Kapiti Rainbow Club

Des Smith on our soapbox!

Our Soapbox guest speaker in October was the wonderful Des Smith.
Along with his husband John, they visited New York for Stonewall’s 50^th anniversary earlier this year.
You can see Des’ soapbox chat here…
**WATCH THE VIDEO

Spring Country Ramble

Thanks to Gary for a wonderful day out in the country, rambling around and exploring places we’ve never seen before…from unique clocks to the amazing herb garden!
Our group of ten arrived in Colyton on a perfectly sunny spring day at the Ginger Bird Café.
The coffee was great and the service excellent. Some even commented that they would return another day to try their enticing Lunch Menu. It was a short walk along the road to Colyton Clocks where we entertained for about one hour by John the owner. Over the years he has amassed over 3000 clocks of all styles shapes and sizes. The building that houses the clocks used to be a church
in the centre of Palmerston North and was purchased and moved there about twenty years ago.
From here it was a ten minute drive to the Herb Farm where we chose our cafe lunch and sat on a long bench in the garden. We then had a enjoyable stroll around the garden walkway.
It was a nice look in the shop before making our purchases and departing after an enjoyable day.

Luncheon in Waikanae

Thanks to Bruce and Gary for hosting our October luncheon at their home in Waikanae, and also to Des for being our guest on the Soapbox!

Eric Randerson 1931-2019

Everyone in the Kapiti Rainbow Club will remember Eric Randerson with fondness, a much loved and devoted member of the Club who died in Palmerston North Hospital at 5am this morning (Sunday 21 st July) after a brief illness.

Eric was a week off his 89th birthday, that he would have celebrated next Saturday night at our mid-winter dinner.

Craig Garner and Philip Quinn; Glen and neighbour Ngaire Pinkham, were with Eric at the hospital on Saturday, and Glen and Ngaire were with Eric when he passed early this morning.

A funeral service for Eric will be held 11am, Thursday 25th July at St Mary’s Catholic Church, ‘Pukekaraka’,

4 Convent Road, Otaki (Convent Road is an extension of Te Rauparaha Street, off Main Street, Otaki).

All club members and friends are cordially invited to attend this celebration of Eric’s life.

New committee elected at Annual Meeting

2019 Rainbow Club Committee - (L-R) Craig Garner (treasurer); Gary Tweddle; Les Church (president); David Taylor; Christopher Drinkwater (secretary); Michael Moore.

Annual General Meeting in Levin, Sunday 28th April

The Rainbow Club will hold it's Annual General Meeting at Thompson House, Levin

12.30 pm, Sunday, 28th April 2019
The meeting will be followed by our traditional BYO pot luck lunch

May function at Waikanae

Lunch at Waikanae, hosted by Chris and Liam

When: From noon, Sunday, 26th May 2019
Where: Waikanae
Format: A pot luck sausage sizzle! Liam and Chris will provide the meat. Members should bring sides/salads & desserts as well as something to drink.

Raffle draw time at our February lunch

Sixteen members gathered on a glorious day at Kerry Moore's in Wanganui. There was swimming in the pool and plenty to eat! Thanks, Kerry, for giving us such a good time and for generously donating your host's expenses allowance back to the club.

Retirement and Resignations

Thoughts from Michael Unverricht, Rainbow Club president

Well, I did it! Last month I said I would retire and Wednesday 13 February was my last day of work. I took Eugene and my two sisters to my farewell on the following Friday. Guests were invited to come dressed as an historical figure; fictional or non fictional. The most ancient person represented was a beautifully dressed Cleopatra. King Richard and Queen Victoria were also present along with other well known figures associated with recent times. I went as Ali Baba from Arabian Knights. I was accompanied by Imustav Aleek, one of my thirty-nine thieves.

The next task on my 2019 “to do list” is to retire from Otaki. Eugene has been offered a position in Whanganui Hospital which he takes up on 8 April 2019. In the meantime we are in the process of selling our home in Otaki and looking for a place to buy in Whanganui.

From retirement we go to resignations.
I mentioned at the last Rainbow Club AGM that it is my intention to resign as Club President this year. I have always maintained that such positions should be for a fixed term and I think that after three years in the role it is certainly time to step down for someone else to steer the Club over the next few years.

Committee member Craig Smaill and secretary Ron Walton will also be standing down. This means that at the forthcoming AGM In April, 50% of the committee are standing down and need to be replaced.

Where will these replacements come from?
The continued camaraderie of the club is sustained by the president and the committee. In order for this to continue, members must think seriously about putting themselves, or other club members, forward for election. With the Notice Of Meeting the secretary will email nomination forms for your consideration. Each nomination will require a seconder.

What is the commitment of being a committee member?
None of the committee roles is arduous or time consuming. We have found that three meetings each year is enough as there is always the option for communication via email or phone. Committee meetings centre around arranging venues for monthly socials, discussion around finances and membership plus any issues brought up by club members.

The role of the secretary centres around keeping the mailing lists up to date, dealing with enquires from guys interested in joining the club and organising the committee meetings.

The compilation and distribution of the monthly newsletter is currently under control.

As club president I have been able to get to know many members at a more personal level rather than just knowing them by name. I have felt honoured when club members have confidentially shared aspects of their personal lives with me and privileged when I have been able to assist them in any way.

The committee asks all club members to make a special effort to attend the AGM which is seen as the catalyst for the following year’s activities