Pacific atmosphere Rotary District 9910 May 2016 Page 1

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Rotary’s area of focus for May is Youth Services. It is fitting our District has had a busy and rewarding month with a diverse number of youth activities.

It started with Challenge Camp, where the final night Concert is always a special and moving experience. I was heartened to hear one of the camper’s parents thank Rotary, on behalf of them all, for what had been achieved.

Our International Youth Exchange (IYE) students act as mentors (buddies) to independent, disabled young people from 16 to 24 years. Special mention to Paul and Maree Donegan (Takapuna North) and Hillary Prior (Downtown) for their commitment and input to the program.

Our IYE students normally rate Challenge Camp as

life changing and one of the top experiences for their year. However, the ongoing success for Challenge Camp is dependent on financial support from clubs in our District. Please make this an activity one your club supports in future.

The weekend of 7/8 May was the selection weekend for the 2017 outbound IYE students. Governor Elect and IYE Chair Peter Smith advised they had an outstanding group of candidates with 15

being selected to represent D9910 in 2017. One excited applicant, Norfolk Island

Central School student Alexis (Lexi) Tavener, completed her interviews via FaceTime. Then on 11 May, Elaine and I had the privilege of joining Rotary Whangarei City to charter their Interact Club at Huanui College with 40 charter members. (photo above Governor Peter addressing Huanui College)

Pacific atmosphere

May 2016

District Happenings

15 May District Management Meeting

27-28 May

Model United Nations Assembly

29 May –1 June

Rotary International Convention Seoul

12 June Rotary Learning & Information

19 June IYE Inbound 2015-16 debrief

26 June District Changeover

30 June DGN application close

3-9 July RYLA

7 Aug Rotary Learning & Information

14 Aug District Mgmt. Meeting - Whg

Club Happenings

28 May Epsom Art Auction

12 June Rotary Orewa Quiz Night

15-17 Jul

Northcote Glenfield Book Fair

6-9 Aug Waipapa Book Fair

12 Aug Whangarei South – Bernina Northland Fashion Awards

May is

Youth Service Month

District 9910

Governor’s Newsletter

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27/28 May will see this year’s combined 9910/9920 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) taking place at Auckland Girls Grammar School. I recommend calling in at some point over the two days to watch our very talented teams of students debating some thorny issues.

Globally, the recent Rotary International Council on Legislation decision to allow Rotaractors to also join Rotary and hold concurrent membership opens the door for more of our enthusiastic, young supporters to be involved in Rotary.

If your club isn’t currently involved in one or two of our Rotary Youth activities, then I encourage you to consider doing so during the new Rotary year.

As in past years, our Club contributions to the Rotary Foundation are picking up as we close on the end of this Rotary year. If your club hasn’t sent in its contribution, please ensure it does prior to the end of May. It is important, as processing of international payments can take time. Two clubs missed out on getting their recognition points attributed to last year because they left their payment until too late.

As of mid-May we have 222 Centurions. If you haven’t done so, consider becoming or renewing your Centurion giving. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we returned to over 300 for the year – the level we regularly

achieved in 2013-14 and prior years? If you need a Centurion form, contact Sue Hamnett suehamnett@xtra.co.nz

Membership What a thrill to be asked to be

involved in the chartering of Rotary Orewa’s Satellite Club on 3 May, with 24 members. This is a wonderful example of two clubs working together. My congratulations go to Brian Mullan of Rotary Whangaparaoa and Bruce Davies of Rotary Orewa for their dedication and hard work to achieve this outstanding result. Huge thanks also go to PDG Neil Reid and President Matt McLeod of Rotary Henderson for the work they are doing supporting clubs working on establishing Satellite Clubs.

It is very rewarding to see this month’s membership graph showing the results (at the end of April) of many clubs and Rotarians actively working on inducting new Rotarians. I am looking forward to seeing the results at the end of May when Orewa’s Satellite Club members will have been entered, together with the two new members I had the pleasure of inducting for Whangarei City and others who have joined during May. Well done to all of you who are making a difference. It is critical for each of us to take personal responsibility for encouraging friends, work colleagues, family to join Rotary. Please do get out there and Ask That Question

Elaine and I fly to Korea on Saturday 21 May to attend the RI 107th Annual Convention. We have excellent representation this year, with 33 registrations from the District, which is great recognition of the support D9910 receives from some of our fellow Korean districts.

Best wishes to you all. We’ll see you in June. Regards Governor Peter

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In Rotary’s Youth month, Governor Peter was delighted to be present at the charter of District 9910’s fourth Interact club at Huanui College, Whangarei – sponsored by Rotary Whangarei City.

President Lagi Paul (Year 12) has a Rotary lineage, with her great-grandfather starting Rotary in Samoa and her

grandfather a Rotarian at both American Samoa and Western Samoa clubs.

The club has chartered with almost 40 members from Year 7 to Year 13 and have strong support from teacher, Ashlee Cebalo, whose mother Margaret is a member of Rotary Whangarei City. Governor Peter

Garnett and Governor-Elect Peter Smith presented pins, banner and charter certificate to an excited and proud group of students at the school assembly. (photo left Interact

Members with Governor Peter, GE Peter, Teacher Ashlee Cebalo, and her mother Whangarei City Rotarian Margaret Cebalo)

Interact gives students ages 12-18 the chance to make a real difference while having fun. Every Interact club carries out two service projects a year: one that helps their school or community and one that promotes

international understanding. 3

Mt Albert Grammar School Interact Club is led by Jacob Marsh and Rayna Bhikha, where from a roll of 2800 they have 200 members. Their first fundraiser for the year was Shave for a Cure week 10-15th April. In this week we collected donations in form-time and on the 15th April, 22 students who had been fundraising had their head’s shaved in the Albertian Quad. $8837 was raised. We are currently planning our next fundraiser which will be for Make a Wish this term, and plan to fundraise for the SPCA and Heart Foundation in the following terms. (photo right Head

Shaving at MAGS)

The other Interact clubs in D9910 are at, Pinehurst School and Whangarei Girls High School.

World Champion PDG Merv

Congratulations to PDG Merv Huxford and his team who recently competed successfully in the World Masters Hockey Games in Canberra. Bronze at the Masters World Cup! First time the team has been ranked in top 3.

Merv said “he ran 9.6km in the bronze medal game vs Netherlands - most metres I've ever covered in a game. Time for a rest. I did still have energy to buy a new 24" stick for granddaughter Lesieli”.

And of course it wouldn't be Merv if he wasn't doing something for Rotary at the same time as being at the Masters World Cup.

This from Merv recently: "One of our hockey guys here won a digeridoo in a raffle and did not know what to do with it, so I called PDG Peter Raynor (D9670) (photos above left Merv and above right Merv & Peter) around to our apartments, gave him one of our hockey shirts and we presented him with the digeridoo for his club to raffle off as a fundraiser for a dental project being done in New Guinea!"

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DISTRICT ASSEMBLY New members will be saying what is District Assembly?

The purpose of the District Assembly is to prepare incoming club leaders for their year in office and to build their leadership team. It also gives the incoming District Governor, and the incoming Assistant Governors and District Team the opportunity to motivate club leadership teams and build their working relationship.

It is essential that each

club send the relevant Director or Avenue of Service Chair to the Assembly for the entire day. If that is not possible, please ensure that someone attends. Can you see members from your club in the photo above?

We were privileged to have Regional Co-ordinator, Jessie Harman over from Australia to speak to us on Membership. As part of the Regional

Membership Plan team, Jessie had some thought provoking approaches and examples to share, which stimulated good discussion.

District 9910’s Assembly, held in Whangarei on May 14th, 2016, was lots of buzz and enthusiasm with many participants having a great day exchanging ideas, information and getting to know members of other clubs.

A highlight was Governor Elect Peter presenting long serving IYE co-ordinator Bob Benzie with a Paul Harris Fellow. Takapuna Rotarian, Jenni McKenzie said “so well deserved for the amazing and, at times, frustrating job you do so diligently, Congratulations!” (photo above left GE Peter presenting Bob with his PHF)

Challenge Camp 2016 was held at Willow Vaughan Park Christian Camp, located at Long Bay Beach, 11 -15 May. 19 attendees were matched with International Exchange Students (IYE) as caregivers and mentors (buddies) for the week. Both the attendees and the IYE students faced many challenges together which proved

to be a highly rewarding growth experience for all.

Tola, East Coast Bay IYE Student reported that her buddy was a deaf 19-year-old girl originally from the Cook Islands, from a blended family whose mother was also deaf. Tola and her buddy enjoyed the challenges. Learning sign language was a highlight, but the best part was relaxing at Waiwera Pools where Takapuna North provided a gourmet BBQ! (photo left Team Rotary Takapuna North and phot0

above Tola with other participants)

A comprehensive report will appear in June’s Newsletter.

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Held on May 7th, 2016 at Matakana Hall, Rotary Browns Bay organised a fun filled night with 10 teams competing for the bragging right for the 2016-17 year.

Before the teams arrived, organiser Murray Allison, (photos right) is either having a sleep, checking his phone

or praying that the teams will turn up.

The winner on the night was Mahurangi Sunrise, a provisional group who are hoping to establish a new club. Congratulations to the winners and all the competitors, especially the team members who travelled down from KeriKeri, Kaihoke and Whangarei South.

What a great night was had, fun, laughter and good fellowship!

Get your club’s team/s together and see you at next year’s Quiz Night

A day without laughter is a day wasted …. Charlie Chaplin

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Council of Legalisation

What is the council of legislation? Every three years, Rotarians meet at the Council on Legislation to review and vote on proposed legislation. The Council gives us a voice in how our organization is governed.

What does the Council do? Each Rotary district sends a representative to the Council. Representatives deliberate and act upon all proposed enactments and resolutions. Enactments seek to change Rotary’s constitutional documents, and resolutions express an opinion or make a recommendation to the RI Board.

The RI Board reviews and acts on resolutions adopted by the Council and items referred to the Board

2016 Council on Legislation documents – click on the links to view Recommended Rules of Procedure - 2016 Council 2016 proposed legislation Constitution of Rotary International (PDF) (Word) Bylaws of Rotary International (PDF) (Word) Standard Rotary Club Constitution (PDF) (Word) Five-year financial forecast Strategic Plan update presentation Vote totals

PDG Maxine represented District 9910 at the Council of Legislation held in Chicago, 10-15 April 2016, whilst our District conference was in full swing.

The following words are written by John Hewko, General Secretary, Rotary, there have been some decisions made to provide more flexibility for club meetings and upcoming discussion on membership types.

The 2016 Council on Legislation was by all accounts a great success, thanks to the strong commitment, diligence and hard work of its delegates in carrying out the Council’s critical role in Rotary's governance.

The Council adopted a number of forward looking enactments, including several that provide greater membership and meeting flexibility. These approved

changes in policy will give those clubs that so desire more freedom to determine the categories of membership they offer and when, where, and how a club chooses to meet.

Over the past 15 years, Rotary has carried out pilot programs that have explored new definitions of membership, classifications, and the club experience. We have consistently found that when clubs are given the freedom to determine how to hold their meetings, the composition of their membership, and what defines engagement, the club is more vibrant and better able to grow.

While this flexibility is available to those clubs that choose to amend their bylaws, a club that wishes to continue to adhere to the traditional requirements regarding meetings, attendance, structure, or categories of membership may continue to do so.

Please find more information here about the membership and meeting flexibility decisions and the impact they will have on our organization’s growth in the years ahead. I encourage you to share this information with Rotarians in your club, district, and region. Click on the My Rotary the link to read a wrap up the Council’s actions. My Rotary

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POPE FRANCIS MEETS RI PRESIDENT RAVI This article is written by Vatican Radio

Nearly 9,000 Rotary members attended the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter’s Square at the invitation of Pope Francis.

A delegation greeted the Pope at the end of the Audience.

Rotary, which brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian issues, kicked off the Rotarian Jubilee on Friday afternoon, with a conference on the challenges refugees are facing worldwide.

The conference organized by the Jesuit Refugee Service - in partnership with Rotary, UNHCR and WFP - and entitled “Helping Refugees to Start Over”, focused on the work that can be done to give millions of refugee’s dignity and quality education – the best possible tool for them to be able to shape their lives, not lose hope, dream of a future.

Linda Bordoni spoke to Ravi Ravindran, President of Rotary International about the Jubilee Audience with the Pope and about Rotary’s commitment to improving the lives of refugees.

Radio Vatican Interview of President Ravi

Mr. Ravindran called Pope Francis a model for Rotarians, saying "he is doing exactly what every Rotarian should be doing. So we see a great synergy of thought with this Pope, and being here, receiving his blessing, I think is something quite wonderful for us."

The 2016 Rotary Whangaparaoa Soap Box Derby and Family Fun Day was held on Saturday 19 March and New Zealand National Finals on Sunday 20 March at Brightside Road, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa.

The wonderful people who took part and their sponsors raised over $14,000.

Great evening was held at the Rotary Whangaparaoa Soap Box Derby thank you event. Again a fantastic turn out with the wonderful people who took part and many of their sponsors attending.

Rotary Whangaparaoa gave away over $14,000 into their local community including $10,000 to Silverdale and Manly Volunteer Fire Brigades.

Well done Rotary Whangaparaoa!

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CYBER SECURITY More and more we are globally connected through the Internet and other smart devices that have become part of everyday life. And Rotarians are increasingly turning to social media to connect with the community and younger people.

It’s convenient, yet there are risks and we need to know how to reduce data loss and security threats. Everyone should store files on a safe backup device. USBs are convenient for temporary storage, but unsuitable for long-term storage of club data, with a failure rate of 5% to 10%. Your desktop and laptop should also have a virus or spyware protection programme installed with a regular scanning schedule.

Recognise these? What city best matches your personality? Discover your pagan name? Click this link to win this BMW today!

DON’T DO IT! While participating in these “fun quizzes” your computer or smart device is being interrogated and cookies are being set. Now your web browsing pages and your online transactions can be watched and recorded, typically by shady operators in Eastern Europe. And how intriguing are these?

Click to see the shocking truth inside this old missile bunker. What these students found is frightening!

Three amazing foods that will add 10 years to your life. Click to see why doctors keep them secret!

DON’T DO IT! “Click bait” scams are becoming more common. They are designed to bring people to rogue web pages where the victim is scammed.

In some parts of the world, cyber criminals perceive Rotarians as an attractive target. Many believe Rotarians are wealthy people with plenty of spare cash to donate to others. Crime gangs may even target Rotarians through LinkedIn. Fake Rotary clubs and fake Rotarians are appearing on the Internet.

DON’T PANIC! BE SENSIBLE Do not “Friend” or connect with

people you do not know.

Be aware that Rotary scam operators consistently add the prefix Rtn to their Facebook name.

Support international projects through known and trusted Rotary channels.

Check Rotary clubs through the RI website or your “My Rotary” account.

Thanks to Chris Joscelyne – IT Security & Data Protection and member of RotaryEClubOne, D5450 Colorado. Please note no links work in the above article.

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It’s planting time again and for the clubs involved with Trees for Survival, I hope you are supporting your school/s on planting day. Your involvement may help your school gain points to win the Holyoake Award or win equipment to assist them grow better plants.

Look at the difference a project that Rotary East Coast Bays has achieved with Murrays Bay School on a farm in Leigh. Rotary East Coast Bays has supported Murrays Bay School Trees for Survival programme for many years and have been fortunate to work with the same farm in Leigh for 4 years. The before and after photos below show what can be done in such a short time.

By going back multiple years to the same property the school children see the fruits of their labour. The sense of achievement of seeing with their own eyes the difference that their effort is making to our planet EARTH is priceless.

The school receives tiny saplings and over a 9-month period grows them into small plants. It is not always possible to return to the same property each year as where the trees are planted is the responsibility of Auckland Council environment staff.

Governor Peter participated in the planting days in 2013 and 2014 and went with the school for the May 2016 planting day. “Attending planting day is a great way to meet parents from the school and inform them of your club’s involvement with this project and other community activities that Rotary are involved with”.

Photo above Governor Peter and team on 2016 planting day, photo right, four years ago on the first planting day and photo below is the Leigh Property May 2016.

If you club would like to know more about Trees for Survival visit their website

www.tfsnz.org.nz

Trees for Survival … children growing our future

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MODEL UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY Model United Nations Assembly is a combined event of Districts 9910 and 9920 and Auckland Girls

Grammar. Designed to simulate the working of the United Nations Assembly by having School teams of three Year 12 and 13 students, represent a particular UN Country in debates on matters of world politics and social concern. The Assembly also develops a bridge of goodwill for the furtherance of World Peace and understanding.

2016 MUNA - 27th and 28th May 2016 Venue: Auckland Girls Grammar School, Howe Street Auckland

Central.

The students will debate the six remits below and Rotarians are most welcome to visit and view the discussions.

1. Representatives from Kosovo be granted observer status at the United Nations’ General Assembly and Palestine be upgraded from observer status to the rights of full UNO membership.

2. The UNO devise policies and strategies to address the serious refugee crisis affecting Europe as people flee conflict, poverty and repression throughout Iraq and Syria.

3. The UNO formulate practical guidelines and actions to inhibit the spread of the Zika virus from Brazil, other South American countries and the Pacific. The policies need address the dangers of the virus being spread by international visitors to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

4. The UNO should toughen sanctions against North Korea for its aggressive policy against South Korea. The UNO condemns China’s actions in allowing itself to be used as a ‘back door’ for trade into North Korea and therefore ensure the survival of the North Korean regime

5. The UNO calls upon European Union nations and the international community to consider the implications for Europe and the world should Britain vote in a forthcoming referendum to withdraw from the EU.

6. The permanent Arctic ice cap has dwindled to a record low with changes not seen for over 6,000 years. This ice melt is now allowing a summertime north-west passage. UNO guidelines are required to limit global warming and prevent the loss of the Arctic ice cap.

(Left Northcote College and below Mount Albert Grammar School participating in MUNA 2015)

Don’t forget you are most welcome to visit MUNA to hear our young adults debating issues that affect each and everyone of us. Venue – Auckland Girls Grammar School, Howe Street Auckland Central Date – 27 and 28 May 2016

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You have seen the photos of the devastation that happened when Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu in March 2015, known as the worst natural disaster to have ever hit Vanuatu.

The rebuild of Mbossung School is a joint project between Rotary Santo, Luganville Vanuatu and Rotary Birkenhead, Auckland NZ. Work started in October 2015 when Building No 3 was completed in Stage 1 with volunteers from NZ, Australia and Vanuatu.

Stage two commenced in March 2016 with Brian Dowle Rotary Birkenhead, team leader and Matthew O’Halloran Rotary Mendocino USA (photo left), arrived a week early to set up camp, get the materials on site and generally prepare. As per normal the shipping was a nightmare for non Ni-Vans. The conditions on the night of unloading were not the best and the truck fell into the sea, and half the materials were left on the boat as it became

too dangerous to continue. Not one to be put off, Brian got the truck going after a day of good McGyver skills enabling the truck to collect the remaining material from their unloading point further down the coast.

By the time Group 4 (below Brian Dowle, John Richardson, Margaret Bishop, Matt O’Halloran insert John Bishop) all arrived on Ambrym on April 2nd, it was into rebuilding building 6 and 2; girls and boys dormitories.

These 2 concrete buildings were a lot more work due to

alignment issues than first thought with concrete work grossly out of square on every side and corner. The amount of strapping, nail plates and steel bars down the side of the concrete walls, plus the

tieing of roof to the foundation have bought these two buildings up to Australian Cyclonic Standards C3. (Photos right above from top to bottom Building 6 (B6) before, B6 after repairs, Building 2 (B2) after repairs and B2 before)

With the arrival of Group 5 came qualified builder Peter Brosnahan of Nelson, brother of North Harbour Rotarian Paul, Frazer Mataitonga and Tesi & Tomui Kolani from NZ and Sue Perriman Rotary East Malvern/Chadstone Melbourne Australia plus John

Bishop Rotary Dargaville stayed on another week which enabled this group to finish Buildings 2 & 6. (photo above Gp 5 Paul and Peter Brosnahan, Frazer Mataitonga, Tesi & Tomui Kolani insert Sue Perriman)

Group 6 was “Team Milton”, wow they worked as a team. Peter Mallon (76) was the leader, a qualified builder, with 2 farmers, a sewage engineer and mechanical engineer. They got in and demolished Building 5A which was found to be full of worm and set about creating a new building and finished it. They also started building 1 and organised the piping for water reticulation, digging the trench even with Nana naps at lunch time. Thank you Rotary Milton! (Photo left Super Miltonians, Brendon Bearman, Peter Mallon, Suzie Bearman, Colin

Tiffany, Ross McDonald - (Photos right Building 5A before and after repairs)

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Group 7 the final group for Stage 2 arrived on April 23rd, a mixture of Rotary Levin, Birkenhead, Northcote/Glenfield and Koo Wee Rup-Lang Lang Vic Australia. (Photo left Don Pointon Birkenhead, Simon Hoskin Rotary Levin, Alan Laughton Rotary Koo Wee Rup-Lang Lang, Vic Australia) Jocelyn and Alex Hogg Rotary Levin, insert David Hansen Rotary Northcote Glenfield)

This group got on with Building No 1, initially started by Team Milton, they built the missing trusses and completed it. (photo sright B1 after and below before)

They made an assessment of Building 5 and got on with it, not completely finished but left it in a secure condition awaiting completion when Stage 3 commences. Alan had sent computers from Australia and spent a portion of

his time installing them and connected the Headmaster laptop to the internet. A modem and antenna was installed as part of the set up for Stage 2 to enable better communications. (photos above B5 top after and

below before)

We continue to work with Vanuatu Ministry of Education and their campaign to “Build Back Better” by building to the Australian Cyclonic Standard C3 standard.

Jocelyn Hogg, Alan Laughton, John Richardson and Brian Dowle have volunteered for both stage one and two, and hopefully will return for stage three along with a number of Stage 2 volunteers.

The wonderful friendships made with the Ulei people and their amazing generosity to share their worldly goods gets into your soul. When Jocelyn returned all the village women were at the airstrip to meet her. The males thought it was over the top but the bond she formed in October 2015 was amazing and ongoing (left Jocelyn with local women). Similar to the bond formed when Dargaville Rotarian Margaret Bishop and Ulei villager Bob (right) shared the experience of Bob reading a book again after he received donated glasses. Sue Perriman taught the mothers to knit and

used her professional qualifications to access and referred three children from the school to Port Vila Hospital with sight and hearing issues. Tesi, a Tongan New Zealander with qualification in Early Child Education worked with the Kindy children and their teachers.

Volunteering on Ambrym is not for the faint hearted as the accommodation is very basic. (photo left) Your bed is a foam mattress on the floor, showers are cold or a swim, DOC toilets and to gain entry you must work in 28+degree temperatures. Not your Club Med but the return on investment is in the 100s of percent.

If you are a builder and/or engineer, fit and healthy, have two weeks and $1000 spare and can work in 28-degree+ heat, consider assisting STAGE 3. For more information, contact Janice Dowle 09 419 1231 janice@boatandbach.co.nz or to get a sense of what it’s like

volunteering, talk to the people mentioned in this article. For more information, visit www.birkenheadrotary.org.nz

or Rotary Birkenhead Facebook.

Rotary lost a good friend and supporter when Liz Hansen, wife of Assistant Governor David Hansen passed away on May 1st. David was part of Group 7 volunteering on Ambrym Island when Liz became seriously ill and arrangements were made to evacuate him at first light by charter plane.

The Ambrym teams, Mbossung School Headmaster Sandy and his wife Madeline, and the people of Ulei extended their sympathy to David, his daughters and extended family. (left David & Liz)

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