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President's Notes
REP was the key subject of Tuesday morning’s very informative breakfast meeting.
Adeline Blair, who has taken over the role of administrator, presented us with her vision of REP moving forward. This prompted a lot of discussion but my view was that there was good agreement of the way to progress. Teacher, student and mentor views were expressed by Brian, AJ and James all with ringing endorsements. Katie (OTHC PE teacher) shared her experience at RYLA and is very enthusiastic about volunteering in subsequent years. Read all about it below.
Rosie will be handing over her last ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children) family to Debbie Burridge and others while we are away. Brenden has had his heart operation and hopefully will be able to return to Vanuatu in the next fortnight depending on some post operation conditions clearing up.
As noted last week Rosie and I are heading to Japan on Monday for three and a half weeks including 10 days cycling and 5 days walking so I have handed over to co-president David J.
Club News and Notices
REP INSIGHTS
New Programme Manager Adeline Blair – recently-retired principal of top rugby school Kelston Boys High, gave a comprehensive overview in the set of slides attached – which began by noting major REP benefits from the recent club merger and the unique role of Newmarket Rotary, hosting essential central functions of RotaryREP as well as being active and generous supporters of REP partnerships at One Tree Hill College and Aorere!
Absolutely universal, when Adeline made her initial visits to all programmes, was the quality of volunteer leadership by Community Co-ordinators, while she has now been implementing MoUs, to ensure clarity and consistency of partnerships. REP opportunities vary in different communities – and Adeline now has an invaluable hands-on overview.
Interest in REP is increasing, particularly at the pre year 9 stage – so it was very appropriate to have this update in Rotary’s Literacy month, to inform the club of progress – and the strategic decisions that need to be made, to ensure growth remains manageable. Adeline noted 7 Auckland schools currently expressing active interest in starting REP later this year or in early 2027!
Adeline was followed by AJ – a senior student from OTHC, who was attending with Brian Langdon to share personal experiences of the positive effects of REP in his life. Brian – whose crucial role in creating the REP model, which has made all this growth possible, explained how his long association with REP, plus other roles in the school as first XV manager allow him to have in-depth connections with students and families. AJ is the third REP student in his family – and shared how his confidence and literacy development through REP, had already proved really useful in job interviews – knowing what to say and how to say it!
Final speaker was James Russell – author of the Dragon Defender series of children’s books and REP volunteer at Aorere College. James is a most powerful advocate of the value of reading for pleasure – and the importance of school libraries, where the range of choice can prove daunting. He shared the story of guiding rugby-mad Ethan – who had never previously taken out a library book, to the Richie McCaw autobiography, which Ethan read avidly with his mother, then the book went with him to the field, so that he could practise the drills! James notes the brilliance of librarians, knows the magic of matching the right student to the right book – and believes “We should leave apostrophes to the teachers!”
Reading mileage, in whatever form it takes, is absolutely at the heart of REP – with a clear baseline activity, then ample flexibility for volunteers to offer personal expertise.
