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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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Knysna club always seems busy – we have just enjoyed the visit from the UCT Dance School, where they held two workshops for the children of Knysna and two dance shows at the Primary School. This involved a number of the club members and the Ann’s helped on the Friday and Saturday night shows.
Now the club is gearing up for the annual Golf weekend, while preparations for the Cycle race are going ahead.
The lunch meeting venue – The Premier Hotel (Ashmead Holiday Resort) is working well and visitors are always made welcome. |
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EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH LITERACY
In Rotary, we recognize March as Literacy Month. This is when we focus on the importance of literacy and education in our humanitarian service. In my decades as a Rotarian, both at home in Alabama, USA, and abroad, I have seen again and again what a critical role literacy plays in a healthy and productive life. Being literate does not just mean having the ability to read a book or a newspaper. Being literate means being able to comprehend the instructions on a medicine bottle, a set of directions, or a job posting. It means understanding the note written by a child’s teacher. It means being able to use a computer, follow a recipe, or apply for a mortgage. Literacy means being part of the larger society. It means inclusion, and it means empowerment.
Those who cannot read or write, whether they are children or adults, are cut off from important information in ways too numerous to count. They are less likely to be healthy and more likely to be poor. And perhaps most critical of all, parents who cannot read are more likely to raise children who cannot read – perpetuating the cycle of illiteracy, and of poverty.
As a Rotarian and in my profession, I have seen so many simple and creative ways to break this cycle. Whether it is by volunteering in schools, by bringing education and training to adults, or simply by ensuring that all children have the books and supplies they need, we in Rotary can do so much. We can help others learn to read – and learn to help themselves.
Glenn E. Estess Sr. Foundation Trustee Chair |
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INTERACTORS OF KNYSNA SEKONDÊR HOLD TALENT SHOW
On the 5th of March the Interactors of Knysna Sekondêr held a wildly popular talent show. There was a highly appreciative audience of between 500-600 – learners, parents, younger brothers and sisters and many fans! The show was opened by a spectacular drag fashion show presented by the amazingly talented Interactors themselves. This was followed by a varied programme of dance, song, rap, poems and skits, as well as an impressive brass band. The show went on till late in the night. A total of R5’400 was made which will go towards the Interact Club’s adopted project for 2010 of renovating the school’s ablution blocks. Some photographs were taken with the brand new camera which the Club had purchased with their 2009 Interact prize money. Well done, Knysna Sekondêr! |
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| OUR KGALAGADI EXPERIENCE |
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Five friends, four Rotarians and an Ann, set off on a camping adventure in the Karoo National Park for two nights and then seven nights in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. We saw many varied sorts of buck and were very fortunate to see two rhinos in the Karoo Park as there are only six in the entire, huge area.
In the Kgalagadi Park, we had some beautiful sightings of herds of blouwildebees, rooihartebees, gemsbok and springbuck, with lots of young ones. We also saw 14 lions on different days and in different places. The cheetah sightings were very special, one crossing the road, one stalking its prey and the other three eating a springbuck. The smaller animals and birds also kept us very busy, especially the birds of prey.
Our tents (and us) survived two Karoo and two Kalahari thunderstorms. Not even the scorching heat, sand in everything or eating braai in the rain could dampen our spirits. The swimming pools were great places to cool down and to meet very interesting people and hear some amazing stories of animal sightings.
While we packed up on the last morning, the group decided that the trip was well worth the effort as the sightings of the animals and birds and meeting different people was an experience to be remembered. We then left the Park for the Augrabies Waterfall for a quick visit for the day where we bumped into Tom and Jeanette Esterhuizen before returning to Upington. It was amazing to see where the recent waters had flowed over the falls at an incredible height. Parts of the lookout railings were damaged by the force of the water.
After Upington, John, Eleanor and Rob returned home while Elwin and I went on to a Governors’ Council meeting in Kimberley before returning home.
This outing was an experience never to be forgotten and is strongly recommended to all.
Ina Thompson
Rotarians relaxing after a hot day |
A Giant Eagle Owl |
Sunset over the Kalahari |
Sunrise over the Kalahari |
The Kings of the jungle at sunrise |
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A VISITOR FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF PEACH TREE USA
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Brenda Erickson, the Literacy Chair for her District in the USA, paid a visit to our club to explain how the Souns Africa programme was being introduced to schools in Knysna with the help of our club and the Knysna Education Trust.
She was very impressed with the way that the programme had been implemented with the 42 sets of Souns letters that had been donated by the Rotary Club of Peach Tree. She told of the great success that was achieved by children from the ages of 18 months and up to three years of age. Those children that were exposed to the programme were going ahead with their literacy skills in leaps and bounds. She showed the club a video of the programme being implemented in one of the local schools. Unfortunately, as the programme has only now been brought to Knysna, it will start in the pre-schools and not for children at the younger ages. |
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THE ROTARY CLUB OF KNYSNA ENJOYING FELLOWSHIP AT THE ROADSIDE
On Tuesday evening, the members of the club and several friends gathered at the roadside to greet the new full moon as it rose above the horizon. Tables were set up and chairs placed in the road above the Knysna Lagoon at Margaret’s View Point with many tempting snacks and beverages laid out in readiness for the expected moment when the full moon would appear. Unfortunately heavy clouds covered the horizon until, suddenly, the shout went up “Look, there it is!” The full moon was just visible peeking out of the top of the clouds.
Much fun and fellowship was had by all of the about 50 people attending and, after much discussion and telling of stories, everything was packed up in the dark and everyone went their various ways. |
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