A quiet week in the home town

I had planned Week 7 to be a quiet week catching our breath at home. What a dreamer. On Sunday I set the cruise control to 104 kph, pointed the car in the direction of Deb Gimblett territory and set off to a Rotary Foundation Board meeting in Foxton. My second key focus area this year is to increase our contributions to the Foundation. It is clear, though, that there is still a certain lack of clarity about the Foundation and its modus operandi, not to mention the Future Vision Pilot Programme. We have decided to address that by offering clubs, in their clusters groups, some clear instruction in a series of workshops. But first we needed to ensure we have clarity ourselves - hence the meeting to prepare the songsheet. Look out for notice of these workshops - they will demystify The Rotary Foundation and the Future Vision Pilot programme for you.

Monday afternoon and I was again travelling the Marangai, Himatangi and Foxton straights at 104 kph, heading to Wellington this time where Margaret and I heard the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, address a meeting of Samaritans about our appalling suicide toll, 540, 541 and 558 in the last three years. There must be a role that Rotary can play in reducing these shocking statistics.

Tuesday midday and John Cleese, the voice of our Tom Tom , was directing us in the opposite direction on State Highway 1 to Taihape where we met up with President Jan Byford and Bill. After a quick cup of Dilma Jan and Bill showed us some of the key projects being undertaken by the Taihape Rotary Club. Gumboots seemed to feature in a number of them. A meeting with the Board followed and then we were warmly received at the club's meeting.

I have often pondered the term the 'Family of Rotary' and whether this is as true as we would like to think it is. All doubt was removed in a conversation I had with Brendan Mickleson. Read about the remarkable story of Brian Devane, severely injured in a farm bike accident , in my September newsletter. A heart-warming Rotary story if ever there was one.

Tom Tom told us we would be early arriving at Taihape so Margaret instructed an unscheduled stop -yeah right - to soak up these surplus minutes

Taihape is gumboot burg. Margaret with President Jan Byford pose beside the Taihape icon

The RYPEN Man - Bill Byford. Never underestimate the value of RYPEN and the changes it brings to our young peoples lives

The famous Taihape railway turntable was found lying in a shed at the Hutt workshops , brought back to Taihape and re-built. A joint venture project achieving those Bigger Better and Bolder outcomes we talk about.

 A walking track through Mount Stewart Reserve is another project of the Rotary Club of Taihape.

And just to wind up this edition , a few pics from our Wanganui North visit. Yes, we have been reunited with our camera

Dinner in the Vandercross Lounge, Wanganui North Club

Sporting one of the more colourful ties seen at a Rotary meeting was John van Dale

 I presented a Certificate of Achievement to Past President of Wanganui North, Roger Law