Back to my roots - Tawa

Jenny being spoilt

I recognise that couple!!
PDG Pat Waite and Melva

Well - down memory lane I travelled tonight.  I returned to the area I grew up as a lad - and visited the Rotary Club of Tawa.  Apart from the wonderful people in the Club, there was a feeling of 'comming home' as I enjoyed the friendship and welcome given to Jenny and me as we joined the meeting.  Again, well supported again by AG Glynis and Fred, we enjoyed a lively meeting and then I had the opportunity to speak.  And I spent time recollecting how, from an early age my schooling involved people who to this day are still Rotarians.  My old school teachers at Tawa College included Rory O'Conner (now at Wellington North) and Ernie Rosenthal (Karori Club).  I recounted my time as a teacher in the area and moving into the IT industry, again with the help of a Rotarian - Roy Cox (Hutt Valley) who introduced me to a new Club being formed in 1989 called Port Nicholson.  A great memory trip for me but with a serious message - that with all the fun, can we truly define the 'essence' of the Club that would attract others to join?   Following a lively

A fine fine for most

President Tony, AG Glynis and
DG Howard

meeting, we had a Board meeting - the projects, the publicity work, the web site and facebook development, the international projects, the community projects, the work with young people, the providing of funds for various community groups and the reporting of their successful Book Fair was only a fraction of what was covered by those attending.  Here is a Club who has a real focus, who is implementing the results of the recent Club Visioning exercise and are seeing the

benefits already.  Tawa - as Club with heaps of activity and energy and who presented to me a cheque for $1,500 towards the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal.  President Tony has the support of his Club and I am sure we will see further initiatives coming from my old home town.  Another great night!