Papanui Bush Visitors
 
I have our new Council Ranger and members of Conservation NZ down at the bush on this Friday morning from 9.30 am on if any members would like to make a Rotary presence, meet  them and perhaps throw in a little help, and hear (or throw in) a few forward thinking ideas. Morning tea as usual.

Naga Mihi Denis.
 
 
 
At our last meeting it was stated that the bank details for Centurion Fund would be in the next Chat. So, here are the details:
 
If you wish to support this fund, with money going to PolioPlus please deposit $100, with 'Centurion' as reference, to  our Trust account 03 1355 0661945 00.
 
This is tax-deductible, so a receipt can be issued.
 
Deryn
 
 
A Message from Deb
 
Due to the latest Covid19  restrictions the President Elect training  for next weekend at St Margaret’s College is longer a face to face so the club isn't needed to do the catering. 
 
A big thanks to all members who had offered their baking and time to help out.
 
The training will now be down virtually. 
 
 
 
Gary contacted  Mitre 10 Mega Sunday morning and found out that all Children's Playgrounds and Community BBQs are cancelled when In Level 2.
 
Thanks to all who volunteered to help.  The next BBQ is on April 10.
 
As we hadn't purchased all the loaves of bread yet the only thing we will lose is the 10kg of onions Cheryl and Gary chopped. They are freshly chopped and we have them in bags of 1-2 kg each.
 
If anyone wants any chopped onions let Gary know as soon as possible and he will drop them around - otherwise they go to the tip.  Got any good french onion soup recipes?
 
 
 
For the benefit of Club Chat, the winners of the International Committee Voucher Raffle were:
 
1st Prize: Return flight Trip to Chatham Islands   
Ticket No.166  won by Slade Hocking
 
2nd Prize: Helicopter Flight Instructed by Richie McCaw. 
Ticket No 130 Won by Arie Geerlofs
 
Cheers: Verdi
 
 
The President’s Blurb
 
The international dinner at the Netherlands Society clubrooms was very enjoyable. A different venue, a wonderful meal from former caterer Deborah and an interesting speaker in Honorary Philippines Consul Nicole Macaballug. Thank you to the members and partners that attended. 
 
The winners of the remaining prizes from the international quiz night were drawn with a friend of Verdi's winning the Chatham’s Island trip and Arie winning the helicopter flight with Ritchie McCaw. 
 
Turning to this week who would have guessed that we are back under Covid restrictions. The Mitre 10 BBQ hut couldn't go ahead - most of the food purchased can be frozen and kept for the April 10 event. 
 
SPPEDS training for incoming Rotary club presidents  is on this coming weekend but because of restrictions on numbers and restrictions on the travel of those from Auckland it is being held on line rather than face to face. Nick and Liz are heavily involved in the weekend, Nick as incoming DG, Liz as part of organising committee and MC for the event. We wish them both well. President elect Grant will also be attending on line. 
 
The Covid situation has also affected the emerging student leaders group from Canterbury University who we were going to host at the Hanmer Springs Forest Camp 13-14 March. The date has shifted several times as we had to adjust to available space at the camp and our capacity to deal with the group. The students in the meantime have gone to an online learning platform. 
 
We have abandoned plans to do anything in March or April and the students are looking at the possibility of doing something local in May with our assistance possibly at Papanui Bush. 
The changes to this project can be frustrating but have been caused largely by matters out of our or the students control. Let's be patient as we seek to keep this activity on our programme for the year. 
 
Richard Hamilton has been very unwell and has been in hospital. He is now at home and would love to receive calls. 
Remember there is no Rotary meeting this Thursday 4 March.
 
 
Janice
 
 
Thought for the Week
 
 “A fool tells you what they will do, a boaster what they have done, and a wise person does things and says nothing.”