotary has to become involved in environmental issues and showing concern for Global warming and climate change.

He is concerned that if we ignore the environmental challenges facing the world, it is the very people we are all trying to help who will feel the impact most strongly.

As Courtney said in her talk, you can do amazing things with very little. I loved her quote by Desmond Tutu and it warrants being repeated:

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

Thank you Courtney for sharing your passion with us. Hein and Candy, you must be very proud of your daughter!

Frances

7th Aug 2017. Meeting

Visitors: Courtney Gehle, Bridget Gibson, Barbara Mommen, exchange students..

President Frances opened the meeting with a number of announcements:

  • Careers Day. The careers day at Fundinjobo was a great success. Congratulations to Judy and thanks to all Rotarians taking part.
  • Fellowship. Many thanks to the Mullers for hosting a great fun evening.
  • Food collection. The food collection at Pick and Pay was a great success. Well done Renate and team.
  • Book Festival, Details to follow re Rotary involvement.
  • Plant a tree. Frances reminded Rotarians. One tree each this year…
  • Car Quiz – Nelspruit Rotary club. Wed 9th Sept @ 10am Please participate. Contact Brian for details.
  • Pub Quiz. Renate reminded the club about the Pub Quiz.

PUB QUIZ

THE ROTARY CLUB OF WHITE RIVERINVITES YOU TO AN EVENING OF ‘BRAINY FUN’

  • Sat. 19TH AUGUST, 2017 at18:30 , TEAMS OF SIX
  • R100 P.P.
  • SOUP AND ROLLS WILL BE AVAILABLE / CASH BAR
  • VENUE:WHITE RIVER GOLF CLUB,
  • TO BOOK YOUR PLACE CONTACT RENATE, CELL: 083 600 1131

Guest Speaker.Courtney Gehle, Hein and Candy’s daughter, made quite an impact at the meeting this week. She gave an inspiring talk on her passion for the environment.

She is a 22-year-old student (past Uplands pupil) completing her Honours in Environmental Science at UP and she is currently working part time for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.

She is the co-founder of the UP environmental society, the Greenline and she is theFounder and Executive Director of The Better Tomorrow Movement, an online youthempowerment platform. Courtney was a top 5 finalist for the South African Eco-Youth awardand was awarded South African Green Student of the Year in 2016. She was also chosen asone of Africa’s 100 Brightest Young Minds and was selected as one of 60 GlobalChangemakers.

Most recently she was honoured as one of 16 Young Leaders for Development by theEuropean Commission and she spoke on a high-level panel on Renewable Energy in Africaalongside the President of Guinea and other high level delegates in Brussels earlier this yearwhere she also had an audience with the Queen of Belgium

Courtney with her proud parents and President Frances (who taught her in Grade 2!)

Sergeant. Jan proved to be quite a friendly sergeant.

Wine Draw Won by Brian

Attendance. 63%

Next meeting 14th August

Member Speaker: James. Organiser:Don, G&F: Hitesh, Sergeant: Debbie

Books in Homes news

While the rest of the world keeps turning, the Books in Homes team quietly continues to work away at MAKING A DIFFERENCE, distributing books to schools and homes around Africa. Here are Val, Helene – Marie, and Marie packing a consignment of books which is to be sent to Tanzania. R14500 worth of books has been donated by the Rotary Club of Southport in Australia, Andrew Middleton’s club.

And some snippets of news from some of our Rotarians who have relocated:

From Cheryl:

Greetings to all of you wonderful people just down the road. I am loving my new position as head of Summerhill. Hazyview is blooming and our school has exciting times ahead in terms of growth and status (we’re turning 20 this year!!). We are involved in serving the community and recently handed over 226 blankets to Sizabantwana Orphanage. We also took part in the National CEO School Sleepout in June which was freeeeeezing (sleeping under the stars with a box for shelter), but a very good exercise to make ourselves aware of what some people have to experience every night. I have had a couple of Rotarians who look me up when they come to stay in Hazyview which is always wonderful. It was also super being involved with Camp Quality in a small way when we hosted a picnic for them. If you’re passing through, please pop by. I love showing off Summerhill.

And Peter and Sue

We are having a whale (hohoho!) of a time in Hermanus and it barely seems possible that we are entering our fifth month in this bubble-wrapped corner of the Western Cape. Debbie and Huffy visited during the late summer and of course Patrick and Julie have now joined the ex-WR rotarians southern branch. We have made many new friends, enjoyed concerts and arts festivals and gorged our way through as much fish and seafood as the digestion system will allow. The weather has been mostly glorious but we have had to adapt to the cooler clime and resurrect most of our British heavyweight clothing. This area is amazingly efficient and government and private bodies are well run. However we have spent months accessing local suppliers and adapting our new home to our specific style. We are based close to the centre of town which allows us to walk freely to restaurants, library, sports grounds and other facilities. The whales are around but not yet abundant and we are gradually exploring the surrounding area although not trailing into Somerset West or Cape Town unless there is a specific need. The choice of clubs and activities is enormous (Sue helping Overberg hospice) although the nearest I have so far come to Hermanus rotarians is a daily walk with the dogs overlooking the town and Walker Bay along Rotary Way.

Still on the Hair theme….

I am not a great fan of tattoos but this one looks perfect.