News and Notices

• Link to a message from Rotary International about the new Learning Centre.

• Link to the 2017-18 Kaikohe Rotary President’s Report.

• Vintage Railway’s Fun Trivia and Auction Night - Sunday 18 August at Copthorne Waitangi. Go here for details.

• Big Boys Heritage Toys - Fathers’ Day at the Pioneer Village - Sunday 2 September.

• Link to email.

Calendar and Blogs (where there is always something new - check these links every week)

• Link to the Kaikohe Rotary Club Calendar. Go here to check out Guest Speakers for future meetings and details of other club activities.

• Link to Kaikohe Rotary’s Facebook page.

• Link to the District Facebook page.

• Link to the District Calendar.

• Link to the Rotary Service Connections Blog.

• Link to the Rotary Voices Blog.

• Link to Rotary International’s Member News.

• Link to Wasrag (Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group) Blog.

Regular Newsletters

• Link to the latest Rotary Weekly.

• Link to the latest Rotary Down Under - Issue 607.

• Link to the latest Youth Exchange News.

• Link to the latest Kerikeri Club Bulletin.

• Link to the latest Dargaville Club Bulletin.

• Link to the latest Waipapa Club Bulletin.

• Link to the latest E Mara E Pānui.

11 July Meeting

• We should be thankful for people like Maggie Maihi who is Far North Co-ordinator for Victim Support. Based at Kaikohe Police Station, Maggie co-ordinates a team of volunteers who provide assistance and support for victims of crime and other traumatic events, such as car crashes.

• On Wednesday Maggie spoke to Kaikohe Rotary. She explained although Victim Support works closely with Police, it is an independent organisation and its employees and volunteers are not Police staff. She said Victim Support has 61 offices around the country and works 24/7 on behalf of the victims of crime.

• Most referrals come directly from Police, although Maggie attends each briefing to make sure she is aware of all incidents for which assistance might be required. Victim Support assists victims by helping them fill out victim impact statements which are read to the court prior to sentencing; and by putting them on the victim notification register. It can also arrange counselling and other assistance aimed at helping victims get on their feet

• Our own Glenis Sutherland then talked about her own experiences as a Victim Support volunteer, helping victims of crimes such as rape, domestic violence and burglary and events such as car crashes. She said the most attribute of a volunteer is an ability to listen and empathise. But Maggie says she is always on the lookout for more volunteers and has recently advertised on Facebook. Anyone interested in being a volunteer should contact her.

• Thank you Maggie and your team for your dedication and commitment. Our community is better off because of it.