BULLETIN 14th August 2026 

 Visitors:   Huru & Erin Symons

Welcome–from President Stephen

General Notices: 

GWCTD: A good time had by all last Saturday. Lurid tales not expected from 15 August. 

Omokoroa club opening was attended by Rhonda, Pat, and Chris Dever, last Saturday. A good time was had by all.  

Buddy volunteered to fill the final spot in the bulletin reporter team of superior people.

Club key fobs: get yours from the bar or front desk of the Tauranga Club. 

AI course is on: 12 October at Omokoroa, in the evening. Contact President Steve if you want to go. Cost is just $12. Otherwise, you can just try to survive on what little is left of your natural intelligence. 

Taupo Rotary Cyclists Challenge: Steve generously offered to sponsor any would be cyclists at the rate of $1 a kilometre, then realised that he did not know how many kilometres were involved. He was rather relieved to hear that it is a mere 160. Not sure how many members can do that. Now, if it is 10 km, not on the road, and includes a cool ale at the end, many of us could be interested. 

Phil Mangos has been checking options for the club to be involved in the Arts Festival spinoff events this year. The Crystal palace is only available every second year, and this is an off year. There are some potential speakers from the festival, but their schedules are not looking good for us to organise a fund-raising breakfast or similar. Phil will keep looking for opportunities.

Michele: Told us about K valley environmental projects. On Sunday 20 September there is a big planting day.  Near Tom Muir Drive, 5000 trees to plant. 

Also, we are to lead the establishment of a group to help with various maintenance tasks. The group will include Non-Rotarians.

Ross is looking for volunteers to help with a collection for Dementia NZ. Fraser Cove, on Saturday 5 September. Please call/ email him if you can help. 

Club Assembly. Steve went over the rules, aimed to make a talk fest not a talk fest. The really hard ones were about being succinct and staying on topic. It is a pity the Parliament house speaker can’t use that approach.

Projects: Steve put up a slide which Ross had put together, showing which of our projects spent money, and which made money. It was immediately obvious, even to the accountants in the room, that we are potentially spending much more than we are making. WE NEED SOME FUNDRAISING PROJECTS. Easier said than done. Steve wants to set up a centre of expertise to make this happen. The word “committee” is to be avoided like the plague. After a significant amount of circular discussion, all agreed. Tell Steve if you have any experience or ideas in this area. Especially if you can squeeze any funds out of the hordes that come over the Kaimais every summer, and use all the facilities supplied by the hard-working ratepayers of Tauranga city. 

Public Water rescue device group. Steve has been asked to sign a MOU on behalf of the club, but it is a bit short on detail on who is to do what. Pat pointed out that an MOU is required to get a rotary district grant, so a lack of specificity could be a generic problem. The bigger problem appears to be that on going maintenance is meant to be a council responsibility, and they have not agreed to that, and are not exactly famous for their ability in that arena. Also, the district grants are limited in amount per year, so best spread over 3 years or so. More work required. Needs to be done before 31 August.

RYPEN also discussed. More money would be helpful. District grant organisations, TECT and Bay Trust likely to be helpful. Kathy and Chris D. to be involved.

Exchange Students: Steve suggested program should be supported. Meeting agreed. Now that many members are a bit old or slow to be hosts, non members should be encouraged. 

Sergeant at Arms –Not happening, we were running out of time anyway.

Parting Thought from: Jill Woodward: author: Buddha:” Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”

Next Week's Duties: