ROTARY BULLETIN  18 OCTOBER 2022

Next Meeting –   24 October 22 – There is no meeting on Monday 24 October, Labour Day.

31^st October 22 – District Polio Chair, Michelle Tanner will give a video presentation to mark World Polio Day. Bernie Gunn will speak to us about his upcoming Waka and solo paddle from Mahia to Napier to raise money for Outward Bound.

Rotary Bulletin – 18 October 22  –Stortford Lodge President Steve Kay welcomed us all, including members and partners of the Havelock North Club, noting it was great to see the room was at capacity with members and guests.  President-Elect Pascalle  Monachino of the Havelock North Club, and District Chair, Grant Spackman was also welcomed. Incoming President Pascale of the Havelock North Club thanked the Stortford Lodge Club for the warm welcome.

Havelock North Rotarian Max Patmoy was invited to introduce the Clubs to a movie, a premier fundraiser.  “The Lost King” is about Richard III, who was killed, but nobody could find his body.  The movie is to be held in Napier on 6th December 2022 and is a means of fundraising for Polio Awareness Month.

GUEST SPEAKER:   Stortford Lodge Rotarian Mike Alcock introduced our Guest Speaker, Georgina Langsdale, who is helping others through nature.  She has been described as a natural living guide, earth practitioner, and green mystic.  Originally born in the UK, came to New Zealand when she was 8 and later returned to the UK where she worked in the arts, but her love of nature led her to work for Kew Gardens and a United Nations environment programmme.  In 2013, having returned to New Zealand, she established a company called Archeus, making natural products and teaching people techniques to help them connect to nature.

Georgina advised that to retain a healthy peace of mind, it was important to identify when it happens, either walking or gardening, nature gives a sign – a sense of peace – peace of mind.  Albert Einstein advised:  “Look deep into nature – and you will understand everything better.”  It is important to understand that looking through natural transmissions enables one’s own understanding of experiences in culture.  She also advised that she has done a Masters in Climate Change, which was a great learning experience.  Georgina has also seen the importance of herbal medicines, to be used as spiritual medicines, working with inspiring minds, understanding relationships with nature, believing that time spent in natural surroundings is the best option for mental health – a buffer against stress, depression, and anxiety.  She believes the economic system is broken and also needs to depend on nature.  Creating an ethically balanced life needs different ways of thinking and living.

It is important to identify one’s own stories to tell our children.  Humanity has wiped out 60% of birds, animals, and plants – we need to identify how we can give youngsters hope – they need us more now, more than ever.  What actions need to be taken now – knowing we are going through rippling times?  In the 1500s, humans were seen as part of the cosmos – well-being as part of nature.  Getting out into nature is part of any cure.  

Rotary wife Wendy Spackman thanked Georgina for a hugely interesting and motivating address.

SERGEANT’S SESSION – Rotarian Peter Dunkerly of the Stortford Lodge Club ran a humorous and successful Sergeant’s Session and provided a bottle of wine for the raffle winner.

PROJECTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Children’s Books – Recently members of our Club, Havelock North, supported a group of Iona College Year 12 students in their social action project.   We collected children’s books for them to donate to students in low-decile schools.  The leader of the project, Ava Woodbury Rinkle, sent the following message:  The books will be greatly appreciated and please thank the members of the Havelock North Rotary Club, on our behalf of us, because without organisations like yours our project would not nearly be as successful as it is.
• Havelock North Rotary Club  At Rotary on Monday 7th November, the Guest Speaker will be Cristina Sanders who will give a talk about writing history and the background to her most recent books: Jerningham and Mrs Jewel and the Wreck of the General Grant.  As well as writing books, Cristina is a crew member on the youth training ship – Spirit of Adventure.  In order to accommodate a larger audience, we will hold this meeting at the Baptist Church on Te Aute Rd (opposite the James  Wattie Retirement Village).   Pure Catering will still provide the dinner at this venue.  More information will be provided at our next Rotary meeting.  Please put this in your diary  – not only a partners’ night but please also invite friends, neighbors, and potential members for what will be a thoroughly interesting talk.
• Havelock North Rotary Raffle Rotarian John thanked members of the Club for agreeing to continue to support raffle sales, he will be contacting others for settling the roster.
• ROTARY CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS. Attached see the flyer from District for these excellent Christmas puddings. At a cost of only $23 (the club makes $6 from this), the price is well below the retail price of similar quality but smaller puddings in other food outlets. Last year some of our members missed out because they didn’t order early enough, so get your orders in to me at stephen.randalnz@gmail.com or phone/text me at 021 586085.

PARTING THOUGHT from Stortford Lodge President Steve Kay:    “Thanks to the visitors of the Havelock North Rotary Club, the evening has been a fantastic journey.  A parting thought:  If opportunity doesn’t knock – build a door!”

Sue Forde
Bulletin Editor.