The Rotary vision statement begins with the words 'Together we see a world where people unite...' It is important that at this time we stand beside those Rotarians and community members who are affected by Friday's tragic events and offer whatever support we can
As Rotarians we hold core values of diversity, service, integrity, fellowship and leadership; in the ensuing days and weeks we need to demonstrate our commitment to those values
We will be listening to the needs of Christchurch as a whole and District 9970 in responding to the needs of the community. I am appealing to each Rotarian to look in your own communities and ask how you can support them in this time of need.
I have talked to John Driscoll and below is a message sent by him and from the Rotary Club of Riccarton who is most closely engaged with the communities on the ground.
Members attended the Hui this afternoon at Horouta Marae in Porirua with Plimmerton and Tawa Rotary Clubs, Porirua Multicultural Society, Mayor Mike Tana and our local Muslim community. There were moving tributes shared for all families affected with the tragic events that happened on Friday. Our clubs are encouraged to donate to the Riccarton, Christchurch Rotary account listed below
“Dear Fellow Rotarians,
I know you will all join me in utterly condemning the senseless and cruel events of Friday.
Rotary is about building communities, not tearing them down and we must act accordingly in our response to this attack.
Please join with me in supporting the appeal detailed below by the Presidents of the three clubs with areas most affected.
Rotary can and must demonstrate its primary purpose in the days ahead and always....doing good in the world.
John Driscoll
DG 9970
From the Club Presidents......
There are no words to sufficiently express the enormous sense of sadness and outrage regarding Friday's events and the immense impact this has had on the local Muslim communities in the areas of the Riccarton, Linwood-Woolston and Ferrymead clubs and on our wider community as a whole.
At an appropriate time in the near future we will seek to make contact directly with local leaders in the Muslim community to see how Rotarians can offer further support.
In the meantime, we can act now by making a significant donation to a Rotary fund that has been set up to support the victims of this devastating attack.
We are asking all clubs within our district to make a donation towards this fund, which will be made as a joint donation and message of support from all Rotarians in our district.
We also condemn in the strongest terms the base values and attitudes directed towards our migrant community who have just as many rights as we all do to live life free from violence and prejudice. Those values are a complete anathema to the values of Rotary.
Please support this appeal generously by sending donations to the account below.
Yours in Rotary
Shane Murdoch- President, Riccarton
Theresa Shaugnessy-President, Linwood/Woolston
Barbara Crooks- President, Ferrymead
The account number for the find being managed by the Riccarton club is:
03 0823 0350538 00
Reference: Mosque Appeal
From
From
Marion Johnston
Governor
District 9940