Quota International – District 37 New Zealand

35th Annual District Conference – Rotorua

27-29 May 2011

Helping Hands – Caring Hearts was the theme of the 35th Annual District 37 Quota conference held in Rotorua this month.
The theme was in keeping with District Governor Karla Hammond's theme for her term and was very appropriate as Quota is very involved in helping their communities and fellow Quota members.

Members from Takapuna, Auckland, Papakura, Rotorua, Opotiki and Whakatane attended the conference at the Best Western Braeside Resort in Rotorua.

Noela Vallis, passionate and dedicated fund raiser to find a cure for spinal cord injuries,  opened the conference.  Her opening address updated the members and advised that the Spinal Cord Society had received approval from the Ethics Committee.  Clinical trials are now approved and they are eager to get underway, in less than a week they have received 11 applications from spinal patients to take part in the trials.

Key Note speaker for Saturday was Michele Yonetani from the van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch.  Michele was the successful recipient of the 2009-10 Quota South Pacific Area Scholarship for work in the Fields of Speech and Hearing.  She used this funding to attend the International Congress on Education of the Deaf in Vancouver 2010.  

Michele, through her PowerPoint presentation thanked the Quota clubs for the opportunity to attend the congress in Vancouver, she also spoke about the students at van Asch and how the two earthquakes had affected the students, staff and school buildings.  She thanked Quota for the monetary gifts the school received following the earthquakes to take the children to a safe environment away from the shakes to enjoy a fun day.  The staff and students took the opportunity for some positive teamwork  at 'The Beast" a challenging but fun obstacle course followed by a picnic lunch.

District 37  has also provided Michele with a GPS, a much need device immediately following the earthquakes as therapists were visiting students at home and other schools until van Asch was deemed safe to return in the second term.

A very inspiring and confident Amy Whittaker of Whakatane (age 10) spoke on Sunday morning about her cochlear implants, her school and her very active after school activities.  Amy received her first cochlear implant in her left ear at 2 years of age and her second implant in the right ear at 5 years of age.  Amy has been involved with LOUD Shirt Day for the Hearing House Auckland participating in photo opportunities and speaking to students at Allandale, James St School and Whakatane Quota to bring awareness to those with hearing difficulties.

Amy would love to be a ballet star, a champion swimmer or a teacher!  The conference was sure that she would excel in any of these areas and with her determination and confidence maybe all three!!

District Awards went to:

• Wendy Pye Salver Award – Greatest Net Membership Gain – QI Opotiki
• Caroline Rose Bowl – Most New Members in previous 12 Months – QI Opotiki – (3 members)
• Lois Watson Trophy – Most Hands on Service Hours – QI Whakatane  
• Takapuna Award – Most dollars per capita earned – QI Papakura (29 members - $356.53 each – total 16,400.)
• Top Club Award – club that files reports and Payments on time with District Sec/Treas – QI Rotorua
• Quota Candle Holder – Club Attendance Average – First Equal –  QIs Takapuna/Auckland
• District Governor’s Award – member who brings in the most new members in previous 12 months – Shona Browne – QI Opotiki ( 3 members)
• The District Project for 2011-2012 was decided on Sunday morning and will go to the van Ache Deaf Education School’s Cochlear Unit.