banner
Welcome to Eastern Hutt Rotary's e-Bulletin.smiley
Important: To read everything, follow the instruction at the top of your email message: "Having trouble viewing this email? "Click here" to view it online".
 
Last Meeting - Members' Business Experiences Dealing with Covid-19 
                         
John Cole
John runs three businesses and employs over 20 staff. He found the different stages of the pandemic had differing effects. The year 2020 saw a long lockdown, but with the government subsidy paying 80% of wage costs the businesses were not too badly affected. However, in 2021 and now in 2022 he is seeing long periods of decline with no subsidies. His sports apparel firm in particular, saw a 30% decline requiring John to dig into reserves to keep it operating. In the meantime, his other two businesses weren't too badly affected.
 
Vaccination mandates have caused some problems, not least because he has some immuno-compromised staff. One anti-vaxxer in particular proved difficult. With careful thought and legal advice John found a solution.
 
Errol Tong
Errol has run his factory for many years and has largely Asian and Polynesian staff. He owns his factory so his overheads were not as high as they could have been. The government subsidy helped and, under the circumstances,  his staff were happy to receive 80% of their normal wages during that period. 
 
He had no problems with anti-vaxxers and his online business flourished.
 
Brian Lummis
Brian's business, Chalet Caterers, has been operating for over 50 years and mercifully has resilience. The business was hit hard by the first, sudden lockdown when they were suddenly closed down for six weeks with a great deal of perishable stock on their hands. Some stock could be frozen but much was ruined. Although the business was closed, Brian or someone else had to come in every day to ensure all the freezers were working. After six weeks things improved, but after the August 2021 lockdown the government was less helpful with subsidies and business was very quiet, including over the Christmas period. Although catering for some functions still took place, statutory limits on the number of attendees and the fact that many people were just cautious meant the business was struggling. 
 
2021 was a very tough year but his business survived. Now, with the traffic light system in place there is more confusion about the rules than before.
 
John Mathews
The Real Estate sector has not been too badly affected because of booming prices and that the fact that there's always a segment of the population that has to move houses no matter what.
 
The industry had to adapt how it operates. Most agents now work from home and his firm has divided 30 agents into two teams that co-operate and co-ordinate their work so that there is always someone available. At times, inspections and sales had to be carried out by Zoom, as were team meetings. At level three, buyers could not physically visit houses, and at level two vendors had the right to refuse to have unvaccinated people in their homes.
 
John thinks that the Real Estate industry has also been indirectly affected as the economy is slowing down.  Agents are contractors, not employees, so their earnings will suffer. He noted that the slow-down is aggravated by world-wide transportation difficulties as many ports and delivery companies are adversely affected by absences due to Covid-19 sickness and quarantining of many workers.
 
Member, Robin Aitken commented that freight across the world had increased drastically, some by up to 800%, and that ships at some ports in Australia were  waiting up to 47 days to get a birth.
 
There was consensus at Monday evening's meeting that 2022 was going to be a difficult year.
 
(Can you spot the error? The first person to contact David Gledhill with the correct answer will receive a drink of their choice! )
 

General Notices:

* Sergeant's Session -  $108.40 & vegetable sales $12.00

 

* Postponed Events
 
  • The golf tournament with Te Omanga Hospice 
  • The walk for mental health
  • The pink ribbon breakfast 
 

 

Speakers
Apr 11, 2022
"Council of Legislation" and "Antarctic Travels"

Host: John Cole

View entire list
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Committees Meet
Apr 04, 2022
 
Monthly Brunch Meeting
Boulcott Golf Course
Apr 07, 2022
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
Apr 11, 2022
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
 
Riverbank maintenance/planting
Apr 30, 2022
 
View entire list
Various Rotary Links
New Satellite Group?
7 Reasons Young (and Young-ish) People Should Join Rotary
ClubRunner
How to Log-in
Rotary in General
District 9940 Website
Activity & Training Programmes
Important Rotary Documents
General Info
Risk Management Document
Civil Defence site
Subscribe to Bulletin
Subscribe to our eBulletin and stay up to date on the latest news and events.
Bulletin Editor
Gwen Hoople

The Power of Positivity

Parting Thought
 
“Don't try to be the best, just try to do your best.” - Tony Cornelius
 
 
Rostered Duties & Responsibilities:
 
Please study and plan ahead, especially if you are on duty to write a Bulletin Contribution.  A reminder that it's also your responsibility to find a replacement if you are unable to fulfill your duty
 
 
Eastern Hutt Rotary e-Bulletin
     We meet at Avalon Pavilion, Taita Drive entrance, Mondays, at 5:55 pm 
 
Visitors and prospective members always welcome.  
For catering purposes, contact our Secretary (027) 241 5092