MAY is not really a specific month but I found some very inter-

esting info for the brainy heads amongst us. Take out your old

diaries or follow on your phone calendar. In a leap year (2012 was a leap

year) May starts and ends on the same day of the week as October in the fol-

lowing year. It also ends on the same day of the week as February of the fol-

lowing year. In years immediately before Leap year (2011) May starts on the

same day of the month as April of the next year. (Leap year) Who would have

guessed this? For more interesting facts about May consult Wikipedia.

MAY the sun shine, all day long,

Everything go right, and nothing wrong.

MAY those you love bring love back to you,

and MAY all the wishes you wish come true!

Paul Harris Awardees – Anthony

Potgieter, Major Tersia Finn, President

Brian, Paul Obermeyer, DG Annie and

Irma Visagie

Paul Harris Sapphire

Awardees. Ian Parkin,

President Brian, DG Annie

and Mervyn Matthews

District Governor’s Newsletter

DG Annie Steijn

May 2015

Rotarian Ken from the Rotary Club of Bedfordview with all the golf day

prizes behind him. What a pity I do not play golf.

Various district submissions still needs to be made. I need the clubs to submit their Application forms

for the District Excellence Award. Thanks to those clubs who have already done so.

REMEMBER RI dues need to be paid by 26 May 2015 to avoid the clubs being terminated. There are still

seven (7) clubs that have not paid. Remember that the rate for May is R12/US$. I know I can count on

you to pay your dues on time.

DISTRICT GRANT ALLOCATIONS for 2015/16 - DO NOT LOSE OUT! Funds are available! All you have to

do is have a viable project and ASK. As DGR Steve Margo calls it – Money for jam. Apply by latest 31

May 2015. Forms have been forwarded to all the club presidents. If you have not received it please

contact PDG Chris Pretorius our District Grants Sub-Committee Chair.

This is my third last newsletter. UNBELIEVABLE! We are now in the homestretch and nearing the

finishing line at a staggering pace. I want all of you to visualise yourself together with me at the end of

the race in White River at the Ingwenyama Conference Hotel. Book now to avoid disappointment! I am

looking forward to seeing each and every one of you on 18 June 2015.

Why not make it a lovely fellowship weekend? Book at the hotel; arrange home-hosting or your own

accommodation! We have fantastic speakers lined up as well as many more. Expect to be whisked away

to China for the Chinese evening with all the trimmings. Then allow yourself to be whisked away the

following evening Under the African Skies. Dust off your evening wear and enjoy a gala dinner fit for a

King or Queen.

On the 21st of April 2015, the Rotary Club of Bedfordview

had a wine tasting evening with lovely finger sized treats

and Prego rolls later on – A phenomenal amount of

R25 000 was raised with this specific project. Well done!

Hennie and I enjoyed the evening very much.

They also organised a golf day which was well attended and

the proceeds of which will be allocated towards the buying

of at least two guide dogs for the Blind.

After the golfers heard a bit more about Rotary and also

what the club intended doing with the funds one company

immediately gave a further R10 000 in order that a third

dog could be purchased.

Merit Award recipients- Caleb Finn, President Brian, Elsie

Modukanelo, DG Annie and Liz Roux

The Rotary Club of Roodepoort

recently had their awards evening.

Four Paul Harris Awards were handed

out to Anthony Potgieter, Paul

Obermeyer, Major Tersia Finn, Irma

Visagie. Two Paul Harris Sapphires to

Ian Parkin and Mervyn Matthews.

Three Merit awards were given to Liz

Roux, Caleb Finn and Elsie

Modukanelo. Well done to all of you!

Past R I President Frank Devlyn, made

a quick stopover in Johannesburg in April en route to the

D9350 Discon as the RIPPR . After his ordeal of not seeing

the contact that had to pick him up and catching his own taxi

PRID Tony Serano, Marie and daughter Tereza, PDG Greg,

DGA Elaine and Hennie and myself met up with him at his

hotel. What a privilege to meet and spend the day with him.

We has written various books on Rotary and PDG Greg and I

had the privilege of receiving copies of all his books.

Hennie (for once in front of the camera) DG Annie and PDG Greg at Cradle of

Human Mankind.

DGA Elaine, PDG Greg, DG Annie, PDGA Marie Serrano, PRIP Frank and PGD and

PRID Tony Serrano.

*********************************

Below: DG Annie handing the D9400 banner to PRIP Frank Devlyn

DG Annie, President Brian Robertson, PA Rose Bartlett, DGAN Margie Grant, DGN David Grant at the

Rotary Club of Roodepoort’s awards

evening

On 15 April 2015 I had the honour of unveiling a plaque at the Zama Montessori School in

Putfontein. The Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora was the main contributor and organiser of this multi

project which was finalised after three years. Staff of the school and pupils attended as well as

members of the Club and Counsellor Makgoba Kgopa of Ward 25. The Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora

started supporting the school in 2012 with the donation and installation of a computer centre.

Over the years they assisted with the garden and related facilities; mobilisation of a windmill for water

supply; building and provisioning the ablution block and kitchen/dining facility as well as 400 meters of

concrete palisade walling around the property. The headmistress and founder of the school, Bukelwa

Selema and the project manager, Ntombi Selema was standing very proud at the final handing over of

the project. Well done to President Brandjes and the committee involved.

On Tuesday 12 May 2015 the Rotary Club of Benoni inducted five (5) new members (seen below with

Pres Ian Williams (centre and next to the DG) and Dg Annie.

A new Rotaract Club, the Rotaract Club of Phoenix, was also inaugurated at the same time. They in

turn there and then inducted a new member. The new Rotaract club is the brainchild of the past Inter-

act President at Willowmore High School, Junior and their teacher, Mrs Cheryl Naidoo. Congratula-

tions and well done Benoni. (This is my own Club – I am very proud of all of you!)

The newest Rotary members of the RC of Benoni seen with President Ian Williams and DG Annie

SA Breweries were

contacted by DGN Grant

Daly in order to obtain

sponsorship for the

conference. They

however, rather than

giving money for

conference wants to work

with clubs on their

projects in the Limpopo/

Mpumalanga region.

The focus areas of SAB for the said Region are:

Go farming initiatives

Woman in farming

Water conservation/provision and energy related initiatives

Enterprise development

Post-consumer waste

Any clubs in the mentioned Region, having any initiatives on the go in the above areas please feel free

Foundation Giving: I received our Zone report and note that our District’s giving to date is very poor.

Has YOUR club met its goal? There is only about 48 days left to fulfil your goal. All monies to be

attributed to this Rotary year, need to be paid by 25 June 2015.

Just a last reminder to book for CONFERENCE which is only a month away. Looking forward to seeing

each and every one of you. As said previously it promises to outdo all your expectations.

To all the mother, I hope you were all spoilt on Mother’s day. Maggie Gallagher said: ‘Mothers are the

people who love us for no good reason.’ And those of us who are mothers know it’s the most exquisite

love of all.

Till next month.

Rotary regards

DG Annie

The new Rotaract Club of Phoenix with their proud president Junior in the middle

DISCON IN WHITE RIVER * 18-21 JUNE 2015

Thanks to all of you who have booked. We look forward to

seeing you at Discon.

We are delighted that the hotel extended the booking closing date to

5 June. Home-hosting is now full, but there are still a few rooms in the

main hotel and there are excellent B & Bs in the area. Refer to the list on

your registration form.

Great speakers, entertainment and fun for all!

Discon is almost upon us and it is time to recognize the Anns clubs and their projects. Please motivate why you think your clubs deserves recognition, whether it be for a project, or that your club is active and vibrant, if you have been a great participant of the Solar light project. Even if you have had several new members join this year. Let me know so that I can share this with all our Anns Clubs and encourage the spirit of Rotary.

As our Autumn comes to an end, and Winter sneaks up at us with much cooler evenings. I ask you to remember all those less fortunate than ourselves, Donate blankets, beanies scarves and jerseys to the various needy organisations around your communities.

I know that I will be sipping on many cups of hot chocolate and quite a few cups of coffee before winter is over .

The past is tomorrows’ Teacher

Blessings

Elaine Stathacopoulos

From the desk of your DGA

Elaine Stathacopoulos May 2015

SOLAR LAMPS – PIETERSBURG 100 ROTARY ANNS - LIGHTING UP LIVES.

Thanks to a donation by CONSOL to our Rotary Ann District Governor, Pietersburg 100 Rotary Anns were able to hand out solar lamps to 10 children from the ITUMELENG communities Orphanage near Nobody. These children live in an area which does not have electricity, so it was wonderful to be able to bring safe lighting into the homes of these families. This project was in keeping with our Rotary International theme for the year of “ Light Up Rotary “.

Our theme for this year was to Light up Rotary… And thanks to so many of our very enthusiastic Anns’ clubs around our district. We have managed to do just that. CONSOL Lights handed out by Johannesburg South 101 (left).

The Rotary Club of Roodepoort donated their CONSOL solar lights to the learners at the Jan Viljoen High school—these lights went to children who have no electricity at all.

Springs Rotarians and Anns made up 7000 meals @ R2.50 per meal and donated them to Springscare — Fabfast feeding scheme. Many people do not realise that to give bread or maize is not an effective way of feeding someone, you need to include starch protein and vitamins. The Springscare pre-packed meal sachets include enough food for 6 people at a cost of R12 per pack which is R2 per meal excluding transport.

The “Cup for Cancer” preparations are well on their way. Boksburg Lake Anns are the champions and organisers of this joint project, They had assistance with the selling of tickets and preparing prizes from Benoni Anns (Elaine) / Benoni van Ryn and Benoni Aurora.

There are stacks of spot prizes, and a Honey Hamper for the best Hat.

CUP FOR CANCER

9TH MAY 2015

Fellowship Potjie competition, Aurora and Boksburg Lake get together.

When Rotary Clubs get together to enjoy fellowship and fun, you can be sure it will be a day full of fun and laughter.. Boksburg Lake Rotary Club and their Anns enjoyed a fantastic day at the Benoni Aurora Rotary Club’s annual Potjie and Mampoer competition.

Polly put the Kettle on and we will all have Mampoer

RYNPARK RESIDENTS KNIT FOR UNDER PRIVILEGED BABIES

Several residents of Rynpark Retirement Village in Rynfield knit new-born baby jerseys all the year round. Recently they handed over close to 200 articles which were knitted by them and some of the ladies of the WOW Book Club from the Full Gospel Church as well as some second hand garments and blankets which were donated. The Benoni Aurora Rotary Anns have also been hard at work supplying wool and knitted garments for this fantastic project.

The jersey project started about 4 years ago, when Gayle Dismore’s sons friend was completing his physio degree and was an intern at Coronationville Hospital. He was working in the paediatric unit and was horrified to see babies being dumped at the hospital completely naked , or being taken home wrapped in newspaper and with the help of Hazel Dismore and many other willing volunteers this project has grown.

We fought hard. We gave it our best.

We did what was right. And we made a

difference. Geraldine Ferraro