It was several years later when I was visiting family in Florida, my Uncle suggested I bring the idea to his local Rotary Club in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I sent in my presentation and to my delight Dr. Carrie Root and Deb Connelly – members of Rotary Club Tarpon Springs pushed the idea forward and began writing a grant that supported teaching locals how to build sustainably using waste straw in a remote Village in Bali. Rotary Clubs Holiday, Dunedin North, and Dunedin, Florida also participated in raising funds that were matched by District grant 6950 for a total of $16,800 USD which was awarded the following year! I joined Rotary Club Bali Taman and have discovered a whole new group of people who like to help others.In Bali there are no baling machines so making bales by hand is the only option.
A special thanks to all the people in Rotary, especially RC Tarpon Springs who believed in this project from the start and gave their hard earned money to provide aid to a Village half way around the world. Thank you friends and family who also made contributions and to Kadek Suaradana who led the team in the Village. The people of Nawa Kerti are very grateful and proud to house the first straw bale building and have become new straw bale enthusiast.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the sad news that the President-elect of Rotary International, Sam F. Owori, died last night as a result of post-operative complications from a planned surgery.
In this difficult time, I ask you to keep his wife, Norah, the Owori family, and Sam’s millions of friends around the world in your thoughts.
Sam was a special person in so many ways, and his unexpected death is a huge loss to Rotary, his community, and the world. We will provide more details on plans to celebrate his life as they become available.
From the perspective of Rotary leadership, we will share information on the impact and the path forward as a result of Sam’s passing. In addition, we are establishing a memorial fund in Sam’s honor and will provide further details soon.
Monday July 3rd 2017 Coolamon Rotary Club Change Over Dinner.
We had a great evening at the Coolamon Change Over dinner and a lot of fellowship and short speeches was the order of the night.
Thank you to IPP Don Dyce for steering the club onwards and upwards during 2016-2017. We look forward to another wonderful year of Rotary with President Paul Weston.
The RI Convention in Atlanta was a huge success with 40,000+ or – delegates including yours truly.
Just posting a few photos here of the Convention. I spent all my time in the RAGES booth and missed all the plenary sessions. We also had a great break out session courtesy of Rotary Host Organising Committee. It was full and they closed the doors before we started.
Here in no particular order are some of the moments I remember best:
Happy to have a chat about the event when we have the time. Also to promote Toronto 2018 and Hamburg 2019 Conventions. Atlanta was my 7th Rotary International Convention and as memorable as my first in 2005 at Chicago.
Tracy our wonderful student from Mathare in Nairobi writes:
“Some of my pictures
This was after anatomy session
Made lotsa friends in school
The semester is really flying.”
Tracy is in her first semester at the United States International University in Nairobi. Tracy is doing her degree in Pharmacy. Very proud of this young lady who is doing so well.
This is for all of us in Rotary who have had anything to do with our Centennial Twin Club Hout Bay, those who climbed three mountains, two or one those in the club who helped raise funds and those who do not know much about our relationship with Hout Bay Rotary.
The township called Imizamo Yethu in the middle of this beautiful part of Cape Town has just had a large fire destroying several thousand shacks which are the homes of these people who moved here for a better life.
“Coolamon has special values for us all here in Rotary Club of Hout Bay because you are our twinned club and there are not too many twinned clubs in the world today. It represents a special partnership, plus the fact that South Africans and Australians are also special people, anyway. Patrick”
Some of the Kili 2007 team in Hout Bay.
“When you drive out of our home town here there is the biggest sign on our local clinic on the Main Road which says “Coolamon House”, so your message is here big time, all the time. May that message also always declare our friendship and common values.
Each one of our members toasts the Rotary Club of Coolamon at our Tuesday meetings.” PP Patrick McLaughlin PHF+1
We have a long and mutually rewarding association with Hout Bay and Coolamon House that they built with funds we raised climbing three mountains in Africa.
Here are two messages from Hout Bay received this morning, one from PP Don Peters and the other from PP Butch Liebenberg whom some of you have met in Coolamon.
They are not asking for any help just giving us information on this disaster on their watch.
John – Hi
Yes been a disastrous day for the poor people in Imuzamu Yethu, everyone is rallying round and Rotary Hout Bay is a leader.
Sunday will be the cycle tour 35 000 of them coming thru Hout Bay. Our team of marshals and we have 45 from the informal settlement will be busy because some of our team have lost their homes and will be re-building. but we are going to still give them the stipend for race work as it will help in there start up.
Its late and I have an early start so will stop but I am going to copy to Patrick and Butch so
they can give another view and also say hi.
Best wishes
Don
Hi John,
The best guess by those closest to IY is that 10,000 people have been displaced. I cant confirm that no but most restaurants in Hout Bay (56 in total) are running with half their staff and very reduced menus. Phumlani who you guys were so good to during his school years and in his last year at Uni has lost his house and most of his goods. I think I have raised enough funds to get him back on track but will let you know if we need anything further. Fortunately Azola your new student has moved out of IY into Uni residence and so is not affected. We have a 5.30 start tomorrow to marshall the Argus Cycle tour so need to get some sleep
Lots of love from us all in Hout Bay
Butch and Lyn
Phumlani with JG and Craig in 2007.
Here are three pics of this fire:
Those of us who have been there would probably recognise that it is at the top end of IY.
The reason, so far no answers, however this could be one of them:
I will keep you all posted on any help required from the Hout Bay Rotarians.
Over the last weekend we lost a fellow Rotarian. PP Bert Browning a Paul Harris Fellow and one of the longest serving Rotarians in the Rotary Club of Coolamon. Here are a few photos of Bert at work for the local community of Coolamon.
President Don Dyce and all of the Rotarians and partners in our club send our deepest condolences and wishes to Bert’s family. Bert will be remembered fondly by all who worked with him on a Rotary BBQ. Bert will also be remembered by the patrons and members of the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club.
R.I.P. Bert Browning PHF.
ONE piece of tomato ONE Piece of beetroot and NO butter!
This is great news for us and you are all invited to attend the Zone 8 Institute in Darwin in 2017.
“It was good to catch up with Sam Owori RI President Nominee for 2018-2019 in Evanston today prior to the RI Board meeting. Sam will be coming to the Zone Institute in Darwin in 2017. I don’t think I have ever seen Sam not smiling!”
