FEBRUARY 2012
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OUR CLUB DIARY
FEBRUARY PROGRAMME
February
February
February
February
7th
14th
21st
28th
WORLD UNDERSTANDING MONTH
Past President’s Meeting – FAMILY EVENING
Marguerite Spies Touring with the World Orchestra
Mark Easton Rescuetech
Outgoing Exchange Student’s report back
DUTY TEAM
Gordon Rechner - Team Leader
Sue Whitmore, Elaine Redington, Ken Burgess
February
February
February
February
February
7th
14th
21st
28th
SERGEANT’S DUTY LIST
Lionel Bousfield
Selwyn Comrie
Don Perks
Marc Michell
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Roy Beck
NB. It is the responsibility of members to arrange replacements should they be unable to attend and advise
the Master Sergeant, Ken Burgess, of such changes.
CLUB WEB SITE - www.rotarykloof.co.za
DISTRICT WEB SITE – WWW.ROTARY9270.ORG.ZA
RI WEB SITE- WWW.ROTARY.ORG
Club President – Gary Sharpe – [email protected]
Secretary - Tony Robson – [email protected]
Bulletin Editor - Gretchen McCormick - [email protected]
Welfare Officer – Tony Robson – [email protected]
------------------------000OOO000--------------------------------
Two guys are drinking in a bar.
One says, "Did you know that Lions have sex 10 to 15 times a night?"
"BUGGER !" says his friend. "And I just joined Rotary....."
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FUTURE DATES TO REMEMBER
February
February
February
March
March
March
March
3rd
11th
18th
03rd
17th
23rd
31st
Iphithi walk/get together - fundraiser
Basic PRLS
Master PRLS 1
AG Training / PETS
Master PRLS 2
Team Talk Finals
District Assembly
February
February
February
February
6th
6th
13th
20th
Youth Committee and Community Service
Vocational Committee
Club Administration
Board Meeting
February
February
February
February
13th
16th
17th
23rd
Karen Knapton
Paul Sims
Ronel Perks
Gary Rose
February
12th
Malcolm & Charlette Baron
BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
BIRTHDAYS
ANNIVERSARIES
Ubuntu Crisis centre hand out of toys for Christmas
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Towards the end of November a handful of us attended a fellowship braai at Palmiet, organized by Carolyn
Higgs (President of Pinetown Rotary), which succeeded in getting some of the Highway clubs to enjoy
some fellowship together.
On the 6th of December we had to vote on the selection of executive officers for the Rotary year of
2011/2012. Anthony Tollow was the only volunteer for the job of president and he was voted in as the
President Elect unanimously. Thankfully, both the treasurer, Peter Scorgie, and secretary, Tony Robson,
agreed to continue in post and were duly voted in.
On the Wednesday some Rotarians and Anns went to the annual Argus School graduation evening – a
really uplifting event. Whenever you attend such an evening you’re glad that Kloof Rotary continue to help
sponsor such a wonderful institution.
On the Thursday Ian Foster and I attended the Charter Dinner for the new club of Durban Kingsmead, so
although Rotary seems to be shrinking there are actions in motion to reverse the trend. Our Board had
agreed to sponsor part of their required regalia and a cheque was handed over.
On the following Friday we supported Ingrid Edelson on the pleasant task of delivering some 300 toys,
collected by East Coast Radio (ECR), to the Ubuntu Crisis Centre. These were later given out to the
children along with hot dogs and oranges donated by our wonderful Rotary Anns.
Shortly after we assisted the indefatigable Ingrid with collecting food boxes, supplied by ECR, and
delivering them to the Ubuntu Crisis Centre.
On a sad note we have had to say goodbye to Pam Picken, Mark Hayworth and Brian Reddington, who
have all relocated to Cape Town. To offset this we had the pleasant task of inducting Tracey Oerder into
the club just before we closed for Christmas.
In January we were able to collect 20 wheelchairs that had been ordered through Rotary. Elaine and I had
the pleasant task of handing over 4 to the Hillcrest Aids Centre who were very grateful. In the same week
Denzil’s son donated some 40 cases of Energade left over from ‘The Comrades’ which we split between
the Ubuntu Crisis Centre, The Hillcrest Aids Centre and a Rotary New Generations project, the Inanda
Black Aces - a young boys’ football team.
‘Bye for now,
Gary
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...... Letter from Kloof with apologies to Alistair Cooke
2012 I am not sure where 2011 went it seemed to pass so quickly!
I hope this year will be a year of happiness and good health to you and the people you hold dear.
2011 ended with the Anns taking food and gifts to the children at the Ubuntu Crisis Centre. The faces
of those children as they received their Christmas gift, for many their only gift, made all our effort
worthwhile. It was humbling when I thought how much we have and how easy it is to take it for
granted.
2012 began with the distribution of towels from Glodina. We were able to help 7 charities with much
needed towels. These 7 charities were suggested by the Anns. Thank you Anns. I am always so
grateful that you reply to my ‘e’ mails so quickly.
Our January meeting was our ‘Welcome to 2012’ party. This was in place of a Christmas party. Jill
recommended the venue, which had stunning views. The 16 Anns who were able to go, cast of the
restraints of the ‘post festive’ diets and had a great time.
2011 also ended with wonderful news. Di became a Granny. Patsy, Will and Rex Daniel are doing well.
We all look forward to seeing the photos of Rex when Di returns from her visit.
I know we shall tackle 2012 with determination and good humour.
Take care.
Elaine
KLOOF ROTARY ANNS DISTRIBUTED OVER 2000 TOYS TO THE NEEDY CHILDREN IN THE UPPER HIGHWAY AREA. ALL
TOYS CAME FROM THE TOY STOREY OF EAST COAST RADIO.
ATTACHED ARE 2 PHOTOS OF ANNS AT THE UBUNTU CRISIS CENTRE DELIVERING THE TOYS. AND THE OTHER PHOTO
SHOWS SOME HAPPY KIDS RECEIVING A TOY.
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EDITORIAL
The current plight of the Costa Concordia reminds me of a comment made by Churchill.
After his retirement he was cruising the Mediterranean on an Italian cruise liner.
Some Italian journalists asked why an ex British Prime Minister should choose an Italian ship.
“There are three things I like about being on an Italian cruise ship” said Churchill.
“First their cuisine is unsurpassed."
"Second their service is superb."
"And then, in time of emergency, there is none of this nonsense about women and children first”.
This is me after such a
relaxing break over
the festive season.
Till next month
Gretchen
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OUT AND ABOUT
13 December Raid and Braai
Our last meeting in December ended with a braai – Colin Kelly – President of the 1000 Hills club joined us
together with members of his club and raided our club on this evening. We also experienced a total power
blackout, held the meeting in near darkness and braaied by torch light.
“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how
impressive their other talents”
- Andrew Carnegie
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Meeting – 13th December
Raid by the 1000 Hills club
Induction
- Tracy Oerder
Merit glasses given to
- Ingrid Edelson for organising, collecting and helping distribute lots of ECR’s toys.
Andrena Foster for organising, with the Rotary Anns, 150 hampers
Tracy being inducted by P. Gary
Ingrid receiving her merit glass
Presentation of banner from 1000 Hills club
Andrena receiving her merit glass
Pam Picken giving her farewell speech – you will be missed !!
Meeting – 10th January 2012
Sergeant
Guest Speaker
- Paul Sims
- Malcolm Barron
'
Malcolm Barron gave a fascinating talk about the Chota Motala Bridge project at Pietermaritzburg. Malcolm, a civil
engineering consultant, is the project leader and is assisted by 40 staff – civil engineers, surveyors, architects,
engineers and also 200 labourers. He gave an interesting insight into the complex nature of the project and its
inherent challenges.
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IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by
Erma Bombeck
(Written after she found out she was dying from
cancer)
•
I would have gone to bed when I was sick
instead
of pretending the earth would go
into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the
day.
•
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted
like a rose before it melted in storage.
•
I would have talked less and listened more.
•
I would have invited friends over to dinner even
if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
• I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good'
living room and worried much less about the
dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the
fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen
to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I
would have shared more of the responsibility
carried by my husband. I would never have
insisted the car windows be rolled up on a
summer day because my hair had just been
teased and sprayed.
• I would have cried and laughed less while
watching television and more while watching
life.
•
I would never have bought anything just
because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or
was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
•
Instead of wishing away nine months of
pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment
and realized that the wonderment growing
inside me was the only chance in life to assist
God in a miracle.
•
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would
never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up
for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love
you's', more 'I'm sorry's.'
• But mostly, given another shot at life, I would
seize every minute, look at it and really see it ...
live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING
THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who
doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing
what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we
have with those who do love us.
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Meeting – 17th January
Sergeant
Guest Speaker
-
Richard de Goede
Ray Whitmore – ‘Wildlife Photography’
Ray is thanked by Richard
Bates.
Ray gave a well illustrated
talk about his passion for
photography and in
particular wild life
photography.
Meeting – 24th January
Sergeant
Guest Speaker
- Ken Burgess
- Barbara Johnson on ‘Leadership’
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DIVORCE vs. MURDER
A nice, calm and respectable lady went into the pharmacy, walked up
to the pharmacist, looked straight into his eyes, and said,
"I'd like to buy some cyanide."
The pharmacist asked, "Why in the world do you need cyanide?"
The lady replied, "I need it to poison my husband."
The pharmacist's eyes got big and he explained, "Lord have mercy! I
can't give you cyanide to kill your husband, that's against the law!
I'll lose my license! They'll throw both of us in jail! All kinds of
bad things will happen. Absolutely not! You CAN NOT have any
cyanide!"
The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her
husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife.
The pharmacist looked at the picture and said, "You didn't tell me
you had a prescription.
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Meeting – 31st January
Sergeant
Guest Speaker
-
Ken Burgess
Dr Garth Skinner – ‘Cochlear Implants’
Ken doing a marvelous job - twice in a row!!!
Don Perks
thanked Dr
Skinner for his
extremely
interesting talk on
cochlear implants
and the success
rate achieved in
operating on
children under
the age of 5 yrs
old.
Cardiologist and Motorcycle Mechanic
A motorcycle mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a BMW M3
when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop.
The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at
his car when the mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to take a look at
this?" The cardiologist, a bit surprised walked over to where the mechanic was
working on the motorcycle.
The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at
this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or replaced anything
damaged, and then put everything back in, and when I finished, it worked just like
new. So how is that I make R24,000 a year and you make R1.7M when you and I are
doing basically the same work?"
The cardiologist paused, leaned over, and then whispered to the mechanic.....
"Try doing it with the engine running."
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BACK PAGE
A SENIOR MOMENT: I HOPE I HAVE THEM LIKE THIS
A 98 year old woman in the UK wrote this to her bank. The bank manager
thought it amusing enough to have it published in the Times.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I
endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three
nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque
and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it. I refer,
of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my Pension, an
arrangement, which, I admit, has been in place for only thirty eight
years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of
opportunity, and also for debiting my account £30 by way of penalty for
the inconvenience caused to your bank.
My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has
caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I
personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to
contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, prerecorded, faceless entity which your bank has become. From now on,
I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.
My mortgage and loan payments will therefore and hereafter no longer
be automatic, but will arrive at your bank by cheque, addressed
personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you
must nominate. Be aware that it is an offence under the Postal Act for
any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an
Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to
complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as
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much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no
alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history
must be countersigned by a Solicitor, and the mandatory details of
his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be
accompanied by documented proof.
In due course, I will issue your employee with PIN number which he/she
must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than
28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses
required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank
service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press
buttons as follows:
1. To make an appointment to see me.
2. To query a missing payment.
3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.
5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.
7. To leave a message on my computer (a password to access my
computer is required. A password will be communicated to you at a
later date to the Authorized Contact.)
8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through to 8.
9. To make a general complaint or inquiry, the contact will then be put
on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.
While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will
play for the duration of the call.
Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an
establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.
May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year.
Your Humble Client
(Remember: This was written by a 98 year old woman; )
DOESN'T SHE MAKE YOU PROUD!
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