January is a month when many Rotarians are on holiday enjoying their ‘summer’ holidays. Many Rotary Clubs do not start meeting again until the second or even third week in January. This makes it difficult for us in the Southern Hemisphere to focus on the Rotary theme for that month, which is Vocational Service.
One of the great strengths of Rotary is that we bring people together from different occupations/vocations and backgrounds.
In 2017-18, we’ll answer the question “What is Rotary?” with RI President-elect Ian H.S. Riseley’s theme, Rotary: Making a Difference. “Whether we’re building a new playground or a new school, improving medical care or sanitation, training conflict mediators or midwives, we know that the work we do will change people’s lives — in ways large and small — for the better.”
DGE Mitchell Brown - 5.2.GO - "Go WILD about Rotary!"
"An amazing experience", would be the words I would use to summarise the training and development of 540 District Governors Elect from 200 countries from throughout the world, that is the Rotary International Assembly 2017 held in San Diego, USA.
Fiona and I joined our compatriot DGsE and their partners from the other five New Zealand and Pacific Islands Rotary Districts for an intensive week of training, fellowship and preparation for the coming Rotary year - 2017/18.
Whew! ..... and now the planning and confirmation of our District and Club leadership happens in earnest. This was kicked off in San Diego with the announcement from RI President Elect Ian Riseley of the Rotary International theme for the 2017/18 - "Making a Difference".
This will be central to how our Rotary District leadership supports our 55 Rotary Clubs, as well as our Rotaract and Interact Clubs for the coming year.
We are pleased to announce that RYPEN will take place this year over the weekend of 19 - 21 May at the Vertical Horizon Centre at Tarata near Inglewood, under the management of Inglewood Rotary.
The Rotary Club of Taihape is to be congratulated for their running of RYPEN over the past 25 years and building RYPEN into a programme that is highly valued by our young people and our Rotary Clubs. We are grateful to Taihape Rotary for being involved in the decision-making for the next Club to run RYPEN and for ensuring a smooth transition, with special thanks to Jan and the late Bill Byford. Just as we were finalising this Newsletter the sad news arrived that Bill Byford, PHF and Sapphire pin, passed away on 26 January. Bill was the face of RYPEN as its dedicated leader for well over a decade. An obituary will follow in a future communication.
We are close to eradicating a human disease for only the second time in history. A global public-private partnership has reduced the poliovirus caseload by 99.9% over the last 30 years, but there’s still plenty of work to do.
Even before we reach that milestone, the knowledge and infrastructure built to fight polio is being repurposed to take on other global challenges.
What does 'service above self’ mean for you as a member of rotary? What does 'vocation' mean? Is Rotary’s 'four-way test' applicable for your work and community involvement?
I’ve been thinking about these mottos as part of developing projects to mark the centennial of Rotary in New Zealand in 2021. The Rotary Club of Wellington, which meets on Monday lunchtimes, was started in June 1921 and is New Zealand’s oldest club, a week older than Auckland! Researching the club’s archives and histories of the Chicago based Rotary movement and foundation has highlighted the central role of mission and values for this large international network.
Whilst everyone was in holiday mode in December/January the Rotary District 9940 Youth Exchange Outbound students were packing either to return home, or to depart NZ on their overseas experience.
Early January is when all the changeovers happen and I have to take my hat off to our Travel Agent, Roger Miller in Tauranga who has to coordinate the comings and goings of all NZ Rotary exchange students. Imagine the influx of questions about luggage allowances, visas, flights, host families, uniforms and general travel details that Roger has to manage along with the usual stresses of the festive and holiday season.
The second week of January was also a busy time for the committee, mentors and families.
As it happens, Emma is a twin and her brother Patrick is the younger by some minutes. Emma is interested in languages and is taking Spanish this year and Business Studies. Outside College she is a keen hockey and tennis player.
She is also an avid reader.
River City Press usually selects an individual or sometimes a couple for the ‘River City Press Person of the Year Award for outstanding contributions to Wanganui.’
For 2016 we have instead selected a group of people – the Rotary Club of Wanganui North – for the award. Their range of community activities benefitting not only charitable causes in Whanganui but also individuals, especially the youth, make them a most worthy recipient.
The 2018 Rotary Peace Fellowship application is now available! Our new online application will streamline the submission and review process and help districts manage the increasing number of Rotary Peace Fellowship applications.
For Club Secretaries - update to club executives for the 2017-18 year.
From: Richard Stephen: District ICT Chair and Webmaster.
Very soon - if not already - RI will be reminding clubs to update their incoming club executives for next year.
This is MY reminder that you should do the updates in ClubRunner on the district website. This activity will be automatically synchronised back to RI for you - but not the reverse direction.
If you are a new secretary that did not do the initial member integration and synchronisation work, please call me to arrange your login id and a session on what to do - its VERY simple - and the member of your club who did the original integration work can also help you
Nominations are sought from Clubs for District Governor Nominee 9940 for 2019-2020.
Nominees must have been a Club President.
Dates and details of a nominee’s service at Club and at District level must be received by District Advisory Committee Secretary PDG Tony Fryer nafryer@xtra.co.nz no later than 15 March 2017.
before, during and after the conference - organised by Rotary Clubs of Taranaki.
These are to be pre-booked, and if required, pre-paid.
Bookings will be accepted up to one week before the conference , that is up to Friday, 14th of April.
Where payment is required a small booking fee will be levied by the on-line company “Eventbrite”.
In those cases where "Register Now" only is required no fee will be payable.
Questions about the programme may be addressed by e-mail to Michael Archer at "archermichael@xtra.co.nz".
ANZAC Day 2017 will be on Tuesday, 25th April. Delegates are encouraged to stay an extra night and to use the Monday, the 24th, as an additional day during which further to experience and explore Taranaki.
So far, 18 Rotarians/partners from our District have registered for the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta which runs from 10 to 14 June 2017. We would welcome others joining us. Denise and I have just ordered our Atlanta convention polo shirts from RDU Supplies. They have a range of other goods you may also wish to purchase. http://rdusupplies.com.au/
The Club still has 140 places available for the 2017 summer season on a variety of trips as listed below. Come join those who have already booked, to have your own wonderful time in the amazing outdoors of Otago/Southland. Have a look at the website http://www.otagorotarytrusttramps.org.nz for more information and to book online. Even if a trip is fully booked cancellations do occur so keep checking back to the website. NB The Central Otago Rail Trail has been added to the trip list.
As it happens, Emma is a twin and her brother Patrick is the younger by some minutes. Emma is interested in languages and is taking Spanish this year and Business Studies. Outside College she is a keen hockey and tennis player. 
Dear Rotarian,
Celebrate with us in Atlanta! 
The Club still has 140 places available for the 2017 summer season on a variety of trips as listed below. Come join those who have already booked, to have your own wonderful time in the amazing outdoors of Otago/Southland. Have a look at the website