Last weekend our District 9940 Presidents-Elect were in Auckland to receive training in preparation for leading their clubs as part of DGE John Mohi’s 2019-20 team. We have a committed and future-focused group of incoming presidents who have returned to their clubs with the message that ‘Rotary Connects the World’ and with the determination to make that happen.
Mark Maloney’s ‘Rotary Connects the World’ theme will follow RI President Barry Rassin’s theme this year ‘Be the Inspiration’. To be an inspiration we need to be aware of how we are perceived as Rotarians and Rotary Clubs. If we are seen as an inclusive, relevant, dynamic organisation committed to creating lasting change, we will inspire others and make many opportunities to connect the world.
Waipuna Lodge in Auckland was abuzz with more than 300 Rotarians, partners and Rotaractors from throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands from 1-3 March 2019. Presidents Elect (PEs) from a substantial majority of clubs across Oceania were present. Friday was a District training day for 9940 and for French speaking PEs from the Pacific. Saturday and Sunday saw a welcoming mihi whakatau from Panama Road Primary School, international and thematic plenary speakers and breakout workshops for within district teams and across district groupings.
Saturday the 6th April has been designated as the Aotearoa/New Zealand Rotary National Day of Celebration of 30years for Women in Rotary. Our District 9940 planning team, lead by PDG Deb Gimblett, has a wonderful day of celebration planned in Wellington to recognise this significant milestone in the story of Rotary.
It will be great to see as many Rotarians, families and friends there - Let's Get Together for a great day out !!
There will be a coffee cart for your refreshment and music for your entertainment.
Please see the larger image of the poster in the read more section
This is a great opportunity to highlight women in your Clubs and Districts who have gone above and beyond the call of Service above Self. We are wanting to know those really special women and to thank them for being part of our Rotary family.
Why ?
Because Rotarian women make great role models and it will show the public that women have been in Rotary for 30 years. It will demonstrate that women have high profiles within Rotary and that we come from all walks of life. We already know that there are many women looking for ways to volunteer and we want Rotary to be the organisation they choose.
Timeframe
We have started - with the first person showcased in February 2019 in the Rotary Oceania Zone facebook page and hope to have so many women to highlight that we have enough to showcase up to 2 per week.
So get those cameras on your phones clicking, your members thinking, then send it to;
To celebrate 100 years of Rotary in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands in 2021, Dr Stephen Clarke, a professional historian, has been commissioned to research and write a landmark publication on Rotary in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, 1921–2021. Dr Clarke started work on the book in last year. The book will be part of a suite of activities under what is called the Mana Tangata Programme to celebrate the Centennial. The programme will be formally launched later in the year. Hamish Dick, who is a student at Victoria University, is working with Dr Clarke over the university holidays as a research assistant. Hamish would like to make contact with each of the Rotary Clubs in our Rotary District and, at this stage, is looking initially for the following information:
A reminder to Clubs to send details of your Club historian; details of the range of your Club’s historical records, photographs and special memorabilia; and details of your Club’s previous history publications (e.g. 50th, 75th anniversary) to research@rotaryoceania.zone Please copy our Public Image Chair Martin Garcia garcia.family@xtra.co.nz into the email so we are aware of which Clubs have replied. There has been a good response so far from our District’s Clubs to help our historian write a landmark publication on Rotary in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, 1921–2021. See the previous article at https://rotary9940.org/Stories/celebrating-the-centennial-of-rotary-mana-tangata
Past District Governor, Deb Gimblett, in her role as Chair of the District Nominating Committee is now calling for nominations for Governor of Rotary International District 9940 for the 2021-22 year. The nominated Rotarian will follow DG 2019-20 John Mohi, RC of Wellington North, and DG 2020-21 Gillian Jones RC of Wellington
Nominations should be sent to PDG Deb at deb.gimblett@gmail.com and must be received by 19 March 2019 for consideration
Even as we continue to pursue our projects and goals for the current year, we have to prepare our future leaders and clubs for the next Rotary year.
Our District Training chair PDG Mitchell Brown and his team have been preparing for several activities.
Please take the time to read his training update here.
You can also find it under the Training/Learning and Development section in the Rotarians area.
The following stories tell us about conferences and training opportunities outside our own clubs, District Conference "Light My Fire" in Wanganui through to the Hamburg Rotary International conference coming up soon
When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
How does Rotary make this Happen?
Through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, Rotary’s people of action mobilize resources, form partnerships, and invest in infrastructure and training that yield long-term change. ( R.I.)
By Clem van den Bersselaar, member of Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay (Philippines)
If you ask a Filipino living in a rural area of the Philippines where they go to the toilet, they will turn their head towards a non-specific direction and say “over there.” This means that they use any location that gives them some sort of privacy to do their needs. Women generally have to go longer distances to avoid prying eyes and avoid assaults. In fact, when one talks to local community health workers about the risks of open defecation, they tell you about parasitic and bacterial infections while also emphasizing the high percentage of women being molested or harassed.
Isn’t it great when we have publicity that shows what our Club stands for in our community? The Brand Center at MyRotary allows you to easily create your own Club brochure, print ads, Facebook posts, banners and posters.
You will need to sign in at https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-GB The posters on the walls of our training room at South Pacific Presidents-Elect training in Auckland in early March were made using the Brand Center resources.
If you visit the: Rotary International Design Hub: Imagery & Graphics There is a whole suite of images that can be used at the Rotary Digital FB page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1595163847383932/
The Rotary Club of Masterton South will be celebrating its 50th birthday in April, and the club is calling for expressions of interest in attending the celebration. The event is set to be held at Copthorne on April 30, where entertainment will be provided by the Rotary Singers.
To register your interest in attending the 50th anniversary celebrations, email Christine Brewster at magiebs@xtra.co.nz
RYLA is one of the highlights of the Rotary year. It is the most intensive program we run in the district with upwards of 40 young adults pushed to their extremes from 6.30am to 11pm every day for 5 days. We do this to maximise the time we have with them and the opportunities for growth. Everyone of these young people have been chosen by local Rotary clubs for their leadership potential. Often they are already doing amazing things in their communities, and this just cements their skills and develops their networks for success.RYLA was held in late January at Silverstream Retreat in Upper Hutt.
The Rotary International Friendship Exchange Programme gives Rotarians and their families the opportunity to experience other cultures first hand, by participating in reciprocal visits with Rotarians from other countries and their families.
Refugees regularly arrive in Wellington and they are settled in with the help of various government and community agencies. One of those is the Anglican Cathedral, and members of the RC of Port Nicholson and the Interact Club help the church in its work. “The Interactors help unload the supplies donated to the refugees, and club members stock the pantries for families when they first arrive," says the club’s organiser for this activity Dr Marc Rands, who is a member of the Cathedral congregation.
There is a group of club members whom we regularly ask to buy grocery items – generally dry goods and tinned food rather than fresh items like meat,” he says. The Church works with government agencies to provide a house, and to furnish it. The refugees arrive through the Red Cross and are from Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Palestinian, and Syria.
Three outstanding students who have each overcome significant adversity and disabilities in their lives have been honoured with Goal Setter awards by the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson this morning, (Thursday 7 March). The awards worth $3,500 each were presented to the three students by the Governor of the Reserve Bank Dr Adrian Orr at a special breakfast function attended by over two hundred people at Te Papa. The Goal Setter awards is a marquee event for the Club, says event organiser Jane Paterson, and honours students who have faced considerable adversity in their path to academic success.
Goal setter awards
(from left – standing) Bev Wells, President of the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson, Adrian Orr, Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand who presented the awards, and awardees, Sean Ainsworth, Hineana Tihore, and (seated) Nathan Harris.
The Rotary Martinborough Fair has raised over $85,000 for charity and community work around the South Wairarapa and for our international projects.The teams who make this a success are legend - the members of the South Wairarapa Rotary Club who provide the manpower to mark out the stall spaces, provide security and amenities; Rotary Inner Wheel members who provide food for the Rotarians and keep the kitchen running all day in the Fire Station; the Martinborough Lions, who provide trestle tables for stall-holders and the Sports clubs who clean up after everyone has left. Many individuals and groups make this event the success it is and we extend our heartfelt thanks to them all.Club committees will now find innovative ways to distribute these funds in grants, bursaries and in new community and international aid projects .People and groups seeking funding should visit swrotary.org.nz to make the appropriate application.
Students from Waiopehu, Levin, Otaki and Manawatu Colleges descended on Donnelly Park in Levin on 13 and 14 February to take part in a Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) programme. The Horowhenua / Levin programme was the first of the season for District 9940. Pearl Newman from Road Safety Education who coordinates and oversees the programme and was high in praise of our Rotarians contribution.
After several years of neglect, a great turnout of Tawa Rotarians, including the club's exchange student, Olivia Goodridge, from the Rotary Club of St John , New Foundland, and Rotarian Gaylene Lines (pictured), saw good progress in cleaning up the Tawa Lookout area. The next step is to tackle a number of trees to re-instate the full view.
ROTARY: People of action making a difference. It was important to have the Fire Service on site to ensure minimal risk of fire.
Something that other clubs may need to consider when doing outdoor projects
Interplast is a dynamic organisation which has developed from a partnership between Rotary and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Details of its work in the Asia Pacific region are available on its website www.interplast.org.nzHaving taken on the role of Interplast Chairman for Rotary District 9940 I would like to develop a District Committee of 3 or 4 members. I envisage one meeting per year and 3 or 4 Skype meetings,Would any interested Rotarian please contact me:
On a lovely late afternoon in February, Wine Group #2 of the Probus Club of the Kapiti Coast met for their first meeting of the year for a tasting of four wines originating from Australia, Spain, France and Santorini.
At the conclusion, a BBQ was enjoyed by members and guest, Simon Manning, Rotary District Probus Chair, district 9940, who joined the wine club members for a fun filled afternoon. www.probussouthpacific.org
The Rotary Theme for April is Maternal and Child Health. Please forward all Bulletin items to me by Sunday 7th of April. It would be great to have more diversity in Rotary stories. Several clubs are really good at forwarding their news and stories. I am though gleaning quite a lot of material for the Bulletin off social media. Input from more clubs and individuals would be very welcome. I think I must have one of the most personally rewarding Rotary roles. I continue to be astounded by all of the amazing Rotary projects and contribution to our communities. Freya