Its now February 2018 and the publishing of our first edition of our District Bulletin of the new year and our opportunity to Go WILD About Rotary in 2018 !!
In this edition of our District Bulletin, once again masterfully put together by our Editor in Chief Adrienne Murray, I want to reflect on the last 6 months and see what we have achieved in our Rotary District and where we are heading for the next 6 months as we head towards the new Rotary Year. District Governor Elect Marion Johnston will take over the District Governor chains and a Rotary ride of a lifetime leading our District for the 2018/19 Rotary Year - "Be the Inspiration!"
But FIRST a Big Announcement!!
It gives me the greatest of pleasure to advise that our Rotary District will host an amazing Rotarian and our great Aussie mate, Rotary International President Ian Riseley.
RI President Ian will be in New Zealand for our Presidents Elect training weekend at Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland. Our District Presidents Elect will enjoy a great weekend of networking with Rotary peers, training, development and learning for their incoming role of Club President with the unique opportunity to hear from and experience first hand the inspirational leadership of our Rotary International President Ian Riseley.
Gosh, February already and many of you will have attended your first Rotary meeting for 2018. I know I have, and it always good to catch up with other Rotarians and hear what they did over the summer break. It is a good time to share the highlights and events that we attended. The challenge all Clubs have, is to share more good stories of Rotary in Action.
Think back to December and look at all the events and projects you did and ask the question – who knew about it? How many invites did you send out asking people to come and join us, to help run those fantastic projects? You never know, but those people you ask for help on your project night, might even like us and want to join Rotary!
Marion is our District Governor Elect and is in the last six months of her preparation for her year as DG.
Marion and her husband Mike have just returned from the International Assembly in San Diego
ROTARY – SHARE IT!
Barry Rassin, RI President-Elect shared his theme for 2018-19 at International Assembly in San Diego recently
‘BE THE INSPIRATION’ is a superb choice for Rotary and Rotarians everywhere – we can all apply this to our personal lives, our families, our workplaces and our communities locally and internationally.
Barry and Esther impressed us with their warmth and their likeable personalities – they are very ‘real’ and following on from the relaxed and engaging style of current RI President Ian Riseley and Juliet, they will present a relevant, 21st century face of Rotary to the world
During World Polio day in October a number of clubs in the District had various Polio Fundraisers and others have had events since.
For those clubs than haven’t forwarded funds to the District “Polio Plus” could they please do this at their earliest so we have an up to-date picture of District funds for this Rotary year.
Would clubs that have not given to Polio please consider this as the end of time for Fundraisers as the finish line is near, BUT funds are still required to ensure this happens.
Remember all funds qualify for the 2:1 Gate Foundation subsidy.
43 participants from all over the district aged between 18 and 24 attended District 9940 RYLA last week. It was held at Silverstream Retreat from 24 to 28 January and hosted by the Rotary Club of Hutt City.
At the end of the programme the participants select one of their own that best embodies the culture and values of their RYLA experience. This year they selected Tom Hutton as their 2018 RYLA representative.
The students are on their way to different places around the world
. Our NZ Outbound students have just left for their year overseas and have arrived safely in their destination countries. Also thanks to our stalwart committee member Russell Cameron and his partner Alison who are also winging their way to South America as Chaperones for the five students from other NZ Districts.
From our own District seven students have gone overseas
Tori Guy from Taihape (Taihape Club) has gone to France
Zara Mulcahy from Bunnythorpe (Takaro Club) has gone to Taiwan (a first for NZ)
Zora Conroy-Chelius (MIlson Club) from Ashhurst has gone to France
Regan Coulter from Paraparaumu (Kapiti Club) has gone to Austria
Tazman Cherian from Wellington (HUtt City Club) has gone to Spain (also a first for NZ)
Phillip McFadzean from Masterton(South Masterton Club) has gone to Italy
Rosie Darrah from Porirua (Plimmerton Club) has gone to Switzerland
Another very successful event for students from all districts. Go here for further information about the latest forum and dates for selection of students for 2019. Start talking to the schools soon about potential candidates for these much sought after places at the forum.
Isn’t it great to live in a country that is clean, green, safe, interesting and has wonderfully friendly people. Young people (16-18 yrs) around the world know this is a great country and want to spend 12 months here supported by Rotary.
This is why my email inbox is taking a hit at present due to the number of requests from overseas Districts that would like to place a Rotary Exchange Student in out District.
We would love to be able to take them all but we are limited by the number of host clubs that put their hands up.
Clubs need to have at least 2 host families, a mentor of the same gender, be able to contribute around $2,500 to the student by giving them a monthly allowance, catering for them at meetings and of course, ensure that their time in NZ is busy and they meet lots of people.
The payback for clubs is that students tend to inject a level of energy and enthusiasm to clubs and they are also a great way to attract new members. But the greatest benefit is seeing the personal growth that the students make - It is a truly fantastic experience and club members should not miss the opportunity!
The things the District Governor gets signed up to !! More information here
Fantastic to promote this amazing cause and would like to seek the sponsorship support of all of Rotary New Zealand and the Pacific Islands as well as all of Fire and Emergency New Zealand!
I am going to Go Wild About Diabetes - Awareness, Fund Raising and Promotion in New Zealand!!
In the words of our Prime Minister - "Lets Do This !!"
At his club visit to Rotary Carterton last night, DG Mitch was given the pleasure of inducting new Rotarian Rob Stockley who joins the club with the classification Electrician/Company Director. Rob and his wife Liz are pictured centre with president Vaughan and Christine Paul left and of course Fiona and DG Mitchell (right). Carterton Rotary now have two chopper pilots with Rob, like Vaughan, also being ex Air Force. Rob and Liz have a young family and Rob mentioned his desire of wanting to give back to the community in his short address following his induction. It was a great way for DG Mitch to kick off his first full on week of club visitsing in 2018 in the Wairarapa.
Clubs in the cluster are 'pumping' and a wee reminder South Wairarapa are holding their first of two Martinborough fairs this weekend.
Our District Website has the details for registration and accommodation that will get you to the Districts biggest event of the year - RotaFEST 18.
Book your Rotary event of the year - RotaFEST 18, where you will be able to GO Wild About Rotary !
PDG Glen Caves as our District Events Chair has lined up the program and activities that you will not want to miss with an outstanding weekend of Rotary information and fellowship, with great jazz music and international performing artists, great food and speakers. Lots to see and do from the Rotary opening of the WildBase Recovery Centre on Friday the 11th, culminating in our District Training Assembly on Sunday 13th May. The Saturday 12th May is a sandwich packed day of experiences, conference, festival and fellowship for all to enjoy.
President Mary Mason of South Wairarapa with AG John Stevenson and DG Mitch with Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Bill Butzbach and volunteers with their brand new community supported Incident Response vehicle.
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Educators is one of RI's newer fellowships. The website address is www.rotarianeducators.org. As you can see from the website, one does NOT have to be an educator or work in the field of education to be a member - just have a passion for or an interest in education. Membership is available for one year ($20 USD), three years ($50 USD), or a lifetime membership for $100 USD.
As you can see from the website, you can make payment by PayPal or by credit card.
Thank you in advance.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Charles Grant, Ph.D.
Chair
Note: International Fellowship of Rotarian Educators operates in compliance with Rotary International’s policies for Rotary Fellowships but it is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.
On Friday 2 March 2018, we’ll be celebrating the tenth anniversary of Jumbo Tennis with the support of our lead sponsor, Nonsuch Consulting, New Zealand’s premier Project, Programme and Portfolio Management company. Those of you who have participated in Jumbo Tennis before will be familiar with the tournament - a day out combining teambuilding, eating, drinking and loads of fun all while raising funds for good causes.
Nonsuch Consulting Jumbo Tennis is organised by the Rotary Club of Wellington, and the proceeds go to charity, namely the Wellington Children’s Hospital, the Akina Foundation, and Tennis Central.
Many of our teams are small to medium enterprises that see this as one of their key annual team-building days, at a fraction of the price of bringing in an external facilitator.
There will be a very wide selection of books covering over 30 different categories. The event has been part of the Rotary Club of Plimmerton’s annual activities for quite a number of years. When the doors are opened at 9am Saturday 17 March there will be a queue waiting to get to the books first (not quite a stampede)
The event provides a real opportunity to produce a financial contribution to a range of community projects based on donations from the public arena in the form of books. The income from the project is split equally between Life Education Trust, North Wellington, and Community projects in the Porirua area. Rotary has been an integral part of Life Education’s success both in providing ongoing help and financial support.