This Week - Informal Dinner

It's the 5th Wednesday and there will be an informal dinner from 18:00 hrs at Ottimo Restaurant, 13 Nicol Rd., Bedfordview.  It has parking on the property.

Ottimo Restaurant  Here's a link to Google Maps.

So far 13 are coming so I am hoping at least one more will come to take it out of the danger zone.

Ilesh has also added the poll to our Rotary Guest WhatsApp Group so that those who attend our meetings but are not yet members have the opportunity to come....nobody has confirmed from that group yet.

Last Week

Our speaker asked to us to postpone his meeting as his presentation wasn't ready so we had an ad hoc speaker with a presentation on "How Military Requirements created the Food we eat Today".

Next Week

It's a Business Meeting.  What do I say?

Remember, remember!

    The fifth of November,

    The Gunpowder treason and plot;

    I know of no reason

    Why the Gunpowder treason

    Should ever be forgot!

    Guy Fawkes and his companions

    Did the scheme contrive,

    To blow the King and Parliament

    All up alive.

    Threescore barrels, laid below,

    To prove old England's overthrow.

    But, by God's providence, him they catch,

    With a dark lantern, lighting a match!

    A stick and a stake

    For King James's sake!

    If you won't give me one,

    I'll take two,

    The better for me,

    And the worse for you.

International - Argentina

Wearing a Rotary-themed shirt, Estefanía Balocco stands in front of a colourful mural symbolising the joy of service. “This image reflects my best version, filled with authenticity and gratitude,” she says. “It was taken at the end of a service project where every action counts, because serving others is also serving oneself—growing together, from the heart. I’m grateful for every opportunity to contribute and to continue growing as a person.”

I was just 14 when I first discovered the power of service through Rotary. As a member of Interact, a Rotary programme for young people ages 12-18 to learn and apply their service skills, I was shy to speak, but active in action. One Sunday, while visiting a nursing home, a woman asked me for a hug. In that moment, I understood what it meant to be of service: offering presence, listening, and sharing affection. From such a small place, we could be part of something meaningful.

I began my Rotary journey with Interact and then, in 2018, joined Rotaract, a service club for young adults. Fast-forward to today, and I have the honour of leading the International Service committee for one of the districts in Argentina. During the 2024–2025 Rotary year, our team focused on building bridges between communities globally through intentional, human-centred programmes.

One of the most notable initiatives was an international teacher exchange, through which four Argentine teachers travelled to Kansas and Georgia in the United States. They lived with Rotary families and shared their culture with local schools. We are expanding this initiative to include exchanges with Canada, England, and more U.S. districts. We are also preparing to host international teachers in Argentina for the first time.

Building on the success of our educational exchanges, we expanded our efforts to include professional collaborations. We organised professional exchanges for firefighters and paramedics, with meaningful collaborations in Mexico and Poland. Through Rotary Friendship Exchange, twenty-one Rotary members from Argentina and Mexico participated in a program that combined institutional activities, cultural encounters, and tours. One of the most valuable moments was seeing how, by wearing Rotary apparel, other members recognised the participants during the tours, generating spontaneous encounters and new friendships. Along similar lines, we are moving forward with organising future exchanges with Puerto Rico, India, and Brazil.

Leading these efforts is not without challenges, especially in teamwork. But Rotary taught me that strong teams don’t need to be identical—we just need to be committed to our shared purpose. Managing differences is one of the greatest challenges, but also the greatest rewards.

I am fundamentally driven by the belief that organisations like Rotary can be engines for human development. From a very young age, Rotary was the place where I built my identity, not only as a young person but also as a leader. At Interact, I discovered I could be part of change. At RYLA, a multi-day leadership camp for youths,  I found something even deeper: my voice, my skills, and the certainty that service is also a path to self-discovery. That process motivated me to choose a college education in administration and coaching, focusing on people and how to bring out the best in them within organisations.

This Week - Robert Fischer on Furs.

 

Since his return to South Africa in 1994, Robert became the driving force and the next generation of the Fischer Furs history. Fischer Furs, is now the new official, name of the business, the name which honours itself to three generations of Specialist Furriers and known to many very satisfied customers, in South Africa and globally as the “absolute best Furriers”.

“I am absolutely honoured and humbled that my family has spent 114 years to date (2024 ). We are known as one of the last specialist Furriers in the world, who have continued for over 114 years to make high end absolute top quality Fur, leather, and cloth garments made to order.

All our garments are mostly hand crafted and made in house from individually ultra top end, selected pelts and hides only exceptionally brilliant enough for our clients. 

Modern fur sourcing emphasises responsibility, with strict standards for animal welfare and sustainability. It is natural to have ethical questions about fur, and today’s fur industry has evolved to address these concerns with rigorous standards. Responsible fur farming practices and sustainable wild harvesting are now core principles of reputable fur suppliers. In many countries, fur farms operate under strict regulations that ensure animals are treated humanely and kept in healthy conditions. For example, farmed mink and fox are raised with oversight of veterinarians and are provided proper food, shelter, and care to minimise stress. Industry certification programs like Furmark have been established to guarantee that any fur entering the market meets stringent criteria for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and traceability . This means that when you purchase a certified real fur coat, you can be confident it was sourced in accordance with well-defined humane standards – from the rearing of the animal to the dressing of the pelt. Traceability initiatives allow consumers to know the origin of their fur, adding transparency that helps ensure ethical practices throughout the supply chain.

Wild-sourced furs (such as beaver, coyote, or fox from regulated wildlife management) are obtained through tightly controlled programs as well. North America, for instance, abides by the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards, which mandates humane trapping methods and supports sustainable wildlife population management . Sustainable fur harvesting in the wild can actually contribute to conservation efforts by preventing overpopulation and habitat damage . Balanced ecology is key – only a portion of natural surpluses are harvested, so species remain abundant. This counters a common misconception that fur use endangers wildlife; in reality, responsible use of fur can go hand-in-hand with wildlife management and biodiversity protection. Moreover, virtually no part of a harvested animal goes to waste: meat may be used (or animals in the wild are part of food chains), and by-products from fur processing can become organic fertilisers or biofuel , aligning with sustainable use of resources. The fur industry of today is a far cry from the unregulated past – it is a professionally governed sector with ethical codes of practice. By choosing fur from ethical sources, you are supporting those farms and communities that prioritize animal welfare and environmental stewardship. In doing so, you can enjoy the unparalleled luxury of real fur with peace of mind, knowing it was sourced responsibly and with respect for nature.

Last Week

It was our final briefing on Tuesday'a Golf Day.  We will know later how successful it has been.

Next Week

It's the 5th Wednesday and there will be an evening meal.  Ilesh will say where and when and put up a poll on our WhatsApp Group.

International - Italy

 There may be no better way to spotlight (literally!) polio awareness than through the can’t-miss illuminations of global landmarks. Those monuments have included the Sydney Opera House, London’s Houses of Parliament, Rome’s Colosseum, the Egyptian pyramids,
Scottish castles, and more. For World Polio Day 2024, the Rotary and Rotaract clubs in the Pisa area teamed up with community leaders to turn the floodlights on the Leaning Tower of Pisa. “This is a commitment that we wanted to share together precisely to reach a wider audience,” the club presidents noted in a statement. They’ve showcased historic buildings for about 25 years and the city’s signature tower over the past five. The clubs also had a video about polio eradication shown on monitors at the Pisa Airport.

This Week - Final Golf Day Briefing

 

Bill Brunjes will update us on the state of the Golf Day next Tuesday and what needs to be done.

Last Week

Jean-Noell Dollet, the Marketing and Commercial Director for France & International of Le Club des Marques, spoke to us on the history of Armagnac and how it is made.  He also
spoke of the difference between Armagnac and Cognac.  It was an interesting illustrated talk as Armagnac is not well known in  South Africa.

Next Week

Robert Fischer of Fischer Furs will talk to us about furs today.  It should be an interesting  talk on what many would consider to be a controversial subject.

Fischer Furs is one of the last specialist furriers in the world.

International - Canada

The annual Pub N Paint event by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue raises money each November to fight polio. The Alberta club’s regular meeting venue, the Rooster Kitchen, hosts the event. “I do a little spiel about the state of polio and Rotary’s role in eradication,” says Stan Bissell, a past president of the club who inaugurated the project. It’s not unusual for visitors to remark how little they know about polio, he says. “We talk about it so much in Rotary, but people don’t know and think it’s a disease of the past.” After his presentation, an art teacher distributes blank canvases and brushes, guiding Rotarians and guests in replicating landscapes such as Edmonton’s cityscape and a mountain range. “There are some very talented people” among the club’s members, reports Bissell. “But it’s variable — mine is in the garage.”

This Week - Jean-Noell Dollet tells us about Armagnac

Jean-Noell Dollet is the Marketing and Commercial Director for France & International of Le Cub des Marques.

Armagnac is the oldest known type of brandy. It is single distilled, which makes it brown in colour, robust and full-bodied. It is predominantly made from four types of grape, though a total of ten types of grape can be used to make it. Aged for many years in oak barrels, its tasting notes include grape, leather, earth, oak, praline and Christmas cake!

Armagnac is produced in the Gascony region of France, which is located to the south of Bordeaux. The region is split into three areas; Bas Armagnac, Tenareze and Haut Armagnac.

Often made in small batches by local farmers, Armagnac is not well-known outside of Europe. This specific variety of brandy is traditionally an additional product made by local farmers, to top up their annual income from agriculture. For this reason, it receives more care and attention in the production process than its commonly mass-produced cousin, Cognac.

All brandy is made by distilling wine, but Armagnac is distilled only once, meaning that it keeps some of the flavour, fragrance, and body of the original wine. Once distillation has taken place, the liquid is aged in oak barrels, which have the capacity to hold about 400 litres.

Cognac is made to the North of Bordeaux, in the Charente and Charente-Maritime areas.  It's double distilled so it requires less ageing than Armagnac and is produced in far greater quantities.

Last Week

It was a Business Meeting majoring on the upcoming Golf Day.  It was decided that the meeting on the 15th October would be completely devoted to the Golf Day.

Next Week

Golf Day preparation meeting.

International - Ghana

It's World Polio Day on the 24th October so I will be highlighting some of the activities that took place across the world last year.

In the port city of Tema, more than 300 Rotarians, Rotaractors, and partners stepped out in October 2024 for a twilight World Polio Day walk. A campaign surrounding the action included a “polio tower” lighted for the occasion, signage, and a sea of End Polio Now T-shirts donned by participants. The Rotary Club of Tema-Community 25 led the effort, which was supported by the Rotary clubs of Tema and Tema Meridian, as well as the Ghana PolioPlus Committee. The involvement of 25 Rotaract and Interact clubs contributed to the sizable turnout, says club member Elizabeth Ahiagba. “Participants distributed educational materials, engaged commuters and residents, and advocated for vigilance, particularly among families with young children,” Ahiagba says.