ARCHIVAL SOURCE – MODERN WORD CONVERSION

Historisches Dokument · Webfassung / Historical document · web edition

ARCHIVAL SOURCE – MODERN WORD CONVERSION
19930716.txt
Morning prayer began at 7.30a.m.
The meeting began at 8.30a.m.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted. Proposed by Mrs. Thabethe and seconded by Mr. Kalkwarf
Fr. Gérard welcomed Mr. Wittmann (from the foreign service of the Malteser Hilfsdienst) to South Africa. He thanked him for coming and for taking so much interest in the work of the Brotherhood.
Mr. Wittmann replied by passing on the greetings of the Hospitaller of the Knights of Malta and Baron Heereman. He stated that they are very happy about the way in which the Brotherhood is being managed and the spirit of the work and are happy with the work we are doing.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES·┴
a. The new badges were blessed on the feast of St. John the Baptist and distributed to the active members after Holy Mass.
b. Advertising for the Domestic Science School, Community Development Center and Feeding Scheme will be a mail-shot to all Sundumbili post boxes and will also be in the Mini Home Ads.
OF BEARERSþ┴ REPORTS·┴
±┴Ú┴ PRESIDENTþ┴S REPORT·┴
a. Fr. Gérard reported that he had received a news letter from the Grand Magistry of the Knights of Malta. That it would be of interest for dedicated members to learn more about the organization. Fr. Gérard would make photocopies of the English section and distribute.
b. Also received was the Annuaire (Directory) of the Knights of Malta of 1993. The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard is listed among the "organizations and foundations for the hospital works and the ambulance corps" as a "relief organization of the Order (of the Knights of Malta)".
c. Fr. Gérard also reported that we had had an application through Mr. Wittmann, from a lady in Berlin. She would like to work in Namibia and RSA for six months under the wings of the Malteser Hilfsdienst. She will be available from September 1993. Mr. Wittmann said they received many such applications. These people would work as volunteers. They would pay for their own air tickets but would expect board and lodging in return for the work they do. The Knights of Malta would have no financial involvement in this exchange. Mr. Wittmann said this should be a two way experience. In this way the Brotherhood could make many friends in Germany. If we would like to accept an offer like this we would do so through Mr. Wittmann.
d. Fr. Gérard showed the meeting his photographs of the different projects of the Brotherhood. Mr. Wittmann stated that he needed to sell our projects to the administrators in Germany. He would therefore need things such as pamphlets, photographs, videos and any other material which would promote the Brotherhood. There it is important that the pictures or video-recordings show our active members and helpers wearing the badge to identify them as members of the Brotherhood and the activties as Brotherhood activities.
e. We have been asked by the "Sundumbili Community Development Association" to take over the sponsorship of The Intuthuko Nursery School in Sundumbili. Fr. Gérard contacted the Kindernothilfe (a Lutheran organization) for help in this regard. They sponsor the nursery school in Mambane. As yet we have not had any response. We however, could not take on this responsibility at this stage as we are not financially secure enough. Dr. Thabethe stated that they did not need finance but just to be able to work under the name of a church organization.
d. New members:
Abroad:
Mr. Franz Schenk (Supporting) Pledged DM 50 per annum Mr. Anton Steinegger " " DM 200 " " Fr. Michael Meier (Spiritual) Mr. Marcel Hoff (Supporting) " DM 50 per month Mr. Oswald Binner " " DM 100 per annum Mr. Helmut Haas " " DM 200 " "
Local:
Mrs. Kim Corney (Active) Pending Mrs. Patricia Thompson(Active) " R 50 per month Mr. Trevor Thompson (Active) " R 50 " " Mrs. Margaret Mabaso (Active) Pending Mr. Gerald Clark (Active) " R 20 " " Mrs. Marjorie Clark (Active) " R 20 " "
‗┴Ú┴ M┼ SUPERINTENDENT·┴
Dr.Thabethe reported that a Seminar on AIDS had been held on Saturday. Three doctors spoke on all the different aspects of AIDS in our community. There will be another meeting on 28th August 1993 to try and organize the community in Sundumbili. Two resource people will attend as educators to help structure the campaign. They are Dr. Jaffe and Matron Mcanyana. The objective of this campaign would be to create awareness, educate on prevention and for counselling. Dr. Thabethe said that this campaign should be spread to all the surrounding communities and not kept to the Sundumbili area only. Fr. Gérard gave Dr. Thabethe and advertisement on the "I am Joe" series of videos.
¾┴Ú┴ D╔ OF CHARITY·┴
a. Development Center: The first sewing course ended on 26th June, 1993. This course proved to be a great success, however, the students as well as Miss Mazibuko felt that four weeks was not enough time to cover the work. Mrs. Thabethe suggested that we follow on with a second and third course immediately. There is a "first" course on the go at present. It was agreed that in August, a "second" course would begin to be followed by the "third". The students from both "first" courses would be combined for these. Mrs. Thabethe agreed that we should meet at another time to discuss the fees for these courses.
b. Fe Scheme: There are no problems. Mrs. Thabethe requested Fr. Gérard order some more milk. She stated that the social workers are referring infants to them. It was discovered that one of the babies being treated has AIDS. We are now treating 17 babies.
c. Do Science School: Mrs. Thabethe said that we should be more accommodating. We should give cookery classes instead. Fr. Gérard stated that there would be no point in teaching someone to cook on an electric stove if they did not have the same facility at home. This would not help poor people to earn money - which is our main objective. Mrs. Kalkwarf said that maybe we should rethink the whole concept of this school. Fr. Gérard agreed.
d. Tw Clubs: Fr.Gérard reported that the Mangete club was in a bit of a crisis because the people were nervous to travel (because of the unrest-situation in the Mangete area) and also because the youth felt a little overwhelmed by having to organize this function. Mr. & Mrs. Clark have agreed to help the youth in this regard. Mrs. Kalkwarf reported that the Mandini club had visited Mrs. Helma Lindveldt's Farm for tea. This was a great success. She requested that a letter of thanks be sent to Mrs. Lindveldt.
e. Ho : Fr. Gérard said that he would make an appointment with Mrs. Michelle Hooper of the NPA welfare section with regards to the legal requirements. He also stated that he had sent a letter to the Sisters of Charity in Durban, who have set up a "Care Center" very similar to our concept. That he would contact Sr. Amarita for further information.
f. Bu Fund: Fr. Gérard hand Mr. Kalkwarf an application for a bursary.
g. He for a Heart: Fr. Gérard reported that he had received the accounts for this. They amounted to R3788.15. This amount has been paid direct to the hospital. However, R8305.82 was collected for this fund. Fr. Gérard will look into the details of what the money was specifically donated for. Only then will a decision be taken as to where to allocate the money.
¶┴Ú┴ A─ OF GOODS·┴
Mr. Kalkwarf stated that although there is a surplus on the Heart for a Heart fund, there is no money left as this has been used on other items. The balance sheet is attached to the minutes for everyone's perusal.
GE
Mr. P. Wittmann reported that he is an expert in asking questions and needed to do so to enable him to give a comprehensive report on his return to Germany. However, he said although there is assistance available, we need to raise our own funds. By gaining more members is an excellent way to raise funds.
He said there is staff available from Germany as reported in 1c of the President's report. Finance is available but the Malteser Hilfsdienst is very selective in who they help. They have to be sure that the assistance they give will reach the right people. They do only help the needy. He stated that they favor Community Development Schemes and Self help schemes.
There are other ways of raising money. If we provide his organization with detailed information about our projects, they will try to find sponsorship for us. But he needed promotional material such as information pamphlets, photographs, videos and details of the cost of one project e.g. 1 sewing machine, fabric, kit and wages, or the total cost of a project. Another way to raise funds would be to form a partnership with one of the Malteser groups working in Germany. They would then try to raise money by way of festivals etc. for us. This would also provide us with a permanent contact in Germany. We would benefit by a two way involvement and spirituality.
Mr. Wittmann said there are several different concepts of Community Development Centers. He would provide us with information about one that is working very well elsewhere in Africa. He said we should try to combine several projects. e.g. The infant feeding scheme and basic health care. In South America they have introduced TVs into doctors waiting rooms. While the patients are waiting they are educated in basic health care. It is easier to raise money for prevention and training.
Mr. Wittmann asked if it would be possible to produce something to sell in Germany e.g. Maltese flags or Zulu handicraft.
It is possible to get government funding or from the EC to support basic health care projects - but this takes a long time. The organization needs to be established for 1 - 2 years to qualify for this support.
Mr. Wittmann congratulated the Brotherhood on it's achievements. He said it was surprising that we had achieved so much in such a short period of time.
Fr. Gérard thanked Mr. Wittmann for all the information and advice and for interrupting his holiday to come and visit the Brotherhood.
There being no further business the meeting was closed with the Brotherhood prayer at 10.15a.m.
Original file
19930716.txt
Conversion note
Text recovered from the supplied DOS-era text file. Wording is preserved; only character encoding and obvious style-run splits were normalized.