1. DG’S NEWSLETTER
May 2014
District Governor Anneas and DGA
Valery Balt
DG Anneas with PRID Tom Branum (Chairman
of ROTA) in Dar es Salaam
Rotaract Chairperson Damian Lahoud,
DG Anneas and newly appointed
DRC, Rotaractor Talitha Carney
at Assembly—24 May 2014
DG Anneas trying
out the bicycle that
was used by
president Andre
Brandmuller (RC
Middelburg) at the
start of the Rotary
cycle tour from
Krugersdorp to
Luderitz over a 9 day
period.
PE Steve du Plessis
(RC Jhb New Dawn),
and initiator of the
cycle tour joins them.
DGE Annie
Steijn holding
little Liam Balt
(grandson of
DG Anneas and
DGA Valery)
with PDAG
Blondie
McGlashan (RC
Potgietersrus)
at the Discon
meeting on 24
May

2. REACH OUTTO AFRICA (ROTA) IN DAR es SALAAM,TANZANIA
The annual ROTA seminar was hosted by
Rotary International with RI President Elect
Gary Huang and RI President Nominee Ravi
present.
ROTA Chairperson, PRID Tom Branum chaired
the seminar and we are delighted that he is our
RIPPR at the Discon in June at The Polokwane
Hotel (13-16 June).
PDG Patrick Chisanga (D9210) has been
appointed at the new ROTA Chair and Director
Gidi Peiper (who ends his term in office as
Director on 30 June 2014) will be Vice Chair.
IPDG Martin Forsyth-Thompson is responsible
for Region 7
I just don’t know…. You let them lose and look what they get up
to!!! Tanzania will never be the same after this!
DGN David Grant, DGE Annie, DG Anneas
and IPDG Martin at the ROTA Seminar
PRID Sam Okudzeto
receiving a D9400
banner from DG
Anneas in Tanzania
Enjoying their visit in Tanzania

3. P
Pretoria PETS Meeting
Assembly 24 May
DGE ANNIE STEIJN AND HER
TEAM GET STARTED
AGs training in February, 5 PETS training
sessions and Assembly on 24 May is how DGE
Annie started her meetings with Rotarians in
D9400.
DGE Annie will be inducted at the 4th Annual
conference on 15 June - at The Ranch Hotel,
PolokwaneThe 2014/2015 Rotary
International theme
is Light Up Rotary.
The cover of DGE
Annie’s directory is
colourful and the
latter were handed
out at Assembly.
Call Simon at the
Rotary Shop for yours
if your club did not
collect them.

4. Rotary and Religion
Dear Rotarians
At our Reach out for Africa meeting in Dar es Salaam recently one of the topics was “Rotary and
Islam.” It was mentioned that more than 600 articles on the Web were removed because of false
propaganda against Rotary.
This topic is also very close to home – during my visits to your Clubs in the past few months I
have heard of many instances where Rotary was accused of being anti- religion, Atheist or an
extension of Zionism.
Some cases I came across - a Rotary exchange student that
told me she was persecuted at her school by both children
and teachers because of her link to Rotary. I was told by a
Club in Pretoria that they have lost a major sponsor because
Rotary is seen as an Atheist organization.
I believe it is time that we voice the TRUTH.
Rotary is and has never been anti-religion or ever been an
extension of Zionism. What we are is an organization that
believes in Freedom of Religion and support the right of all
People to practice their own religion.
All over the world and in Southern Africa we have as mem-
bers, clergy from all religions.
We are all familiar with Archbishop Tutu’s support for the End Polio campaign.
I believe the following quotes from Mahatma Ghandi expresses the position of Rotary well.
 "The need of the moment is not one religion, but mutual respect and tolerance of the devotees of the different
religions."
 “I came to the conclusion long ago that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them. Whilst I
hold by my own, I should hold others as dear as Hinduism. So we can only pray, if we are Hindus, not that a
Christian should become Hindu. But our innermost prayer should be a Hindu should be a better Hindu, a Muslim a
better Muslim, a Christian a better Christian.
Rotary members are from many cultures, religions and nations worldwide and when folks visit the website they will
notice this. (www.rotary.org).
God Bless
Anneas
PDG Anton Meerkotter and DGE Annie
Steijn in Dar es Salaam at ROTA event
IPDG Martin Forsyth-
Thompson
on flight home from the
ROTA conference
DG Anneas’ final PDG’s Council meeting held at the Stonehaven on the Vaal
Dar es Salaam
ROTA venue

5. Dear Rotary Anns and members of Inner Wheel
Travelling through District 9400 and meeting all the charities that you support was
quite an eye opener.
The one thing that all the charities said about you – is how much you are loved and
appreciated. Sometimes your support is the only support that these charities receive.
District 9400 and
your charities
cannot do without
the Anns.
Continue to grow
your membership.
It is very evident that
you Engage Rotary – Change Lives.
I am so very proud of all the clubs who so
generously collected stationery packs and
spectacles. The photos received speaks for
itself. You have made so many children happy.
Don’t forget to book your place at The Ranch Hotel
(registration form was sent out) where the conference
will be held. We look forward to seeing you at
DISCON.
I take this opportunity to wish all the incoming
Presidents and Office Bearers the very best for their
year.
With love
Valery
The Rotary Anns of Sandton handing over stationery packs.
Stationery Packs packed by
Rotary Anns of White River.
President Jenny of Pietersburg 100 – handing
over spectacles.
It is with sadness that we advise that DGE Annie Steijn’s mum
passed away on 3 June at 16:00. She would have celebrated her
92nd birthday on 16 June.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Annie, Hennie and her family.
May she rest in peace.

6. E-Club of Southern Africa D9400 is alive and well.
Some 10 months ago, DG Anneas approached membership chairperson Annemarie Mostert to investigate Satellite
and eClubs for our district. Annemarie did this and after extensive research and lots of hard work and many docu-
ments to sign, the eClub was registered. On 29 January 2014, 31 club members were inducted. 17 transferees and 14
new members. The charter was sent through on 5 March and today there are 40 members.
The latest addition was 6 news young members from
Nelspruit (seen left). These young professionals bring
to the club vast community project experience as they
have been doing this in their companies for a few
years.
Calls have been received from ex Rotarians who were
delighted to hear about the newly formed club and
have asked if they can come back into the Rotary
Family. These were very good standing Rotarians and
left for various reasons - like studying a PhD or
moving house.
The e-club is a recognized Rotary club and it operates
on exactly the same basis as any other Rotary
club—there is a president; secretary, treasurer;
and all the board members are appointed to
manage the various focus areas of Rotary. The
board meets once a week. The members meet
online on a Wednesday night at 19:00.
Feeding scheme for the toddlers.
Left to right: Cornelia Basson; Chantell Stroebel; Carlia du
Plessis; Tersia Marshall; Jan Hendrik du Toit
and George Rautenbach Annemarie inducting Tara Ison into the e-club whilst
Pres Hans (Northcliff) looks on.

7. The Book project
container becomes an
extension of a kitchen for
the needy!
Sesego Cares’
contributed to costs of four
containers transported
from Durban to
Bedfordview and this
container was awarded to
convert as an ex-
tension to the kitchen and
linen area at Covenant
Garden Estate Mathibestad
near Hammanskraal - one
of the club’s project sites.
If you know of ex Rotarians or wanna be Rotarians who wish to rejoin/
join Rotary, suggest to the that they visit the website.
www.rotaryeclubsa9400.org.
The eClub was successful in achieving the Presidential Citation in a very
short time - and with Merit.
Several of the club members will be attending Discon and showcasing
their projects.
RCVereeniging’s presidential
induction
The induction of president Alicia Korte on Friday 30 May
at Klip River Country Lodge.
Picture: Left to right: Hennie Steijn; President (2014/2015)
Alicia and DGE Annie.
————————————————————
Traditional dress of Nigeria prevails
PDG Shirley Downie seen with special aide Rtn Elsie
Edoshie (right) and Natasha. Shirley was Rotary
International President Ron Burton’s Personal
Representative in Kaduna, Nigeria (D9215). ’It was a great
event and the cultural evening was fun too’ says Shirley.
The outfit was made in 36 hours in Nigeria.
The discon content included many famous entertainers and
TV personalities...known as Nollywood.

8. Northcliff tanies se breigoed vir Filadelphia ark E Klub
Pictured are the newly
elected Interact committee,
together with, from Left to
right, Ms Abigail Juta
(educator), and PP/AG Louis
Greeff, Pres Ian McKechnie
and Rtn Patty Matlou all
from Centurion Rotary
The RC of Centurion worked with the Lyttelton Manor High School in Centurion for some months to get an Inter-
act club established – all the holidays and disruptions in April/May didn’t help !
The establishment of the club has the full blessing and support of the school head (Ms Malherbe) and is backed by a core
group of staff lead by Ms van der Walt.
Following the canvassing of support amongst the learners, the first organisational meeting was held at the school during
break on 28 May. Louis Greeff, Patty Matlou and Ian President McKechnie (RC centurion) were there to represent Centuri-
on Rotary Club and have a chat with the approximate 50 learners and help facilitate.
With Centurion’s Rotaract club initiative in Olievenhoutbosch gathering some momentum, and with their successful youth
conferences in 2013 and 2014 and going forward, not to mention their ongoing involvement with and support of YE and
RYLA, Centurion Rotary Club is certainly making an impact in terms of youth service. It is also great to see the enthusiasm
that many members have expressed towards their involvement in our club’s youth projects in the new Rotary year which
will ensure their sustainability.
YOUTH MEMBERS JOIN
AN INTERACT CLUB
In preparation for the winter chill, Sešego Cares
and members of the eClub have already launched
its annual winter drive that will see special hand
knitted garments in order to spread warmth to the
most vulnerable communities across various
beneficiaries.
The “Wool Project”, as it has become known,
entails the donation of wool by the readers and
supporters of Northcliff Melville Times. Items are
knitted by a retired women from East Town,
Roosevelt Park’s Rose Village in Northcliff and So-
phia Town. They work their magic and produce
high quality hand knitted items for distribution
among charities that care for the needy.

9. Greetings from Oz! PDG Anton Meerkotter (left) is D9400’s finance
chairperson and also on the board of RFHA. RFHA Country Manager
Southern Africa, Sue Paget and RFHA Director William Asiko are mem-
bers of our club. ..having fun in Sydney!
They are expecting 18 000 Rotarians from around the world at the Syd-
ney convention which ends on 4 June.
It was announced at the convention that the Australian Government
donated US$ 100m to the Polio Programme. Brilliant news indeed.
District blanket drive has started
with many clubs.
Some of us work all day; some work for Rotary and in our own
business and the rest work for Rotary only! PDG Mark Doyle (seen
below) is one of the latter lucky folks to be retired and being able to
passionately help with Rotary projects whenever he can.
Sasego Cares arranged a very successful fund-raising golf day on 30 May
at the Houghton Golf course. They allowed the eClub of
Southern Africa D9400 to offer blankets on the 7th hole…
As part of the district’s blanket drive, Mark diligently asking the
players to donate R 50 for a blanket for the needy and he raised
R 5020 in total. So, 100 blankets will be donated soon.
To attract attention, the Rotary Family Health Days banner and other
posters were
erected.
Congratulations
Mark.
Well done
Vereeniging
Rotary Club seen
right

10. MEMBERSHIP GROWTH IN D9400
One of DG Anneas’ objective in the 2013/2014 Rotary year was to increase the membership by 100 members and
we are well on the ay to achieving this. As at the end of April, we have inducted 72 new members and still
counting….
‘I am very proud of all the Rotarians in our clubs that have diligently invited their friends, family members and col-
leagues to join Rotary. All they did was ask! I am sure that we will achieve our target of 100 net new members by
30 June. I was proud to see that we have the second largest membership growth in Africa. Soon we could be no.
1.’
DGA Valery advised that 15 new Rotary Anns joined since 1 July 2013. Welcome ladies.
The Book project container
becomes an extension of a kitchen
for the needy!
Sesego Cares’ contributed to four
containers transported from
Durban to Bedfordview and this
container was awarded to them to
convert as an extension to the
kitchen and linen area at
Covenant Garden Estate
Mathibestad near Hammanskraal
TOMS SHOES GETS
RECOGNISITION
More Toms Shoes were delivered to many
schools. Thanks to the clubs who have placed
orders. Below, Education Minister Angie
Motsheke and ABSA CEO Maria Ramos are
seen at the Sesego Cares/Toms Shoes event.
AG Belinda Alport (RC eClub) handed
hundreds of Toms Shoes to the youngsters in
the last few weeks.

11. An Invitation from
Down-Under!
John Glassford writes….
Chair 2013 -2014
Proposed RAG for Endangered Species
Rotary Club of Coolamon D9700
New South Wales, Australia
Mt Kenya was climbed in April 2015. The
Mt Kenya Climb was launched at RICON in Sydney in less than two weeks. This will be displayed at the House of
Friendship at the Sydney Convention starting 1st June. They have booth #229 so if you can pass that onto your
members or anyone you know who will be there, thanks. Above is a pic of our banner for the booth it is 2.5 m x
1.2 m:
New Rotarian saves a life….
RC eClub of Southern Africa D9400’s newly appointed
George Rautenbach (Nelspruit) saves Hope’s life with these
new prosthesis braces.
Hope was going to be put down but George avoided this from
happening. Well done indeed George - Hope certainly looks
great in the funky new leggings.
If you know of any animals that need help, please let George
know. (work) 013-753382 * cell 082-88000990.
DISCON 2014
Todate we have reached just over 300
registrations for Discon.
22 youth exchange students plus three Rotarians
will be in the tented camp and Rotaractors will
be joining them too!
You can still book if you like… see you all there.