President Robyn welcomed a good turnout of members including visitors Jackie Leatham, Peter Church and Evie Ismay (granddaughter of Bev M-R and Keith). 

This year’s Garden Festival had been held on Sunday 24 November. The weather had been fine which contributed to the day’s success. Carey thanked the Project Committee members and others who had contributed to what was an amazing event. 1,210 tickets had been sold which was 20% more than last year.  Over $37,000 had been raised with sponsors and donations from commercial sellers funding the costs. Following on from the day, attendees and Rotarians had been surveyed with less than 10% returning negative comments.  The survey results would be included in the Project Review to be submitted to the Board along with recommendations for next year’s Festival for Board approval. Carey outlined the proposed plan for 2020.

 

 

It was with much regret that the Board accepted Bruce Hancock’s resignation at its last meeting.  Bruce has been a valuable member of the club since he moved from Auckland to Cambridge.  He was a longstanding and active Rotarian in the St Johns Club and held a range of key roles there.  During his time at Rotary Cambridge he has given most valuable service as our official photographer with his outstanding images of club meetings and projects.  We thank him for this voluntary service and for the many other tasks he took on such as Sergeant and on the Publicity Team.  We wish him and Dawn well and hope to see them from time to time when they can fit in a visit amongst their busy life here in Cambridge.

 

We are fortunate that Maurie Marshment has offered to be our official photographer as we go forward.

 

Last week we reported two members who had both reached the 50 year milestone of Rotary membership.  These members - Bill Macmillan (reported as “Wilson” in error – sorry Bill Macmillan) and Colin Davis have been staunch and active members of the Club and we celebrate with them on this occasion and thank them for the very many voluntary hours they have contributed and the dedicated service in a number of key roles within the Club.

 

Zara Newman had been unable to attend to present due to a clash of commitments but would be attending the Christmas Function on 12 December for a presentation before she embarks on her 12 month exchange.

 

Jan Bilton is looking for two volunteers to help sell the Taste Waikato cookbook at the Tamahere Market on Saturday, 14 December from 8am-1pm.  Please contact President Robyn if you can help.

 

A contribution of $150 from the Sunshine Fund had been sent for the Australian Bush Fires.

 

President Robyn reminded members of the purpose of the informal meetings which were held on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of each month – to keep costs down and encourage more members particularly in the younger age group and to comply with the conditions of our liquor licence as a responsible host. The evenings also provided an opportunity for networking.   While food was not the focus on these evenings if people wanted more food and didn’t object to a price increase this could be done.  She asked people to contact her if they wished to pursue this.

 

As Chairman of the Achievement House Trust, John Tarbutt thanked everyone who had helped put on the Christmas Party on Tuesday, particularly organisers Bill Wilson and Roger and Anne Hill.  A great time had been had by all and is the highlight of the year for those involved at Achievement House. Reportedly, President Robyn’s dancing shoes are just about worn out as she was a popular partner at the function.

 

Anyone with photos would they please send these to John Tarbutt for inclusion on the website.

 

Webmaster, John Tarbutt said we needed updated information on our activities and to this end he would be contacting the leaders of all the current projects to get fresh input for the website.

 

International Director, Greg Gascoigne referred to the recent District Newsletter which sought individual donations to benefit the measles outbreak in Samoa.  Greg said he would email members a reminder about the donation request. These are tax deductible.

 

A thank you from the Cambridge i-site Christmas Parade co-ordinator had been received for the help given by Rotary on Sunday.

 

Don Wilson reminded members of the planned weekend away at the end of March 2020 to Matakana.  Details had been circulated to all members by email.  Those who had indicated commitment to attend will be booked into the accommodation requiring a 50% non-refundable deposit.  Other members who could not, at this stage, commit are welcome to make private arrangements later.

 

David Blewden reported that he and Mark Hanlon had attended the Cambridge Community Board meeting this week.  The project has the Board’s approval resulting in the funding application being approved to the amount requested.  This means the project can now proceed.  The first step is to work with the Council property team over the e-waste site.

 

We now have between 90 and 100 people attending the Christmas Party to be held at Ian and Liz Grant’s place - 151b Duncan Road, Tamahere on Thursday 12^th December.

 

There is no requirement to bring a chair this year.

 

However, please do remember to bring:

 

Gift donations for women and children can be left at The Warehouse.  Bev Heron has kindly volunteered to collect the gifts and take to the address. She will be doing this on 20 December and Christmas Eve.

 

Mandeep Singh, the owner of Royal Cambridge Indian restaurant had made contact with the Club and offered to provide a free meal at a Club meeting.  He was doing this as he had great admiration for the organisation.  As well, his father is a Rotarian.  Mandeep currently lives in Auckland and has two restaurants there plus a catering business.  With a new restaurant – Royal Cambridge – recently opening in Cambridge he has plans to come and live here.  

Members enjoyed a wide range of delicious Indian dishes and were invited to fill a “doggy bag” to take home and share.  Rotarians expressed their gratitude for the meal and the generosity shown by Mandeep.  President Robyn announced that although the meal was provided free of charge it was proposed that the usual meal cost be passed on to members and donated to the Samoan Measles crisis.  All present endorsed this proposal.

 

This week lucky winners were Andy Newman and Ian Rogers. Congratulations.

 

President Robyn announced:

 

 

If we want to continue to make a positive difference in our communities, in our world, and in ourselves, we have to know what motivates people to become Rotary members. So we conducted several large-scale surveys this year that gave us a clearer understanding of why people join Rotary, why they stay, and why they leave. Here’s what we found: