It has been a very moving day as we acknowledge the fallen and contemplate the new environment that the Christchurch mosque attacks has placed our society in. I think our core kiwi values have come to the fore, but it has made me question how individually, and collectively through organisations like Rotary, we can make a difference in promoting cross cultural understanding.
We had a lively meeting last Monday, beginning with a great 5 minute talk from Nic Russell on the work she is doing to support families. The following link is for Luka’s video which encountered technical problems on Monday https://youtu.be/cBQhyW_Nr54 and more information about Kenzie’s Gift can be found by going to the following website https://kenziesgift.com/supporting-you/deargrief/. Then we heard from Holly Bennett, who talked about the topical subject of Government advocacy, where she is taking a unique approach.
Next Monday we have two speakers from the Auckland Health Foundation - Gwen Green is the CEO and Hannah Davies their Fundraising and Marketing Manager. This recently established organisation goes beyond what is presently funded in the healthcare system and through donations, financially supports projects, research and education for adult health services, which have the capacity to transform healthcare.
Our next meeting will be in 2019 on Monday 11 February at the Stamford and details of the speaker will be distributed in the next week (please note there is no meeting next Monday 4 February).
Join us for a fundraising lunch with Kiwi singing legend Dave Dobbyn. You will have the opportunity to hear Dave perform and listen and ask questions to a panel chaired by a founder of Te Whakaora Tangata - a charitable trust based in South Auckland. Established in 2010 Te Whakaora Tangata, which means Life Restoration for the People, is successfully breaking the perpetual cycle of dysfunction and disadvantage in broken families. The three panellists for this event, who have been through the charity's programme, will include a woman who became a mother at 12 and a man in and out of prison for 35 years. This charity provides a three-month restoration course followed by mentoring for two years. It has positively impacted the lives of over 2,000 vulnerable children living in families overwhelmed by poverty, sexual abuse, drugs and violence. Whereas the total projected cost to the taxpayer for the most at-risk children is $270,800, Te Whakaora has a much more effective restorative record at a cost of approximately $24,000 per person. If you would like to attend, but haven't responded to the electronic invitation that has been sent out, then please let Jacqui in the office know.
Date: Wednesday 27 February 2019 (no Monday meeting this week)
Time – 12noon to 1.30pm
Venue: EMA Offices, 145 Khyber Pass Road
Parking: Paid parking available in the EMA parking building on Auburn Street
This programme was established through funds donated by RCA members to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for young self-starters to achieve a level of advanced post-graduate study overseas that would not be possible without financial support. Each year, around $15,000 in total is awarded to selected applicant(s). The following report is from one of the 2018 Jubilee Scholarship recipients Michelle Martin:
I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the support of Auckland Rotary in allowing me to undertake my internship at the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals the residual court for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, or ICTY). I completed a three month internship from October-December 2018 located in the Hague, Netherlands.
The internship was a fast paced and fascinating experience. I was working in the appeals team of the Office of the Prosecutor. When I arrived they were putting together the appeal brief for Ratko Mladic and I was lucky enough to work on this. I focused on the arguments around the Sarajevo siege and learnt so much about drafting, court processes, the conflict itself and Mladic’s role in this. We also did some background work for national prosecutors for other responsible people particularly in the municipalities such as Rogatica. I attended some status hearings for both Mladic and Karadzic which was quite a surreal experience.
The variety of people I met during the internship was immense, there was interns from all over the world who shared their cultures and experiences. I ate bread made with a Kyrgyzstan recipe and Canadian brussel sprouts! It was a fantastic way to share career paths, make connections and learn from some mentors. It’s something that you could never replicate in New Zealand which simply doesn’t have the international experiences you can gain in places like the Hague.
The Hague is a fascinating hub of international organisations that was so amazing to be part of (let’s not talk too much about winter weather in the Netherlands though!). During my internship I attended many talks on a wide range of topics often put on by an entity called Humanity House. One of the ones I will remember was during the “Night of Conflict” event we attended a theatre/interactive show called “The automated sniper” where members of the audience would, from a separate room, operate a ‘weapon’ that fired paintballs onto the stage. The firing and interactive game progressed to a point where they connected with a professional gamer in Iraq to operate the weapon in an effort to explore the impact that drone technology has on warfare.
In terms of where to for me, I have a solid base international criminal law which can only be expanded from here. I have taken up a volunteer role with an NGO based in Greece to provide legal assistance to Refugees (remotely) and will continue to explore what international opportunities come my way. This experience would not have been able to happen without the assistance of Rotary. It is honestly one of those “once ina lifetime” experiences I will never forget. For anyone in New Zealand considering something similar – do it. Places likeThe Hague seem so far away and almost unobtainable but with some financial assistance and a strong will power if you take up these opportunities you won’t forget them.
The next Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March and will be held at Selwyn College. We encourage all new and existing Rotarians to attend, and especially those who will be taking up leadership roles. This is an opportunity to learn from others, share ideas and challenge your thinking; discover more about Rotary and Rotaract and how this knowledge can help you contribute to your community, as well as providing an opportunity for personal growth. If interested in attending, please contact Jacqui in the office, who will provide you will all the information you will require.
You are invited to attend the 2019 District 9920 conference to be held at the Napier Conference Centre from 10 - 12 May 2019. Registrations will open on 1 September 2018 and earlybird registrations will be available until 30 November 2018. There are a range of accommodation options available at the Scenic Hotel Te Pania, Art Deco Masonic Hotel and Expressotel and also events outside of the conference. Please go to the following link for more information https://rotarydistrict9920.org/page/district-9920-conference-2019
The Rotary International's 2019 Convention will be held in Hamburg, Germany from 1 to 5 June. There are already nearly 30 people from different NZ Clubs attending, including RCA President Brett O’Riley and myself. If you’d like to know more about this event and are possibly interested in joining us, would like to fly with and/or stay with other NZ Rotarians in Hamburg, let me know or reach out directly to the District Coordinator for this Convention: Jennie Herring: herringjennie@gmail.com Or if you would like to register, then please go here. If you register prior to Dec. 15, 2018, you will receive an early-registration discount, which is US$395 vs. US$495 or US$595 at later dates. District Governor Ingrid Waugh, also mentioned the possibility of a 10-day “Zurich-to-Amsterdam Cruise” leading up to the convention and Jennie Herring can help us get the black shirts that all the NZers wear - which will really make us stand out! So please let us know if you are interested in attending, so we can organise a couple of fun Kiwi/RCA activities, while in Hamburg! And also feel free to run any questions by us
