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.