THE ROTARY CLUB

OF KNYSNA

NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2016

_____________________________________________________________

FROM MICK BY CLEFT STICK

Dear Friends

The Americans like to discuss events in the first hundred days of a term of office. Well, it is about 100 days since I was inducted and I feel a bit like our 100 day old Bouvier puppy, Rosie, never standing still for a second and always running at top speed. First there was the Cycle Tour and what a successful event that was! Everyone shared the opinion that the event was superbly organised. Congratulations to all our Rotarians and friends that participated. Then there were a flood of financial issues that needed attention: arrangements for the transfer of the Club’s accounts to a new business banking platform at Nedbank,

transferring the financial responsibilities from Rob to Sue, progressing the resolution of the Trust financial issues and preparation of the Club budgets by all the Committee Directors. The next hurdle was preparing for the visit by the District Governor in early August. Again each of the Committee Directors rose to the occasion and prepared a slide presentation to give to the DG. The Club took the opportunity to propose to the DG the idea that the clubs of the District combine their strengths to support a new Global Grant to assist the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town with their project to build and equip a new intensive care unit. The hospital treats severely ill patients from all over Southern Africa and occasionally, from other parts of Africa. Their burn wound section is world renown. The DG was keen on the idea and gave the task of selecting a suitable Rotary project to our club. Negotiations have proceeded with the hospital and have resulted in a recommendation to the DG that the clubs, through a Global Grant, support the procurement of Multiparameter Monitors of which the hospital requires 29. At the time of writing, we were waiting to see whether our recommendation has been accepted. Now the attention is swinging towards preparing for the SPLASH Festival in December. It is really important that we put on a slick show to help entice a major sponsor which is needed to make the event a financial success. The four events making up the Festival will be the Mud Run, Quack Attack, Knysna Lagoon Mile Swim and the Canoe Challenge. The timing and tides are awkward this year which has resulted in a decision to hold the festival in the week between Christmas and New Year on the 27. - 28. December. This is one of the three fundraising projects that our club undertakes annually and deserves the support of all our Rotarians. Time is also getting nearer for our club to host our visitors from overseas on the Rotary International Friendship Tour No. 35 in early November. A big thank you goes to Louise who is the organiser.

This is an excellent opportunity to extend our circle of overseas Rotary Club friends who could even become partners in our projects. Such a partnership with six Canadian Rotary Clubs was behind the successful Global Grant application to build a model preschool and preschool teachers training centre in Concordia, Knysna. After some frustrating town planning issues, the refurbishment of the school buildings is on programme to welcome the first intake of children and learner teachers early next year. Thanks to John Satchel, our Membership Chairman this year, two new members have been inducted since July. Chris Vermeulen and Owen Govender will no doubt both prove to be valuable members. In closing, I would like to thank all the members of our Rotary Club for their dedicated commitment to club activities, particularly the Board of Directors who have been called on to go the extra mile during the first few months of the Rotary year. Best wishes, Mick

ROTARY AWARENESS DAY The Club’s Rotary Awareness Day is organised to showcase some of our beneficiaries and to

remind the Knysna citizens of the work Rotary does together with our partners in the community.

The Awareness Day was recently held in the Knysna Mall. Each beneficiary set up a display with

information on its activities. Representatives from the various organisations as well as Rotarians

engaged in conversation with the public about their work. The organisations on display were the

NSRI, the Sea Cadets, Masithandane, Knysna Sport Academy, Knysna Education Trust, Hospice,

Red Cross, FAMSA, ePap, Epilepsy, Outward Bound and TSiBA University. Rotary Interactors and

Rotary Anns were also represented. These are just some of the organisations that benefit from the

fundraising efforts of Rotary Knysna, one of the most active clubs in the country.

Red Cross Outward Bound

Sea Cadets Performing President Mick celebrating 100 years of Foundation

ANNUAL INTERACT TRAINING DAY

Rotary Knysna recently held its annual Interact Training Day at Belvidere Manor. Interactors came

from eight Knysna schools as well as from George and Mossel Bay. At the training day the

Interactors learnt more about Rotary and how Interact is an integral part of Rotary. In addition the

annual Rotary Awards were given.

Knysna High School won the overall Interact Prize for 2016. This was for the amazing work that

this group of young people have done not only within their school, but also in their immediate

communities. Amongst some of their many achievements were helping raise funds for two Grade

11 learners who could not afford to attend their school camp, helping Loeriehof with their street

collections and founding a project called ‘Adopt-a-Grandfriend’. In this project they visit residents

of Loeriehof, read to them, play games with them and make them feel special on days such as

birthdays and Mother’s/Father’s Days. They were also very helpful during the Knysna Cycle Tour

in July when they helped out with the packing of cycle packs. Rotary Knysna congratulates the

Interact group of Knysna High school and wish all the Interact schools every success for the year

ahead.

TWO NEW CLUB MEMBERS

The Rotary Club of Knysna welcomes Chris

Vermeulen and Owen Govender as our two

newest members. Both Chris and Owen are well

integrated in the Knysna community and are

known for their commitment and dedication.

Chris is the director of FAMSA in Knysna and

Owen is the Knysna Estuary Manager at

SANPARKS. We look forward to many happy

hours of work and fellowship together.

Rotary Interact Students during Interact Training Day

Owen Govender Chris Vermeulen

ANNUAL EPILEPSY-ROTARY CRICKET CHALLENGE 2016

One of the highlights of the Rotary Club of Knysna is the annual cricket challenge between Epilepsy

and the Rotary Club of Knysna. The Epilepsy team is a strong force and spends much time during

the year practising their bowling and batting. This year the Rotarians had to fight fiercely to win the

coveted cup. It was the female contingent of the Rotary team, however, which batted in great style

and won the match for the club.

Afterwards spectators and players were rewarded with boerewors rolls, cold drinks and ice cream.

The real winners of the day, however, were the spirit and camaraderie that were generated with a

group of people who are not as fortunate as others. Some of the Knysna Rotarians have been

involved with this outing for more than 15 years and we have seen the ups and downs of most

residents of Epilepsy. This is one of the club’s most rewarding days. It makes you proud to be a

Rotarian.

INTERACT ART PROJECT

The Interact Clubs have been busy with an intensive and

creative art project. The learners were asked to

photograph informal and formal businesses throughout

Knysna. In this way they were forced to identify and

define “businesses” and careers. Rotary supplied some

cameras to the learners who did not have their own. The

learners were then asked to use the photographs to

construct a mosaic picture of a subject which they found

powerful and emotive. The Knysna turaco aka lourie on

the right is an example of such a composition. It is made

up of many small photos to form the composite picture.

This was composed by Interactors of Montessori. The

final products were exhibited during the recent Knysna

Arts Festival.

ERA’S EARLY THOUGHTS

In July 2016 I took over as President of the Rotary Anns, feeling out of my depth and

wondering how I was going to handle my first meeting, let alone guide the Anns through

an eventful year!

A sea of expectant faces of experienced Anns greeted myself, Secretary Isabelle Clark

and Treasurer Carol Emmanuel at the 1. August meeting. However, any doubts, fears

or anxiety simply evaporated as we got on with the business of a busy year! What a

wonderfully supportive group.… participating and encouraging myself and each other!

Next on the Anns’ calendar was the visit by Rotary DG Ian Pursch. Our challenge was

to present a five minute power point presentation outlining the aims and projects of our

busy service organisation. Ian was suitably impressed and congratulated the Anns on their

continued involvement in local projects.

The Rotary Awareness Day followed on 20. August at the Knysna Mall. The Anns once again rose

to the occasion and enlightened shoppers and visitors of their community projects. A wonderful

comradery was evident amongst Rotarians and other participating charity organisations.

Coming Up: The 21st Anniversary of the Vermont Service Centre! Anns have been longstanding

supporters of Vermont and are planning a scrumptious celebratory lunch for 20. October. The

service centre has 40 men and women volunteers who weekly attend Vermont to facilitate mental

and spiritual stimulation as well as craft activities and sport. A weekly exercise class is held by our

own Dot Purchase.

Our annual donation of Christmas gift bags is starting to take shape and will be delivered to the

elderly in time for the festive season.

Sincere thanks to all the Anns for their continued support and good advice. And, as the year races

on, together we will continue to strive to bring happiness to those less fortunate.

With warm greetings,

Ann President Era Law

UPCOMING EVENTS

23. October Bowls Day – Leisure Isle

29. October Rotary District Mini-Conference - Hermanus

8.-11. November RIFT 35 Visit

8. November Dinner with RIFT guests - Belvidere

12. November UN Rotary Day

29. November Bring & Braai – Knysna Yacht Club

27.-28. December SPLASH Festival Knysna

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

May you never miss a rainbow or a sunset because you are looking down – Anon.

We have enough people who tell it like it is – now we could use a few who tell it like it can be –

Robert Orben, b. 1927

Board Members 2016/2017

President – Mick Furman Past President – Peter Southey

Secretary – Graham Waterston Treasurer – Sue Fairweather Membership – John Satchel

Club Administration/President Elect – Doug Emanuel Service Projects – Henry Fairweather

Youth Service – Lesley Satchel Rotary Foundation – Neil Rotherham Public Image – Julie Staub

Anns’ President – Era Law