The newly elected Springs Park Rotary Club president, Louise Schaap, received the president’s chain from past president Jos Rokebrand, at a dinner on Thursday evening.
“It was 16 years ago when Martin Schaap, Louise’s late husband, was inducted as the president of our club,” says Jos.
Mary Reynolds, president of the Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Rotary district governor representative Annie and Hennie Steijn; and assitant governor Martin and Linda Stokes, were the guests of honour.
Louise says she is looking forward to her term of office as president.
“I am proud to be the 40th president of a proud club steeped in tradition and ready to make a difference,” she says.
The get-together saw another Schaap take the helm,
“Just as the two Schaap’s before me namely Martin (2001/2002), and Tony Schaap her father-in-law (1994/95), I am ambitious and I am a dictator.
“I would like to bring a presidential citation back to the club and I apologise for this in advance,” says Louise, who believes she is quite capable of executing this task.
Louise informed the guests that every club needs their moral policemen to keep them in order.
She added that it was no different in this club and announced Colin Browning as her chief sergeant.
Colin’s deputy will be John Rothman and Dieter Klöss.
She reflected on the outgoing president Ueli’s term of office and his theme of ‘back to basics’.
Ueli, who is recovering from an operation did not attend the event.
“Ueli reminded us we are Rotarians and our aim is to work together to make a positive and lasting change in our community. This we achieved,” says Louise.
She added that her way of making a difference will be to put to fun back in fundraising and to increase their membership.
“We are going to spread our enthusiasm about Rotary and hope it promotes peace and unity for the common good,” she says.
She emphasised that their work with the schools will continue and they will encourage learners to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, the Short Term Exchange Programme, Toastmasters and the Robotics programme.
Another idea up her sleeve is to host a reunion.
The highlight of the club’s milestones was seeing the learners from Springs Girls’ High and Springs Boys’ High benefit from the Toastmasters’ public-speaking course.
“I would like to thank the Anns who are central to the amazing work achieved over the past past year,” adds Louise.
The Ann presidents – Linda Brugman, Marlene McAdam and Barbara-Ann Day – were also present.
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