District 9930 Governor Keith and Elaine Owens, were warmly welcomed to our club meeting. Michelle also asked members to consider coming forward to be counsellor to our exchange student Daniella Navarrete of Santo Domingo, San Antonio province , Chile. Cure Kids Red Nose Road Show, out side BNZ, Victoria Street Hamilton, Friday 14th PM. Raises funds for child health support research. Michelle explained the difference between Polio Virus Types 1,2 & 3 .Disappointed to announce type 1 has resurfaced in Nigeria after two years of apparent no new cases until July this year, it is assumed some complacency may be the cause for this reinfection to surface. Oral vaccine administration to children now phased out for Injected Polio Vaccine (IPV ) that can cover all three types of polio virus, although type 2 has been eradicated worldwide and type 3 has low incidence but it is the type 1 polio virus that is now being scene . The civil unrest such as Boko Harum is making it very difficult and dangerous to get to the areas within Nigeria where children need immunisation ASP. Efforts are being made to ring fence Nigeria by IPV to children within those bordering countries. But the positive news is that current data does show progress in eradicating polio. Rotary Matamata doing its bit to raise funds to help eradicate polio worldwide. The challenge at the moment is to get people trained to administer IPV, as compared to the relatively simple technique to administer oral drops into a childs mouth.

Paul Harris Sapphire Fellow, District 9930 Governor Keith Owens thanked members for the warm welcome to Elaine and himself. He started his address by thanking assistant DG Eric Muckle and Leonie Tisch , for their efforts in the work they do for District and Rotary. He made the observation that our club is quite active and has a good public image. DG's are obliged to visit each club during their term in office, Matamata is his 27th such visit out of 54 clubs, so is well on track to achieve that. Keith spoke of his Rotary journey, which  has been a great experience. Succession planning is a vital component, no matter at what level in Rotary. Whether for club members to step up to serve at district level or even higher, so don't hesitate to enquire or shoulder tap for that to happen. Attended International Assembly last January, a most rewarding learning experience to support his term of District 9930 DG. Rotary is diverse at club level, but cannot do everything. But there is much gratitude for what Rotarians achieve here and world wide. His goal for district in his term, is that 50% of clubs achieve the prestigious Residential Citation. Rotary Foundation hope to raise us$300 million in its centenary year. The goal for District 9930 is us$200,000, and shortly there will be workshops to encourage that to happen. Keith lso disappointed at polio cases in Nigeria, as before that only Pakistan and Afghanistan had polio isolated to remote areas. He has no doubt that one day, we will achieve a polio free world. District 9930 only had ten application for District Funds made available by Rotary Foundation, $44,000.00  All ten applications were successful in their applications. He made mention of a R I Global grant through his Tauranga Club for us$72,000.00, to equip an orthodontology suite on a medical ship. He also touched on membership, and the need to attract new members , especially woman and ethnic origins. Big thanks to our club for their efforts, especially those doing district 9930 work, unsung hero's moving Rotary forward. He did reiterate that an important component of a Rotary Club is fun.

Keith concluded inviting members to the March District 9930 Conference in Whakatane, plus a very good promotional video for conference and noted our club  has twenty two already registered .A good choice of background music as well, that matched the theme of conference 'Its a Kind of Magic'.