banner
Executives & Directors
President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
President Elect
 
Immediate Past President
 
Rotary Foundation
 
Membership
 
Public Relations
 
Youth
 
World Community Service
 
Bulletin Editor
 
Executive Secretary
 
Special Services
 
Administration
 
Community & Environment
 
Fundraising & Events
 
President's Message
Simon Dalton

President Simons Updates

  1. The President nominee  for period 2018 - 2019 is David Bradshaw. 
  2. There are reminders of the Circus Circus event taking place on 11th June.  Contact Nathan to volunteer.
  3. Habitat House build.  The licence to occupy has been extended to the end of June.  It needs to be substantially complete for Auckland Council will had better be removed to Kaikohe. Volunteers are required for painting parties.  If you can volunteer, contact David Bradshaw.
  4. Our next meeting we will be hosting the Salvation Army.  The intention is to present them a AED for use of Epsom Lodge
  5. There will be no meeting on the Tuesday following Queens Birthday weekend.
  6. The following weekend will be an evening meeting at the Medical School.  
  7. Then at our 20th June we will be hosting Kevin Robertson in Newmarket on 20th June
  8. John Overall needs 2 volunteers for the Road Safety Awareness Program they undertake on the 20 June and conjunction with St Cuthberts.
  9. Neil Swanney updated us on Play it Strange.  For those who are interested Neil is a small oversupply of consumables which he detailed.  if you are interested before other people grab them, please contact him. 

The following are details of speakers and duties for our next meeting. If you cannot undertake your rostered duties please arrange for someone to take your place. Duties will be updated closer to our next luncheon meeting.

Programme 30-May-2017 6-Jun-2017 13-Jun-2017
Topic Salvation Army Visit / Mini Vocational   Ross Craig Oncology Awardee
Speaker Salvation Army Update / Ric Buchanan Mini Vocational NO MEETING - QUEENS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND Dr Rosalie Stephens Evening Meeting at the Medical School
Introduction     Brian McMath
Thanks     Roger Gower
Rapport Ron Halls   Roger Gower
AV Duty John Hawke   David Weikart
Cash Desk Colin Lucas   Greg Carr
Registration of Visitors Alan Cole    
Presidents Table Fund Raising    
Host to Visitors Peter Corner    
  Linda Coles    
Attendance Register Nigel Fowler    
Sunshine Boxes Ross George    
  John Graham    
Raffle Duty Michelle Smith  
 

Stories
Mike Williams and the Howard League for Prison Reform
Our guest speaker at our evening meeting on 11 April 2017 at Remuera Golf Course was Mike Williams, CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform.
 
He gave us an insight into the history of the league and what it does in New Zealand.
 
The Howard league was founded in England in 1866 and in New Zealand in 1923. It’s initial objectives were to abolish capital punishment in jails and to abolish the death penalty.
 
Following the death of Sir Peter Williams Tony Gibbs became chair in New Zealand. The country. In New Zealand the Howard league’s aim is to reduce incarceration rates, develop community ownership of offending promote offender literacy  and promote post-release employment.

Mike gave us a startling statistic. To work out how many prisons you need in 10 years time all you need to know is how many boys of 10 to 12 years of age cannot read.

Mike told us that on any given day 63% of prisoners incarcerated in New Zealand can’t read. The inability to read means these people are trapped in a vicious cycle of recidivism. Most of these people do not have a driver’s license because to get one you need to be able to read.
 
Because most of these people do not have drivers licences they cannot get jobs.  Because they do not have jobs they go on the benefit and the cycle of dependency, then for some crime is an answer with inevitable incarceration. Depressing really.
The vast majority of offenders, mainly Maori, who make up 51% of the prison population begin their prison career with a sentence for a driving offence generally because they don’t have a driver’s license again because they can’t read.
 
One of the keys to reducing reoffending is to promote literacy. So the Howard league is looking at literacy in prisons, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, skills training in prison (for example gardening), maintaining family connections, and post-release employment.
 
If this is all done correctly then offending is reduced.
 
We have all seen in the papers recently images of prisoners receiving dictionaries following successful completion of reading recovery programs.
 
The effect of a prisoner being taught to read and consequentially obtain a drivers licences is that they gain employment and they cease to trouble the courts because of their gainful employment.
 
The Howard league is setting up a program to keep men and woman out of prison in the first place. The program identifies 2nd time offenders who have clocked up 2 offences relating to not having a drivers license and are on probation. If a further conviction is entered the likelihood is that the person will suffer a sentence of a period in jail stop the program teachers those people on probation the rudiments of reading and goes over the intricacies of obtaining a drivers license.
 
Once they had that license many of these people are taken out of the justice system, many of these people leave the benefit system finding themselves employment and contributing to society.
 
The sessions cost per individual about $1000. If they keep an individual out of jail then that saves the country the $100,000 per inmate per year it costs Department of corrections.
 
A lot of the work of the Howard league is funded by sponsors and people shoulder tapped by Mr Williams. Oddly enough there is little buy-in from Iwi and tribal groups. One would reasonably have expected that if Iwi and tribal groups were serious in their efforts to develop the capabilities of their people and support them that a program such as this would have recieved support. That they haven’t is rather disappointing.
 
Mr Williams speech was warmly accepted by those members present and there followed a lively question-and-answer session which showed quite clearly the topic resonated with members.
Read more...
Rotary In Samoa
A week or so ago we welcomed Walter van der Kley and Ray Decker from the Ashburton Rotary Club. Walter spoke about their club’s and his initiative over several years to install book shelves, desks, chairs, books and laptops in schools in Samoa. Their involvement began in the wake of the tsunami September 2009 and has grown in scope over the years.
 
They have started a partnership with Don Bosco School and Vocational Centre where scholarships in trades are now reaping benefits as the students have life changing trade and business skills. Walter and Ray urge Rotarians to join them on their next visit in August. 
 
Update - If you wish to visit Samoa as part of a Rotary Group or on your own then further to last week’s comment on assistance for Samoa, Riccarton Rotarian Ray Deaker and Ashburton’s Walter van der Kley will be leading a visit to Samoa in the second half of August. They are keen to have Rotarians and partners accompany them – one or two weeks, with visits to primary schools to assist with literacy etc.
 
For further details contact Ray Deaker direct:
 
We Are One Concert for Autism
 
 
WE ARE ONE – A Concert For Autism 2017


Presented by Play It Strange with Rotary Newmarket        
 
Larry Morris, Fiona McDonald, Shane Cortese, Mike Chunn, Peter Urlich, Jordan Luck and many more will be taking the stage, to celebrate difference and recognize talent and courage.
 
 
 
Following on from the success of the We Are One project in 2016, this concert aims to shine the spotlight on Autism in a very positive manner, create awareness and provide opportunities for young students who are on the autistic spectrum to get on stage and celebrate with professional musicians.
 
Play It Strange Trust CEO, Mike Chunn, sees this concert as empowering those who are challenged in this world. For example,  A young boy of five with autism is bullied and rejected by his peers. That lasts for two years - then he retreats to his home where he is schooled year after year with a parent steering and teaching him with love and sincerity. That boy will be onstage at the Concert For Autism where he will be conducting an orchestra, playing violin and standing tall in those triumphant moments.”
 
The concert aims to raise funds for Autism NZ’s Employment Programme that assists people with autism to find suitable, paid employment in mainstream settings.
 
With songs like -  I Feel Good, Why Does Love Do This To Me, Let’s Think Of Something, Stuff And Nonsense, Blackbird, Rust In My CarExpect to be inspired and want to party!
 
Venue:            Sacred Heart College Auditorium, 250 West Tamaki Rd, Glendowie
Date:               Saturday 13 May, 2017
Time:               6pm for festive family food and refreshments (cash)
                        7pm Doors for show (with intermission concludes by 10pm)
M/C:                Shane Cortese
Tickets:           Eventfinda $45 Adults $25 Children (booking fees may apply)
 
 
Read more...
Club Information
Newmarket (Inc)
Come join us for a club meeting
We meet Tuesdays at 12:30 PM
Ellerslie Convention Centre
Ellerslie Racecourse
80-100 Ascot Ave
Ellerslie,  1051
New Zealand
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map