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MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT IAN BALLANTINE
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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT’S THEME FOR 2010-2011
The Rotary International for 2010-2011 is “Building Communities Bridging Continents”.
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THE ROTARY CLUB OF MONKSEATON CENTENARY
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George Westwater of the Rotary Club of Monkseaton Centenary in the UK made contact with the Rotary Club of Knysna to
“create friends” from different Rotary Clubs throughout the world, so that we can all share our experiences and spread our important motto 'Service above Self' not only in our local communities but across the globe”.
The Director of Public Relations, Ina, replied with information and news from the club and projects and received the following e-mail.
Ina,
Firstly, I would like to thank you for getting back in touch, it is very much appreciated. Thank you for the link to your Club's website and I have found it very informative and interesting. I look forward to receiving further copies of your new letters.
Monkseaton Centenary Rotary is a relatively new club, as we where permitted to establish the club to celebrate the 100th year of Rotary. We have gone from strength to strength. We have approximately 35 members with our eldest being 90 and our youngest being 26.
I have taken the liberty to attach some information on the club, which shows our international work and projects. This does not mean that we ignore our own local community, as this is the foundation and building blocks of our success and future.
I have relations in South Africa and they live in Witbank in the old Transvaal, I was over a few years ago and visited the Drakenburg Mountains, Pilgrim's Rest, Graskop and the famous Kruger National Park. I was amazed at the sheer beauty and size of your country.
I am the Youth Services Chairman of the Club and I would like, if I may continue to send you information on the activities and exciting ideas that we plan to develop. Plus other news as it develops. Friendship between clubs is so important and this gives us all an insight into our different communities and countries.
You may ask where Monkseaton is. We are in the area of England known as Tyne & Wear (population 1.1 million) which is named after the 2 main rivers in the area, the Tyne and Wear. This is in the North East of England. Bordering the North Sea (and believe me it can get very cold with the Arctic winds coming down from Scandinavia. North of us the rural English county of Northumberland, which then borders onto the border with Scotland (which is where I am originally from) South of us is County Durham, known as the Land of Bishop Princes.
I have also added some pictures of our local area and would really like to send you some information on the history and the beauty of our area. Is it okay to post a small brochure to the club for you to view at your leisure. I would need an address or PO Box from you if that is okay.
I shall attach some photographs of my local area to this email as promised.
I hope that we can continue to communicate. Wishing you the best in all you do.
All the best
George
Ps. You asked if I enjoy football, not really I prefer Rugby, I hope the World Cup goes well and it will do wonders for South Africa.
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Alnwick Castle |
Gallery-Seaton-Delaval-Ha
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| Soccer Opening Day |
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Members of the Rotary Club of Knysna enjoy fellowship with the opening of the
Fifa World Cup Soccer competition, |
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| Soccer-lunch Meeting |
President Ian
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| Albert and John |
Franc, Des and Elwin |
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| DONATION OF DELINEATORS TO ROTARY |
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Mr Stuart Tanner from Haw and Inglis, who have played a significant role in the success of the "new road" along on the western side of Knysna, has been assisting the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour over the past few months. Mr Tanner has been working with the event office by providing diagrams of the new road before its completion so that both the Traffic Departments and organizers could assess the safety and viability of taking the route back to a its original route for the first time since 2004.
Haw and Inglis have been very generous in donating 100 new delineators to the Rotary Club of Knysna which will be used in order to control the flow of traffic over the cycle tour weekend. These delineators will serve to protect the cyclists as there will be a dedicated lane coming in to the finish stretch down Waterfront Drive.
Mr Elwin Thompson who is managing the start and finish of the Cycle Tour for the Rotary Club of Knysna, thanked Mr Tanner for the support of the event and congratulated Haw and Inglis on the efficient and professional completion of the new "White Bridge Road"
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Elwin Thompson, Stuart Tanner and Mike Mills with the delineators donated by Haw and Inglis |
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| THE ANNUAL CYCLE RACE |
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With the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour a few weeks away, it is all hands on deck. The members of the Rotary Club of Knysna have organised three mountain bike races for Saturday, 2 July, and two road races and a children’s race for Sunday, 3 July. The change of venue from Loerie Park to the High School field presented a number of challenges, but after negotiations, the problems were solved. The final arrangements are now on hand with meetings with the traffic department, the police, ambulance services and many other organisations involved to ensure the safety of the participants and the public.
All the money raised at this event will be used for service projects in the community.
The Rotarians want to make this tour the highlight of the Oyster Festival starting with the registration on the Friday at 13h00 at the Festival venue.
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| Elwin Thompson, John Satchel, Andre Sandiford and Rob Pawson are having fun while cleaning the signage for the cycle tour. |
Members of the Club and friends pack the 6500 numbers and brochures |
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| ROTARY CLUB OF KNYSNA AND SOLAR CONNECTION |
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60 students benefit from solar power!
A solar water heating system was installed at TSiBA Campus at Karatara providing hot water for the male and female hostels and the kitchens. The Rotary Club of Knysna donated R46’000 and TSiBA contributed R10’000 towards these costs.
TSiBA aims at becoming a “green” campus with the smallest carbon footprint possible. A first step was to reduce its substantial monthly electricity consumption. After a long investigation by Linden Booth of TSiBA and Rotary, the most suitable and cost-effective system was identified. Existing systems in other organisations were looked at and evaluated and input and quotations were sought from various local solar system suppliers.
The chosen system was custom-made by a local Knysna manufacturer, Tony Sprong of Solar Connection, who went the extra mile to find the optimal solution. Monthly savings of approximately R1’000 are expected and the system is likely to pay for itself in three years. An ongoing project in the syllabus will be to monitor energy used and to calculate savings.
At the same time TSiBA’s rainwater collection system was expanded. The next step will be to harness the campus’ grey water to irrigate its vegetable gardens. The overall benefits are not only financial in the long term, but also embody an awareness of respecting and caring for our planet.
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Attention: Derrick Iken, Mike Smerdon (Rotary) and Tony Sprong (Solar Connection)
Dear Derrick, Mike, Tony and all at Rotary Knysna
It has been a long time dream at Eden (now TSiBA Eden) Campus to begin walking our talk as a green business school. The road there always seemed so long and expensive! Especially considering that we had and have so many other financial priorities.
To have been donated the full quota of the hostel and campus’ needs for solar geyser requirements by one organization, has shown such generosity towards, and faith in, TSiBA Eden, that is something that we will never forget. To have it installed by a company such as Solar Connection headed by Tony Sprong was an added gift as he has shown such care and dedication to service and going the extra mile.
It has really kick-started our green - drive on a major scale. TSiBA has a philosophy of “Paying it Forward” and in line with this, Rotary have done the same. The savings will go on saving this NGO thousands of rand over time, and the planet itself, for years to come.
We say thank you, thank you, thank you! Your gift will go on ‘paying it forward’ for many years of students at TSiBA Eden.
With deep gratitude from the TSiBA team
Sandy Ueckermann
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AWARDS TO THE INTERACT CLUBS
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The Rotary Interact Clubs of Knysna Secondary School and Percy Mdala High School attended the Rotary Lunch Meeting to receive their “Awards for their Excellent Service to their Schools and their Communities”.
Interact Presidents Ricardo Smith and Delia Lesapo with President Ian Ballantine and Rotarian Mendy Weiner.
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AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLAR DAMIAN J LAHOUD
Extract from the SANAMANG
| To describe my experience in Sweden over the past year is an impossible task to do in only a few short paragraphs. Dog sledding within the polar circle in pitch darkness at one in the afternoon. Dancing the samba at a Latin festival in the heart of Copenhagen. Diving into snow at -30’C after a staunch sauna session. Eating ice cream while watching the swans on a sunny spring day in Stockholm. Studying with a diverse group of international students and experiencing all the wonders of Swedish student life. People opening their homes to you as if you were family and sharing Swedish customs and traditions that seem to always involve loads of food. Actually it seems a little unreal that I could have done so much in only one year. |
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All these memories, plus countless more, are all due to one organisation, Rotary, and its Ambassadorial Scholarship program. Not only did Rotary fund the entire experience, but no matter where I went or what I did there was always a Rotarian willing to help me. With Rotary you are never alone; you become part of a family with 1.2 million members who will always make you feel welcome with many becoming lifelong friends. All that is asked in return is that you do your part to make the world a better place. Whether it’s by giving presentations on South Africa, volunteering with local charities or by simply talking to people about your hometown it all contributes to promoting international goodwill and to Rotary that is the most important thing. In my opinion it is a very small price to pay and a service I do gladly.
To study at an International university and experience a unique year abroad is something will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Damian will be back in Johannesburg on Friday 30 July and in George on Saturday 31 July.
From: Damian J Lahoud [mailto:djlahoud@gmail.com]
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President: Franc Bentley; Past President: Ian Ballantine;
Secretary: Graham Waterston; Treasurer: Adrian Auckland;
Club Administration: Rob Clark;
Service Projects: Alan Warne;
New Generations: Mendy Weiner;
Rotary Foundation: Peter Southey;
Public Relations: Ina Thompson;
Anns President: Penny Bentley |
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