Regional Rotary Magazines for February now out

Both On-line at www.rotarydownunder.org

Dear Rotary friends,

NEWS FLASH!  Rotary Down Under is now mobile via a new streaming service onto smart phones and tablets (any mobile device) which is yet another example of the onward push for the digital provision of Rotary information and publicity by RDU, and its determination to provide membership with best possible technology at all times!  And you won’t need a microscope!  Check it out here.  For more information contact Editor Mark Wallace

As such Rotary Down Under is now a total news service … monthly magazine on line, regular newsletter updates, facebook, twitter, club resources (such as Rotarians doing business, speakers corner and events bookings etc), Rotarian surveys and polling, public relations/public image development etc.  In fact, RDU is now a real ‘one stop shop’ for Rotarians! 

Rotarians throughout the Region will soon receive their personal February 2012 issues of Rotary Down Under AND Rotarian Life & Leisure magazines.  Our  RDU Newsletter at http://www.rdunewsletter.rotarysouthpacific.org/ highlights articles from and featuring NZ and the SW Pacific.  

More success stories and photos are needed for our magazines.  In particular, we are very keen to receive articles describing:

1.    What Rotarians are doing in the community beyond Rotary

2.    Exciting travel stories  

3.    Inspirational Rotary and business leaders’ contributions about winning leadership and success in business

4.    Projects in Rotary International’s strategic direction and areas of focus:

a.    Basic Education and Literacy - Disease Prevention and Treatment

b.    Economic and Community Development

c.    Water and Sanitation

d.    Maternal and Child Health and

e.    Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution

5.    Partnerships on overseas projects

Tell us what made your projects and events the successes that they were, so that others can learn through RDU about how to succeed from your experiences. 

Please keep sending all articles about new unique projects, and extremely successful on-going events, with separately attached high resolution photos including captions, to berylrobinson@rotarydownunder.co.nz.  Full details on how to submit are at www.rdu.rotarysouthpacific.org  

Your on-going support is greatly appreciated. 

Kindest regards,

Beryl 

Beryl Robinson

Past District Governor of Rotary International District 9920 Inc

Editorial and Promotions Manager

Rotary Down Under New Zealand and Pacific Islands Editorial Office

www.rdu.rotarysouthpacific..org and www.rotarydownunder.org  

www.rotarystories-nzandpacific.blogspot.com

For a list of who receives these monthly RDU Newsletters direct please go to www.rdunewsletter.rotarysouthpacific.org

Food shortage is a major issue in Fiji in the wake of this week’s floods

Food shortage is a major issue in Fiji in the wake of this week’s floods as authorities count the cost of the disaster. Rotary throughout New Zealand is coordinating a nation-wide relief campaign. District Governor 9920 Alan Eyes said “Fiji Rotary clubs have already donated $6000 for food parcels which are being sourced and distributed to those in need in the west.” DG Alan praised the Rotarian team in Fiji, led by relief coordinator Bob Niranjan, in the wake of the flooding which killed at least six people.

President Rick Eyre and club members of Lautoka Rotary, and President Sanjit Patel of the Rotary Club of Nadi were working in the Nadi area and the West to identify needs and to assist.

To quote DG Alan; “The feeling is now that the rain has eased the problems are being identified and the real assistance is required. Forty emergency response kits have been distributed and there will be many more in the coming days.”

“Food is a major issue. Fiji Rotary clubs have already donated $6000 for food parcels which are being sourced and distributed to those in need in the west.

Food packs

The Suva clubs are actively involved, with the Rotary clubs of Suva contributing 250 pieces of clothing going tomorrow, and 100 food packs despatched this morning – both for distribution by the Lautoka club. 

By way of example, the food packs provided by the Rotary Club of Lautoka to the Andrews School Evacuation Centre where there were 86 families included: 4kg flour, 2 kg rice, 2kg sugar, 2kg potatoes, 1kg onions, 2 pkts breakfast crackers, 2 tins of fish, 1 pkt tea leaves, cooking oil, garlic, noodles. Value $35 each.  Actual food pack contents do vary depending on the supply source.

Rotary Club of Nadi has been working with the Rama Krishna Mission in cooking and distributing food with more parcels planned in the coming days.

Rotary NZ World Community Services  coordinator, Christchurch-based Stuart Batty, continued to liaise with NZ’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Rotary leaders in Fiji. Stuart plans to travel to Fiji on Sunday.

Urgent assistance is required and Rotary club and the public can support by sending donations to the Rotary New Zealand 2012 Fiji Flood Appeal:


Money is urgently needed.  We invite all Rotarians to consider making a donation of $NZ40 to purchase a food parcel for a family.

•    Rotary New Zealand World Community Service: www.rnzwcs.org where there is a PayPal credit card facility, or

•    Internet banking telegraphic transfer to Westpac Banking Corporation, Wellington, NZ account number 03 1702 0192208 02 (international donors will also require Swift Code WPACNZ2W, IBAN Code 031702) for account name RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand), and include reference  Fiji Flood , and/or donor name and club

•    Cheque made payable to RNZWCS Limited posted to PO Box 20309, Christchurch 8543, New Zealand

Donations are tax deductible within NZ. More information at: www.rnzwcs,org

If the food parcel appeal is oversubscribed, then the surplus will be used to directly assist those in need and/or replenish the Emergency Response Kits.

Rotary in New Zealand also requests clubs to consider making a donation to replenish the Emergency Response Kits which are currently being distributed. A suggested figure is $600 per kit. www.rnzwcs,org provides more details.

Imagine you and your family living in this house ... but the floods
have washed through it and the silt has covered your garden and crops!

Fiji Floods Update - Rotary's response

Fiji Floods UPDATE,  evening 26 Jan 2012 from DG 9920 Alan Eyes

The west has experienced severe flooding, but talking tonight with Sanjit Patel, President of the Rotary Club of Nadi, he reports a sunny day to day with flood water receding.

Tragically there has been further loss of life.

Vanu Levu, with Savusavu and Labasa are still forecast to have more heavy rain.

The Rotarian team in Fiji, led by Bob Niranjan is co-ordinating Rotary efforts in Fiji. President Rick Eyre and club members of Lautoka Rotary, and President Sanjit Patel of Nadi Rotary, are working in the Nadi area and the West to identify needs and assist. The feeling is now that the rain has eased the problems are being identified and the real assistance is required. 40 Emergency Response kits have been distributed and there will be many more in the coming days [for more information about Emergency Response Kits go to www.rnzwcs.org.nz ]

Food is a major issue and a coordinated  Fiji-wide Rotary effort is already underway. The Fiji Rotary clubs have already donated $6000 for food parcels which are being sourced and distributed to those in need in the west. The Suva clubs are actively involved, with the Rotary Clubs of Suva contributing 250 pieces of clothing going tomorrow,  and 100 food packs despatched this morning, both for distribution by the Lautoka club.

Rotary Club of Nadi has been actively involved tonight working with the Rama Krishna Mission in cooking and distributing food with more parcels planned in the coming days.

Rotary NZ World Community Services  coordinator, PDG Stuart Batty, is based in Christchurch and continues to liaise with MFAT and Rotary leaders in Fiji. He plans to travel to Fiji on Sunday.
The team is doing a great job helping others in need. The preplanning and placement of Emergency Response Kits in secure locations in Fiji is proving to be of great benefit  - they are on the spot and being distributed as needed without delay. 

My question to Bob has been, how can we in New Zealand and other parts of the Pacific help? It is likely this will be in the form of monetary donations to assist mainly with meeting a need for food which may go on for some time. The team is working on how his can best be done in a coordinated way and I will be talking to him further over the next 48 hours.

Club Presidents, you may recall me saying during our preparation for 2011/12 year that i was not intending to have requests go out for funding of district projects etc, but requested you allow for assistance that may be required in the event of a natural disaster. This looks like it will be that event and I will appreciate it if you can give thought as to how your club may be able assist, most likely by way of monetary contributions for food parcels and others necessities. I will be in touch in the coming days.

To those Rotarians in Fiji, I extend on behalf of D9920 our thanks for the work you are doing to assist those in need in your communities, and send our best wishes to you all.

Regards
Alan  Eyes
District Governor
Rotary International District 9920.

A message for all Rotarians

New Zealand Rotary has a reputation for excellent, effective coordinated public image activity that other countries are trying to emulate.  The following is a continuation of this:

A message to all New Zealand Rotarians

(Please advise your members at meetings, in Bulletins or on web sites)

Rotary International has generously provided us in Zone 7b with a Public Relations Grant to assist in promoting Rotary in our community.  A national committee representing each District has devised a publicity campaign over February/March.  You are encouraged as a Club to supplement this campaign with your own local media activity.  This can be paid advertising, generating public interest through special high-profile projects and events or through personal promotion by your members by inviting the community to your Club meetings.

This media campaign involves:

Ø  Television                           12 February – 30 March (TV3)

Ø  Radio                                    19 February – 30 March (Newstalk ZB, Easy Listening, Hauraki and their other networked stations)

Ø  Billboards                           4 March – 6 May (Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin)

Ø  Online Marketing            19 February – 25 March (TV3 online, NZ Herald, Stuff, Yahoo, Facebook, msn.co.nz)

We are fortunate to have Rotarians who are professional PR people and have donated their time and talents to come up with this extensive campaign.  A substantial feature of this campaign is the additional ‘free’ media slots that will provided as the media houses continue to generously  support Rotary.

What can your Club do to increase the impact of this campaign?

Ø  Tell your Club members through your meetings, Bulletins and websites/Face Book pages of the dates.

Ø  Promote the 0800 4 ROTARY phone number in your community – this will be referred to in the campaign

Ø  Approach your own media outlets – giving them articles of interest and good photos

Ø  Look at ways to create a special impact around 23 February – Rotary’s official ‘birthday’

Specific profile suggestions:

1.       A number of New Zealand Clubs have already subscribed to is the Global Swimarathon – raising funds for Polio.  This is a novel way to raise profile and funds for Polio – especially as the event in New Zealand will be on Sunday 26^th February at 1am!!  For more details go to http://rotaryswimarathon.org/

2.       Arranging a projected light display and project End Polio Now onto one of your local buildings – this is done annually world-wide

3.       Have all Clubs in your District involved in an outdoor project or activity on the weekend of 25/26 February – why not have a community tidy-up (beach, roadside, local park)

4.       Be creative and have fun serving the community in a public way

5.       Purchase Polio pins through RDU as part of their Pin it for Polio campaign

6.       Consult your own Club media people for ideas

This will all go a long way to further reinforce and support the national media campaign.

In your advertising you are encouraged to also use "Want to play a part?" as the call for action plus 0800 4 ROTARY and your Club name. Each week a spot list will be circulated which will include bonus spots, however ‘fillers’ or ‘charity spots’ will not be advised as these are at the channel's discretion. 

For more details visit our Public Image Blog or the NZ Rotary web site.

We all have the privileged responsibility to market Rotary to those in our community.  Remember - each individual Rotarian’s actions count.

Journey of Hope. What ever happened to ...

Dear supporters of the Journey of Hope,  

Exactly one year has passed since we (Xaver Hausner and Oliver Macindoe) finished our ride for PolioPlus the length of New Zealand and arrived in Bluff on 16 January 2011. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once more for the support you gave us either before we left or along the way, and to wish you success and happiness for the year ahead.                      

While on our 54-day-ride for PolioPlus we travelled 3,481 km, climbed 33,907 vertical metres, raised $NZ50,557 for PolioPlus, met with members of more than 35 Rotary clubs, spent 17 nights in our tent, took over 2,000 photos, blogged over 31,000 words, fixed 5 spokes and one puncture, caught 3 ferries, fell off the bikes 3 times and visited 2 doctors.     

      

          

To the many people who donated to PolioPlus, who welcomed us into their homes for the night, who met us on the streets to ride with us or promote the cause, who gave us equipment (or fixed it), who gave us a beer at the end of the day or a plum at the end of a long hill; our trip wouldn’t have been possible without you and certainly wouldn’t have been half as rewarding. Thank you!

In the last year, Xaver has been back in his homeland of Germany preparing for his law exams this March and Ollie has been in Christchurch training to be a teacher. In October Ollie came to Germany and since then has been studying at the University of Freiburg. Ollie spent Christmas with Xaver’s family in Würzburg and it has been fantastic being able to catch up again. We have had a lot of fun reminiscing about the trip and looking over photos.

It would have been nice to be able to send a personalised email to all the people that supported us along the way but there are simply too many of you! This trip was very special to us; we had planned it since we were 17 and 18 years old. Something we couldn’t have planned for and something we couldn’t have expected, however, was just how special the people we met and corresponded with made it.

Yours gratefully, Ollie and Xaver

New Potatoes - $27,000 in less than a month including Christmas timeout!

Generous sponsorship, thorough planning,  expert management,  and ideal growing conditions has given the Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains a record yield from its annual Christmas “New Potato” Marketing Project.



Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains Projects Director Past President Ken Leadley (left) and President Ray Mayne (right) with the last dig of new potatoes.Photo credit: Ashburton Guardian Newspaper



For nigh on 20 years, the club Projects Committee  has honed its skill in harnessing the generous opportunities of land,  seed,  and fertiliser, donated by individuals and commercial enterprise to produce sought after gourmet spuds for Christmas tables.   Planted in late September, optimum product comes to the consumer in the days before Christmas.  This season, thanks to extraordinary conditions, paddock production has been the biggest ever, with 2884 4kg bags coming on stream and sold between December 14 and January 9.

Community expectation for the club’s high quality product now dictates that fresh potatoes are dug almost every day leading into the festive season through a series of short duration, pick, weigh, pack, marketing forays undertaken by the club membership.   In a now well established and mutually valuable relationship with the Ashburton Rowing Club,  rowers (often on short notice call out) are shoulder to shoulder with Rotarians picking spuds as older Rotarians weigh, bag and pack the product.   Orders or sales are canvassed from the town’s business fraternity and their staff, as too are restaurateurs and home makers.    In a new departure this year, a “Hawkers” License permitting street side selling assisted in the disposal of the additional volume grown.  

This season 164 bags were donated to local food bank agencies, the “lonely’s”  annual community Christmas dinner,  age concern dinner, and as a thank you gift to some loyal business people who support “Plains” Rotary firewood,  potato,  and pea straw projects with donated plant, goods or services.

Ten dollars is not a lot today, but times 2700 bags makes for a situations where cash is king.  For their efforts, Ashburton Rowing Club is each year,  the first beneficiary of money raised.   While the Rotary club does not have a pre-planned agenda for the capital fund, local, national and global initiatives and sponsorship becomes the focus of fund distribution or aide.   $10,000 to the local Plunket Association, $4,000 to Samoa in a joint medical aide equipment shipment by the “Plains” and Ashburton Clubs,  $3,000 performance based Tertiary Scholarship Grant,  $1,000 per annum school uniform award to two selected “have-not” students ,  Rotary Youth Leadership Award,  Spirit of Adventure scholarships, and  Pride of Workmanship Awards.

Already in this fiscal year over $28,000 of disbursements has overtaken the spud harvest achievement.    Plus as most clubs do,  PolioPlus,  ShelterBox,  Emergency Boxes  (x2),  The Rotary Foundation,  and other humanitarian aid projects will receive annual support from the firewood and pea straw sales projects as the year advances.

Submitted by:  Past President / PHF Ken Leadley

7th TAHITI–MOOREA SWIM

26 November 2011 ROTARY CLUB OF PAPEETE-TAHITI, DISTRICT 9920

14 swimmers and 18 kms for a great cause; 

almost $NZ29,000 /$AU22,000 raised to

fight diabetes and obesity plus for medical research

For the 7^th year, the Rotary Club of Papeete-Tahiti, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Moorea, organized its great challenge in order to raise money for their diabesity programme which fights diabetes and obesity.

The multiple goals of this project are to:

•  increase the  awareness to the diabesity programme
•  raise money, thanks to generous sponsors who offer money and involve their staff in the  swim 
• and reinforce the PR image of Rotary by showing a dynamic sporting image of Rotary and Rotarians.

Last year and for the next two years, half of the money raised will be donated to medical research for diabetes in Polynesia.

It is neither a competition, nor a race.  It is a challenge to swim 18 km in the deep blue between the two islands.

We were again lucky to have excellent media cover; two TV reports on the news, newspaper excerpts and two radio programmes about this incredible swim which has been done annually since 2004.

Participants could either swim in relay or do the complete swim on 26 November 2011. Four opted to do the complete swim, and ten swimmers chose the relay. The security fleet of 12 boats included the fire brigade, gendarmerie, professional divers, life guards, a doctor and nurses. 

The weather conditions were very bad and some swimmers were seasick!  The swim started at 5.30am from the marina, and it lasted five and half hours.  At the arrival into the Moorea lagoon, all of the swimmers were back in the water, so that all could swim together to the shore, accompanied by two traditional Polynesian outriggers.

There was a colourful welcome ceremony with flowers, champagne, local fruit, and a lunch for swimmers with the organisers and Rotarians.

It’s a beautiful swim, despite the physical challenge of very bad weather conditions and the rough sea, that thankfully did not result in any unwanted encounters (such as sharks or jelly fish).

On 12 December there was a cocktail party for swimmers, partners, sponsors and the media.

It was a great way to thank and recognize everyone for their commitment to this sporting Rotary challenge.

This was another opportunity to push our own limits while we swam and raised a great deal of money for a worthy cause and achieved huge media coverage about Rotary in action.

Submitted by: Cathy Gourbault-Lawrence, Co-Project Director 7^th Tahiti-Moorea Swim

"Seeing" made easier

The Rotary Club of Suva along with the South Port School, Australia brought smiles to many at the Fiji Society for the Blind with a donation of five Braille machines, 15 walking canes plus a cheque for then to purchase additional needs. 

One hospital and one bathtub - times are changing thanks to this club.

What progress ... the water is HOT
Tania DeHoon (Project Head) with
Tiko Saumalua (Subdivisional Medical Officer-Cakaudrove-center)

With 48 beds, the local (government funded) hospital at Savusavu, Fiji consists of five wards – Men’s, Women’s, Obstetrics, Children’s, and Private* (for Pay). Prior to the installation by the Rotary Club of Savusavu (District 9920) of a new solar water heater, the only hot water fixture in the hospital was one bathtub in the Women’s ward! This is why, when they discovered it, they chose to make it a priority project and this has now been completed. The club is  continuing to upgrade the hospital’s plumbing fixtures.

*Savusavu Hospital’s Private Ward was established by The Rotary Club of Savusavu in December 1999

The club also decorated the five wards for Christmas, adding much appreciated Christmas Cheer for the patients and staff.