This Week: Professor Steven Friedman will be discussing the current Political Situation at Home & Abroad

 

Professor Steven Friedman is no stranger to us and it's a pleasure to have him back to update us on the latest political developments that may very well change between now and our meeting on Wednesday.

He welcomes questions and his analyses are often controversial. 

“That South African democracy has survived three decades largely intact has confounded predictions and needs explaining. The chief reason lies in the persistence, post-1994, of strong concentrations of private power, which have checked authoritarian impulses in government. While this has ensured democracy’s survival, it has also ensured that its defense has largely been mounted in the language of white, middle class, suburbia – and that freedom is largely seen as the protection of the economic and cultural domination of the few” 

Saturday 1st March:  Business Meeting

The idea is that the meeting be held at The Grand Slam Sports Diner, Edenvale at 10:00 to be followed by lunch/brunch.  We are currently awaiting to hear confirmation of availability.

Last Week

Many thanks to Jim Rankin for the following synopsis of last week's speaker...I was unable to attend.

Julian Apfel – District Grandmaster - District Grand Lodge of Central South Africa _Scottish Constitution

Julian Apfel was invited to talk to the Club about Freemasonry after they had were involved in our

Robbie Burns evening on Saturday 25th January.

The principal idea of Freemasonry as a fraternal organization is to take a good man and make

him a better man. A better man internally as well as externally, a better citizen of his

community and country, a better husband and father to his children, a better friend and co-

worker.

There are five basic requirements for Membership in a Masonic Lodge. They are as follows:

1. Being a man, freeborn, of good repute and well-recommended

Being a man – as Freemasonry is a Fraternity or all-male organization, this is a must as the

lodge does not admit women. There are, however, Masonic organizations which do.

A prospective member must be of good repute and sponsored by someone who knows his

reputation in the community. It is important that a member not be admitted who would stain the

reputation and principles of the craft.

2. A belief in a Supreme Being

No man can be made a Mason if he is an atheist. All masons must profess a belief in a

Supreme Being. This is an area where Freemasonry often comes under attack by religious

opponents. Because Freemasonry accepts Christian, Muslim and Jew alike, how that member

chooses to worship God, or by which name that member knows God, is of no consequence to

Freemasonry.

3. Ability to support oneself and family

While not clearly stated in all jurisdictions, this condition is placed so that a prospective member

does not join the craft in the hope of deriving financial benefit from the order. It also is in place to

show the prospective Mason that the Lodge comes after his religious and family responsibilities.

4. Of lawful age

The prospective Mason must have reached the age of 21, although some constitutions allow a

member to join at an earlier age.

5. Come to Freemasonry of their “own free will and accord”

Freemasonry, long regarded as a secret organisation, is making efforts, under Julian’s initiative,

to become more open and get involved in charities requiring their support. It is probably one of

the biggest and oldest charitable organisations in the world.

Next Week

I am not sure what will be happening.  The Business Meeting that we would normally have is being moved to Saturday morning so let's wait and see.

International - Australia/USA

An Indigenous Group Study Exchange from South Dakota, US, to south-western NSW has highlighted the shared experiences of both country’s First Nations Peoples.

A group of Native Americans from the Sioux Nation spent time travelling through south-western NSW on a Group Study Exchange from October 15 to November 2.

Kibbe Brown, of the Rotary Club of Rapid City Rushmore, US, and team leader of the Oceti Sakowan group of Lakota Nations people from South Dakota, said Australian Aborigines and Native Americans share significant parallels.

“These include their deep connection to the land, traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyles, the experience of colonisation and displacement by European settlers, disruption of their cultures through assimilation policies, and ongoing struggles for land rights and social justice,” Kibbe explained.

“These are often marked by high rates of poverty and health disparities within their communities. Both groups also have diverse languages and cultural practices across different regions.”

The team toured outback NSW, visiting Orange, Condobolin and Wagga Wagga, before arriving at Mittagong for the Rotary District 9705 Conference, which includes most of south-western NSW and the ACT.

Last year, five Wiradjuri from these areas – team leader Lynette Bullen, of the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak, Eddie Whan from Wagga Wagga, Tennille Dunn from Condobolin, Mick Newman from Orange and Ethan Williams – visited seven of the nine reservations across South Dakota.

Rotary Group Study Exchanges have been happening for decades, but this time the emphasis was on the Indigenous delegates understanding First Nations issues, enterprise, community support, arts and education, health frameworks, challenges and developments.

“We had the most incredible time,” said Kibbe. “We were so warmly welcomed by our Wiradjuri aunties and uncles and in each place we shared and learned.

“It was a very robust agenda and we returned home with best practice ideas in the areas of health, education, business and culture.”

The team spoke at the Rotary District 9705 Conference in the Southern Highlands on October 26.

It was poignant timing as it coincided with US President Joe Biden’s formal apology to the Native American community for a 150-year-old Indian boarding school policy.

The US Federal Government established Indian boarding schools from 1819 until the 1970s that forcibly removed children from their homes and families.

Biden said the policy aimed to culturally assimilate Indigenous children and called it a “sin on our soul”. He apologised for the “blot on American history”.

This Week - Julian Apfel, District Grandmaster for Central South Africa of Free & Accepted Masons of Scotland

 Julian Apfel, in his spare time is also Director of Corporate Neon Services which is probably better known as Radiant Lighting.

As you know, Free Masons of the Scottish Constitution gave us great support for this years Burns Night Fundraiser and their help solved many problems owing to the prolonged absence of Past President Ron Smith in the United States.

The whole object of the Julian's talk is not to promote Freemasonry but see if we cannot cooperate where projects are concerned.  So in many ways it's a dialogue rather than a talk.

Last Week

David Schlapobersky gave such an interesting talk on his pottery studio, Bukkenburg Pottery, in Swellendam.  It was fascinating to hear  of his, and his partner Felicity's, development as potters from the chance need to be house parents at Cresset House to support Felicity's son James and the establishment of pottery as an activity for the Cresset House villagers.

I think we were all amazed at the scale of their work and the international recognition that they have received.  Many thanks, David, for such a interesting illustrated talk.

Next Week

We welcome back Professor Steven Friedman for an update on the latest political developments in South Africa and the Trump affect.

Steven Friedman is Research Professor in the Humanities Faculty of the University of Johannesburg.

He is a political scientist who has specialised in the study of democracy. He researched and wrote widely on the South African transition to democracy both before and after the elections of 1994 and has, over the past two decade, largely written on the relationship between democracy on the one hand, social inequality and economic growth on the other. In particular, he has stressed the role of citizen voice in strengthening democracy and promoting equality.

International - Mexico

Something positive on Mexican/American cooperation.  District 5300 has provided homes for dozens of families in northern Mexico since 2008 through a tradition it calls “super builds,” a yearly day of construction by Rotary members from California and Nevada. The 16-by-20-foot homes are built through a partnership with the California-based nonprofit Corazón. The $18,500 cost per family pays for materials as well as school uniforms, books, and scholarships, says Robin Smith, of the Rotary Club of Las Vegas Summerlin, who has coordinated the initiative for nearly a decade. “There are clubs that give monetarily,” she says. “There are also clubs that physically build the homes. Then we have clubs that are able to do both.” The 2025 build is scheduled for 3 May.

This Week: David Schlapobersky

In 1972 David and his partner, Felicity Potter moved to Cresset House.

They became house parents to 12 young people and also worked as class helpers and taught art.

Management approached them to investigate starting a pottery workshop at Cresset and they met with Gordon Wales, a founder member of the Association of Potters of Southern Africa (APSA), now known as Ceramics SA. David had his first experience of throwing a pot on the potter’s wheel under his guidance at that time.

By 1977 his interest in pottery and growth of knowledge and expertise led to the establishment of his own studio in Parkview and increasingly he and Felicity began to be recognised both in South Africa and overseas for the quality of their work.  

Their interest in the importance of art during the politically dark days of the 1980's led to the establishment of the Alexandra Art Centre where they worked with Bill Ainslie and the Johannesburg Art Foundation from the very beginning.

Increasing international and local recognition eventually enabled them to move to Swellendam in 1996 and the establishment of Bukkenburg Pottery.

Next Week

Our speaker will be Julian Apfel, District Grand Master for the District of Central South Africa of the Scottish Constitution of Freemasonry.  We have a mutual interest in supporting various NGO's and it will be interesting to see if there is possible common ground where we can be of assistance to each other.

International - Netherlands

A passion for peace prompted five Dutch Rotaract clubs to hold a symposium on conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, club members welcomed Pappy Orion, founder of a nonprofit called Focus Congo, who discussed his journey from child soldier to peacebuilder. The event included panel discussions on the humanitarian crisis and celebrated Congolese food, visual arts, music, and dance. “Our club adopted the project because we want to raise hands, raise awareness, and raise funds to raise hope in the region,” says Nicholas Egunjobi, of the Rotaract Club of The Hague International. The event raised about $7,400 for Orion’s nonprofit. “The projects we are aiming to support include building and maintaining camps for internally displaced people,” says Ana Zlatevski, a member of The Hague international club.

 

  

This Week: A Business Meeting

 There's not much to say about a Business Meeting except that it's basically a report back on the various committees' deliberations and ratification of board decisions.  The board is the servant of the club, not the other way round, so so all decisions made by the board have to be approved by the club.

Last Week

Dr Neal Davidson spoke to us from Maryland, USA.  He has been a member of Rotary for more than 50 years.  He spoke of how he had been introduced to Rotary and how little he knew about it initially.

It was a very interesting talk and resonated with many of us.

The one phrase that captured everybody's attention was that wearing a Rotary badge does not make you a Rotarian.  That talk really centred on what it means to be a Rotarian and our obligations as members.

Next Week

David Schlapobersky will be talking to us about Bukkenburg Pottery in Swellendam and a surprising link that he and Felicity have in common with our club.  More on this next week.

International - Morocco & Australia

Vocational training to improve rain-fed agricultural productivity in Morocco

By Steven Sundstrom, Regional Grants Officer

The vocational training programme in Morocco was funded by a global grant from The Rotary Foundation, supplemented with District Designated Funds from Rotary District 9510 in South Australia (through the Rotary Club of Port Pirie) and contributions from The Rotary Club of Casablanca El Fida.

This project began in 2019, when the Rotary Club of Casablanca El-Fida, Morocco, and District 9510 submitted a vocational training team application to improve rain-fed agricultural productivity in Morocco. This was based on a community assessment conducted by Rotarian Barry Mudge during a visit to Morocco in 2018, with the intention of bringing a team from Morocco to Australia in 2020.

The project was on track for approval in March 2020, however, the COVID pandemic obscured the outlook for everyone. The project contacts ultimately made the difficult decision to cancel the application at the end of 2020, but it was with great pleasure that I received a new application in early 2023.

This set out to not only achieve the goals of their previous application, but they had continued communications throughout the intervening years, and revised the plan based on a new community assessment that also addressed climate change concerns in the project activities.

They also increased collaboration by following the team hosted in Australia with a two-person team to Morocco six months later to conduct follow-up and jointly conduct workshops to disseminate the results. I recently received their final report detailing the successful outcomes, including a total of 239 direct beneficiaries.