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MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT IAN BALLANTINE
The year 2010 has arrived – best wishes to you all – we hope that the expectations of the “World Cup” materialize for all South Africans.
Rotary Knysna has a busy programme for the rest of the year – the good news is that preparations for our annual Cycle Race in
July are underway. This event is our club’s main fund raiser, and there was uncertainty that it would take place.
The clubs best wishes go to Joan Huskisson for a speedy recovery.
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ROTARY AWARENESS MONTH
January is Rotary Awareness Month, so share Rotary in person! If you’re an active member of a Rotary Club and have friends, family members or colleagues who would be a great addition to Rotary, consider referring them for membership. All you need to do is ASK!
Membership and PR are working in tandem. The more we enhance the public image of Rotary through our club and district PR initiatives, the greater the opportunity to attract new members into Rotary.
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KNYSNA ROTARY CLUB PROJECT PROGRESS REVIEW
- Knysna High School assistance request for gymnastic equipment.
- In Progress: Waterless toilets: This would be particularly useful for schools that have little or no water.
- R1 800 was contributed to the Sandy Shires feeding scheme group. The scheme was considered admirable in the climate of increasing hunger in the Knysna area. A further contribution could be considered later this year. The Spare cups in the storeroom to be given to Sandy.
- Computers for the library request. Under investigation
- Mobile libraries and U3A library support. In progress.
- Donated TV/computers received to be given to needy.
- Awning for Haart Clinic: In progress.
- Joint replacements: In progress: This is a difficult and complicated issue. Rotary to consider supporting the effort by the local surgeons and hospitals.
- Woolworths’ food: It was reported that about half of the supported organizations had already signed an agreement to ensure a clear understanding of food storage and its usage.
- Werkswinkel (WW): The undertaker, Perks, has been approached to purchase coffins from the Werkswinkel. Assistance is being given to WW in the pricing and raw material issues.
- Sewing group: Still being investigated.
- Khanyisa pre-school: In progress. A Rotary plaque is to be placed at the school.
- Wheelchairs: A group of Rotarians from the Wheelchair Foundation paid a visit to Knysna which went off very well. A total of 105 wheelchairs have been distributed to date.
- Masithandane: A matching grant was received to supply much needed education equipment. Assistance to be provided with getting matching grant quotes for Rondevlei School and for quotes for septic tanks for Masithandane.
- Food gardens: In progress.
- Soup kitchens: The person who undertook to fund an extension to Mrs. Talamagies’ kitchen has not done so. Over 300 children are fed from her own inadequate kitchen using wood fires in the garden to cook. Quotes for an extension to her kitchen have been requested. It was reported that a table for the soup kitchen is ready to be fetched.
- GoGoGetters: The Anns collected soap that was then distributed to the GoGo’s.
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ROTARY CLUB OF KNYSNA BURSARIES
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The Rotary Club of Knysna once again offered bursaries for tertiary education to members of the Knysna community. There were seven reapplications and 39 new applications of which 22 were granted interviews. Six of the reapplications were successful with
a total amount of R46 000 being awarded. Ten of those interviewed were successful with a total amount of R96 000 being awarded.
Half (R71 000) of the total amount of R142 000 will be spent in this Rotary year and the other R71 000 in the next Rotary year.
As this is an ongoing project and students only receive a small portion of their costs, if any person, club or corporation would like to help financially, please contact one of the club officials at the bottom of the newsletter. |
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CLUB ADMINISTRATION MONTHLY MEETING
A very busy Club Administration monthly meeting was held on the 17th January at the Bentley residence on Thesen Island. After much discussion and decision making, the meeting closed with a very delicious lunch served by Penny.
Much eating, drinking, fun and laughter took place, especially as the Proteas had just soundly beaten the English cricket team to draw the series.
A most pleasant time of fellowship was had by all!
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A ROTARY GIFT
Rochelle Lewis was involved in an accident at the age of 13 years, which has left her partially paralysed.
She has spent several years in the local hospital and is still there in palliative care. When she turns 18 years of age, which will be in the later part of 2010, she can be sent to a special institution, which will be either in George or Wellington. She is unable to return home as her parents are unable to take care of her. She is understandably very bored in the hospital, which leads to her becoming depressed.
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Geraldine Johnson, a concerned person, who visits her every week, approached the Rotary Club of Knysna and requested the donation of a laptop with internet facility. This computer could help her to obtain her matriculation and perhaps help with further studies.
An amount of R4, 000.00 was raised in fines during two Knysna Rotary Friendship Tours of China in September/October this year and it was decided to use this money to purchase a laptop for Rochelle. Douglas Thomas from the company IT Future helped her to set up the laptop and will teach her how to use it. |
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SOUNS PROJECT WITH KNYSNA EDUCATION TRUST
Knysna Rotary Club has successfully facilitated a link-up between the 22 preschools at the Knysna Education Trust and an exciting literacy programme developed by Rotarian Brenda Erickson in Peachtree City Rotary Club, Georgia and USA. Brenda is also the Literacy Chair in her District and she has a long-term goal of starting SOUNSAfrica piloted in township schools in and around Knysna.
Knysna Education Trust recently had a visit from Brenda and her husband, South African Norman Hough, who presented workshops on implementing the programme to Rotarians, Rotary Anns, teachers and volunteers who will monitor the progress of learners at every preschool. It is a programme that is started with very young children before they are a year old, and it is based on the sounds of letters. The loose letters, made of a nylon compound, are just the right size for a small child’s hand to hold, pick up, suck and chew, in the way that all young children discover their toys and other items in their immediate environment.
The SOUNS programme is; each school will receive a bag containing 56 lowercase letters, washable in hot water and are virtually indestructible. Each letter has the corresponding Braille symbols; these also help to show the right way up of each letter.
There is also a booklet with all the necessary information and details of how the programme works along with a DVD and further helpful information. |
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The programme is being implemented at township preschools, and sets of the SOUNS letters have been sponsored by Rotary Clubs in Peachtree City, Counterpane Montessori, Newnan, Cairo (USA), Henry County and Bainbridge.
Annette Nelson, educational mentor at the Knysna Education Trust, is in charge of the programme in Knysna.
“We have had during Brenda and Norman’s visit, the pleasure of watching Brenda at work, sharing her passion with us, the teachers and children wherever we visited, and to see and hear and watch the children respond so willingly, interacting with tools developed especially for their developing literacy skills. We will be welcoming them back in October this year and look forward to the progress made with the programme during this time.
We, at Knysna Education Trust, once again extend our thanks and gratitude to be trusted with this opportunity to contribute toward ensuring a more literacy strong community. We are in awe of the potential that it holds and endeavour to do all that we can to ensure the best possible success with SOUNS in our area” Annette said.
On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 12:08 PM, Brenda Erickson wrote:
Rotary District 6900, Fellow Rotarians, and Individual Literacy Advocates,
The four days in Knysna have been more inspiring than words can ever describe. This is pivotal, as the Knysna Education Trust (KET) oversees the largest number of preschools using Souns in South Africa and, even more informative is the fact that KET has pilot schools for the program that were established in the last school term. This visit was a follow-up visit to see how the work was going in the pilot schools. The goal was to expand the number of sites and take the work of Souns in the established preschool sites to a new level. All the schools in Pretoria and Klerksdorp were first time introductions to Souns. Therefore, our experience in Knysna forebodes well for this work and those schools that are new to the program as experience with Souns continues.
In Knysna our agenda included seven preschools and two primary schools, two teacher training sessions for the new KET sites and one training session for volunteers, one delightful reception by KET and the Rotary Club of Knysna as well as a Rotary Club luncheon - all occurred in four days. It was an extraordinarily busy schedule, but the experience was magical at every point, particularly because of the enthusiasm and responsiveness of the children. They often brought tears to our eyes. This work of Rotary in collaboration with dynamic organizations such as the Knysna Education Trust can make a powerful difference for literacy.
Rotary and literacy advocates everywhere, we have work to do and children are waiting....... timing is everything and they can't wait too long!
My thanks to all of you who have made this happen! Now off to the opportunities in Cape Town!
Brenda Erickson
Literacy Coordinator, Rotary District 6900
Rotary Club of Peachtree City |
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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 9350 DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2010
Venue: The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West, 14th to 16th May 2010.
See the Website for registrations: Conference.hsrotary.co.za
Registration & Information
Conference Co-coordinator: Tracey Wilson 082 887 6991 twilson@cape.waltons.co.za
Registration and Information: Maretha Higgin 072 1072 741 m.higgin@mweb.co.za
Select your Club Conference Organizer!
Your hosts, Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club, request that each club appoint an organizer/ co-ordinator to facilitate members’ bookings.
Early Bird Booking
Until Thurs 15 April 2010.......late bookings will incur an additional R100 surcharge per person
Register now at conference.hsrotary.co.za
Functions include: Opening Cocktail party & Wine Tasting, Pre-conference Golf, Inspiring
Speakers, Carnival-themed DG Gala Dinner
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President: Ian Ballantine; Past President: Peter Klews;Secretary: Des Wearne;Treasurer: Rob Clark;
Club Administration: Franc Bentley;
Service Projects: Derrick Ikin; Membership: Mick Furman;
New Generations: Mendy Weiner;
Rotary Foundation: Louise Pannell;
Public Relations: Ina Thompson; Anns President: Helena Monk
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Should you not wish to receive further newsletters please email knysna@rotary9350.co.za asking to be removed and provide your name and email address to which the newsletter was sent |
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