A canoe which we are all in with no exception - He waka eke noa
From our District Governor
As I embark on this next step in my Rotary journey, as District Governor, I reflect on what I have experienced and gained. From doing projects with Rotaract, to attending RYLA, living in Sweden and then finally joining Rotary in 1994 (Rotary Club of Parnell) all I can recall is meeting great people, having fun, feeling good about trying to make a difference and do good, and learning a lot.
I loved Rotary from the beginning, and when opportunities to do more arose, I have seized them. My background in Human Resources has been helpful in preparing me for different roles - Parnell Rotary Club president, Assistant Governor, Rotary Leadership Institute Chair, then District Trainer. These roles opened my eyes to the wider world of Rotary and its opportunities, as did International Convention in Sydney in 2016. I wanted to do more, to work with others to make a difference that was greater than I could do alone.
Two years into the DG journey, as I begin my year as District Governor, I am increasingly excited about the difference we can make in the world through Rotary. Yes, we have challenges around membership numbers but we don't have challenges finding good projects to do. The need for Rotarians to do good work is as great as ever, especially in our neighbouring Pacific countries. Our motto “Service above Self”, our core values and the 4-Way Test still hold strong.
However we do need to ensure that we remain relevant for the present and the future, for our members and for our communities. I am encouraging clubs to look at how they are engaging their members to ensure they are having the best experience they can in Rotary. I want all our clubs to be doing projects that provide a sense of fulfilment and fun, and then to tell others about them. Telling our stories is vital.
Rotaract is an important part of our Rotary family – I would like to see clubs become more connected with Rotaract, to involve Rotaractors in projects and meetings, and even consider starting a club in your area. Their energy, enthusiasm and ideas are contagious.
Our Rotary Foundation, our charity of choice, also needs your involvement. Giving to Foundation enables not only global projects like eradicating Polio to happen, but it provides funds for our District to use for local and global projects in three years time. I encourage you to apply for District and Global Grants when your projects apply.
As I think about our theme "Be the Inspiration", I ask myself and you how we can each inspire others to make a difference in our world. It might simply be to tell your family and friends why you belong, or to invite your neighbour to come to a club event or meeting. You could share your story of the difference Rotary has made to someone else's life, and your own.
I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can this year. My District Governor visits will have a different format – they will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and for us to have a two way conversation about anything Rotary.
Have you thought about making a contribution to our District?
We are looking for people to join district committees
Joining a district committee is a great way to broaden your Rotary knowledge, build your networks, develop new skills and do even more good in the world.
Several of our District committees would like some new members.
Do you have a passion for doing great projects? Or the Rotary Foundation? Perhaps you are a wizz on social media and could help build Rotary’s public profile?
We are particularly looking for someone who would like to look after Vocational Training Team Programmes (this is part of the Foundation committee), and for somebody to chair Probus.
If you have an interest in making a bigger contribution please email District Governor Ingrid at ingrid_waugh@rotaryoceania.zone. Please provide some background, what you are particularly interested in and which club you are from.
Many thanks
Ingrid
District Change Over: networking par excellence!
Well, that was different! Firstly, there were lots of people there. It was reported that it was the best attended changeover for some time so the shorter format, in the early evening (and with wine) obviously had wide appeal. Rotarians and their friends had plenty of time to catch up with each other, renew old acquaintanceships and create new linkages. Actually doing what Rotary is good at, “networking”, creating opportunities for people to exchange ideas for mutual advantage.
District Governor (at the start of the meeting anyway) Malini Raghwan very graciously handed over the huge chain of office to Incoming District Governor Ingrid Waugh so that was the formal side done! Malini also gave awards to clubs and Rotarians for various successful activities – there’s a list attached so you can see if your club’s there!
Malini relieved of the weight of the chain of office!
PS Malini also shared with us the difficulties of travelling with the DG’s chain of office. When going through security screens at airports she had to show the security people what it was. They were all impressed – and many recognised and commented favourably on Rotary.
The new district bulletin: emphasis on clubs
Your humble correspondent (YHC), otherwise known as the District Bulletin Editor, was told that only about 20% of Rotarians in our district read this bulletin. Fair enough, everybody's busy. If it's been boring deleting it is a sensible option. So what are we (I'll come back to that 'we' in a couple of lines) are going to increase that to 25%?
Rotary is about Rotarians and their clubs, not District or region or all the various geographical things. It's ordinary Rotarians and their clubs that deliver the effective projects; who do good in their community thus the district bulletin is going to publicise their successes (and occasional failures) so we can all learn from them.
So, 'we'? That is club bulletin editors, publicity and media liaison people your help is needed. Stories that are less than 250 words long, of branch activities which took place less than 6 weeks ago will, as far as space permits, be published.
Also YHC wants 'letters to the editor', comments and complaints (you've got to be read to be wrong!) from all readers.
Plus pictures. Not of handing over cheques, or smiling Rotarians squinting into sunlight but members doing stuff, planting trees, reading to young or old people filling an emergency box, whatever. What we do, on the ground.
Finally, encourage your fellow members to read the district bulletin so they can benefit from other’s experience. Together we can hit that 25%
Contact me on nick@quint.co.nz
We can do it
There has deservedly been great publicity in New Zealand and Pacific media about the Cooks Mobile Health Bus project. It is a wonderful example of Rotary in action.
But are we doing enough to tell people what we do in our communities? If articles with the word "Rotary" over one 24 hour period is anything to go by we could do better. On 26 June 2018, in Australia there were 470 articles but in NZPacific there were 2! … and that is a fairly typical ratio month after month as reported by Meltwater (a media monitoring service), even though NZPacific is 22% of Rotary in our region.
We do have lots happening, both big and small, and these are all very good projects doing an immense amount of good in our communities so let's tell our stories.
To get great publicity results we just need to know how to take a great photo, write a great story and how to approach the media? Go to https://rotaryoceania.zone/page/snapshot-self-help-series/ This is a series of practical guides to help 'non-experts' produce expert results.
Every project and event should be included in your club and district calendar (on ClubRunner) and when you have an article together send it to the media but also use in your club and send to the district newsletter and website-social media for widespread acknowledgement of your achievements. In doing so you inspire others in their support of Rotary.
The District Directory is currently in production, aiming for end of July.
Public Image - Rotary Days
Rotary’s birthday is Saturday 23 February, to celebrate the formation of the first Rotary club in 1905. District is looking at what kind of events we will support. The DG and ADGs are looking for clubs and/or clusters of clubs to come up with ideas to create a Rotary Day. They will also look at the feasibility of larger scale events. Not all events need to be on the same day.
1st November 2018: Movie Night
Each year, the RI Foundation Services in Paramatta does a fundraiser for End Polio Now Campaign, by offering clubs the opportunity to run a District wide Movie night.
Twentieth Century Fox don’t want to tell us the name of the movie just yet, but clubs that take advantage of this opportunity will most certainly be the champions.
The movie is expected to have a simultaneous release worldwide and it’s almost certain to be on 1st November – excellent timing as it’s just after World Polio Day on 24th October.
Clubs may earmark a time and date during the week commencing Thursday 1st November.
More information will be provided nearer the time.
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District Governor (at the start of the meeting anyway) Malini Raghwan very graciously handed over the huge chain of office to Incoming District Governor Ingrid Waugh so that was the formal side done! Malini also gave awards to clubs and Rotarians for various successful activities – there’s a list attached so you can see if your club’s there!
