This Week - A Business Meeting

There's not much to say about an impending Business Meeting so here is a cartoon instead.

Last Week

Lorenzo Barry's talk and presentation was quite an eye-opener.  It was very interesting to hear how he became involved in small farmers' problems and it was an excellent presentation on how he sees the possibility of moving forward and what further research is required.

What made it especially interesting was that he sees the problem as a business opportunity for his partnership and the farmers concerned and that certainly resonated with the club.  We look forward to having him back to discuss it further

 Next Week

Roxanne Bredenkamp, Chairman of the Bedfordview and Germiston SPCA will be talking to us.  It's going to be an interesting talk as they have been in dire straights and she has managed to sort everything out and repay their debts and concentrate on maintenance and refurbishment.  The involvement of the former Satellite Club has really helped move things forward.

Our Inspectorate recently encountered an interesting case involving a juvenile Chacma baboon being kept in improper conditions. Thanks to a concerned member of the public, we swiftly intervened and rescued the baboon, ensuring she receives proper care at an accredited wildlife facility. At GBSPCA, we strongly oppose the keeping of wild species in captivity unless for bona fide conservation or rehabilitation purposes.

International - Hungary

When the operator of a summer camp for children with Down syndrome or other cognitive disabilities announced in 2021 that she could no longer run the week long programme, the Rotaract Club of Kecskemét stepped up. The initiative to keep the programme going has become “our club’s biggest and favourite project,” says Anna Antalfalvi. She and other members of the university-based club are education and psychology students. “Our aim is to help children develop through activities during the day. This allows parents to relax and work through their difficulties in support groups.” The club’s eight active members and a few volunteers run workshops, cook, serve, and clean. The camp, which is free for participants (17 children and their families in 2023), costs the club about $3,100 a year. “Our sponsoring Rotary club helped for the first time this year, providing a day’s food and cooking a lunch on another day,” Antalfalvi says. “When they personally experienced the atmosphere of the camp and the importance of the work we do there, they decided to make it part of their annual fundraising goal to help fund the camp.”