Apologies for no District Dispatch last week, but Brent, DGN Chris and I were at the Zone 8 conference in the Gold Coast. Brent and Chris went earlier for DG training, and I went to the scheduled DG forum.
We all got to meet Secretary General John Hewko and his wife. John has indicated that the “pilot” will continue, probably until 2028. Hopefully we can make some positive changes along the way. He also told us that both our pilot and the one in the UK and Ireland are having similar results so far, i.e no huge increase in numbers but the slide has slowed. One of the most important points is membership retention. We lose 66% of new members within the first 2 years of joining. We have to look at our clubs and see if they are welcoming; do they have a mentoring programme, are new members engaged, etc. If they are not happy at your club, they might find another club that suits their needs better or start a new club (satellite or E club) with a group of like-minded people. This might be built around a project that your club helps finance.
We also met with RI President Elect Olayinka Babalola (known as Yinka) from Nigeria. He joined Rotary at a very young age, having been in Rotaract previously. He will be an interesting RI President.
There were the usual array of Rotary speakers talking about their projects. The speaker that stood out for me was Michael McQueen, a Change Strategist, Author and Rotarian who gave a talk about how we need to rethink how we think. He is a fascinating speaker. I heard him many years ago at another Institute meeting in Brisbane. His latest book is called Mindstuck about Mastering the Art of Changing Minds. It was worth going to the conference just to hear him.
Before I went to Australia, I had a busy time at various clubs and events, including talking to Petone cub and friends about Polio and representing Rotary at the 90th celebrations for CCS Disability Services in Palmerston North (originally set up in Timaru as the Crippled Children’s Society by Rotary). This was a joyful event, and I felt very privileged to be the speaker.
I attended the Kapit Charter Night, a fun event. This week includes a visit to Plimmerton Club’s prizegiving for their Garden tours, a visit to the Hutt Valley club and a gala event at Government House for the 20th anniversary of Shelter Box. All my fellow kiwi DGs and guests from all around the country will be there. Unfortunately, the Governor General cannot be present, but we are so lucky to have our own Sir Anand Satyanand as host in her place.
Thank you all for your hard work you do in your clubs. I feel very positive about how the District clubs are working together. It is starting to show as clubs are increasing membership and supporting each other’s projects. On that note, Karori club has joined with Wellington North. This was not an easy decision, but both clubs worked very hard to make it happen. It was certainly a practical decision and great for the District that we have not lost valuable members. Good luck to the new entity.
A special thank you to all the clubs that have contributed to the Wellington Rotary Children’s Health Trust project for Life Flight. So far over $113,000 has been raised towards fitting out the planes to make them suitable for our conditions, including hydraulic arms and extra seating in the planes for whanau. We are still working on this project as we pledged $330,000 in total, so we are a third of the way year. Please don’t forget Life Flight. They do such wonderful and literally lifesaving work.
A quick but important reminder that we need clubs to register for our upcoming Special AGM to approve the new Constitution on Sunday, 14 December at 4pm on Zoom.
Achieving a quorum is essential, and we’re getting close to the deadline — so if your club hasn’t registered yet, please do so.
As we near the end of the year, it’s time for the final round of orders for Usborne Dictionaries and Rhyming Around the Alphabet books. Thank you to everyone ongoing support — it’s greatly appreciated.
To ensure books arrive before schools close for the year, please have your orders and payments in by Friday, 14th November. This schedule will allow for quick distribution to Wanganui and Wellington ahead of the summer break.
Of course, you’re also welcome to place orders now for the New Year school start — and another order round will come out in February next year for those who prefer to wait.
Now is a good time to review your contribution to The Rotary Foundation. It is MY charity of choice and takes a major share of my charitable support. Yes, my wife and I do support other charities.
I would hope that The Rotary Foundation has a high position in your personal charity budget. Most of our Rotary Clubs support the Foundation. (And if ‘most’ does not equal ALL then it should.) Many individual Rotarians support the Foundation and YOU also can (I’d like to say should but you’d scold me) support the Foundation with your personal contributions. How many of you are a Centurion member? At $US100 ($NZ170) per year, it’s not even a long black coffee per week.
However, I would like to see more of you considering the Paul Harris Society as your annual gift to The Rotary Foundation. At $US1000 ($NZ1700) it is less than a meal out each week for one.
And don’t forget, you all get a 33% tax refund on your charitable donations.
November is The Rotary Foundation month. It is time to review your charitable budget.
Place The Rotary Foundation higher up in your budget.
It is that time of year again. The South Pacific Cyclone Season officially commenced on 1 November 2025 through to 30 April 2026.
NIWA Prediction: Five to nine named TCs could occur in the Southwest Pacific from November 2025 - April 2026.
Rotary Emergency Response Kits are prepositioned in 5 countries for immediate response for when the needs arises.
The project started in New Zealand (Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt) 42 years ago in 1983. Thanks to all who make a difference for people when at their most vulnerable.
Founded in 1985 by three Tawa Rotarians with a shared love of caravanning, the Rotary District 9940 Caravan Club has spent nearly four decades bringing members together for fun, fellowship, and regular rallies.
This November marks the club’s 40th anniversary, to be celebrated in Carterton with a weekend of catchups, meals, and a possible winery visit.
Accountability and transparency have earned The Rotary Foundation11 straight years of four-star ratings — the highest possible — from independent evaluator Charity Navigator. Ninety-two percent of Foundation funds are spent directly on programs.
Impact: Rotary partners with other organizations to increase our impact and make your donations work even harder. When you give to PolioPlus, for example, you have the satisfaction of knowing that every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication is matched by $2 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A record of success: Rotary unites leaders who have the skills and resources to tackle some of the world’s most difficult problems and deliver sustainable, long-lasting results. For decades, Rotary has been a leader in the battle against polio and has caused cases to plummet from 350,000 in 1988 to only a handful this year
Global reach: Our 1.2 million members span the globe, uniting people who have a common desire to serve others. From teaching children to read in Ecuador to a microcredit program in Indonesia, Rotary members identify local problems and use Rotary’s vast network and the resources of The Rotary Foundation to take action in their communities.
Local Impact: Half of everything you contribute to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund comes back to YOUR home district. At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund(DDF). Districts can use the DDF to pay for Foundation, club, and district projects that your club and others in the district choose.
Life Flight Trust and Rotary District 9940 Regional Children's Health Trust
Thanks to the significant number of Clubs that have contributed either via the Children's Health Trust or directly to the Life Flight Trust.
Our total donated is just over $113,000!!
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Life Flight Trust and the critical service that they provide across New Zealand does not lessen. Life Flight Trust extend their thanks to our district for the continuing support and contributions to help with purchasing vital lifting equipment.
Shelterbag Project - a Nationwide response by Rotary to rough sleeping homeless
Urgent Funding Needed!
The Shelterbag Project is a powerful Rotary initiative addressing the growing issue of rough sleeping and homelessness.
The story began in Adelaide, where a local Rotary club identified Shelterbags as a practical way to provide warmth, comfort, and dignity to those sleeping rough. Their success quickly inspired other clubs across Australia, turning a local effort into a nationwide movement.
You can read the original story in the June 2024 edition of Rotary Down Under: Shelterbags for the Homeless in South Australia. To date, more than 2,900 Shelterbags have been distributed across Australia.
Now, Rotary aims to replicate this successful project in New Zealand, working with existing social agencies to deliver Shelterbags free of charge to people living on the streets.
This compassionate effort will help “Provide Comfort and Dignity for the Homeless Rough Sleepers in New Zealand.”
We need to order some minimum numbers now and then again later in November…hit ‘Read more’ for details…
We all have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of young people who are in our care, as well as protect and preserve the good name of Rotary. The NZ Government “Pastoral Care Code of Practice” is a statutory requirement whereby those responsible for the care of young people must be vetted through the Police vetting procedure.
The purpose of vetting is to minimise the likelihood of the more vulnerable members of society being put at risk by individuals who have displayed behaviour that could be detrimental to others safety and well being.
The process requires the Police “Consent/Request and Vetting Form” to be completed by any person over the age of 18 years, who is in a live in environment with any person under the age of 18 years. The most obvious examples are the RYPEN weekend camp or IYM.
Each club president and district chair has the responsibility for ensuring that the completed “Consent/Request and Vetting Form” together with the “Youth Volunteer Declaration” (in the case of RYE) is forwarded to the designated person on the district committee for collating and forwarding to the District Youth Protection Officer.
Linda Wellington, our current Youth Protection Officer will be retiring the position to take on the District Secretary role in July 2026. We welcome invitations from members who would like to help in this very important space.
District Secretary (July 2026…)
Would you like to play a key role in communication within our district - disseminating key information to clubs and members, providing governance, administrative and logistical support for the District Governor and other district committees?
Keeping accurate records of district activities, key membership information, and other relevant data.
This is a highly valued role which together with the 9940 District Board, provides the appropriate level of governance for our District management team. Bring your high-level management expertise into this role or use it as a steppingstone to Board level management.
rders for Usborne Dictionaries and Rhyming Around the Alphabet books. Thank you to everyone ongoing support — it’s greatly appreciated.
