Dear fellow Rotarians, Anns, Members of Inner

Wheel, Rotaractors, Interactors and the Family of

Rotary

We have just celebrated the wonderful story of Christmas during Rotary International’s Family Month. Christina and I trust that you all had a wonderful time with your families and friends and that you were also able to think of and perhaps share your love with those who need our care in the communities

we serve so well.

We are moving into the New Year and as January is

Awareness Month, let us all reflect on what Rotary means to us and be aware of what more we can do to share this with prospective members and also be aware of the needs of those less

fortunate than ourselves.

My DG’s visits during December, which were fulfilling and wonderfully enlightening, involved meeting with the Boards of eight Clubs of Region 3 in the ‘Far East Rand’:

Boksburg Lake; Boksburg; Nigel; Benoni; Benoni

van Ryn; Benoni Aurora; Springs and Springs Park.

The meetings with the Boards all went well and Clubs are taking seriously the need to do things differently

and to encourage new members into our exceptional

organisation.

It was wonderful to experience the warmth, love and fellowship shown to Christina and me accompanied by DGPR Greg and DGAPR Elaine, DGN/AG Annie Steijn and PDGA/AG Sylvia Knoop on our visits. Our visit to the New Beginnings Project with President Terry of Boksburg and Club members

was an eye opener.

It is in an imposing building that was once a women’s prison and so much good is being done within its walls. The helpers/volunteers working with the abandoned and needy toddlers and children of all ages plus the older rehab adults were a real

inspiration to us.

The news of the Rotary Family Health Days from 9 - 11 May 2013 was once again received with enthusiasm and commitment by all the Clubs, so much so that some of the Benoni Clubs are working together on selected sites. Well done my friends in the Far East Rand. You are all doing wonderful things in your

communities AND growing membership. Keep it

up!

All the Clubs visited are doing commendable work in their communities and some are using Foundation funding through District Grants in some cases, as well as CSI funding in

support of their project goals.

Volumn 7

January 2013

D G M A R T I N F O R S Y T H - T H O M P S O N : J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 N E W S L E T T E R

………. as we sail into the next six

months and 2013

The hospitality and friendship shown to Christina and me was, as always, superb. Thank

you all our old and new-found Rotary friends!

December was Family Month, and I urge all Rotarians to make a special effort to continue to honour your families in the New Year, as well as the Family of Rotary. Remember to bring Peace and Goodwill to everyone around you and particularly to all those in our

communities who need that special love and care during 2013.

For those that are travelling, go safely and journey mercies. Come back relaxed and

refreshed for our Rotary year ahead!

As mentioned earlier January is Rotary Awareness month. Let’s be aware of what being a

Rotarian is and be aware of those around us, their needs, their hopes and their love.

May you be blessed with many happy moments while we reflect on our achievements of

the past year.

We wish you a Peaceful, Healthy and Happy year of Rotary service in 2013.

Best wishes……..

Martin and Christina

The RI

Foundation rate

of exchange for

January is

R 8,70/US$

James Flower told his touching story of recovery from addiction. DGA Christina, James, Adele, Ina

and DGAPR Elaine.

——————————————————-

Dear Anns and Members of Inner Wheel

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you are now looking forward to the challenges of

2013.

During December, I visited several Anns’ Clubs on the East Rand accompanied by DGAPR Elaine Stathacopoulos and, as always, was touched and

encouraged by the warmth and friendship shown to us. We had a joint meeting with Benoni, Benoni Aurora,

Benoni van Ryn and Boksburg Lake at Rosie van Olst’s lovely home where we enjoyed lively and fruitful discussions on the Anns in general and Rotary Family Health Day in particular. The interaction and

friendship between these clubs is really inspiring.

What an exciting end to 2012!

Right: DGA Christina and PDGA/PE Sylvia Knoop

(Benoni Aurora) visiting the New Beginnings

Shelter for the homeless, with Vee (right-hand

side) who runs the children’s shelter - a Boksburg

RC Project

P a g e 3

We also had a lunchtime meeting with representative of Springs and Nigel. Thank you for all the reports and accounts and keep up the good work! It is unfortunate that no-one from Springs Park was able to meet me but I hope to bridge this gap in the New Year as it is intended to pay another visit to the East Rand. President Adele Arnoldi and Ann PHF Ina Carmiel of the Rotary Anns Club of Nigel took us to Freedom Recovery, a drug rehabilitation centre in Hallgate, Nigel which they support in general and where they have rehabilitated the kitchen.

During my year so far I have seen and been familiarised with some truly amazing projects and witnessed unstinted dedication on the part of the Anns, Inner Wheel Members

and volunteers/employees.

Their value to the communities they serve cannot be quantified but Freedom Recovery was particularly touching, not only because of the love and care shown by Pastor Derik Matthews, who initiated it four years ago, and all involved with it. My heart went out to the young people who are recovering from the abuse of various substances: they had the courage not only to face the fact that they have a problem but also to meet the challenge do something about it, while forging friendships with fellow

sufferers.

One of the first “clients” was James Flower, a young English man who now lives near Oxford in the UK, who was visiting to celebrate the centre’s fourth anniversary. He told us his story factually and without embellishment – a heart-rending account that was so encouraging

and will, I trust, help all those young people who are in recovery.

We shared a wonderful evening with most of the clubs at the Benoni Golf Club and really appreciate the fellowship and fun we enjoyed. Thank you all for making my year to date remarkable and unforgettable. You really are all very

special women and I encourage you to keep up the wonderful work you are doing.

I wish you blessings and Peace through Service in 2013 and I look forward to the rest of my year with you.

Best wishes

Christina

N e w s l e t t e r T i t l e

DGE Annie Steijn, Pres. Terry and DGA Christina enjoying Annie’s

Hooligan ‘Juice’!

January is Rotary Awareness Month and February

is World Understanding month.

In addition, various training programmes start soon

so please book your seats early.

Most clubs include the cost of sending their club president and other executives in their annual budget

….. so please consider including these costs when

you prepare the 2013/14 budget.

Making a nativity scene at Freedom Recovery Centre.

Nigel Ann President Adele is seen on the right (arrow)

V o l u m n 7

DGPR/PDG Ernie Hendriks with the wheelchair

handover south of D9400.

P a g e 4

A fond farewell to PP Bev Frieslich

(Edenvale) on 9 December at a ‘bring ‘n

braai’

Bev was involved in many projects;

District training; Chairing the 2010

Discon; hosting many youngsters and

Rotary folks and much more. D9400 will

miss you Bev and we wish you all the best

in Cape Town with your son and his new

family. Enjoy being a granny!

The local club in Cape Town will

certainly gain an exceptional asset in you

as a person and Rotarian!

Dear Rotarians and Friends of Rotary

I include GTR clubs Middelburg, Cycad, Witbank and Our Canadian Rotary Clubs especially Grand Bend RC, Peter Twynstra and all the dedicated helpers that load the containers in their own free time and Xtrata Coal who sponsored the last two containers that contained these pianos and organs.

Recognition by the Education Department is appreciated as we are now finding cooperation with all stake holders.

The feedback from the music departments is so positive. Our biggest challenge is selecting the most deserving school. Our criteria is that they must have choirs already competing in coral competitions, music teachers and a Principal that is supportive. Mr P Mahlangu who is referred to in the letter indicated that there are at least 35 schools that qualify.

To our Canadian partners I thank you for the unselfish support you have given us. Think of the sounds of music flowing over rural fields and be assured that even if you never get here Canada will be remembered in some special way. Who knows what new musician may come from here.

Rotary and all

Charles Deiner

(RC Middelburg)

Above: President Dr Angela van Pletzen

(Vanderbiljpark) and fellow members with trolley

loads of food for the needy - in time for Xmas.

=================================

Some top newa items from RI…..

Get inspired at the RI Convention

The 2013 RI Convention in Lisbon, Portugal, 23-26

June, is an ideal opportunity to network with

Rotarians from all over the world, develop your

leadership skills, and connect with others who share

your recreational, professional, or humanitarian

interests.

Publicize your good work

Public Image Grants enable districts to raise Rotary’s

profile and promote the global and local work of

Rotarians by placing public service announcements on

television and radio, in print media and on billboards,

and on the Web. Help your district apply for a grant

by 4 March. To further promote your club’s signature

activities, be sure to update your website with

information about your projects and meetings. Also,

start a social media page, and follow what Rotary is

doing on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Connect with alumni

Rotary Foundation alumni can be effective speakers at

club meetings, and many are potential club members.

Reach out to them.

L to R: Ann President Gwen, Pres. Terry of

Boksburg, DG, DGN Partner Hennie, DGPR

Greg.

A couple of beauties! DGNAnnie Steijn and

PDGA/DGEA Elaine Stathacopoulos

Announcement -

Watch out for

news on the New

Generations

Seminar

On 2 February

Wonder what they are thinking about apart from having

the same body

language!

DGPR Greg with PDG Alan Barrable

and DG Martin

DG and DGA’s visit to the clubs East of Gauteng.

Host DGPR Greg Stathacopoulos

Pres. Rex van Olst (Benoni

Aurora) - receiving iPad lesson on

how to take photos - from DGPR Greg

Stathacopoulos (Benoni)

PDGA Joyce Hogg, Hennie Steijn and DGN Annie Steijn

Last speech

by the DG

for 2012

DG Martin and DGA Christina receiving beautiful

crystal glasses from President Ann, Charmaine and her

husband, AG Ian Williams (Benoni)

Pres. Rex and Rosie van Olst at DG’s Banquet (Benoni

Aurora)

From the desk of PDG Anton Meerkotter

It is with sadness that we have to advise the Rotary world that PDG Tini Eksteen passed on to Higher Ser-

vice today on old year’s eve.

He has had throat cancer for a long time and we thank all those who have looked after him so dearly.

Our thoughts and our hearts go out to his dear lady,

Vida, and his family.

Tini was District Governor in 1998/1999 in District 9250

and the theme that year was “Follow your Rotary

Dream”.

Tini did so much for Rotary, was a founder member of

the Rotary Club of Pietersburg 100 and looked after

Group Study Exchange in particular for many years.

“Dear Tini, thank you for what you did for the community. We appreciate it and will look after your lady, Vida. We look forward to meeting you again one day in the future.”

"Dear Vida, we pray for you and thank you for looking after our friend and mentor, Tini. May God be with you and the family and may 2013 be a blessed year for you and the family.”

Rotary D9400 Vanderbijlpark Celeste, Jevon and Fabrice's Christmas party for the Matwala's Children's Home on 19 Decem-ber 2012 delighted many children. Every year the club has its Christmas Picnic Party for 140 children (6 to 12 years old). Matwala's kids within that age group attend this party but PE Celeste Lance, award winning young Jevon Orsmond and Rotarian Fabrice Kitenge arrange a separate party for the little ones under 6 years old who cannot attend the club's party. Seen right, Fabrice and Celeste "pump it up" with some of the kiddies, to the music of the juke box in the clubhouse of Old Vaaltonians. The children also received gifts from Father Christmas, plus clothes, sweets, ice cream, hot dogs and drinks. Van-derbijlpark President Hannes Malan helped with the gifts. Well done, Celeste, Jevon and Fabrice!

For those who have met the Clemmons family from Texas, it is with sadness that we announce that PAG/PP

Barbs’ father passed away on 27 December at age 98.

We wish Prof Gawie Lotter all the best with his forthcoming operation and his wife, Dr Majorie is

recovering from a serious operation.

Naomi Weinberg (Orange Grove) also passed away. The museum at the Rotary Centre was named after

Norman Weinberg, Naomi’s husband.

PP Brian Lovell (Blackheath) also passed away only three months after his wife Julia was called to higher

services.

District 9400’s member wish DGE Anneas Balt and his Ann, Valery Balt all the best for the trip to the USA. They will be

going to Miami, Houston and San Diego. The latter for the DGEs’ Assembly.

Have fun and bring back some wonderful and exciting news!

The New Generations Committee has decided to start the

year off with a bang!

Rtn Faith Mangope (Morningside) is chairing a committee that has organised the above seminar. Clubs are invited to send

representatives, youth members, Interactors and Rotaractors (where there are clubs) to attend. More details will be sent to you via

Clubrunner

Your entry fee? Please bring along a bag with toiletries - some folks will be bringing a ladies handbag (used or new). But we are also

looking for toiletries for men.