Rotary Africa March 2017

ROTARY AFRICAEstablished 1927 • A member of the Rotary World Magazine Press • March 2017

www.rotaryafrica.com

situation: critical


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4 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦March 2017

Editor Sarah van HeerdenAdministration Sharon Robertson

Chairman Gerald SieberhagenDirectors Greg Cryer Andy Gray Peter Hugo Anton Meerkotter Natty Moodley

Publisher Rotary in Africa Reg. No. 71/04840/08 (incorp. association not for gain) PBO No: 18/13/13/3091 Registered at the GPO as a newspaper

Design & Layout Rotary in Africa

Printers Colour Planet, Pinetown

Advertising Sharon Robertson Sarah van Heerden Tariff card on request at www.rotaryafrica.com

Subscriptions Sharon Robertson www.rotaryafrica.com (digital)

Contributions [email protected]

Distribution Rotary Districts 9210, 9211, 9212, 9220, 9350, 9370 and 9400 (Southern and Eastern Africa)

Contact Rotary Africa P.O. Box 563 Westville 3630 South Africa

Telephone 0027 (31) 267 1848Fax 0027 (31) 267 1849Email [email protected] www.rotaryafrica.com

The Rotary Emblem, Rotary International, Rotary, Rotary Club and Rotarian are trademarks of Rotary International and are used under licence. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Rotary Africa, Rotary International or The Rotary Foundation.

MEET THE TEAM From the editor

Sarah

CURSE THEMThis month we decided our magazine would highlight the contribution some of our clubs are making towards the rhino anti-poaching movement. After a brutal and concerning month of rhino-related headlines, such as the attack on the rhino orphanage, the delay in releasing the final 2016 poaching statistics and possible change to South African legislation regarding rhino horn trade, drawing attention to the cause seemed appropriate.

While researching the topic, I discovered that there are not even 6 000 black rhino left in the wild. That means that southern Africa has more Rotarians than rhinos! I am sorry, but that seems unnatural and with all due respect to our membership development folks, I honestly feel that we should have more rhinos than Rotarians.

As I wrote that paragraph, my righteous indignation gave way to an ill-timed fit of giggles as I imagined some of our members muttering about there being more than enough RINOS (Rotarians In Name Only) in Rotary!

Back to my point; I am incredibly proud of what our clubs are accomplishing. The poachers are becoming more and more brutal and nothing is sacred to them. As long as our clubs are undertaking effective anti-poaching projects to support those on the front lines to help the reserves and orphanages and to increase public awareness, we will continue to brag about and promote their activities.

There is a phenomenal Rotary Action Group, Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species (RAGES), which has thrown its weight behind the preservation and protection of the rhino.

As rhino conservation is a cause which is dear to me, I follow the activities of many organisations involved in the field. There are so many fantastic and inspiring groups which are doing tremendous work and receiving little recognition. I think that by supporting as many of the club projects and the conservation organisations as possible, we might just win this war.

I was outraged at the increased brutality of these poaching attacks but then I realised something; perhaps the extreme brutality is indicative of a sense of desperation among the poachers. Perhaps, they are feeling a little pressured because all the anti-poaching activities are working... I hope I am right.

Have a wonderful month,



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mailto:rotaryafrica%40mweb.co.za?subject=


https://www.facebook.com/rotaryafricamag


JOHN F GERMPresident, Rotary International

Message from the

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ON THE WEBSpeeches and news from RI President John F Germ at www.rotary.org/office-president

DEAR FELLOW ROTARIANS,

Forty years ago, the Rotary Club of Duarte (D5300, USA) admitted three women members, in violation of the Rotary International Constitution. As a result, the club’s charter was terminated by RI.

Undeterred, the club’s members continued to meet. They put an X over their Rotary insignia, made themselves new pins and dubbed themselves the Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte as they continued to fight for the right of women to serve as Rotarians. Ten years later, a restored Rotary Club of Duarte sent Sylvia Whitlock, Rotary’s first female club president, to a presidents-elect training seminar. Not long after that, in 1989, Rotary’s Council on Legislation permanently ended Rotary’s status as a men-only organisation.

Today, with more than 240 000 women in our clubs, Rotary is stronger than ever. We are women and men from nearly every country of the world, serving our communities in more than 35 000 clubs. At the club level, we need men and women of all backgrounds, ages, cultures and professions. Internationally, we need clubs in every city, country and region of the world. The better our clubs reflect their communities, the better we

can serve them. Our diversity is our strength.It is difficult for most of us to imagine today why

anyone argued so strongly against the idea of women in Rotary. Looking back, I think that opposition came from a simple resistance to change. Rotarians loved Rotary the way it was and couldn’t imagine it any other way.

We still love Rotary as much as we ever did. We love the friendships and connections we make there and the ability Rotary provides us to serve humanity. We believe Rotary has tremendous value in our own lives and in the world at large. And we recognise, more than ever, that for Rotary to continue to grow, it needs to embrace the world it serves – in all of its diversity, all of its variety and all of its evolving needs for service.

The Rotarians of today owe a debt of gratitude to the Rotarians of Duarte 40 years ago. Their determination, persistence and enduring goodwill set the stage for the organisation we have become: Rotary Serving Humanity.


Foundation Trustee Chair’s message

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

First. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

Second. High ethical standards in business and professions; the

recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

Third. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;

Fourth. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a

world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Of the things we think, say or do:1) Is it the TRUTH?2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Object of Rotary

The Four-Way Test

what you should know

Join in and show your support for The Rotary Foundation. Here are some ways to get involved:• Plan a Rotary Day in your community to raise awareness of Rotary and its Foundation.• Promote projects your club or district is involved in that are funded by the Foundation. Share your photos

and stories on your social media pages using #TRF100.• Empower The Rotary Foundation to support the good

work of Rotary clubs by making a special contribution.• Apply for a grant from the Foundation to fund a project.• Attend the Rotary Convention in Atlanta, 10-14 June 2017.

CELEBRATE THE FOUNDATION CENTENNIAL

Kalyan BanerjeeFOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR

TRANSFORM LIVES WITH YOUR GIFTWhen you give to The Rotary Foundation, you can be completely confident that your fellow Rotarians put those donations to work on life-changing projects in our six areas of focus. That confidence should inspire our continued support, especially when we consider the remarkable results.

In March, as we observe Water and Sanitation Month, let’s take a closer look at how Rotarian-led projects are providing millions of people with access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities. This area of focus has long been high on many Rotarians’ service agendas and for good reason – 663 million people do not have access to clean water and one-third of the world’s population live without access to a toilet.

Think about how different life would be if you had to spend hours each day fetching water or worry about the threat of dysentery, cholera, Guinea worm and a host of other waterborne diseases.

Our efforts in providing clean water have far-reaching

effects. An estimated 10 000 clubs participate in water and sanitation-related projects, with strong support from our Foundation. In 2015/16 alone, The Rotary Foundation provided $19 million for global grants in this area of focus.

And that’s just one of the six critically important issues that our Foundation is addressing today. In 2015/16, our Foundation provided $76 million for all Global Grants, which also fight disease, save mothers and children, promote peace, support education and provide economic opportunities to many people worldwide. Your gifts are what make this good work possible.

Our Foundation was conceived in 1917 to “do good in the world,” and that is exactly what it has been doing for 100 years. To celebrate this milestone, I encourage all Rotarians to consider making a special centennial contribution to ensure that we continue our urgent and transformational work throughout the world.

Share your celebratory events. Email articles and photos to [email protected]


Convention

SOUTHERN ESCAPESFlorida and South Carolina get more praise for their beaches, but Georgia has a coastline full of natural beauty that is still largely untarnished by tourism. You can share the secret when you’re in Atlanta for the 2017 Rotary International Convention from 10 to 14 June. All you need is a few extra days and a car.

Perhaps the most treasured spot along the Georgia coast is neither a beach nor unknown. The 1994 best-seller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil made Savannah famous and tourists have flocked there ever since. Don’t let its popularity scare you off: The city’s deep history and gorgeous antebellum architecture are worth the three and a half-hour drive.

Half an hour down the road from Savannah, you’ll reach Tybee Island. Life on “Tybee time,” as locals call it, is laid-back and low-key. You’ll find local seafood joints and plenty of opportunity to ride bikes, sea-kayak, dolphin-watch and of course, take a dip in the Atlantic.

Driving a couple of hours further south will get you to the Golden Isles, which are further off the beaten path. With marshland and forests in addition to beaches, the Golden Isles are a haven for nature lovers, fishermen, horseback riders and golfers. It’s a far cry from staying at a luxurious hotel in Miami, but if you ask the locals, that’s a very good thing and you might just agree with them!

– Deblina Chakraborty

Rotary Members: 1 227 217Clubs: 35 263

Rotaract Members: 226 389Clubs: 9 843

Interact Members: 483 230Clubs: 21 010

RCC Members: 210 500Corps: 9 154

AT A GLANCE

* As of 30 November 2016


by PDG Andrew Jaeger, Regional Rotary Coordinator

IF TIRED, REST, DON’T QUIT“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” Parker Palmer

When I came across this quote it made me realise how important it is that we as Rotarians are kind and caring to ourselves and our fellow Rotarians.

As Rotarians we are often confronted with and witness hardship, problems and serious need in our communities. It takes an emotional and sometimes physical toll on us. Most of us believe that the satisfaction of a successfully completed project energises us and is enough to fuel us mentally and physically for the next challenge.

The reality is however that while the immediate positive energy is good at that the time, it is often not enough to keep us mentally and physically healthy. We are confronted with feelings of guilt and hopelessness because our resources are so few and the need is so great.

It is normal for Rotarians to become tired and despondent and they sometimes leave the organisation because they have “had enough”. Before you leave; sit back and think have you really had enough or are you just tired?

As club members we should also be sensitive to our fellow Rotarians and notice when they are burning the candle at both sides, perhaps step up and help lighten the load.

Remember the old cliché? “Take care of yourself first or you will have nothing left to give others.” Or “ we can’t give what we don’t have.” We are so programmed to put the needs of others first that when we make ourselves a priority it sometimes fills us with feelings of selfishness.

If you are feeling like this it is good to stop, take a break, reflect and reassess your priorities as individuals and clubs. Here are some suggestions to help you do it.

1. Understand that you can’t be everything for everyone. Accept that and be ok with it.

2. Value yourself, your time and your energy. You are worth a lot more than you think.

3. Schedule relaxation and recharge time. Make sure your club makes time for fellowship and schedule a social get together to relax in a supportive environment.

4. Unload your worries. Most of the things we worry about will never happen and the rest is often out of our control.

5. Surround yourself with supportive people. You probably have several people in your life who support you in some way. So let them know when and how they can help.

6. Unplug yourself. Choose to disconnect from the world, turn off your phone, your laptop, social media and the TV for an hour a day or if you can, try to disconnect for a day.

7. Every week make sure you have at least a few hours of ‘me time’. This is the time when you get to do whatever you want on your own without any interruption. Maybe it’s simply going for a solitary walk and let your thoughts take over but don’t spend time trying to solve anything on this walk. Whatever it is, make sure you do this at least once a week.

8. Eat and drink well. 9. Play - Have fun. Laughing and letting go is a

simple and effective method of recharging10. Dream - By letting your imagination run wild,

you not only allow for a few moments of escape but you allow for your creative energies to be recharged. You may surprise yourself with a great new idea.

11. Breathe – When stress rises people often forget to breathe.

12. Sleep - Its value is often underestimated and yet it is vitally important to our physical and emotional well-being. Sleep allows your body and brain to recover and regenerate new cells which keep you strong and healthy. So simply put, closing your eyes, taking a nap or getting a full nights sleep is a simple way to re-energise your body and mind.

Our body, mind and soul are our unique special house which we were given to live in, it is our responsibility to take care of it and treat it with the utmost respect.

And with that I need to kick back and relax. Take time out to slow down; as my body has been telling me to do so for a while now

Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. - Maya Angelou


WATER ISN’T EVERYTHING

Foundation matters

By PDG Patrick Coleman: Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Zone 20A South

Water Isn’t Everything. This statement may be technically correct, but we need food and we need water to grow and cook our food. We need shelter and everything we need to build - from concrete to timber - needs water. We need clothing and both cotton and wool cannot be produced without water. Water isn’t everything but, physically speaking, everything we need begins with water. We drink it either as coffee, tea or “straight up” with ice – or not. We cook with it. We bathe in it. We wash our clothes in it.

Without water the human race would simply cease to exist in less than a few weeks. Yet, estimates of between 800 million and 1.2 billion people have no access to a sustainable and clean source of drinking water.

A few years ago, I visited a school as the Luanshya District Education Board Chairman. When Mr Chileshe, the school principal, met us, I asked him what was the biggest challenge his school faced. As a former school principal, I assumed that he would list items such as staff shortages, insufficient desks or schoolbooks. However, he surprised me when he said “Dysentery.”

I asked him how many children were enrolled at the school. He said 276. I asked how learners were suffering from dysentery. He said 276 and added that the educators and other staff members also suffered from it.

We went to the school’s water source and discovered the problem: A shallow well with no cover and a rusty bucket was being used to bring the water to the surface. Nearly 2 000 people were being poisoned every day by bad water.

The Rotary Club of Luanshya (D9210) partnered with the Rotary Club of Marietta (D6900, USA) and The Rotary Foundation in a project to provide “Water for Education in Zambia.”

There is no “One Size Fits All” Water Project and many factors needed to be considered.

A decision needed to be made as to what pump to choose. There were a number of different models such as hand pumps, treadle pumps, step dams and solar powered pumps. A plan for proper sanitation also needed to be formulated (if you drink it, you will pass it) as without proper toilets the job would be incomplete. There were many styles and models for sanitation facilities depending on location and logistics to choose from: • Basic Vented Pit Latrines: Simple, clean and

relatively long-lasting. • The Blair Latrine: More complex, a bit cleaner and

longer lasting. • The Composting Latrine: Very complex, much

cleaner and longer lasting. As the name suggests, it creates compost for small gardens.

• Arbour homes: More practical for rural homes. They are temporary, very simple and self-composting every few months. Not “fancy,” but practical.

It was also decided that hand washing seminars would be held at schools.

We continued working with the Kasongo Village and supplied insecticide treated mosquito nets to every house in the village - a “natural” second step for improving health in Africa. We also supplied every house with a bio-sand filter which makes the water 97 percent pure.

The project was undertaken using local workers, local resources and by supporting local families. This ensured ownership of the project and empowered the residents. By supporting the “champions” in the village, we helped them control their own future.

This kind of project can and is being replicated all across our continent. We place a high value on the sustainability of our projects and there are ways to ensure they will be. We must consider factors such as the local culture, political landscape, geographical limitations, religious situations and financial constraints of the communities we plan to assist.

There are three ways to best do this:1. Talk to the local constituency and ask “What do

they want?”2. Liaise with local government and ask “What

does it allow?”3. Confer with local NGOs and ask “What can they

do?”Another important consideration is networking with

other Rotary clubs to find out what worked, what did not work and how it can be made better.

Lastly, Share Your Successes! Rotary Success Stories are some of the best keep

secrets on the planet! We want to know what you are doing! Send two of your BEST photos (1 mb minimum) and short descriptions of your successful projects to Rotary Africa, Your International Partners, your District PR Chairperson, The WASRAG web site, The ROTA Facebook group and share it on your district, club and personal Facebook sites.

Remember: It all starts with water… But it really starts with you!

Luanshya Rotarians Sherry Coleman, Julie Lamsis and principal Chilenga using the new well.

10 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦March 2017The PolioPlus Summary Report for the Rotary year 2016/17 for Zone 20 as of 26 January.

Rotary Africa is distributed to seven Rotary districts in southern and eastern Africa (Districts 9210, 9211, 9212, 9220, 9350, 9370 and 9400) and it is heartening to see the contributions each of these districts has made towards PolioPlus.

RI President John Germ announced as part of his 2016/17 Presidential Citation, that he would give a special citation to districts which contribute at least 20 percent of their District Designated Fund to PolioPlus.

Refer to the table below, you will see the 20 percent target for each district in the first column. What is not reflected is that as of 1 February, after D9240 gave $9 276 to PolioPlus, four of the seven districts had reached the target. In total, the four districts have contributed $74 924 to PolioPlus. The Rotary Foundation will add 50 percent to this total to bring it to $112 386. With the 2:1 match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this figure will be trebled to $337 158.

I appeal to all our districts to continue with their contributions and would like nothing more than to see all seven districts meet the 20 percent DDF contribution target.

If you review the column labelled Cash Contributions you will see that each of the seven districts has made cash contributions which would have come from either

clubs or individual Rotarians. The combined total for the seven districts amounts to $88 461 and with the Gates Foundation 2:1 match it will amount to $265 383.

To summarise, the seven districts served by Rotary Africa have contributed a total of $602 541 from their DDF and cash contributions. These districts tend to be receiving districts rather than giving districts. I am proud of how they have contributed to PolioPlus and hope they are proud of themselves.

We must not forget that one of three countries in the world where polio is still endemic is our northern neighbour, Nigeria. Last August cases appeared in the northern state of Borno which was controlled by Boko Haram militants. This hasn’t stopped Rotary and its partners from executing a sweeping emergency response. Since the outbreak, a robust immunisation campaign has targeted up to 40 million children with oral and inactivated polio vaccines.

Since 1985, Rotary has contributed more than $1.6 billion to polio eradication. RI President John Germ recently said: “We started this more than 30 years ago and we’ve stuck with it all this time. And soon, we’re going to finish it.” The generous contributions from the seven districts in southern and eastern Africa are going to go a long way in achieving this objective.

UPDATE: END POLIO NOW By PDG Richard Brooks: End Polio Now Coordinator, Zone 20A South


Rotary’s 108th annual international convention June 10–14 is expected to attract 40 000 Rotary club members from over 160 countries and will inject an estimated $52.3 million into Atlanta’s economy.

Often described as a “mini-United Nations”, Rotary’s third convention in Atlanta will transform the Georgia World Congress Centre into a cultural kaleidoscope as the organisation’s global network of volunteers gather to exchange ideas on how to improve lives and bring positive, lasting change to communities around the world.

Registrants will engage in workshops and hear from a line-up of world-class speakers, including Bill Gates, co-chair, of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation and Rotary International have an on going match of 2:1 to support polio eradication efforts up to $35 million a year. Earlier this year, in Bill and Melinda Gates’ Annual Letter they reaffirmed the important role Rotary has played in polio eradication.

“Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have been working together on polio eradication for a long time and our strong partnership will continue through the final years of the effort,” said Rotary International President John Germ. “With the most effective resources in place, it’s possible that we will soon see the last case of polio in history. At the convention, Bill will say more about how we can - and will - end polio.”

Organised by Rotary International in conjunction with the Atlanta Host Organising Committee of local Rotary members, registrants of the convention will also get to experience Atlanta’s southern charm with visits

to the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame and an Atlanta Braves game.

“The Rotary International Convention provides an exceptional opportunity to bring together more than 40 000 civic and business community leaders from throughout the world to Atlanta to enjoy our unique brand of southern hospitality,” said William Pate, president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The addition of Microsoft founder Bill Gates as a keynote speaker reflects the importance and good work that Rotary does worldwide.”

The global eradication of polio has been Rotary’s top priority since 1985. Through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – a public-private partnership that includes Rotary, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350 000 cases a year in 1988 to just 37 confirmed in 2016. Rotary, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation, has donated $1.6 billion to polio eradication.

Atlanta’s first Rotary convention took place 100 years ago, when The Rotary Foundation was established with its first contribution of $26.50. The Rotary Foundation’s assets have grown to approximately $1 billion and more than $3 billion has been spent on projects and scholarships that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children and grow local economies.

BILL GATES TO SPEAK AT CONVENTION


WORLD ROUND UPThe activities and accomplishments of Rotary clubs around the world

MalaysiaIn only its second year, the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl

(D3310) embarked on a project to expand English proficiency among primary school students in rural Borneo. Project REAL (Rural Focus-English for All) kicked off in October as the club distributed nearly 400 English dictionaries to pupils in grades four through six at three schools. In November, the club introduced an English corner in the St Edmund School library in Kota Belud – the first of three planned corners – which was filled with more than 600

English books, DVDs and audiovisual equipment. The 67-member club (among the largest in its district) set a budget of about $12 000 for the enterprise.

“We want to improve the children’s standard of English in places where access to English books is limited,” said club member Phyllis Lo. Instilling a love for a second, but all-important, language (Malay is predominant) is the goal. “English is widely used and spoken in the private sector in Malaysia,” Lo adds. “However, English is hardly spoken in rural areas of Sabah [state]. There is definitely a need for students to master English at a young age. They will be more employable if they have some proficiency in English.”

ArgentinaThe sight of a boy sipping water from a ditch in the slums of

Ezeiza, near the airport serving Buenos Aires, dismayed Matthew Feola, a past president of the Rotary Club of Auburn (D7150, USA). “Just upstream I saw two dog carcasses,” said Feola, a retired high school Spanish teacher. “I wished I could help.” Three years later, in early November 2016, with about $5 000 donated by club members and others, as well a small amount of assistance from the local Rotary Club of José María Ezeiza (D 4905), Feola oversaw the installation of four bore water wells serving more than 5 000 children

in six primary and secondary schools. Ezeiza Rotarians and school officials will monitor and maintain the wells.


United StatesMore than 100 children enjoyed the exhilaration of flight,

most for the first time, during the fifth annual Fly-in and Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Rotary Club of Douglas (D5500). Partnering with Chapter 776 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, the club treated children to rides in four-seat Piper aircraft provided by Cochise College and the EAA. Volunteers piloted the planes over the city for views of the youths’ hometowns and the Arizona-Mexico border. “The kids really loved taking those plane rides,” says Bud Reed of AirMedCare Network, which displayed an air ambulance. Forums at the students’ three

schools grounded the children in aviation history and basics. The club also raised about $1 600 in hotcake sales.

PhilippinesMembers of the Rotary Club of Ortigas Centre (D3800) in

Manila collaborated with the Asian Eye Institute to screen more than 300 students for eye impairments such as cataracts at the Antipolo City Special Education (SPED) Centre. With the Cataract Foundation, the club and institute donated prescription eyeglasses to 132 children while about 20 were scheduled for additional diagnostic procedures for more serious eye defects. The project followed a similar effort at the club’s adopted primary school, the San Lorenzo Ruiz SPED, which has received a

Braille embossing machine (given jointly by the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong, also in District 3800), desks and tables, books, other study materials and audio visual equipment.

NigeriaThree District 9110 clubs in Lagos state contributed a total

of nearly $13 000 to correct clubfoot, a birth defect in which one or both feet are twisted out of shape. With the assistance of a clinic at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, the Rotary clubs of Gbagada, Ikoyi, and Lagos (with the latter two tapping a district grant) treated 210 indigent children with deformed feet, said Lanre Akintilo, president of the Rotary Club of Gbagada. The project was prompted, in large part, by the attendance of two district club members at a breakout session led by the Rotarian

Action Group for Clubfoot, then newly formed, at the 2015 Rotary International Convention in São Paulo.

The Usborne First Atlas• Clear maps, stunning photos and illustrations• Simple text, fun facts & Internet links• Inspires the imagination and teaches map reading• Showcases the fascinating world around us• Pairs perfectly with the dictionary• Limited stock available NOW!

ORDER NOW!Price: R900 (box of 10)*

Orders: [email protected]

The Dictionary & Atlas Project presents

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get them while you can!

*Due to a miscommunication with the supplier, the atlas was advertised as being

sold as a box of 15 books instead of 10.


SERIOUS FUN

President-elect Ian Riseley on attracting new members,

building strong clubs, and forming friendships that last


Ian HS Riseley gets up from his desk and he is tall. He has white hair, a firm handshake and no tie. Early on, you sense that he likes the sort of energetic exchange that can swerve from serious to light hearted, which makes him very good company. He exudes competence – which makes him seem like the right person to advise you on vexing tax issues. That’s good, because it’s what he has done for the last 40 years.

Riseley is a practicing accountant near Melbourne, Australia, and principal of Ian Riseley & Co, where he advises local and international businesses. He received Australia’s AusAID Peacebuilder Award in 2002 in recognition of his work in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. He also received the Order of Australia medal in 2006 for his service to the community.

A member of the Rotary Club of Sandringham (D9810) since 1978, he has served RI as treasurer, director, trustee, RI Board Executive Committee member, task force member, committee member and chair and district governor. He received The Rotary Foundation’s Regional Service Award for a Polio-free World and its Distinguished Service Award.

His wife, Juliet, is also a Rotarian (but not in the same club) and is a past district governor. The Riseleys are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors and Bequest Society members.

Editor in Chief of The Rotarian, John Rezek, met with Riseley at his office in Rotary’s Evanston headquarters.

How did you hear about Rotary and when did you become a member?

A couple of years after I launched my accounting practice, my most significant client was a private hospital close to my office. The CEO was a Rotarian and they must have been desperate because one day they invited me to a lunchtime meeting to speak about the fascinating topic of current developments in income tax. Yes, they more or less stayed awake. A few weeks later, the same client got in touch with me and said they were chartering a new club nearby and I said, “What does chartering mean?” (That tells us how often we lapse into Rotary-speak.) He said they were starting a new club in Sandringham and asked if I would be interested in going to the initial meeting. I said, “Absolutely.” But I didn’t go, which was foolish. I did go to the second meeting and met the 20 or so people who had been at the first meeting. They were the business elite of Sandringham, and I thought, “Wow, this is quite a group.” So I kept going and we chartered – which means, by the way, we started the club – in November 1978.

Was Rotary a good fit for you right away or did it take you time to become comfortable?

I feel almost embarrassed saying this, but I felt comfortable immediately. It says something about the nature of the charter members of our club. We are talking about people who run extremely successful companies, but they were all really nice, absolutely first-rate individuals, and I wasn’t made to feel like the proprietor of a two-bit accounting practice down the road. That’s one of the delights of our organisation globally – we’re all equals. I think that’s really important.

Are most of your friends Rotarians?My friends within Rotary aren’t just from my club.

They are also from other clubs in the district. That’s one of the principal reasons I think people should be Rotarians – you make really good friends. My closest circle of friends are not all from the ranks of Rotary. But reflecting on it, a lot of them have become Rotarians and I don’t think they would have if I hadn’t been involved. The danger is that Rotary can take over your life. You can become excessively focused on Rotary. Our daughter, who has a degree in public relations and understands these things better than most, once described it as “Rotarama.” Rotary has basically taken over our lives. We put other things on the back burner; my golf handicap is disappearing into the distance, which is really sad. On the other hand, being in Rotary is a thrill and a privilege.

What moment made you see the importance of your involvement in Rotary?

I was the third president of our club at age 34. I went to PETS (presidents-elect training), which was held in a huge auditorium. I walked in, sat down, looked over my shoulder, and there was the senior partner of the accounting firm that I had previously worked for. John Hepworth was renowned among Australian accountants and was there as the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Melbourne (D9800), Australia’s first club, which started in 1921. Many of the movers and shakers in the city of Melbourne are in the Rotary Club of Melbourne. And there I was, the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Sandringham with 35 members and we’re on a par.

If a young person asked you why he or she should join Rotary what, in order, would you say?

There are four elements. The first one is friendship. Rotary offers the opportunity to meet people in a semi-social environment and also achieve good things.

The second one is personal development. I became the third president of my club at a very young age as I was starting up my accounting practice. I didn’t enjoy speaking in public, but being involved in a Rotary club means that you’re encouraged – some would say forced – in a friendly environment to get experience speaking, running meetings, motivating people, all that sort of thing. Your Rotarian colleagues are not going to fault you for a simple mistake. So you get practice, you improve and you do it better. I’m not quite as shy anymore, so that’s a significant benefit.

The third is business development. We’ve shied away from this over a period of time, and I don’t believe we should. When I was invited to join the Rotary Club of Sandringham, I told Juliet, “Well, they’ve invited me to join this group, what do you know about it?” She knew about the same as me, which was not a lot, but she made the point that we’d make new friends and hopefully some of them wouldn’t be accountants because too many of our friends were accountants - as if that could possibly be true. Rotary is good for business. Why should we shy away from promoting this?

The fourth one, and by far the most important, is the chance to make a difference in the world. If someone


asked me to eradicate polio, my ability to do this would be rather limited. But when you gather together with 1.2 million people of like mind and have people like Bill and Melinda Gates donating funds to help achieve this objective, the opportunity for success is far greater.

What has been your favourite job in Rotary? Bar none, it was acting as the president’s

representative at a district conference. I loved that job. That’s why, when I allocate this responsibility on my behalf in 2017/18, I’ll make my selections for representatives very carefully. It’s a job that gives you the chance to go somewhere else in the world or somewhere else in your own country and to understand how Rotary does all its great work.

As you prepare to assume the highest office in Rotary, is it hard to have a regular conversation with your fellow club members?

Who in their right mind is going to say yes? [laughs] The answer is not at all. Maybe it’s because I’m Australian, and in Australia we have a really good technique for keeping people grounded. It’s called the “tall poppy syndrome.” If you get too big for your boots my gosh, people will bring you down to your rightful place in life very quickly. One of the absolute pleasures about the role that I now have is going around and meeting people and talking to them to ascertain what makes them tick.

What’s on your to-do list?I have three words: planning, planning and planning.

This is a planning time and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to think about ways in which I want to do things differently. In particular, I’m looking for ideas on how Rotary can relate better to young people.

I want to get to know as many of the district governors-elect for 2017/18 as possible and establish lines of communication and understanding. I mean to tell them, “No pressure, but I’m relying on each and every one of you” and they can rely on me too.

What things are working well in Rotary and what things aren’t?

Well, the service we do for humanity, I think we do particularly well. Can we do better? Of course we can. Can we be better organised? Probably. Can we have a better relationship with the community at large? Yes, we probably can, but the actual service work that Rotary does is second to none, it’s wonderful.

What else is good? Membership is growing in India, in Korea. In places where there’s a developing middle class, there’s a stampede to join Rotary. The corollary of that is that membership in places like the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand has fallen. We’re not attracting enough new members and we’re not retaining them.

Our demographic is aging and that’s not good. We’re not reinventing our clubs and that really needs to be at the forefront of our attention. Satellite clubs provide an avenue to involve younger people who need more flexibility. Female Rotarians are making a real difference and we need more of them. The best clubs are those that are close to their communities.

Do you have any specific suggestions for clubs?

A review of the vocations of our membership is a good method to identify weaknesses and determine who to invite to join. Also I think we are missing a significant opportunity by not having more women in our clubs. There are some clubs, I’m ashamed to say, that don’t have any female members. We also need more women at the senior ranks of both the Trustees and the Board of Directors.

How could a club or district coax you to visit during your tenure?

Issue an invitation! I have made it a priority to visit parts of the Rotary world that seldom see the president or president-elect and so far I have been to parts of Canada and the Caribbean that fit this description. My calendar fills quickly; but send me an invitation, and if it can happen, I’m pleased to come.


SAVE THE DATE

GETS: Monday 11 - Wednesday 13 September 2017 ROTARY INSTITUTE: Thursday 14 - Sunday 17 September 2017

THE 2017 INSTITUTE WEBSITE WILL OPEN FOR BOOKING SOON!

South Africa, the country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful countries on the continent. It is a multi-ethnic society encompassing people of diverse origins, a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions. And this year South Africa is host to the Governor Elect Training (GETS) and the Rotary Institute for Zone 20A. A Rotary institute is an information meeting, like a mini International Convention, at which delegates will be addressed on relevant Rotary topics, attend invaluable training and break-out sessions and - enjoy warm Rotary fellowship. Please join us at the Zone 20A Institute to share information, build connections, and exchange ideas about Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. THE ZONE 20A ROTARY INSTITUTE The Convenor RID Corneliu Dinca and Co-convenor RIDE Yinka Babalola cordially invite all Rotarians in Zone 20A to attend. This year’s Zone 20A Institute will be held at Misty Hills in Johannesburg, South Africa and the theme is “World peace through understanding”. The program will include:

An update on The Rotary Foundation, its programs and our polio eradication efforts A five-year forecast presented by a director or other Board representative An open forum where participants can make recommendations to the Board Local and international speakers sharing information on relevant topics A chance to network, reconnect with friends, and find inspiration Entertainment and social outings as well as opportunities to visit historic and interest sites before and after the

Institute.

THE 11 DISTRICTS OF ZONE 20A Rotary International Zone 20A covers Rotary Districts in a greater part of Africa. The Johannesburg 2017 Institute will assemble leaders from Zone 20A which comprises 11 districts, namely D9101, D9102, D9110, D9211, D9125, D9150, D9210, D9212, D9220, D9350, D9370, D9400. Come be inspired by a wide range of exceptional speakers and trainers from across the world. Get information directly from the Rotary leaders making a difference in our communities every day. Please Join Us!


After four years of weekly commutes between East London and Cape Town, Dr Zuki Jafta, a member of the Rotary Club of East London (D9370), has qualified as a radiation oncologist and returned home to head up the new oncology unit at Frere Hospital.

Zuki had previously been in hospital management and founded an antiretroviral (ARV) clinic at the Frere Hospital in East London. After her father was diagnosed with cancer, too late, Zuki was determined to specialise in oncology.

With the steadfast support of her husband Gcina, the mother of three managed to balance the demands of studying and family while maintaining a positive attitude and good humour. Each year, she moved her children’s birthdays to the nearest weekend so that she could be with them to celebrate. The bemused children asked if this was a permanent date change!

After four long and often challenging years, Zuki excitedly phoned home with the news that “mummy passed” and was immediately asked “When are you coming home?”

As head of the new oncology unit at Frere Hospital, Zuki will oversee the multi-disciplinary teams that work together on patient treatment. With the latest equipment and modern technology at their disposal, Zuki and her team are set to thrive.

DREAM REALISED

TIME WAITS FOR NO ONEPromote your business, club or district

activities in ROTARY AFRICA

Contact Rotary Africa at [email protected] or call 031 267 1848

• Reach our readers in English-speaking Africa

• Advertise in ROTARY AFRICA• Distribute leaflets, brochures and

newsletters with ROTARY AFRICA• Special rates for Rotary clubs, districts

and Rotarian owned/managed business


There are thousands of species of birds on the planet and in spring and autumn, nearly half of them are on the move. At any given time, anywhere in the world, you’re likely to see a diverse mix of winged wildlife. For bird-watchers, the serendipity is part of the allure.

If you visit Rotary’s Evanston headquarters in the spring, for example, you might spot species that use the Great Lakes as a stopover on their journey from Central or South America to their northern breeding grounds. In April and May, an observer might see an indigo bunting gliding over the Lake Michigan shore, a Baltimore oriole nibbling an orange on a backyard birdfeeder or a shy brown ovenbird searching the ground for insects.

Around the same time each year, thousands of Rotarians flock to the site of the Rotary International Convention. For the bird enthusiasts among them, this is an opportunity to combine travel, camaraderie and the chance to check a few species off their “life list.”

The International Fellowship of Birdwatching Rotarians - one of about 70 groups that bring members together around common interests - got its start at the 1991 Rotary Convention in Mexico City with a bird walk near the convention site. Since then, a few dozen Rotarians have gathered annually to explore the convention city on foot. Some years, they’ve identified up to 50 species in an afternoon.

The day after the close of the 2016 convention, a group met outside a subway station in northeastern Seoul dressed for hiking and armed with binoculars, guidebooks and modest expectations.

“Summer is actually the slowest time for birds here,” said Julie West, the fellowship’s president and a past governor of District 6630 (Ohio). “I don’t know how many we’ll see today.” By early June, most of the species that migrate along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which extends from Australia and New Zealand up to the Arctic Circle, have already headed north from their rest stops on the Korean peninsula.

“That’s how it goes sometimes,” West said. “But it’s always worth looking; you never know what you’re going to find.”

The group winds through narrow city streets that eventually become wooden stairways leading up into the hills of Baebongsan Neighbourhood Park, adjacent to the University of Seoul. The hum of traffic and shouts

of street vendors fade as they ascend.Conversation stops when one of the

birders glimpses something promising: a flash of colour or a movement from one branch to another. Everyone cranes their

necks and peers through their binoculars. Guide Robert Newlin – an American writer,

photographer and lifelong bird-watcher who spent a decade in Korea as a professor of English literature at Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies – identifies

t h e call of a brown-eared bulbul, more common in Japan than Korea.

“This is a great way to slow down a little bit and enjoy nature,” said Lynda Farkas, a member of the Rotary Club of Akron (D6630). She calls herself a casual bird-watcher, in it mostly for the fellowship and fresh air. Farkas and West, whose clubs are in the same district, have known each other for a decade.

“We’ve done bird walks together back in Ohio, through Cuyahoga Valley National Park and gone out hiking in the early spring to see what wildlife was out and about,” Farkas said. She describes the purple martins that populate backyards in her neighbourhood and how volunteers help track their nests and movements.

Rotary has been a part of Farkas’ life for 25 years, since her husband, Dick, was invited to join the Rotary Club of Cheyenne (D5440), where he was stationed with the US Air Force. Later, in Ohio, he was nominated to be 2016/17 governor of District 6630, but in July 2015, he died unexpectedly at age 71.

That’s when Lynda joined his club. She wanted to bring one of his last big ideas to life: a dinner and concert in honour of The Rotary Foundation’s centennial in Arch Klumph’s hometown of Cleveland. “I needed to keep that alive,” she said.

West’s own partner of 33 years, Gary Neuman, died in October 2015. “That’s when we decided to come to Korea to do this together,” Farkas said. “You can bird-watch alone, but sometimes it’s more exciting to have someone to ooh and ahh to and compare notes with.”

Keeping Judy Ginn company on the walk is her husband, Rand, a member of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island (D5030). Of the pair, Judy, a member of the Rotary Club of Seattle-International District (D5030), is the birder - although she describes herself as “strictly amateur,” someone who mostly keeps an eye on her backyard and logs the dates of sightings.

“I’m in awe of people who can hear a bird sound and

BIRDS OF A FEATHERFor 25 years, they have migrated to the site of the

Rotary Convention. Look closely and you may spot them: The Fellowship of Birdwatching Rotarians

by SALLYANN PRICE


say, ‘Oh, that’s a such-and-such,” Ginn said. “Birding is a process of lifelong learning.”

Newlin, the author of a book called Korea through Her Birds: Windows into a World, tells the group about the migratory feat of great knots and bar-tailed godwits, shorebirds that fly nonstop from Australia to Korea in the spring, arriving lean and exhausted on the peninsula’s western coast. There are only a few suitable locations on the Yellow Sea where the birds can rest and refuel before setting out on the second leg of their journey; another nonstop flight to their breeding grounds in Alaska. But in Korea, the tidal flats they depend upon are under threat from development.

As the group assembles for a photo before parting ways, West presents Newlin with a donation for Birds Korea, a local conservation organisation that funds research to protect local species and habitats.

“When we talk about wildlife preservation, what we’re really talking about is habitat preservation,” says Newlin, whose academic focus is the relationship between humans and nature in medieval literature. “You destroy the habitat that supports the birds; you’re actually destroying the habitat that supports humans. Some people think we can get along without the natural environment, but it connects us all.”

Join the flock at ifbr.org.

BY TONY FITZPATRICK

WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM BIRDS

Writer Albert Camus believed that artists invariably cycle back to one or two images that opened their hearts. For me, that was birds.

I’ve been fascinated by birds since childhood. Now I have bird feeders in my backyard and every morning is a miracle. Sometimes 30 species of birds show up at my feeder – sparrows, juncos, blackbirds, finches of every kind, the odd warbler, cardinals. I don’t know what it is about them that makes me so happy, gives me such peace and fills me with such wonder. Perhaps it is the idea that nature isn’t something a hundred miles away. Even in the city, it surrounds us and makes life more bearable and beautiful and wondrous – and enjoying it doesn’t cost a thing.

What I’ve learned from these common, everyday birds is just how uncommon and remarkable their lives are. I’ve learned that their songs are a language, far more complex than we knew. I’ve also learned that grosbeaks, crossbills and siskins fill out the finch family of songbirds known as Fringillidae – and to me, the finches possess the most lovely songs of all the songbirds.

Often there is a silhouette of a woman in my drawings. That woman is my grandmother Mae, who, every morning, would toast a couple of pieces of bread and put jelly on them. She would then dice them up and toss them out the back door for the

birds. When I asked her why she was giving our bread to the birds, she would hold a finger up to her lips and tell me, “Listen.”

When I did, I heard blackbirds, mourning doves, warblers, finches and sparrows. My grandmother would look down at me and tell me, “For a piece of bread, you can hear God sing.”


Special report


On the evening of Monday 20 February a gang of seven armed poachers invaded the Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage. They beat and brutalised the rhino care workers.

With their hostages injured and terrified, the gang turned their attention to their main objective: two rhino calves, Gugu and Impi, who had been orphaned by poachers.

Gugu was killed instantly. Impi survived the attack but had to be euthanised the next morning due to the severity of his injuries. In the wake of the attack, it was reported that the two deceased rhino had been scheduled to have their horns removed the following week and would have moved to the next phase of their release back into the wild.

Although there has reportedly been a decline in rhinos poached over the last year, conservationists have expressed concern that the poaching attacks appear to be becoming more violent and brutal.

Dr Joseph Okori, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Regional Director Southern Africa, was appalled by the attack. “Events such as those on Monday night are simply unacceptable and cannot be allowed to happen again,” he said.

He explained that an attack on the facility and staff who provide sanctuary and care to orphaned calves “most of which have already endured the trauma of seeing their mothers killed by poachers, is indicative of just how far criminals are prepared to go in the pursuit of rhino horn.”

“The fact that they chose a soft target like Thula Thula, where the staff give tirelessly in trying to nurse the smallest victims of the scourge of rhino poaching, makes it doubly appalling.” Okori said it was incumbent on all stake holders affected by rhino poaching and illegal trade of horn - be they source or consumer countries - to commit to greater engagement, to put a stop to the killing.

In the days after the attack, the orphanage staff, although traumatised, remained at their posts to ensure that the normal routine was followed to minimise further disruptions which could cause added stress to the remaining calves. The facility reported that its staff were alert and additional protection measures were being put in place.

On 23 Febrauary, Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage released a statement on its Facebook page. Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested two suspected rhino poachers in Ermelo, Mpumalanga on Wednesday 22 February. A rifle and ammunition were recovered and the suspects were transported back to KwaZulu-Natal as

police suspect they may have been involved in the attack on the orphanage. It also revealed that during separate operation, Ezemelo Wildlife Officials and members of the SAPS Operation Rhino 7 arrested another suspected rhino poacher and seized a rifle and ammunition. It has yet to be disclosed whether the police have been able to tie the suspect to the attack. Dr William Fowlds, the acclaimed wildlife veterinarian, later posted on Facebook that the SAPS had confirmed that two people had been arrested in connection with the attack and were due to appear in court.

Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage was established to rescue and provide specialist care to orphaned rhino with the aim to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild and help preserve the species.

A rhino calf has no horn and depends entirely on its mother for food and protection from predators. Rhino calves suckle up to the age of 18-months and losing its mother in infancy often has a deadly outcome.

There is a country-wide shortage of facilities with the ability to take in these calves and as a result many young rhino that could have been saved, die. In response to this need a unique partnership was formed between The Lawrence Anthony Earth Organisation (LAEO), Thula Thula Private Game Reserve and the local communities represented by their respective chiefs. The world-class care facility gives calves the fighting chance they deserve. It not only addresses the physical needs of the rhino but also nurtures them mentally and emotionally to ensure that they are fully rehabilitated. It was designed with guidance from world-renowned rhino expert Karen Trendler, the LAEO and the Thula Thula wild team.

An emergency security fund for the rhino orphanage has been launched with Indiegogo by a former volunteer, Megan Richards. Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage confirmed the campaign is authentic. The campaign was launched with the goal to raise US$6 300 to pay for four months of additional security. In just 22 hours more than $32 400 was raised from 380 donors, which motivated Megan Richards to announce a new goal of $55 000 to provide for a year’s security to protect the staff and calves at the facility.

For more on the orphanage go to:

www.facebook.com/rhinoorphanagewww.thulathularhinofund.org

To donate to the emergency security fund see: www.generosity.com/emergencies-fundraising/emergency-security-funds-for-rhino-orphanage.

situation: critical

This month we look at rhino poaching and some of the amazing projects undertaken by our clubs to Save Our Rhino


Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species (RAGES) was formed to mobilise Rotarians and provide global awareness and focused action to preserve and protect endangered species.

The action group supports and promotes new and ongoing joint Rotary and Rotaract club projects located in the areas of concern. To begin with, RAGES has focussed on the preservation of rhinos, elephants and mountain gorillas in Africa and the orangutans and pygmy elephants in Borneo.

Rhino poaching has reached a crisis point and if it continues, rhino populations will be seriously affected. In South Africa if the killing continues at this high rate, we could see rhino deaths overtaking rhino births in 2016-2018, meaning rhinos could become extinct in the very near future.

South Africa has the largest population of rhinos in the world. However, figures compiled by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs show a dramatic escalation in the number of rhinos being poached. During 2014, a staggering 1 215 rhinos were killed. Over the past eight years more than 8 000 rhinos have been reported as killed by poachers.

One of the projects it supports is Rotary Club of Kenton On Sea’s (D9370) Save our Rhino South Africa project. Rhinos have existed for more than 50-million years and have become global symbols of nature’s right to life.

After the horrific increase in rhino poaching, the club donated R23 250 to Brent Cooke of the Chipembere Rhino Foundation. The donation provided for tracking collars for the great beasts. At the presentation, a world renowned veterinarian and rhino conservation expert, Dr William Fowlds, spoke of the fight to save the Kariega rhinos after the brutal poaching attack on them.

RAGES AND KENTON ON SEA UNITED TO SAVE THE RHINO

When asked what the Kenton club could do to help, he answered “create awareness across the world.”

And the club did just that.Its Save the Rhino South Africa project creates

awareness by utilising the global network of Rotary and its members. It began in 2012 following the tragic poaching at Kariega Game Reserve. The Chipembere Rhino Foundation (CRF), an NGO run by trustees with extensive rhino experience and assisted by a group of committed volunteers, has joined the project as a strategic partner. CRF specialises in sourcing,

Top: Jo Wilmot and DG Bruce Steele-Gray at the Lisbon convention. Above: Jo and Dr Jane Goodall discussing rhino poaching. Right: The project logo.


Project funds raised so far: R 167 000.00Breakdown of expenditure

25 x VHF tracking collars R 80 000.00

K-9 SAMMY mobile K-9 kennel unit & enclosure R 20 000.00

K-9 BLADE training of dog and handler R 43 000.00

K-9 ROXY training of dog of handler R 24 000.00

Funds raised by club, year and contribution:Kenton on Sea 2012-2016 R 94 000.00

Coolamon 2014 R 18 000.00

PE West 2014 R 10 000.00

Pretoria East / Sweden 2014 R 2 000.00

USA RFE 2014 R 3 000.00

PAHS Interact Club 2015 Sammy R 20 000.00

Port Alfred and PAHS Interact Club Blade 2015 R 20 000.00

testing and funding technology for effective monitoring of rhino, funding K9 handlers and their tracking and apprehension dogs, providing anti-poaching teams with vital equipment, funding equipment needed to translocate rhino across southern Africa and collaborating with other like-minded NGO’s and companies. Brent Cook is the founder of CRF, and Dr William Fowlds, a trustee. Both are the rhino advisors to the RAGES Board.

Shortly after its formation and an emotional presentation at a District Conference in East London, a motion was passed to allow the Kenton club to take the campaign to create awareness to the International Convention in Lisbon, Portugal.

Bruce and Pippa Steele-Gray and Jo Wilmot attended the convention and hosted a Save the Rhino stall in the House of Friendship. Both Bruce and Jo were founding board members of RAGES.

“Our approach is need-based on the ground, and initially, our focus was on monitoring equipment to track and protect animals. With the help of other clubs we reaised enough funds for 25 collars and these were fitted on animals in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and in the Kruger National Park,” explained Jo Wilmot.

The next area of focus to be identified was the CRF’s K-9 programme. So far, the club has assisted with three canines: Sammy, Blade and Roxy. Sammy and Blade were trained, deployed to their respective reserves and have been on active duty for more than a year. Roxy is still in training and should be deployed in the next couple of months. The club is still raising all the funds needed for Roxy and her handler’s training. One of her primary roles will be to join the reserve’s Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) which will be assigned to protecting the rhino and

the calves orphaned by poachers.RAGES and the Rotary Club of Kenton on Sea are developing

RAGES International Survival Kits (RISK Boxes). The Risk Boxes were inspired by the ShelterBox concept and enable Rotary and Rotaract clubs and districts to support rhino protection efforts. They will contain vital equipment needed to assist those on the front lines of this brutal war against poaching. Once the boxes are purchased, they will be sent to various projects engaged in the protection and survival of rhinos. This support is vital as these organisations are at war against highly-organised and frighteningly well-funded poaching gangs and syndicates. Clubs and districts can purchase a box for distribution. The boxes will range from an entry level $500 Bronze Box to the fourth level Diamond Risk Box that costs $5 000. A K9 Risk Box is also in development.

Useful links: www.endangeredrag.org and www.rotarykenton.co.za/service-projects


Elephants trumpeting! The riders squeeze their brakes and freeze, following the signal from the guides to stop. The adrenalin pumps as they assess the situation; elephants are on both sides of the dirt road ahead. The closest is just 15 metres from the lead vehicle which is guiding the mountain bikers through the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. The Rotary Kruger to Canyon (K2C) Cycle Tour has begun!

This exciting 100-kilometre cycle tour through the Lowveld’s Timbavati, Thornybush, Kapama Game Reserves and the Blue Canyon conservancy is an annual feature on the Rotary Club of Hoedspruit’s (D9400) event calendar. The 2016 event generated a huge amount of enthusiasm and was featured in the prestigious AA Traveller Magazine.

The cycle tour was established to assist in the fight against rhino poaching. Horrified by the slaughter, the club decided to create an event that would bring people closer to the region and the victims. The idea was for the club to “put its money where its mouth is” and to assist those who stand on the front lines in the war against poaching.

Riders were grouped into pelotons and accompanied by armed guides to keep them safe during any big five encounters. With elephants on the road soon after the 6am start, the race didn’t disappoint and is set to become one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Hoedspruit and South Africa cycling calendar.

“There isn’t another tour like this,” said Rotarian

Lovelle Henderson as she waited at the finish line for the first riders to come in, nearly ten hours after setting off. “Our big objective is to make it more international but it’s the perfect event for us as the Rotary Club of Hoedspruit.”

The limited entry-race attracted a wide range of cycling enthusiasts, from seasoned locals to first time visitors to Africa.

Mountain-biker and Rotarian Paul Dellinger from Cleveland, USA, had never visited Africa or seen an elephant. He arrived at OR Tambo International Airport 36 hours before the Rotary Kruger to Canyon Cycle Tour took place, rented a car, collected his rented bike and within 12 hours of arriving in the Lowveld, Paul saw an elephant from the saddle of his bike! “This has been a fantastic experience. I didn’t know what to expect and had no idea about the terrain, other than that it was a great place to see the big five. When I told everyone we’d be riding with guides with guns, they were amazed. My highlight was seeing my first elephant: That and the amazing hospitality of all the people that I’ve met.”

Stacey Hutchinson from Benoni had never cycled before completing the Rotary Kruger to Canyon Cycle Tour. “My dad (Peter Chown) and his friends did it last year and their feedback convinced me to train for it in 2016. It’s been an incredible, adrenalin-filled day. The scenery is beautiful and I didn’t expect so much game!” she exclaims. Her dad’s pride was palpable. He said that riding through the reserves with her, his brother, nephew and friends was an adventure worthy of a

A ride through the wild


bucket-list. “Everyone should experience it at least once in their lives.”

“It was an unbelievable day,” said Hoedspruit local Fred Berrange of the Leopard Conservation Project. He rode in leopard print lycra to raise awareness. His highlight was an encounter with about 1 500 buffalos that took nearly an hour to navigate. “They went on for kilometres, weaving back and forth in front of us. I have never seen so many together, at every stage of their lives; young ones, mothers and bulls.

“To know they’re around, roaming in this interconnected system of reserves that we were privileged to ride through is awe-inspiring. You also know there is a pride of lions somewhere close by. Our guide Joris Bertens did a fantastic job of keeping everyone calm so we could relax and enjoy the sighting. Thanks to the quality of the guides, this is really a ride for everyone and I think everyone should experience it once in a lifetime.”

The event raised funds for various anti-poaching and community support initiatives.

A Kudo horn was used instead of a starting pistol.

For more see: www.k2c-cycletour.co.za


Trust is not a short-term prospectInspire action!

www.salvationarmy.org.za

pro

jects

The Rotary Club of Edenvale (D9400) has supported the work and projects of The Salvation Army for many years. One of the ways the club supported The Salvation Army was by promoting the work it does within the community.

Captain Heather Rossouw has been a member of The Salvation Army for 15 years and is the administrator of Ethembeni Children’s Home (a home for 60 abandoned, abused and HIV-positive children aged from birth to three years). She is also the Territorial Emergency Services Director of the Southern Africa Territory.

In 2008, Captain Rossouw facilitated seven camps that The Salvation Army ran to provide safety and shelter for the victims of mass xenophobic attacks. The following year, she was trained in emergency services at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters. At the time, she did not opt to be deployed to disaster areas but was later called to serve in Haiti, Uganda and Nepal.

Her first deployment was to Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. She was stationed there for six weeks as camp manager and ran the camp which was on a soccer field and sheltered tens of thousands of people. The conditions were shocking, limited water and the emergence of violent crimes, such as rape, ensured that Captain Rossouw and her team had their hands full. Aid distribution was tracked through a system provided by the United Nations and Concern Worldwide.

Each family received a card, similar to a bank card, that was scanned when they collected their rations.

The system was implemented to prevent people from collecting more than their allocation of rations. ShelterBox was also present and provided temporary shelter.

Captain Rossouw’s next deployment was in Uganda in 2014. As team leader, she worked to assist refugees from South Sudan. Each family received building equipment, picks, shovels and cement to build homes and latrines. Non-food items such as mattresses, basic toiletries, crockery and cooking utensils were distributed to the refugees. The drilling and construction of a borehole was of paramount importance and The Salvation Army provided the funding for this project. The community was overwhelmed by the support it had received and later established its own branch of the Salvation Army.

In 2015, Captain Rossouw served a three-month deployment in Nepal after a massive earthquake struck the mountainous nation. Tents were distributed within communities and volunteers had to scale mountains and used helicopters for transport.

Schools were severely damaged; many simply vanished as they had been built on cliffs and crumbled in the quake. One project Captain Rossouw and her team undertook was to re-build toilets in one such school. The Salvation Army provided supplies and the community did the work and used donkeys to transport the materials.

Globally, The Salvation Army may not be as widely recognised as other organisations but in many countries it remains the charity of choice thanks to its transparency and low administration costs.

AT HOME AND

ABROAD

Helping people during the worst time of their lives

President Garth Trumble and Captain Heather Rossouw.

www.salvationarmy.org.za


Hout Bay is a small fishing village with a large problem. Over the years about 40 000 desperately poor people have settled on the outskirts of the village in the hope of finding a future for themselves. Many of these people have accepted that life probably won’t improve for them and have directed their energies to obtaining a better education for the next generation.

These people arrived in the area after they fled their homes in search of work and the opportunity to better provide for their families. In the spirit of peace and reconciliation, the people of Hout Bay have tried to do as much as possible to assist those in need.

The Rotary Club of Hout Bay (D9350) has 30 members and decided to add its weight to make a difference. The club has developed a bursary scheme which was funded by individuals from South Africa, UK, Holland and Switzerland and provides a significant portion of university or college costs. The bursary pays not only for fees but also in many cases, accommodation, books and living expenses. Students are encouraged to ‘help themselves’ by finding the balance of funds for their education either from family and friends or by obtaining a student loan. Rotarians

Keith and Alison Bull manage the entire administrative aspects of the scheme.

A key part of the scheme is to provide mentors to help the students transition from poverty to ‘normal’ society via university. Ten mentors, Pat and Kevin Whelan, Viv Koetzee, Tracy Morris, Christina Kuhn, Rotarians Hans Kuhn, Alison Bull, Athol Rice, Butch Liebenberg and Keith Bull, have supported 13 students and have become almost “foster parents” as they guided the students, helped them learn study skills, to adjust to a different circumstances and to hold their own on worldly issues. They will be joined by Heidi Osborne, and Brenda Williams in 2017.

As the students graduate they are automatically invited to join the newly-chartered Rotaract Club of Hout Bay which has become an informal alumni organisation for the bursary scheme. Students are selected from the local high schools and their Interact clubs.

The Rotarians have begun to see the results of their hard work over the last few years and four more bursaries are being offered in 2017. An extra trade skills bursary has also been added to allow a student to learn skills in fields such as plumbing, masonry, carpentry and electrical.

The bursary recipients and their mentors.

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SECURING A FUTURE

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In October 2016, the Nolufefe Educare Centre in Philippi was declared structurally unsafe. The 89 children were moved to temporary premises, as the centre did not meet the government’s minimum health and safety requirements.

“If it had not been for the Injongo Project, the school would have been permanently closed,” said Pumeza Mahobe, project manager for Injongo Project. “Now they have a new school and the teachers are so happy to be teaching here.”

“The first 1 000 days of a child’s life is incredibly important in their development,” said Ian Robertson, President of the Rotary Club of Claremont (D9350). “We are thrilled that this overhaul means that 110 learners in the Philippi area are already enrolled to receive proper pre-school education at Nolufefe as the new school year starts. Due to the skilled professionals that form part of the Rotary and the Injongo Project, we were able to refurbish the school in less than four months,” added Robertson.

It was not just about structural restoration. A key priority for the Injongo Project is to ensure that the educators receive proper skills-training as part of a holistic approach to improving early childhood development (ECD). “We are very grateful for the joint-funding alliance with the Lewis Group. The Injongo Project has invested more than R1.4 million into Nolufefe to make sure that the children are educated in a safe environment,” said Robertson.

“This school has been beautifully transformed,” said Johan Enslin, CEO of Lewis Group. “We are so proud to have been part of this great project and contributing positively to the local community’s educational needs. We thank our partner, the Rotary Club of Claremont, for their dedication and commitment to the success of this project.”

The educare centre is the 13th one to be physically upgraded and the 48th one to benefit from the Injongo Project, bringing the total investment to R13.5 million: It is the biggest project of its kind in South Africa.

Structurally unsound and unfit for providing education (top), the Nolufefe Educare Centre needed to be shut down. However, thanks to the Rotary Club of Claremont’s Injongo Project, made possible by the generous support from the Lewis Group, the school has been transformed (above) into a safe and secure place for pre-school learners as they start the 2017 school-year with zest. Photo: David Grant

FROM THE RUINS IT ROSE


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Over the years, the Rotary Club of Edenvale (D9400) has supported Edenvale Hospice and regularly provided maize meal for the patients.

The facility is run by Sister Leigh, a retired ICU nurse who joined hospice in 2005. At the time it was a Care Centre for Aids and TB patients. With the assistance of the Department of Health, Sister Leigh changed the centre to a Hospice.

The 13-bed facility has 17 full time staff, which includes nurses and domestic workers. For the past 6 years, Sister Leigh has provided four-month work experience in palliative care for students from nearby nursing colleges.

Hospice patients pay R300 a month for their palliative care. This cost included medication, food and nursing care. Without the support of Edenvale businesses, churches, families and individuals, the

hospice would not be able to charge what it does. Among its supporters are two doctors, a physiotherapist and a massage therapist who volunteer their services.

A farmer regularly delivers a donation of fresh vegetables while Makro has sponsored meat, washing power and a solar powered ironing machine. People regularly drop off donations of food and detergents while donations of medicine are received from local businesses.

Sister Leigh uses the cash donations to supplement the nurses pay as the subsidy received from the state barely covers salaries and the nurses recently had a pay increase from the government for the first time in 6 years.

The hospice cares for individuals with conditions ranging from stage 4 cancer, TB and strokes to diabetics, cardiology conditions and renal failure.

President Garth Trumble presented a donation of mealie meal to Sister Leigh and Denise Tuffrey of Edenvale Hospice.

HELPING HOSPICE HELP OTHERS



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After partnering with the Rotary Club of Etobicoke (D7070, Canada) in a water and sanitation project, the Rotary Club of Waterfront (D9350) and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) undertook to upgrade the ablution facilities at Proteus Technical High School in Atlantis, north of Cape Town.

With a budget of C$22 000 (Canadian), the clubs undertook to upgrade the plumbing installation while the WCED would address items such as painting, tiling, repair of cubicle doors, ironmongery and ceilings.

Before deciding which school to assist, Rotarians Nigel Brown and Piet Postema inspected nine schools in Atlantis and compiled reports with photographs and rough budgets of the work required at each school. These reports were sent to the Etobicoke club for a final decision on which school it wanted to support. The Proteus Technical High School was selected.

During the school inspections it was found that despite being built to accommodate 800 learners, there were 1 500 children attending Proteus High. The Rotarians also noted a number of social issues within the community. High unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and vandalism were prevalent. After a security company was hired to address the external factors it was found that learners were also responsible for vandalism in the school.

It was found that the renovations would need to include an upgrade of the pipes as the old clay pipes were in a serious state of disrepair. The boys’ bathroom

was found to be in a poor state. Cisterns were strapped down in an attempt to prevent the learners tampering with them and there were no indicator bolts visible on any of the cubicle doors, all of which needed a good coat of paint. The team found that a stolen tap had been replaced by plastic one and that the basin splash backs were damaged from being sat or stood on. The steel urinal was in working order but filthy.

In the girls’ bathroom, none of the cubicle doors had indicator bolts and needed to be painted. Roughly half the cisterns were found to be in need of replacement.

Agreements were drawn up confirming the WCED’s responsibilities. The scope of the project was explained to the school principal and the club received a letter agreeing to maintain the facility from the principal and management committee. A plumber was appointed and a timeline of just over five weeks was set.

Work began with the removal of the stainless steel urinal, piping was replaced and porcelain urinals were torn out and replaced with more modern units with push button flushing mechanisms. New toilet seats were also fitted and the damaged basins replaced. All the taps were replaced with metered on demand units and Geberit cisterns (a concealed unit that is installed into the brickwork and plastered over) were installed. Custom made steel support legs were attached to the front of the basins to prevent further damage to the tiled splash backs. Minor improvements and repairs were also made to the staff ablutions, garden taps and leaking main supply pipes.

One of the bathrooms before and after the renovation.

Vandalism and a lack of funding left the bathrooms of an Atlantis school in a shoddy state. After inspecting the school, two Rotary clubs decided it was time

TO MAKE THINGS BETTER


More than 1 200 cyclists took part in the annual Bouckaert-Soenen Paarl cycling race that was organised by the Rotary Club of Paarl (D9350). The Paarl Rotarians were up at the crack of dawn to begin registering entrants or serve as marshalls over the 124-kilometre route. There were also shorter routes of 72 and 47 kilometres.

Over two days, the Rotary Club of Paarl held the ‘Granite Conqueror’ under the auspices of the Pedal Power Association (PPA) to raise funds for club projects. These road races followed a route through the winelands from Paarl to Wellington, Gouda and Riebeek West and back, while the mountain-bike races took place the day before on the scenic Paarl Mountain.

The three mountain-bike races on Paarl Mountain

measured 37, 24 and 15 kilometres. They started and finished at the Afrikaanse

Taalmonument and offered views over Table Mountain, the Peninsula and the Paarl Valley. About 300 cyclists took part.

Participants had the opportunity to enter both multi-stage events at a discounted entry fee. The participants with the best combined Racetec/PPA time for the 37 kilometre mountain-bike race and 124 kilometre road race were eligible for vouchers totalling R8 000.

The event was supported by a local textile and sports clothing company, Bouckaert-Soenen, as part of its social responsibility activities. All proceeds from the races will be channelled through the Rotary Club of Paarl towards local community development projects.

The winners of the annual Bouckaert Soenen league road cycling race were (from left) Mathew Merrington (third), Jayde Julius (winner) in 3:10:59 and Bradley Gouveris (second). More than 1200 cyclists participated in the race, which was organised by Paarl Rotary.

SUPERB CYCLING IN PAARL


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uth

Rahul Gopal spent 2016 in America as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. His sponsor club was the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset (D9370) and he was hosted by the Rotary Club of Lake City (D5960, USA). On his return to South Africa, Rahul presented a banner from his host club to his father, Mahesh who is currently the president of the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset. Rahul will begin his degree in medicine at a university in Mauritius.

The Rotary Club of Scottburgh’s (D9370) Interact advisor, Scottburgh High School educator and President-Elect Sandra Potgieter, with deputy principal Cliff Bamber, head girl Cayla de Souza, head boy Fernando Fernandez Gomez, Sarah Schofield (Interact facilitator) and Heather Willis. Cayla and Fernando attended the Head and Deputy Leadership Development Course at Emoyeni in January. The course was organised by the Rotary Club of Durban North.

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Company Notice

Rotary in Africa

Reg. No.1971/004840/07

Notice to Members*

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Rotary in Africa will be held at the company offices situated at 2 Prische House, 14 Church Road,

Westville 3630, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on Friday 19 May 2017, at 09h00.

AGENDA

1. Call to order and announcements. 2. Confirmation of the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held on

Tuesday 17rd May 2016. 3. Chairman’s report. 4. Editor’s report. 5. Treasurer’s report and submission of the annual financial accounts for the

period ending 31st December 2016. 6. Appointment of auditors. 7. Election of up to 3 directors to serve on the Board.

In terms of the company’s Articles of Association the following directors are due to retire from the Board: Gerald Sieberhagen, Anton Meerkotter, and Peter Hugo. Anton Meerkotter will not be available for election. Being eligible, Gerald Sieberhagen and Peter Hugo will be available for election together with any other nominations received by close of business 12th May 2017.

8. To consider or transact any other business pertinent to an Annual General Meeting.

*All current, immediate incoming and past Governors of Rotary Districts 9200, 9210, 9211, 9212, 9220, 9250, 9270, 9300, 9320, 9350, 9370 and 9400 are ex officio members of Rotary in Africa.

A member may appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf, provided such appointment is advised to the Secretary at the offices of the company at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Natty Moodley. Secretary 1 March 2017


Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Osoyoos (D5060, Canada) visited the Rotary Club of Paarl (D9350). The Canadians gave a magnum of Osoyoos La Rose 2010 wine for the Paarl Wine Auction in November. President Marita van der Sluys received the gift from President David Perehudoff (second left) of the Osoyoos club. With them are Garnett and Marieze Tarr, two South Africans who facilitated the visit and are now members of the Canadian club.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Nigel (D9400) presents a fellowship award to one learner from each of the primary schools in the town. The awardees are recognised for the assistance and fellowship they showed to their fellow learners during the year. One of the winners was Gabriella Rooskrantz of Nigel Primary School. Presenting her with the award is President Maurizio Pellizzon.

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und up


The Rotary Club of Pretoria Capital (D9400) donated a wheelchair to a learner at Butha Butha High School.

The Rotary Club of Klerksdorp (D9370) started the New Year by giving needy school children from Unie, President and Schoonspruit Primary Schools some much needed supplies. At Unie Primary School are Rotarians Chris de Bruyn, Piet Lombaard, President Andrea Demetriou, JC Nel and Johanna van der Merwe.

The Rotary Club of Colesberg (D9370) gave 10 Maths, Natural Science and Technology dictionaries to the top 10 Grade 4 learners at Colesberg Primary School. The dictionaries explain the language used in the subjects and translate the language from English to Xhosa. It also has pictures to make it easier for the children to understand. Photo: Marinda Bruwer


The Rotary Club of Flamingo-Welkom (D9370) donated Usborne dictionaries to schools in Welkom. One of the schools to receive dictionaries was Reitzpark Primary School. At the presentation are Mrs A Nel and Rotarian Audra Visser with learners Mosa Ndimane, Neo Fihla, Palesa Madlanga, Lesego Ndimane and Angel Makora.

Members of the Rotary Club of Durban-Clairwood Park (D9370) donated R5 000 they raised on Women’s Day to the Chatsworth Hospice. At the handover are President Sarita Sirohi, Kogie Singh (Hospice president), PP Jessica Merhoye, PP Gona Naidoo, and Thilaga Pillay (Hospice vice-president).


President Nicky Savvides of the Rotary Club of Boksburg Lake (D9400) recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He has lived in Boksburg for 57 years and has been a Rotarian since 1976. President Nicky was introduced to Rotary by the well-known Boksburg photographer, Jack Van Der Spuy, and became one of the charter members of the Rotary Club of Boksburg Lake in 1977. He served his first term as a president during the 1985/6 Rotary year.

Children at General Del la Rey Primary School received new TOMS Shoes from the Rotary Club of Morningside (D9400). The club runs a major project to support the school that is affectionately nicknamed Dellies. Over time it has provided the school with clothing, micro nutrients, toys, Lego sets, blankets and refurbished its multi-use hard courts. The school serves a struggling community and has many learners from destitute families and child-headed households. Many of them arrive at school in the middle of winter without shoes and wearing summer uniforms as their families simply cannot afford proper clothing. The headmaster and staff are dedicated to the welfare of the children and the school provides a daily meal to the poorest children. For some of them, it is the only meal they have. During holidays, the staff members arrange a schedule and open the school as a safe haven for the learners. This ensures that the children receive food during the holidays. A joint project between the Rotary Clubs of Cataraqui-Kingston (D7040, Canada) and Morningside provided the school with a smart interactive whiteboard to improve teaching and make the lessons more interesting. The Morningside Anns gave the school another of these whiteboards.


A lot of talking of the ‘good old days’ could be heard in the festively decorated dining hall at the East London Golf Club.

The Rotary Club of Bonza Bay (D9370) celebrated its 30th Charter anniversary. At the dinner President Francois Smit welcomed 55 guests who attended the perfectly organised and very entertaining evening. Among the guests were DG Bruce Steele-Gray and his wife, Pippa, AG Angela Woodhall and her husband, Chester, and AG Brian van der Merwe and his wife, Murna who is the Bonza Bay Ann President.

A highlight of the evening was the address by the last active charter member, Clarrie Roberts, who recounted some of the original projects and special social events that were undertaken.

The club was chartered on 23 January 1987 by the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay after Beacon Bay’s membership reached 48.

Peter Wilson, the ‘Godfather’ of Bonza Bay chaired the chartering committee and Brian Powell who became the charter president, also attended.

Guests enjoyed a delicious three course meal, much reminiscing and a nostalgic playlist of 80s and 90s music performed by the MC Kerry Hiles.

celebrate

The festive charter anniversary dinner was enjoyed by all who attended. Among the attendees were Bruce and Pippa Steele-Gray. Bottom: President Francois Smit presents a certificate of excellence to Clarrie Roberts.

30 GREAT YEARS OF SERVICE


WELCOMED AND HONOURED

Colin Smith, and Michelle and Danie de Wet are new members of the Rotary Club of Brits-Hartbeespoort (D9400). With them is President Estelle van der Westhuizen (second from left).

Eric Hackett is a new member of the Rotary Club of Bedfordview (D9400).

Former Reserve Bank Governor, Tito Mboweni, was made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Haenertsburg (D9400). Welcoming him to the club is President Stuart Miller.

Monique Norman, Mhinti Pato and Gill Siebert are new members of the Rotary Club of Hout Bay (D9350).

The Rotary Club of Flamingo-Welkom (D9370) received the enthooZ Charity Organisation of the year award. The enthooZ is a local high class monthly magazine which highlights businesses and organisations in and around Welkom. With the certificate are President Evert Demmer and Rotarian Jill Lombard.

Hilton Dalbock received an award for his outstanding community service from the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370).


recog

nised

HAVE YOU WELCOMED OR HONOURED SOMEONE?Email photos and captions to [email protected]

Photos must be at least 1MB in size. Please make sure first and surnames are supplied. Please send INDIVIDUAL ‘HEAD AND SHOULDERS’ PHOTOS.

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NEW CLUB PRESIDENTS

Aneska DupontAmanzimtotiD9370

Marcel HoogebeenTygerberg D9350

Ivan Beaumont is a new member of the Rotary Satellite Club of St Francis (a satellite of the Rotary Club of Jeffreys Bay, D9370).

Tyron Sharnock, Sharon Da Silva, Paul Bruns and Doudou Kanda received vocational service awards from the Rotary Club of Rosebank (D9400).

WELCOMED AND HONOURED

Tom Roux is a new member of the Rotary Satellite Club of St Francis (a satellite of the Rotary Club of Jeffreys Bay, D9370).



WELCOMED AND HONOUREDNEW MEMBERS, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

The Rotary Club of Bedfordview (D9400) received three banners from the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation. The 2015/16 banners recognised the club as one of the top three highest in per capita annual giving, being a 100 percent Rotary Foundation sustaining member club and a 100 percent foundation giving club. Presenting the banners to President Alan Rock is District Governor Representative Annie Steijn.

President Sibongile Booi of the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370) won one of the two top prizes in the Trade and Services category of the National Business Investment Competition (initiated by the Eskom Foundation).

President Peter James Smith (second from left) with three new members of the Rotary Club of Rosebank (D9400), Patrick Ache, Roger Else and Cuthbert Gumbochuma.

Jeanette Horner is a new Member of the Rotary Club of Rosebank (D9400).

Christiaan (Tiaan) Liebenberg is a new member of the Rotary Club of Nigel (D9400).


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Rotary Africa March 2017

News & Politics

Transcript of Rotary Africa March 2017