It's All Ahead For Our District Governor

 

You would have all received an email from me about the Rotary Extravaganza weekend – in lieu of the canceled 9930 District Conference.  During the weekend of 20-22 May, there will be a District-wide push to hold an event, major project, and Club celebration on the cards.  Already I’m aware of many Clubs that have plans to celebrate the weekend, highlight Rotary; recognise their Club members or community members with Paul Harris Fellowships; and/or take part in an event or project with the community.  A good chance to wave the flag for Rotary, publicise and celebrate an event or project.

 

The highlight for me this past month has been the awarding to John Willis, of the Morrinsville Club, Rotary’s highest award – the Service Above Self Award.  Morrinsville excelled themselves with a celebratory night.  See the article on the district’s web page.

 

Yes, we have been plagued with cancellations already this Rotary year – Summer Science Technology Forum, Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), and 2 of the District’s Rotary Youth Programme for Enrichment (RYPEN) weekends, along with our traditional and worldwide Rotary International Youth Exchange.  There are, however, opportunities for many other youth projects.

 

Congratulations to Ahuriri (Napier) Sunrise Club who has started an Interact Club at Sacred Heart College.  Ahuriri (Napier) coordinated the activities of the Napier Boys’ High Interact Club and Napier Club coordinated the Napier Girls High Interact Club.  These Clubs are involved in many fundraising events along with environmental projects coordinated around Napier.  Thank you to those Rotarians who dedicate their time to assisting these Interact Clubs.

 

Had you thought about an Interact Club in your town or city?  Liaison with the Schools is important, establish a contact point and provide the students and Interact members with support, advice, and guidance.

 

Paul Higson (Otumoetai) is the District’s Rotary International Youth Exchange Coordinator and is confident that from July 2023 there will be exchanges with other countries of the world.  More from Paul in the coming months.

 

Our contributions to ‘Rotary’s charity of choice’ the Rotary Foundation and the End Polio Now campaign has been progressing steadily throughout the year.  Ken Smith (Huntly) the District’s Foundation Chair will be asking Clubs to ensure their contributions are made prior to the end of May, to ensure that this year’s worldwide contributions are valuably allocated.  Club and personal donations are forward to the District account – please make the effort to get these donations in by the end of May, to assist our Foundation committee members to process them.

 

Johnny Dryden (Te Kuiti) the District’s Membership Chair has been busy around the district – making presentations, giving advice to Clubs on alternative Club models, and particularly organising and coordinating a membership seminar on the Coromandel east coast.  A Seminar was held in Tairua and invited the public along to hear about proposals to form a Rotary Club along the coast - to include Whangamata, Pauanui, Tairua, and possibly Whitianga.  If there are Rotarians in our District who know of prospective Rotary members living or holidaying along that coast – please touch base with Johnny.  Johnny and Membership Committee are always available to provide support on membership ideas, incentives, and promotion

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Johnny, too, is keen to pursue the setting up of Rotaract Clubs through the District. Many of the main cities are already scoping that opportunity.  Hamilton, Rotorua, and Tauranga can follow Hawkes Bay’s lead – to establish a Rotaract Club.

 

The Rotary Convention is to be held in June in Houston, USA.  Whilst travel has been restrictive – next year’s Convention in Melbourne is likely to be popular with Rotarians from New Zealand.  I know that Roger Miller (Tauranga Te Papa) will be advising you all of the details about registration for Melbourne 2023.

 

With only a couple of months before the end of this Rotary year – the new team for 2022/23 is already assisting club incoming Presidents with support, ideas, and guidance.  Incoming District Governor Kevin Forgeson (Te Kuiti) and the Training team coordinated the recent District Training and Leadership Assembly held by Zoom.  A fantastic array of speakers along with breakout sessions on Rotary topics provided registrants with information about Rotary, Governance, membership, the Foundation, plus many other Rotary topics, and details about Rotaract.

 

And a final word, to welcome the District’s Governor for the Rotary year 2024/25.  Nick Dangerfield (Tauranga Te Papa) has put his hand up to lead the District and join the Governor ‘Train’ of Kevin Forgeson (Te Kuiti) 2022/23 and Bill Robinson Cambridge 2023/24.  Congratulations Nick (and Maria).

 

This year we are changing the lives of many in our community.  Our service to the club and the communities ensures a high profile for Rotary.  Keep up the publicity, post details about your activities, use social media, post photos, and stories, and spread the word about Rotary.

 

Take care out there, be active, be involved, enjoy Rotary and be healthy.