Cloud Chatter August 2014

1. President Kanthan is inducted for a second term!
]Fellow Rotarians and friends
Let me start with a tale that has been told many times over but is worth retelling.
Little over 100 years ago, Paul P. Harris, an attorney, got the idea of creating a professional group with the same friendly spirit he felt in the small towns of his youth.
On 23 February 1905, Harris called together a meeting of three acquaintances in downtown Chicago. Gustave E. Loehr was a mining engineer and freemason; Sylvester Schiele was a coal merchant, and Hiram E. Shorey was a tailor.
This was the first Rotary club meeting. They decided to call the new club “Rotary” after the practice of rotating meeting locations.
Today, Rotary has grown into 1,2 million members who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world. We do not comprise the largest organisation by numbers but we are certainly the most influential.
Rotary was key to the founding of the United Nations. The first meeting of the UN took place in London on the 16th January 1946, hosted by District 13 at the Caxton Hall, presided over by RI President Tom Warren, who declared it to be the 'touchstone for a gesture of international goodwill unique in the history of Rotary'.
Rotary is the trusted partner on the ground for global players such as the Aga Khan University, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Global FoodBanking Network, UNESCO-IHE, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation.
In some ways, the world of the young Paul Harris and my own world were not very different.
Harris enrolled at the University of Vermont in Burlington but was expelled with three others in December 1886 because of his involvement in an underground society. I was expelled from the University of Durban-Westville because of my involvement in the student protests of 1980.
Issue 5
August 2014
Cloud Chatter
DG Annie Steijn pinning the President’s badge on Pres. Kanthan
eClub members with IPDG Anneas Balt & DG Annie Steijn

2. Paul Harris and his business colleagues lived in a world where time moved more slowly. One would dictate a business letter to a secretary, have it posted, and wait weeks for the correspondence to flow back and forth before the real work got done. This left lots of time for weekly lunch or dinner meetings – they were leisurely affairs no doubt.
Our world today is very different to that of Chicago 1905. We have instant communication with global partners 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In a world where one travels overnight halfway across the world, the idea of committing to a weekly meeting in a fixed location is just not feasible.
At the same time, the need for Rotary to continue to thrive as a global payer remains unchanged.
We play a vital role with our health programmes, spearheaded by our quest to eradicate polio in the
near term as well as tackling malaria and HIV throughout the continent.
We bring life-saving water and sanitation projects to people forgotten by their governments.
Our educational programmes from scholarships through to our Peace Fellowships influence the course of global events.
Or it can be as simple as providing a blanket to a homeless person in the dead of winter.
Our Club, the Rotary E-Club of Southern Africa D9400, provides a way for those of us who are not able to commit to a regular meeting in a fixed location, to be able to play our part in these goals.
As members of the E-Club, we fulfil our obligation to meet on a regular basis by taking part in online discussions on our website – spend a half hour there once a week and we are compliant, as my friend Valentin Mičić is fond of saying.
But the real work is in our projects. As president-elect Annemarie Mostert has shown us through the photographs lining these walls, for a fledgling club barely 6 months old, we have not done too badly at all.
I stand before you today as charter president of this new and exciting club. Frankly, the selection process went something like this: someone asked, "Who should be president?" and everyone except me took a step back. Like me, my fellow board members have served as president in their former clubs in the past, and no doubt share my view that the best job in Rotary is "past president".
The people most responsible for getting us to this point are IPDG Anneas Balt and President-elect Annemarie Mostert.
When organisations get to be as large and as estab- lished as Rotary, there is a tendency for older members to frown upon new approaches. Anneas had the vision and Annemarie had the drive and determination to see out the process.
Charlotte Khoza; Annemarie Mostert; Tara Ison; Dr Pat Francis & Judith Chinkumbi – Sasego Cares Board
members
Pres Kanthan with Tara Ison who celebrated her birthday on 12 July.
Tara receives flowers for her birthday
Rtn Brett Gardner in his kilt

3. We have yet to finalise our flagship projects for the year ahead with my fellow board members.
Personally, I'm a fan of bricks and mortar projects where one builds a library or a sports court or a clin- ic and hands it over.
We are all aware that in this country, land own- ership is one of the most emotive issues.
A project that has caught my attention is one spearheaded by the Free Market Foundation, which involves funding the transfer of state land to people who have lived there for generations. The model has been successfully tested in Parys in the Free State. Little over 1200 rand is what it takes to turn a family into property owners. I will be engaging with the Free Market Foundation to see whether there is room to work together, given that the FMF is not in the business of raising funds.
Also on the question of land, there is now a strong case being made for ownership of so called tradition lands in the former Bantustans to be turned over to those living there. Some of this land in the former Transkei and KwaZulu is extremely fertile and can generate wealth, but one needs ownership of land before one can invest in its development. I believe there can be a role for us to play before and after through fundraising for the process, irrigation pro- jects, and education on modern profitable farming techniques. Such actions can provide a more sane business model to land distribution than that which led to dead pigs at a politician's farm.
But these are all ideas at this point. I invite our fellow Rotarians to put forward projects for consideration by the board. Be aware though – if you put forward a pro- ject, you will be expected to champion the project and see it through to completion.
Thank you for the honour of allowing me to serve as President. I look forward to an exciting year.
Left: Trevor Watson- Thomas. PDG Mark Doyle & Brett Gardner seen at the induction.
DGE David Grant, DG Annie Steijn & PDGA Lyn Doyle
… Liana van der Walt and KG Govender (KZN)
KG Govender. Shirley Downie, Denise Cruickshank, Belinda Alport, Clive Chetty, Sue Paget, Pres Greta du Bois (Morningside) & Pres Kanthan Pillay

4. ???????????????????
Left: Such a beautiful pic of a child with big dreams……with a nurturing house mother
Zandspruit Water & Sanitation project
Below: Cabbage and spinach gardens at Govenant Garden Estate’s Gardens at Zandspruit -
ROTARY DUES
Please remember to pay your membership fees.
Rotary International needs to be paid in the next few weeks.
By October, shoulder high bush has been cleared and some 20 beds have been established . This is a development which will grow and adapt at a slow pace according to the development and input of the gardeners.
They are increasingly gaining confidence in the program as well the fact that Rotary Northcliff is not going to disappear and leave them in the lurch as has been the scenario with many similar ventures.
We are predominantly dealing with semi- literate students and the elderly unskilled and they develop at a pace within their comfort zone.
Within the next 18 months we think that , with continuous input from ourselves and training, they will have sustainable gardens but within this period continuous training and assis- tance will be essential.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Please remember to send your project details to PE Annemarie Mostert as soon as possible: annemarie.mostert@leboneservices.co.za

5. Zandspruit Bread project
Now if any of the club members are on the Tim Noakes diet— where no bread is allowed… then don’t look at the pictures!
This delicious bread has been made by the locals. It is an exceptionally successful project.
Books from the Humanitarian Centre were taken to the project….and whilst the adults bake bread, the youngsters read and study hard…. See the next page.
2015 São Paulo convention dates changed
Rotary International President Gary C.K. Huang and the RI Board have changed the dates for the 2015 Rotary Convention in São Paulo, Brazil, to Saturday, 6 June, through Tuesday, 9 June – starting and ending one day earlier than previously scheduled.
The dates were changed because the original opening day (Sunday, 7 June) coincided with one of the city's most popular parades. The new start date will dramatically reduce traffic congestion and make it easier for Rotary members to attend the opening plenary sessions. It will also make it convenient to attend our very own Rotary Carnival, a Host Organization Committee event, on Saturday evening.
Please share this information with club members by updating your websites, newsletters, and calendars. Check riconvention.org regularly for dates, deadlines, and registration and housing details. Find information about Host Organization Committee events at www.rotary2015saopaulo.br. If you still have questions, contact ri.registration@rotary.org.

6. Win Bauer doing documentary of the cen-
Covenant Garden Estate benefits from the donation of books from Humanitarian Centre
Happiness!!! Visiting CGE on Saturday morning - the farm is growing!! Win went with us and is busy with a short video.
Above: Annemarie is seen with her husband, PP Hand Mostert (Northcliff)

7. Doreen & Joan Rose Village, Iris Fey
Charlotte and Banele joined Annemarie at the Whishing Well Nursery School - to spread the warmth
Below: 28 July - Thank you to Iris and Doreen and the ladies.
Nelspruit induction of two new members.
PDG Shirley Downie met with the current eClub members in Nelspruit and inducted Douglas Mabuza and PP Bar- ry Liebenberg
Blankets were handed out for the old age home residents.
Also in attendance is PDGA Sylvia Knoop (white t-shirt) and Manfred Paulmann (2nd from right)
Douglas
Sylvia
Leon

8. Rtn Sue Paget is recognised for her out- standing work on the RFHDs programme.
RFFA Programme Director, Sue Paget received an award on 19 July in Johannesburg.
RFFA’s CEO, Marian Bunch is seen with Sue and PDG Anton Meerkotter )Director of RFFA).
Below: Marion & Sue seen with the group of RFHD’s team of executives.
Below: The SAPS Mamelodi East used Madiba Day celebrations to hand over all the Blankets and shoes donated by the eClub to suitable recipients.
Seen below is Annemarie with Andre van Eerden and the lads who received Toms Shoes at the Strand Sekonder school giving TOMS to 1200 learners. If you want Toms shoes, please contact Cornelia on cornelia@miaauw.co.za.

9. D9400 Membership Committee Chairperson prepared an excellent paper on Membership aspects….here are some of the ideas.
Accept the premise:
 We need to increase membership by …
Who will do what?
1. The Membership Development Strategy and Plan:
 3 year target: 100 active Rotarians by 2015/6 50 by December and 75 by June 2015
 Identify the markets • Attend seminars and training sessions
 Initiate, design and support the recruitment efforts of each membership country and hub (ie Nelspruit/Mafikeng)
 Promote innovation, flexibility, transformation and diversity
 Use the “tools”
 Constant PR and communication
 Promote the recognition pro- grammes (membership pins)
 Use guidelines from “Attracting and Engaging Members”
 Engage in the coordinated district wide membership development activities
 Set up Club Membership Com- mittee 2. Extension:
 Establish The Rotaract E Club of Southern Africa 9400 and automatically take those members into Rotary ranks.
3. Tools for Action:
 Connect the new Leaders - Ask them and Link them with current Rotarians (Mentors)
 Engage the knowledge of the Collective and Individual Leadership
 Leverage social media platforms to mobilise volunteers / Rotarians i.e. The internet makes creation of interest groups possible.
 Engage volunteers from their respective areas of com- petence - vocations.
 Find something worth changing and then assemble groups that spread the idea where the idea becomes far bigger than ourselves - Projects • Talk Rotary in the media, boardrooms, schools, family – invitation to those to truly live their social strategic intents and values - Fel- lowship
 Showcase volunteers or Rotarians using their passion and convictions with moral responsibility and moral boundaries
 Invite members from your local community
Newest member seen below: Dr Mashadi Motlana was inducted by Pres. Kanthan on 18 August just before the board meeting. Welcome!
She was an exchange student, is a physiatrist as well as running a few companies including her father’s Trust – the great Dr Nthato Motlana.
eClub Board members together with our newest member Dr Mashadi and many of the YFM staff members...
August is Membership month

10. Nelspruit arrange a security system for an old age home
Nelspruit club member Leon Pitallo hands over a Community Service Award certificate to Hi Tec Security. They installed a security system valued for R 22 000 in the Oranjezicht Retire- ment Village.
Well done to Leon for finding the donor and organsing safety for the elderly.
Nelspruit induction of two new members.
PDG Shirley Downie met with the current eClub members in Nelspruit and inducted Douglas Mabuza and PP Barry Liebenberg
Right: Blankets were handed out for the old age home residents.
Also in attendance is PDGA Sylvia Knoop (white t-shirt) and Manfred Paulmann (2nd from right)
Douglas
Leon
Barry
Shirley
PDG Chris Potgieter is inducted as an Honorary Member by Shirley during the Nelspruit visit
On Friday 26 July, PDG Shirley took a wheelchair to Nelspruit.
Leon was going to hand it to a dear lady (93) in need.
On Tuesday 30 July when Leon called the daughter to make ar- rangements to hand the wheelchair over, he established that she had passed away over the weekend.
Leon has donated the wheelchair to the old age home that he does a lot of work with.

11. Graeme Reid (PHF )and Rotary e club member from Kenya receives a club scarf from Sue Paget.
Spreading warmth in the Western Cape at "Brak en Jan" crèche. Items knitted and made by the ladies of Rose Village in Emmerentia Johannesburg were handed to the toddlers.
Below: Pres Clive Reed with Andre van Eeden (both from Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club) and PP Hans Mostert (right) (Northcliff) and Annemarie Mostert (E-Club)
It’s always wonderful to see these smiles of happiness and gratitude. Thanks to the ladies who spend hours knitting these beautiful garments.