Update from DG Mitch Brown

One third of the 2017/18 Rotary year achieved and much achieved by many Rotarians who are Going Wild in our District to see Rotary:Make A Difference!

I have been enjoying Going Wild about Rotary in the month of October with a full program of District Governor Visits and more interesting and amazing District activities in District, over the internet with video conference meetings and a national workshop in Christchurch.

This month is Rotary Foundation Month and clubs are urged to start thinking about any projects for next year that you would like to secure district or global grants.  The RI website and our District website has very good clear information about working through the requirements of both, and of course Adrienne Murray our District Grants Chair (amconsultingnz@gmail.com) and Simon Manning our Rotary Foundation Chair  (Simon@funeral-link.co.nz) are happy to discuss any queries you may have.  We are looking at options to simplify the way in which clubs become qualified to apply for grants and will be back to you with some new options early in the new year.

We have started the process of coordinating and supporting our District Interact Clubs with the formation of an Interact Council. Interact members, sponsor Clubs and interested Rotarian's met by video conference from across the District. Discussion has led to the Interact Council forming to support the emerging Interact Clubs in a variety of High Schools and Colleges sponsored by Rotary Clubs across the District. This will culminate with up to 6 new Interact Clubs starting at the beginning of the school year. It is proposed to host a weekend Interact Council showcasing the various clubs and providing networking and experiences at the Kauwhatau Outdoor Centre near Taihape. This will occur in the first weekend of the school holidays between Term 1 and Term 2, 2018.

 

I had the opportunity to meet with the highly energetic members of the Whanganui Girls College - Shine Interact Club. With the assistance of the Whanganui Daybreak Club they have refurbished the cricket pavilion to provide a great meeting venue and will look forward to embarking on a full year of activities to support those on the Duke of Edinburgh Awards program with community service projects.

 

I have also proudly participated in the charter of the Interact Club of Waiopehu College, Levin on the first day of the 4th term of the year. I was joined by Waiopehu College Principal and Rotarian Mark Robinson along with President Derek Burns, Past President Barry Rollinson and District Interact Coordinator Marilyn Stevens. I hope this starts a flood gate of Interact Clubs connecting and forming across the District.

 

The Rotary Club of Awapuni have successfully achieved the Charter of Rotaract Club of Massey University. This will be formed with key members of the Awapuni Club and President Kevin having a charter meeting of the Club in the next month.

 

I proudly represented our District with a number of Rotarian's from our Clubs at the 2nd National Membership Workshop in Christchurch. With Zone Assistant Membership Coordinator Deb Gimblett, District Club Development and Membership Chair Tony Heyward, District Governor Nominee John Mohi and President Elect Prue from the Rotary Club of Kaukau the workshop was well informed with over 70 Rotarian's from all NZ and Pacific Islands Districts attending. The full suite of workshop presentations and information are available to download and view at the RotaryOceania.org website.

 

I was invited to be the Master of Ceremonies by the Rotary Club of Carterton for the Team Billy fundraising event at the Carterton Events Centre. With a packed auditorium, Billy Graham wowed the crowd with his story of life, its challenges, the special people he has met and the achievements he has made with troubled youth.  Turning lives around through courage, ethics, values and discipline in a gymnasium training environment. It is the hoped to have a similar gym located in the Wairarapa offering the same values and ethics to give youth an opportunity to create a bright future.

 

I was also pleased to see the Rotary Club of Wanganui North confirm the application to charter a Rotary Community Corp. President Graeme Prince and members of the Rotary Club of Wanganui North witnessed the confirmation of the charter forms and application signing at a ceremony before the District Governors club visit. Congratulations to the Rotary Community Corp, I look forward to following the development of this form of Rotary Service to the Community.

 

District Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee Chair Lynne Phillips invited me to attend the RIYE students on mass at Kauwhata Marae for the Powhiri to welcome on the parents and Rotarian's for the inbound and outbound RIYE students. With all 13 students gathered to undertake Maori cultural understanding, waiata, catching and preparation of eel, weaving and marae protocol were participated in by all over this extremely uplifting and powerful weekend. My thanks to the RIYE Committee for once again providing an outstanding experience for our young exchange students. I know PDG Rodney Wong and DGE Marion who took the students on to the Kauwhata Marae for the welcome, were greeted with much warmth and aroha. Special thanks to Matua Clint and Kuia Tania for their leadership and support of this RIYE program that has been held at Kauwhata Marae near Feilding for the last 13 years. (see the article by pictures further down in the bulletin)

 

A special Saturday morning at Henley Park in Masterton was had with the Rotary Club of Masterton's Breakfast in the Park fundraiser for Guide Dogs. Fiona and I had a great time meeting up with Rotarian's who made a great breakfast and hosted many fellow Rotarian's and guests to raise $1300. A great venue, a great idea and the opportunity to have fellowship in the park with a great view and fellowship. Additional funding for Guide Dog training and support for the Seeing Eye dogs was the great outcome of the day.

 

Later in the day the Rotary Club of Masterton also supported the Teddy Bears picnic. This of course gave me the prime opportunity to take Fiona and her "Ted E Bear" along with my "Ahi the Fire Bear" climbing his fire ladder to meet many more families and friends with their kids and their teddy bears. A great community event that was proudly supported by and promoted by the Rotary Club of Masterton. Well done to President Donna Laing and her team of vibrant and active Rotarian's who demonstrated just how to do good in the community and have great fun at the same time.

 

Congratulations and happy 40th Birthday to the Rotary Club of Kapiti. I was pleased to be welcomed by President Vince Indo and the gathered 85 Rotarian's, partners and friends of the club at the Ocean Side Community Centre for this celebration. RIYE Austrian student Emile, the youngest of our students at 15 years of age provided an amazingly passionate presentation of her home country.  She did herself proud.

 

A week later it was a Great Big Happy 90th Birthday to the Rotary Club of Dannevirke. President Dianna Mancer was joined by current, past and future Rotary Club members to go through nearly a century of service to the community. Over the evening we had a recount of the history of the Club, a cake cutting and presentation of certificates of commemoration, much memorabilia and history was also proudly on display. A fundraising auction was held to support Youth Programs at the end of the night with some $2000 raised. 

 

The vocational conference event for this month is "Work in Progress -- Wellington's New Collar Future", was held on Wednesday 8 November 2017 at the  St James Theatre, Wellington. District Vocation Chair Liz Koh has assisted to promote this event and our Rotary support with the opportunity for Rotarian's to attend the conference. Liz is also part of establishing Rotary support across the Manawatu, Horowhenua, Palmerston North and Tararua District with the Chamber of Commerce lead Talent Central group. This organisation is engaging the youth in a passport transition system that assists school leavers to acquire work place skills and essential information to promote their employability. More on this in the coming months.

 

Council on Legislation 

My thanks to PDG Graeme Blick,  our Council on Legislation representative, who has coordinated through our Rotary District 9940 Clubs the new Council on Legislation resolutions and information that we have sought feedback on. The District Bulletin provides updates on the various resolutions that we have asked Clubs to provide their input to.

 

If you haven't done so already, please confirm your booking in your diary and scratch out the weekend of May 11-13 May 2018 to attend the Rotary event of the year - RotaFEST 18- A Festival of Rotary! PDG Glen Caves as our District Events Chair is heading the committee that will deliver an outstanding weekend of Rotary information and fellowship, with great jazz music and international performing artists, great food and speakers. Coupled to the Rotary opening of the WildBase Recovery Centre on Friday the 11th and culminating in our District Training Assembly, the Saturday is a packed day of conference, festival and fellowship for all to enjoy. Soon you will be able to register and pre book accommodation, so look out for and keep an eye on your email and District Website.

 

See you at RotaFEST 18, where you will be able to GO Wild About Rotary !

 

E-mail fiona.mitch@xtra.co.nz

Phone 027 4822295