I am now halfway through my Rotary year and I am reminded of how our organisation keeps on keeping on in an impressive fashion. For example this month District Governor Elect Gillian Jones with partner Kevin Prestney left for San Diego on Wednesday 15 January for the Rotary international Assembly where they will meet with DGEs from around the world for training in setting us up for 2020-21.
At the Zone level the devastating bush fires in Australia have taken the Rotary Australia drought relief activities to a new level. RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) is leading this response.
Photo of the beautiful Keruru in flight - Lane Mohi
Rotary extends warmest congratulations to four outstanding New Zealanders who have made the New Year Honours List in 2020.
Heading that list is new Knight Companion, Sir Robert Martin, an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Whanganui Daybreak, for services to people with disabilities. Bob Martin is currently serving a three year term as an independent expert on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2018 he became the first person with an intellectual disability to chair a UN session.
Please read the newspaper article that highlights the outstanding contribution that Sir Robert Martin has made to those with dsiabilities, in read more.
John McKinnon, a long serving, now retired diplomat for New Zealand, and a former Ambassador to Beijing, has been honoured with a CNZM in the New Year Honours for services to New Zealand-China relations. John is a member of the Rotary Club of Wellington.
Dr George Mason, a member of the Rotary Club of New Plymouth West, has received the ONZM for services to conservation, philanthropy, and the community.
Sister Catherine Hannan, a past President of the Rotary Club of Wellington South, has received a QSM for services to the community. Sister Catherine has given extensive compassionate service to the needy in Wellington.
Please read the congratulatory article about Sister Catherine Hannan in read more - written by the Sisters of Compassion .
Members of the Rotary Club of Wellington South and Rotary friends in District 9940, are mourning the passing of Peter Denee, aged 70, after a short battle with brain cancer. Peter was a prominent lawyer in Newtown, Wellington, and gave great leadership to Rotary projects and the communities served by the Club over many years. He was President of the Wellington South Club in 1995-96 and again in 2009-10 and a Paul Harris Fellow with a double sapphire. Peter’s second sapphire was awarded posthumously at his funeral service at the Silverstream Retreat in the Hutt on 11 December which was well attended by Rotarians and friends from a wide range of community groups that Peter belonged to. Peter was well known in music circles in Wellington both as a composer and as a top guitar player. The President of the Rotary Club of Wellington North, Lionel Nunns, officiated at Peter’s service.
The Rotary world also acknowledges the sad passing of John Young after a long illness. John was President of the Rotary Club of Wellington North in 2009-10. He and his wife Sue moved to Auckland several years ago.
Long standing member of the former Rotary Club of Wellington Central, Peter Vernon, has passed away in Wellington aged 92. Peter was formerly General Manager of the Wellington MED. PDG Dexter Bambery says Peter Vernon was a good attender of the monthly lunches which former Wellington Central members still enjoy today.
Rotary extends its deepest sympathy to the families of Peter Denee, John Young and Peter Vernon.
January is a busy time of the year for Rotary Youth Exchange. It is when the NZ students return and a new group take off on the year long exchange in a new country. Wellington and PN airports become familiar places for the D9940 RYE committee and student parents and mentors.
We welcomed back Kelly (Germany), Daisy (Sweden), Jordyn (Canada), Oscar (Chile), Annie (Chile), & Nadya (France) and farewelled Maia (Spain), Hila (Finland, Jess (Germany), Genevieve (Japan) and Theo (Netherlands).
Photos # 1 -> 5:
Jess, Hila and Maia with their families at PN Airport.
Jess Maia and Hila at the departure gate PN Airport.
We have three teardrop banners and over this last year they seem to have been misplaced. Not sure what has happened to them but maybe they could have been loaned to another club at some stage. If anyone knows where they are please contact Lyal Brenton of Takaro Rotary.
Many have been affected by the destructive bush fires in Australia, including Rotarians' families, friends and communities. We can help by donating through Rotary NZ World Community Service which will identify community needs where Rotary can give a hand. Stuart James BattyNick Hurley
Our Rotary District 9940 is launching a new Facebook page for a public audience within the next fortnight and will be changing the existing Facebook group to a closed group for interaction between Rotarians.
What is the difference between a Facebook page and a closed group?
A Facebook page is a public profile page—such as a profile for a brand, organization, or website. Its purpose is to connect with an audience. Readers can interact with the posts. Analytics and publishing tools enable us to see when our audience is most active, post engagements, scheduling and advertising. We can’t see the details of individuals following our page.
A Facebook group is a community-based feature that gathers people with the same interests to discuss topics and share knowledge. For example, Rotarians sharing information with each other. With a closed group, people can answer questions and respond which aren’t broadcast in public across friends’ newsfeeds. Only members of the closed group can see the Group’s posts.
Feilding Rotary received a letter of thanks from a local primary school (Manchester Street School) that is benefiting from its Rotary club sponsorship, and a matching district grant, for purchase of the Edison robotics kit.
A little boy is born in Bangladesh. He is only 36 hours old – and not yet named – when he is taken to Dr Tanveer Ahmed, a plastic surgeon at Dhaka Community Hospital. The baby was born with amniotic band syndrome in all four of his little limbs. This condition caused auto amputation of some of his fingers and toes, and a clubbed left foot. Thanks to Interplast supporters, Tanveer and his local surgical team was able to give baby Tanveer the complex surgery he needed to grow into a healthy, active child.
There are many other ways you can get involved and support Interplast. Have you considered hosting A Place at our Table event? Or could you donate in lieu of gifts from your birthday, or any celebration, to help Interplast? Or maybe you have your own, unique way of supporting Interplast, such as the Rotary Club of Torquay’s kissing booth at their annual motor show? Each year, this incredible Rotary club organises a fun family day out to raise money for charities, including Interplast.
Check out our website for more ways to get involved.
“Would your Rotary Club be interested in learning more about the good works that our NZ Surgical College (RACS- Royal Australasian College of Surgery) has been doing in partnership with Rotary since 1986?"
Bookmark the website on your computer now and you will see more over time as we add to the information. Look out for the highlight promotions that will appear regularly.
Registrations for the conference (15 - 17 May 2020) open in early February 2020.
The conference is our annual opportunity to share information, have fun and to connect with Rotary people from around the District and across the world. The conference programme is being built around local and international leaders engaging with you, as well as you engaging with each other – Interactors, Rotaractors, Rotarians, friends and our guests.
Book a date with the RNZ Airforce Jazz Orchestra for our conference dinner dance. As a club, start creating your club’s theme for the dance night. Be creative and dress to impress. Come as a group, come as a team and come and have fun.It promises to be a fabulous night.
Conference 2020 #TOGETHER WE CONNECT #TĀTOU TĀTOU E
The Conference website is LIVE and ready for you to check out – click here or paste this URL in your browser: https://rotary9940.org/page/conference2020.The website is the main source of information for you for the conference.
That’s where you’ll find:
The all-important dates:Friday 15th May – Sunday 17th May
RI President Maloney’s personal message to the District, wishing us well for the conference
Info on the conference committee so you can say hello when you come to conference
Info on the venue, accommodation options* and activities in the Hutt Valley
Info on our programme and our fabulous speakers
**Registration, when it goes live in February Sponsors’ logos – if you would like your logo there too, contact Tony McCombs (tony@compasslife.co.nz)
Take a moment to look at your club Facebook page, your webpages and any printed promotional material advertising your club.
Does it look like the 2019 model ?
If not please update it as it is really important that we are sending consistent messages and our Rotary brand out to the public on everything we do. There is strength in our brand use it well.
I hope everyone had a very special time with family & friends over Christmas and the New Year.
February is Peace and Conflict Resolution Month. How very relevant to the atrocities that are happening in today's world. I would really appreciate contributions from those involved in Peace and Conflict resolution projects.
Final date for the February Bulletin will be Sunday 9/2 All stories need to be as a word document and kept to a maximum of two pages.
Kia ora koutou katoa
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Dr George Mason.jpg)
Long standing member of the former Rotary Club of Wellington Central, Peter Vernon, has passed away in Wellington aged 92. Peter was formerly General Manager of the Wellington MED. PDG Dexter
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cember 2019, we launched our District 9940 .jpg)
RYDA - Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Programme - is on the road again for 2020!!
Take a moment to look at your club Facebook page, your webpages and any printed promotional material advertising your club.