This Week: The Club Annual General Meeting

 We have to have the AGM before the end of the calendar year and we will get the President's Report and the Financial Report for the last Rotary Year ending in June...half way through the year.  Possibly something might be said about our current president's plans for the second half of the year as well.

What we do have to do is officially elect the President and the Secretary for the 2024/25 Rotary Year though the other positions can be filled later depending on who the incoming President wants on his Board and he may even want to change the Board's composition.  We will see during the next six months.

Last Week

We had a very interesting talk by Jeremy Walker of Grangehurst Winery.  He spoke of his development as a winemaker and business man and how Grangehurst had grown over the years.  It's very difficult to maintain production of top quality red wines if you are a small producer and he has managed that which shows considerable skill both as a winemaker but even more so as a business man and it's seldom that the two go together.

He kindly agreed to let us have his wines at a cellar price discount which is very generous and Jim Rankin has already circulated members.

Many thanks Jeremy.

Visit to Little Eden Farm

Unfortunately I was unable to go at the last minute but I gather everyone who did go was very impressed with the facilities and the outing as a whole.  I was hoping that we might have a picture of the tractor we assisted with.  If any pictures are available I will put them on here next week.

Next Week

It's the last Business Meeting of the year.  I am sure we will discuss what to do for the following week for our year end social event.

International:  Germany

After July 2021 floods that killed hundreds of people, leveled homes, and inundated centuries-old buildings in northern Europe, Rotarians committed millions of euros to help rebuild devastated communities. Nearly two years later, Rotary members along the Ahr River, a Rhine tributary, did not forget the river itself or its fish. Over one week in March, the Rotary clubs of Remagen-Sinzig, Adenau-Nürburgring, and Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (all in District 1810) released thousands of salmon smolt in a roughly $16,200 restocking. In Schuld, the Adenau-Nürburgring club offered fish-shaped baked treats to children, and a fisheries expert explained the day’s task. “It is crucial to involve children directly in these activities,” says Alex Schoep, a co-president of the Adenau-Nürburgring club. “They have experienced the horrors of the flood catastrophe firsthand, and it is very important that they re-establish a more positive relationship with the Ahr, a river that characterizes and dominates the region.”

This Week - Jeremy Walker of Grangehurst Wines

We have to show him with one of the two wines he opened to celebrate our Rugby World Cup win!

Seven years after Jeremy’s parents, Eddie and Betty Walker, emigrated from England to Cape Town in 1952, they settled in the coastal village of Camps Bay. After twenty-one years in Cape Town, they moved to the Stellenbosch countryside in 1973 and purchased a small farm called Boplaas on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain.

During Jeremy’s final year at school, his dad suggested he consider a career in the wine industry. Wanting to do something different after a stint in the SA Navy, Jeremy enrolled at Stellenbosch University to study Viticulture and Oenology, graduating in 1977.

Following his studies, he worked two vintages at Bertrams in Stellenbosch and then added to his experience by working vintages in Germany and France. Taking a break from winemaking, he completed an MBA degree at Cape Town University in 1980 and returned to winemaking six years later when he helped establish the winery at Clos Malverne in Stellenbosch’s Devon Valley.

After six vintages at Clos Malverne, Jeremy set up his own winery in 1992. The Grangehurst property, although too small to be a viable farm, is surrounded by prime Stellenbosch vineyards and perfectly situated for the establishment of a winery. He converted his dad’s former squash court into a wine production cellar in which he crushed top quality grapes that were sourced from neighbouring vineyards. This “squash court cellar” was used to crush the grapes, ferment the mash and press the skins from the maiden vintage in 1992 until 1998.

The first vintage produced at Grangehurst was crowned Champion Wine at the South African Young Wine Show – a dream start for our small red wine cellar. In 1996, Jeremy was invited to join the Cape Winemaker’s Guild, an association of innovative winemakers who are recognised as having played a significant role in the development of the South African wine industry.

A warehouse and an underground barrel cellar were constructed in 1996 and a new production cellar was completed in time for the 1999 vintage. Jeremy’s former bachelor pad was converted into a bottling cellar in 2000.

The winery now comprises various individual buildings – the “squash court” cellar, the production cellar, the underground barrel cellar & warehouse, and the bottling cellar.

In 2000, Grangehurst invested in a 13ha Stellenbosch property in a joint venture with ophthalmologist, Dr John Hill, and planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines in 2002.

What started off as a “commercial hobby” soon developed into a successful wine business. 

 Last Week

The meeting was a Project Discussion Meeting but there were a couple of project events:

Friday - Pizza Day at Cresset House

Here's the team of  Pizzaiolos and here is the product of their labours.

It was a most successful day which was enjoyed by both the residents of Cresset House but also by the Rotarians and partners who participated.  As you can see it required tremendous skill on the part of the pizzaiolos to produce a proper rustic product that any Neapolitan would be proud of......Congratulations.  

Saturday - Children's Christmas Party at Bethany Home for Abused Women & Children

This was the first one organised by the club with cool drinks, snacks, cakes and presents for all the children at Bethany.  Andy Jacobs put it together with his team of Rotarians and partners.  I am sure it will become an annual event.

The Official Opening of the new Rotary District 9400 Offices

Andy Connold and myself attended this on the Friday before last. The offices are situated in the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building in Owl St, Milpark.   

Not only are they centrally situated but they provide excellent venues for both small and large meetings which is much needed.  They are clean, modern and well equipped and is something that will certainly enhance the image of Rotary and our District.

International - Uruguay

The Rotary Club of Fray Bentos scooped up 320 servings of paella during a cook-off that has raised thousands of dollars for activities since 2016. Under the guidance of chef Eduardo Casales of La Tomasa restaurant, 23 of the club’s members peeled and cut vegetables to fill giant pans with the rice dish in April during this year’s event, which raised about $2,800. The secret ingredient? “The high
quality of the ingredients used added to the flavour that maintains this traditional paella,” along with the charitable deeds enabled by the proceeds, says Alfredo Batista Fernández, a past club president. The club, which maintains a bank of wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and canes loaned at no charge to people in need, has devoted the proceeds from the food sales to related causes, including the construction of 16 wheelchair-accessible ramps throughout the city of Fray Bentos, as well as at schools.

This Week - A Project Meeting

This is effectively our last project meeting of the year though we do have a business meeting at the beginning of December.  At this stage I am not sure when our first meeting in January 2024 will be but there will obviously be a gap.  

This project meeting will primarily be looking forward to next year and the last 6 months of the Rotary Year.  What projects we are hoping to include and which ones will be coming to an end.

Wednesday 13th December is our last official meeting of the year and I deliberately have not found a speaker for that evening as I am not sure what the club would like to do.  Maybe we could consider it a project and discuss it on Wednesday as well as when the next meeting will be and if we will be having our usual unofficial meetings during the break at the Grand Slam Diner or somewhere else???????

Don't forget Friday 17th is Pizza Day at Cresset House.  President Ron will be wielding the pizza paddle.  It's worth attending just to watch a Scot attempting to be a Neapolitan!

Last Week

Frans van der Walt of Counter Strike Firearms spoke to us about the legal requirements of gun ownership and the different levels of training and the effect this has on the conditions of the various gun licenses.  

It was extremely interesting and had a surprising response from the club....particularly surprising to me who has never owned a gun!

It is interesting to hear how stringent these regulations are and the courses that people are required to attend and pass before being granted a gun license though I did wonder if they were policed and enforced when the country is awash with unlicensed firearms and it seems to be very easy to acquire one.

The last Friday week Andy Connold and myself attended the official opening of the new Rotary District 9400 Headquarters at the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building in Auckland Park.  The reason I didn't mention it last week was because I was waiting for the photographs.

 

The offices provide excellent space for small and large meetings or courses and District Governor  Riana Pretorius trusts that clubs and committees will take advantage of this.

Next Week

Our speaker next week is Jeremy Walker of Grangehurst Winery.

International - Portugal

The Rotary Club of Almancil International takes an active approach in its mission to serve children, notably those with autism spectrum disorders or Down syndrome. Members sponsor activities including surfing lessons and animal therapy. In June the club unveiled a sensory room at a school to serve students ages 5 to 16. “The room is now complete, with state-of-the-art equipment including a soothing waterbed, music, and many sensory light and tactile objects,” says club member Peter Hinze, who coordinated the project. “It can provide a sense of calm and help improve students visual and auditory skills and help regulate their behaviour.” The project cost more than $16,000. The club provided about $5,000, with businesses and friends donating the remainder.

This Week - Firearm Instructor Frans van der Walt - The Legal Requirements of Firearms Use and Ownership.

 

Frans van der Walt owns Counterstrike Firearms Training.

(CSFT)  Counter Strike Firearms Training

 was established in 2021 and is ITA 

( International Firearm Training Academy ),

PFTC (  Professional Firearms Trainers Council  ) and 

SAPS (  South African Police Service ) accredited  

CSFT provides training for legal ( law ) , basic self-use of firearms, competence testing for firearm license applications, business purpose modules for firearm use in the business sector e.g armed security officers.

All individuals who want to possess firearms, trade in firearms, manufacture firearms or conduct business as a Gunsmith must obtain the relevant competency Certificate. 

Counter Strike Firearms Training presents these courses from basic self use to business purposes. 

Proof of identity in the form of a certified identity document is required before or on the day of training. 

No training certificates will be handed out without a certified identity document.

Frans and I were chatting about his business, about which I know nothing and found his comments on the legal use of firearms interesting.  I believe the vast majority of  firearms are possessed illegally so that the whole issue of firearms would provoke an interesting discussion.

Last Week

It was a Business Meeting which is predominantly a report back on progress with existing infrastructure projects at Gerald Fitzpatrick Home and Bethany Home for Abused Women & Children.  The Club approved a children's party at Bethany and we heard about progress on the memorial at Cresset House.

Our increasing involvement with Little Eden will see a visit to their farm in Midrand on the 25th November which is an open day.  We have assisted in the purchase of a new tractor there which has enabled them to increase their plantation of pecan nut trees.

The most satisfying announcement was the completion of our environmental project with the achievement of funding 100 hectares of the Mouse-free Marion Island Project, finally reaching 

R100 000.

Your club has now joined the prestigious 100-ha Wandering Albatross category; the first non-individual sponsor to do so.

With warm regards, 

John

John Cooper

Emeritus Information Officer

Legae La Nnete

Several Rotarians traveled to Legae in Muldersdrift to serve potjiekos to the residents last Saturday. 

President Ron Smith had persuaded chef Donovan Stowe to ensure that the food was edible!  Apparently it was delicious.

Legae La Nnete is a farm for recovering addicts which is a contrast to our major involvement with the intellectually challenged.  Donovan Stowe is at the head of the table but it's difficult to distinguish the Rotarians from the residents!

Next Week

Our monthly Project Discussion Meeting.

International

United Kingdom

Some people will walk through fire for a good cause — literally. More than 50 participants hotfooted across wood embers during a fire walk charity event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Newton Abbot. The sizzling jaunts, to taiko drumbeats, raised more than $11,000 through sponsorship pledges for charities. The club brought in a professional fire walking company to stage the event. Organizers offered a “motivational psychology fear-busting seminar” before the challenge. The secret? Walk in a controlled, fast manner, says Past Club President Phil Millichap. He and 2022-23 Club President Jeremy Newcombe were among the Rotarians who put their feet to the fire. “Top tip: If you fall over, which one lady did, get up quickly,” Millichap advises.