MARION JOHNSTON
DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2018-19
Rotary Club of Wanganui North
Kia Ora Ano
I hope you all had a good break over the Christmas/New Year period and that you have returned to your clubs re-invigorated and ready to take on more service to your communities in the second half of our Rotary year. With Waitangi Day celebrated this month, it is timely that our Rotary theme for February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution.
Before we can have peace, we need understanding - no more so than in our own country today, when we are struggling with the ongoing implications for us all of the Treaty of Waitangi. Let’s use the Rotary theme for February as an opportunity to further our own understanding of the culture that is unique to our country, to celebrate our shared history, and to look forward to a future where respect and understanding define our actions.
Interacting with young people has been a feature of District activity over the past month. Our absolutely amazing RYLA programme reached another 3 Inspirational young people in January. On behalf of the District, I would like to express my gratitude to the Rotary Club of Hutt City who have managed RYLA om our behalf for the past 3 years. And our thanks also go to the Rotary Club of Hutt Valley who have taken on the job for the next 3 years. Rotarians will appreciate that a huge amount of behind-the-scenes planning and hard work goes into preparing a programme like RYLA, and once again the results were obvious from the parting thoughts that the attendees shared with everyone who was present at the closing session in Silverstream. I sincerely hope that sponsoring clubs keep in touch with their RYLA alumni – these fabulous young people have had a life-changing experience thanks to Rotary – invite them along to tell you about that experience, but also include them in projects that you are planning and delivering – they want to make a difference!
In District 9940 we have 2 Rotaract Clubs – Wellington and Massey. We are talking with Rotaractors at present to work out a strategy for ensuring closer involvement with, and better support from their sponsoring clubs and cluster clubs. RI President Barry Rassin is passionate about Rotaract and sees these clubs as the developers of our Rotarians of the future. RI President-Elect Mark Maloney delivered.
the same message to our incoming District Governor John Mohi in San Diego last month. Again, invite Rotaractors to be part of the planning and delivery of your projects – they have energy, vision and much, much more to offer your club!
We have many Interact clubs now established in secondary schools around the District, and I know there are more in the pipeline. Engage with these young service-minded people as well. They’re probably not going to be very keen to sit in a weekly dinner meeting, but invite them to help with a project, invite them to tell you where they see a community need and partner with them to develop a project to meet that need.
Let’s not just coast down to 30 June – we need to be effective and engaged in our Rotary work right down to the day when we hand the baton to the next group of leaders and continue the amazing work I see o around our District every day. I have very nearly finished my ‘official’ club visits. I look forward to meeting the remainder of you over the next couple of weeks, and I also look forward to being invited to you special projects, events and celebrations.
Finally – registrations are open for our District Conference in Wanganui over the weekend of 17-19 May. Earlybird pricing is available until the end of this month – a very reasonable $200 per person – and there are special rates for Rotaractors and students. Go to https://rotary9940.org/page/conference2019 for full details and I’ll see you there!
Marion
1 ONETERE DRIVE
PUTIKI
WHANGANUI
PHONE:
06 345 2430 home 027 245 9933 mobile
EMAIL:
marion@holdaways.co.nz