During this period, clubs highlight the importance of the business and professional life of each Rotarian. Special activities can promote the vocational avenue of service.
Distribute Four-way Test
Distribute Vocational Awards to outstanding individuals, Arrange Vocational Visits
Awareness seminar on career guidance, Organize / Arrange in Plant Training
Guests: Capt John Granville, Dennis Jackson, Wayne Stevens, Flora & Jack, Chris Stokes, Piper Dylan Jones
Sangs n' Clatter
Murray Bell, Duke of Kawau Grove:
The Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat and cannae eat,
An' some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
An' sae the Lord be thankit!
Sustenance:
Chieftain o' the Puddin' Race (haggis)
Champit Tatties
Bashit Carrot and Parsnip
Wi' Beef fur the faint-hearted!
An' a wee bit orange and date cake with caramel and cream sweetie.
Thankit be to Ingrid and the team for a fitting meal.
Al was delighted to step into President Paul's shoes for the evening, and promptly handed over to Chieftain Jim
The gathering of the clans
Chieftain Jim did an outstanding job of gathering his forces and delivered a fun evening for all
Triple Tartan Trouble
John, Laird of Whanganui, displaying his standard sartorial elegance
Master Bell delivered with good grace
The Night's Ongauns - Sangs n' Clatter
Mike shows us what a Scot wears under his kilt... if the kilt belongs to a wee bairn
More tartan shenanigans: the rose between 2 thorns
Perhaps the finest Ode to the Lassies ever witnessed by the Club
Proud Papa Jim introducing the lovely Flora and Jack to entertain us with Scots sangs
Dame Scutter was more than a match for the laddies
A celebration of the 267th year of the birth of Robert Burns
Feasgar Math! (Good evening!)
What a splendid evening we enjoyed, thanks to Chieftain Jim Dryburgh, and the various lairds and ladies who assisted him. From the piping in of the mighty haggis, King o' puddings, with Sergeant Matthew Grace and Piper Dylan Jones, to the ritual address (passionate and incomprehensible) and stabbing by Chieftain Jim, and drinking of the dram, the Selkirk Grace by Murray Bell Esq, an excellent rendition of the Immortal Memory of the Bard by Captain John Granville, a very fine toast to our own lassies by His Honour Dugald Matheson and a brilliant reply fae the lassies by Dame Sue Scutter.
The Immortal Memory
Captain John began with a few lines of doggerel, evidently crafted by himself:
It's thanks to my friend, Jimmy, that I'm standing here tonight
He phoned me before I had even turned off my light
He said "I have a job for you, and you've 4 weeks to prepare"
I thought, my God, he wants his lawns mowed - or help with his hair!
No: a toast to the Immortal Bard; Lord, how can I start?
'Not too rude and nothing crude, but something from the heart.'
So, I scratched away and wrote and re-wrote, but it was very hard
to write a clean and honest tribute to this Scottish Bard.
Leave the poetry to the Bard, John.
Laird John regaled us with the brief but very colourful biography of legendary poet, revolutionary spirit, romantic, whisky drinking, persuasive and fertile Scots Lothario, Robert, Robbie, Rabbie Burns. Born in the village of Alloway near Ayr, he was the son of tenant farmers. He composed his first love poem to a lassie at 15 and fathered the first of his 12 - 15 children by 4 women, at 19. Rabbie married his sweetheart Jean Armour, who would become mother to his 9 legitimate children, over her father's protests, after his first volume of poetry sold like hot oat cakes.
Burns imparted a Scots lilt to love poetry, sometimes sweet, sometimes bawdy and earthy; to the revolutionary movement sweeping through Europe; and even penned feminist verses on the rights of women. He also praised the humblest creatures of farm and meadow, with To A Mouse and To a Louse still popular to this day.
Later in his life, when poetry was not enough to pay the bills, Robbie became an exciseman, which seems a bit of a contradiction, given his fondness for a dram, and his anti-establishment tendencies. Tragically, he died of his final bout of rheumatic fever, aged only 37, the same day his last child was born.
Robbie Burns spoke from the heart in a way that entranced people from all classes and walks of life, and created a huge body of work that has survived him and been translated into many languages. We still sing Auld Lang Syne (penned by Robbie, based on an ancient Scots folk song) every New Year's. There are almost as many statues of Burns around the world as there are of Queen Victoria and Admiral Nelson!
Ode to the Lassies
Judge Matheson had a rough start to the evening's presentation, telling us he had *accidentally* stumbled across a poem in his father's Collected Works of the Bard entitled "Cock up your Beaver". (Editor's note: this has been verified; it's about a hat).
In preparing his ode to the lassies, Matheson J started with some research, i.e. Googled 'women in Rotary', and was shocked to be reminded that it took 85 years after the start of "the little boys' club", and a judgment of the US Supreme Court, before women were reluctantly admitted to Membership of Rotary in 1989. Disaster did not ensue, and Rotary has gone from strength to strength ever since. NB: having said that, it was only in 2022 that the first female President of Rotary International, Jennifer Jones, was nominated.
Judge Matheson proved himself a worthy choice by delivering the perfect tribute to the lassies, recognising the considerable merits of the Club's very own 1st XV: its 15 women Members. He catalogued the women's many charms and strengths, declaring them 'fair of face and full of grace', earning him the acclaim of all. He then told a scurrilous joke about the Poets' Olympics in Heaven, which is unprintable.
Reply fae the Lassies: A Man's A Man
Dame Scutter proved herself more than a match for Matheson J, paying tribute to the laddies and getting in a few sly digs, observing that behind every great man there is at least one great woman. Mrs Scutter concluded Robbie Burns must have needed so much female company in order to allow his own greatness to flower. His romantic artistry got him out of a lot of trouble, but wouldn't have stopped him being cancelled, had he lived in the time of social media.
Sue noted the predominance of Scots lairds amongst our number, the fascinating tartans in evidence, especially Sergeant Mike's half-arsed kilt, and Doug's ever-present tartan socks.
Sue recited a short poem, John Anderson My Jo, about an aging lover's charms.
Sue then acknowledged the wonderful men in the room, "without whom we wouldn't have so much to talk about, but without whom we would also never love or be loved so kindly. For some their feelings may be as beautiful, vivid and fresh as a flower that has recently bloomed - their love as sweet as a beautiful song played by a skilled musician. For others of us that could be overstating our friendships with many of the laddies. But in recognising the laddies and the relationships we have. They may not always understand us, but at least they try - bless their hearts!"
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Sergeant Mike led a lively rattling and emptying o' the coin purses, forcing each table to massacre Marie's Wedding acapella.
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We were entertained in wonderful style by Flora and Jack, joining in for the choruses of Wylde Mountain Thyme.
The pipin' in o' the haggis
Fair fa' your honest sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o' the puddin' race
And a wee dram was taken
Arggh!
Doug in clashing tartans
Chris looking dapper
Linda sporting Club colours
Gimme all your money!
Flora singing of a red, red rose
Captain Tim
Notices
Doug
Romantically, the next Wood for Good working bee will be held at the Kāpiti Golf Club on Valentine's Day, Saturday, 14th February 2026, morning and afternoon shifts as usual. Splitting and wood collection will also take place mid week.
Doug is trying to arrange 4 splitters, as we have a good number of paid orders for delivery in February and March, so a good response of volunteers would be appreciated.
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF TIMES FOR THE SMOKO IN THE MORNING SHIFT, and THE START, FINISH and SMOKO TIMES OF THE AFTERNOON SHIFT.
If a Club Member is wishing to register as a volunteer, please go to the Home page on Clubrunner on your phone, Click on All Events, find and click on Date of Event, (e.g. 14th February) Click on Wood for Good working bee, and under 'Volunteer Signup' click on either Afternoon Shift or Morning Shift and follow the prompts.
or please contact Doug if you can help out: 0274 545754
Ronald McDonald House
The next dinner service is on 17 March. Places were rapidly filled, with 2 spares.
Linda
Long sleeved Rotary Club shirts are now available for order. Over 10 ordered at a time will attract a discount. Please send your orders to Matt: emailthegraces@gmail.com or text: 021 1009 150 within the next 2 weeks.
Tim
The Club has been approached by Paraparaumu Golf Club to see if we can provide parking marshals for the 2026 Quinovic New Zealand PGA Championship over 19 - 22 February. We would get some publicity and collect a donation from drivers to add to the Club's coffers. 2 people per shift would be required. Tim got a show of hands and will follow up with details and a roster.
Chris Garrett
Kāpiti Rotary Clue Finder Car Rally
22nd February 1.30pm to 5pm
Starting at Ocean Road Community Centre
Finishing at Club Vista
Murray
As Ingrid will be away overseas on 12 February, we will have a potluck dinner. We are emailing people to arrange for starters/nibbles, mains, veges/salads, and desserts. Please unregister if you can't attend, or register extras, asap so we can ensure there is a good mix of dishes.
