RWC & Cholmondeley fundraiser combine - open to all to attend

The Rotary Club of Newmarket Inc, Auckland
invites all to attend the
Rugby World Cup Fundraiser Luncheon
Tuesday 18 October 2011
12noon - 2.30pm
Ellerslie Convention Centre, Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland
Cost is $35 (incl. GST) per person, cash bar

Speaker is:  Lauron Buys - "What can we learn from the X-Factor players in the World Cup to apply to our business."

The proceeds of this event will go towards the restoration of the children's playground at the Cholmondeley Children's Home in Christchurch which was destroyed in the earthquakes.
RSVP by 13 October to: Patricia 09-917 9402 or email: patricia.geisel@asrl.co.nz

Well deserved recognition

Video of presentation of a PHF by IPDG Margaret Reeve on behalf of District 9970 to Roger Sutton CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority) .

ASHBURTON GIVE CHRISTCHURCH NORTH A HAND UP AFTER EARTHQUAKE

Following the training session for Presidents-elect in Auckland in March, our respective incoming Presidents  (Karen Clarke for RC Christchurch North and John Driscoll for RC Ashburton)  made contact and talked about what could be done to help the Christchurch club. It was suffering in a number of ways – members with houses, homes, property and businesses ruined (or all of the above). One of their number, John Laurenson, whose personal property was stricken, was also the Principal of the 1400 pupil Shirley Boys High School - very badly damaged by the quake and required to co-locate with Papanui High School. They did not have a regular venue for meetings any more, and many of their members were struggling even to attend weekly meetings and meet basic costs like meal fees and Rotary dues, much less find fund raisers for their annual projects.

At the same time, the Rotary Club of Ashburton,( a town located 100 kms south of Christchurch and relatively unaffected by the immediate effects of the quake,)  was looking for some meaningful ways to help in the city. We were reluctant to put money into places where it might be “swallowed up”, but wanted to get something going to directly assist earthquake victims. This seemed like an ideal opportunity, so the association began.

As soon as Christchurch North settled into a new venue for its meetings, Ashburton sent some members to visit those meetings, to swell their numbers and find what might help them most. These visits have become a regular feature every 2-3 weeks, and we have also had the Christchurch North members come down to one of our meetings, at our cost. We have added a surcharge to our weekly meal fee so that a fund is accumulating to further subsidise some costs for Christchurch North.

Ashburton has agreed to fund a number of the sister Club’s major projects for 2011-12, including the School Honours Roll Project and the Annual Golf Tournament. We will also provide manpower for these events, as the Christchurch Club is still only able to have about half its members attend at any given time. We have helped them sponsor nominations for the Technology/Science Forum in Auckland, and are about to work with one of their schools to arrange a whole school farm visit to Mid-Canterbury (the best farming district in New Zealand, of course!)

Both Clubs see the association as an ongoing process, looking to the longer term and providing support over the foreseeable future. To that end, there is now a good communication base between the current and future administrations of both groups, and some firm friendships have already been established. The moral support, as well as the physical and financial help, is proving to be just as important as anything really, and both Clubs are enjoying the extended contact with fellow Rotarians.

From Ashburton’s  point of view, it is certainly true that we have had few projects over the years that are as satisfying as the opportunity to see direct and specific benefits to others after the traumatic events of the last year. We intend that this will continue!

Don McLeod

Immediate Past President

Rotary Club of Ashburton

District 9920 contributes in many ways

Over several months funds have been contributed by the Rotarians and clubs of District 9920 for Earthquake relief projects in Christchurch via the District 9920 Rotary Foundation Committee (as it is hoped to also find ways to add District Designated Funds and / or Matching Grants to the contributions).  Particular recognition is given to the Rotary Clubs of Parnell Inc, Pakuranga Inc, Ellerslie Sunrise Inc, Somerville Howick Inc and Taravao (French Polynesia) who have each  made significant donations. The following projects have been approved:

1.            Chomondeley Children’s Home Playground project

This Children’s Home provides residential short term respite care and an on-site school for children aged 3-12 years. These children come from families who are experiencing significant stress or difficulties. Maximum care does not exceed 4 weeks and home provides approximately 6000 bed nights per year and is predominately funded by donations, though the school is funded by the Ministry of Education.

This home was extensively damaged in the recent earthquakes. While the house was insured, the playground wasn’t. This playground is an integral part of their education, as all aspects of the playground assists the children in developing positive skills and encourages confidence.

District 9920 is looking at committing $10,000 for this project and will be working with the Rotary Club of Riccarton, Christchurch and the Rotary Club of Newmarket, Auckland on turning this into a Matching Grant project.

2.            Burwood School projects.

These projects are aligned with the Rotary Club of Christchurch North, as they have noticed that this school is in great need, as facing the difficult financial environment due to the earthquake impacting on this local community. The school is functioning, but due to financial constraints have been unable to organise or afford “away from school” activities. These are important to maintain school recreation, social and cultural experiences. The school has looked ahead and outlined help required in the following projects:

-              End of year Assemblies & concerts - estimated cost for the marquee and equipment is $6000

A feature of the school year is the End of Year functions. This year Burwood School has no assembly hall to use and is considering how it can improvise. There is the option of transporting the school to a different location but this presents logistics issues for both the school and parents as well as extra cost.

The school feels that holding end of year activities in its own environment is best for all and is being innovative by hiring a large marquee, seating and sound system for the occasion. There will be about one week’s hire involved and some resources may be required to assist marquee erection and dismantling.

-              Junior School Activity Day - The estimated cost for transport and activity for the Junior School is $2,000

Annually near the end of the year, the Junior School (up to year 3) have traditionally visited the Christchurch Cathedral to sing carols then picnic in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. Visiting the Cathedral is no longer possible so alternative visits and activities are being researched. This is an activity which costs money for transport of over 100 pupils.

In addition, District 9920 wants to join forces with some of the local Christchurch Rotary Clubs, so to help them, plus their local community and are working closely with their Christchurch Rotary Response Committee, who are feeding potential projects for the district to look at.

The following letter to District 9920 Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Leanne Jaggs shows what Rotarians do in Rotary is quite special, and how sometimes the smallest things, touch so many.

Dear Leanne

Thank you so much for helping us out with the funding for these projects. It is very much appreciated as the members of our Club have been hit pretty hard with the effects of the earthquakes. Half our members have lost a house, or business, or both and it's been very difficult to get back on our feet to help other people as we would like to.

I myself have lost a business and a house so I have gone back to doing some relief teaching. By coincidence I was placed at Burwood School last Friday and I was stunned at the damage the school and its surrounds had suffered. Looking round the school, I noticed that all their play equipment was destroyed in the earthquakes, and what used to be a big adventure playground is now just a large area with bark chips. They definitely do need a marquee for assemblies for the end of the year. As it is now the children take out a carpet sample square on to the tarmac and the assembly is held there. They had one on Friday while I was there and although it was a sunny day, it was freezing in the cold easterly wind.

So I look forward to giving you some more help and feedback with the other projects we are going to do for you.

Very kind regards, and many thanks once again.

Karen Clark

President

The Rotary Club of Christchurch North

Extract of a report to District 9920 Clubs by PDG Leanne Jaggs

Sea Scouts get a boost to repair rescue boat

Roger Horton , Group Leader Mount Pleasant Sea Scouts with Sea Scouts Vaughan Bamford and Campbell Wright in receipt of the cheque for $4000.00. The donation was made for support of rescue boat repairs so they can carry out their activities on Lyttelton Harbour as the Estuary is not available due to pollution following the earthquakes. The amount was made up from:

$1,000 from Winton Club donated through Christchurch

South

$2,500 from Murgon Club (4 hours north of Brisbane) donated through

Christchurch South

$300 personal donation by Christchurch South member

$200 from Christchurch South general funds.

Submitted by:  Assistant Rotary Coordinator Ross Skinner

Report on the use of the donated funds

CHRISTCHURCH ROTARY EARTHQUAKE CHARITABLE TRUST

Newsletter September 2011

Chair IPDG Margaret Reeve

$654,600.75 distributed                     

74 applications approved

10 organisations given more than $20,000        64 organisations given up to $20,000

The Christchurch Rotary Earthquake Appeal Fund has changed its name to the one given above, as it has now been registered as a trust.  It is receiving applications and distributing funds to projects and causes which are a direct need from earthquake consequences.  Fundraising is an indirect consequence and therefore projects being identified by Rotary clubs are not always a priority for Trust consideration.

The committee has been meeting every three weeks to consider applications to this fund.  Many of the requests have been for very worthwhile purposes and the committee members have been touched by the sad situations many people and organisations have found themselves in as a result of the earthquakes and aftershocks.  In addition, there are worthwhile efforts being made to help those in the community who were badly affected, and it is encouraging to see projects designed to rebuild lives and foster resilience.

The last report from this committee listed a large number of Rotary clubs, both in New Zealand and overseas, who have contributed to this fund and their generosity has made it possible for the committee to approve a wide range of applications.

Thanks must also go to some of the Christchurch Rotary Clubs who have been very diligent in seeking out organisations affected by the earthquake and encouraging them to apply.  We hope their efforts continue.

A break-down of the successful applications shows that all groups stated in the Terms of Reference have had support.  These groupings and the number of approved applications follow

SUPPORT FOR OLDER PEOPLE         4 Addington Action

Lyttelton Community House Trust

Familial Trust

Rotary Club of Garden City SUPPORT FOR DISABLED  PEOPLE         5 Head Injury / Dr McKinley Brain Injury Association Alzheimers Canterbury CCS Disability Action NZ Spinal Trust

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES  30

Save the Children Journey of Hope

Aranui Community Trust

Redcliffs Public Library

Canterbury Business Associationn

Birthright (ChCh)

Adventure Specialities Trust

Te Puna Oraka

Whakaoranga Trust (Oscar)

Church Army (Life Skills)

Dr Moor/EQ Research

Parklands Baptist Community

Delta Community Trust

Oasis Baptist Church

Project Esther

Depression Support Network

ChCh Resettlement Services

Te Puna Whaiora

Positive Directions Trust

Diamond Harbour Volunteer Fire Brigade

Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre

Presbyterian Support

Petersgate Counselling Centre

Adult Reading Assistance Scheme (ARAS)

Bromley Community Association

New Brighton Project Inc

Mt Pleasant Squash Club

Egyptian Assn of Canterbury

Christchurch Guangdong Association

Canterbury Refugee Council Rotary Club of Papanui To Note: (L) indicates that these applications from Early Childhood Centres or Schools were referred to the Laugesen Trust for payment. Suggestions are made to applicants if the Trustees are aware that other Funds are more  likely to meet the application request.  This report includes applications considered to 21 August 2011.

SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE – Total 35

Youth Activities                                14

North Canterbury Alpine Trust

Rapaki District Girl Guides

ChCh Children's Holiday Camps

Youthline Central South Is.

Adventist Development

Linwood/Woolston Rotary Club

Aranui Eagles Rugby League

Burwood Christian Centre

Agape Street Ministries

Kimihia Adventure Programme

Canterbury Rowing Association

Sumner Shoreline Youth Trust

St Martins Scout Group

JR McKenzie Youth Educ Fund (ChCh)

Early Childhood Organisations      10

Kidsfirst Shirley Kindergarten (L)

Bromley Kindergarten (L)

Woolley St Kindergarten

Kidsfirst Kindergarten Mairehau (L)

Kimihia Early Learning Programme

Kidsfirst Kindergarten Papanui  (L)

Plunket Society ChCh North

Kidsfirst Kindergarten Kaiapoi

Kidsfirst Kindergarten Linwood (L)

Redcliffs/Mt Pleasant Plunket Schools                                  11 Bamford School (L) Redcliffs School Bromley School Freeville School Aranui Primary School Beckenham School (L) Papanui Primary School (L) Ferndale Special School Cashmere High School Heaton Intermediate School Hillview Christian School

Aucklanders flush to please Cantabrians

Auckland Drain Surgeons help clear Christchurch drains to get the       flowing.  As one Cantabrian put it they were Judged Always Friendly Aucklanders !

Submitted by:  Ross Skinner

Update on recovery activities

Welcome to this September circulation outlining activities of the Earthquake Recovery Support Project (EQRSP). 

Notes:

The Christchurch Rotary Earthquake Appeal Fund has a separate newsletter to communicate its activities.

This is a copy of the PDF version of the newsletter 

Spreading the Word

We have encouraged all Rotary Clubs in the District to become actively involved in earthquake recovery support. This Newsletter is an important communication.

Can you please ensure it is forwarded on to your Rotarians and EQ project teams in your club.

“Offers Register”

There are many “offers” waiting to have projects allocated or taken up in partnership with Christchurch based clubs. Clubs who have a project, or have lost their fundraising base and want to continue supporting their Charities and Programs, should contact Lindsay Crossen (contacts above) with their requirements. Also see offers for Respite Vacations later.

Matching Grants 

D9820 – Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, is sponsoring a Matching Grant to The Rotary Foundation for defibulator units for all of the suburban and volunteer Fires Stations units around Christchurch. RC Chch Sunrise in the local sponsor.

D3870 – Southern Philippines is the international sponsor for a Matching Grant to replace emergency equipment for St John Ambulance. RCs Ashburton, Ashburton Plains, Nelson West and Bishopdale-Burnside have committed DDF as local sponsors.

A “Community Needs Analysis” has just been completed to support a larger Contestable Matching Grant for a number of projects which have emerged over the past month. We will be calling in some of the International offers and offers from other Districts to support this MG. Commitment of Club DDF funds will also be requested.

Portable Swimming Pools 

Rotary has partnered with an initiative by Sport Canterbury to enable “learn to swim and survive” programmes in schools to continue (32 schools currently have no access to swimming pools with the loss of QEII, Centennial Pool and pools in Kaiapoi and Linwood).

 

The 15m x 8m portable pools, with filtration, fencing and shade, cost $50,000 each. Rotary has assembled funding commitment for one pool (to be located in Kaiapoi) and is on the journey to fund the second. Funds have been committed by D9750 Sydney - $33.000; RC Belfast-Kaiapoi - $5.000; RC Whakatane- $6,000; RC Coffs Harbour South - $10,000 and CREQA Fund - $20,000. Thank you for your generosity.

Emerging Projects

The following are potential earthquake recovery projects that the Project team is currently evaluating:

1.    New People Movers for about three NFP organisations. Existing vehicles have become mechanically unsound and the need for transport is greater.

2.    Mobile Library Vans to extend the CCC mobile library service where community libraries have been damaged and closed and the people demographics has changed around the City. A project is being developed in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries to assist them to rejuvenate and extend their current services.

3.    Assistance to Cholmondeley Home School which has been critically damaged but they continue to operate in adjacent facilities to meet the increased need since the earthquakes.

4.    Repair of “soft surfacing” under a number of playgrounds around the city – this has potential for a Club working project.

5.    A number of Sports Clubs are now working on recovery of their facilities and projects requiring assistance are starting to emerge.

Tarpaulins Available

Dave Burford has advised the Project that the NZ Fire Service has 1,000 tarpaulins available to distribute for weather proofing houses and buildings. 

Contact for supply of these is David Burford at burfords@xtra.co.nz.  You will need to supply name, Rotary Club and details of intended use.

Sustaining Community Wellbeing and Culture

Supporting individuals, households and communities to rebuild their lives after earthquakes is an enormous task. Thousands of people will be relocated from their homes, leaving behind neighbours, friends, social and sporting clubs, schools, churches and many other networks that bind a community together, particularly in hard times. Community wellbeing activities need to offer responsive and flexible support for people. This includes help to cope with stress and uncertainty and minimize potential hardship and unnecessary disruption to housing, education and health. Our communities need to be supported, so they can rebuild their strength and resilience for present and future generations.

Many historic buildings have been lost, or will require long term restoration. Damaged and destroyed buildings include many public and community facilities, such a churches, halls and theatres, and sports and recreation venues and clubrooms, like the QEII Park sports complex. Many arts organizations and artists have lost offices, performing and exhibition spaces and the means to earn a living. The loss of venues and volunteers threatens the continued existence of many clubs, groups and societies that bind communities together.

Fundraising, for which so many charities, disabled persons, schools, early childhood centers, sports groups, youth groups, aged peoples groups, etc, relied, has diminished. This is due to so many people, having experienced personal property or business damage, being reluctant to support fundraising activities to the level they traditionally have.

Key community wellbeing and culture needs identified are;

·         Large communities of people being displaced from their damaged homes

·         Significant damage and disruption to community facilities and services

·         High risk to loss of culture due to loss of clubs, groups and societies that bind communities

·         Negligible fundraising opportunity due to earthquake influenced austerity influences.

Respite Vacations

We have generous offers from North East Victoria (Aust) Northern NSW (Aust), Rotorua and Hokitika for provision of travel, accommodation and friendly hosting to Rotarians who deserve a respite break from their business and home difficulties as a consequence to the earthquakes. Can Clubs give consideration to likely recipients within their midst and contact Lindsay Crossen to align the offers (all enquiries will be confidential)

Lanterns Available

There is a supply of 500 Camping lanterns available for Rotary Clubs to distribute. These are electrical, with long life batteries, and will be suitable for elderly and persons living on their own to provide a consistent source of emergency lighting.  Contact for supply of these is Margaret Reeve at b.reeve@actrix.co.nz

Rotary Stamps 

The Rotary Club of Christchurch has produced a postal stamp depicting the damaged Christ Church Cathedral caused by the earthquake at 12.51 on February 22, 2011. The cathedral, built in the late 1800s, is in the centre of Christchurch City. The stamps are sold in a book-let of ten 60c self-adhesive stamps. Each booklet has a $2.00 donation factor that goes towards the Rotary Club of Christchurch Inc Earthquake Appeal. 

The booklets are $8.00 each. A limited edition of a First Day cover will also be available on a first come first served basis.  Enquiries: Barrie Cooper on barrie@coopers.co.nz