Week 4 August, 23 July 2012 – Wairarapa Club Visits

Christine and I headed to the Wairarapa on Monday for some country hospitality with visits to 4 clubs, Carterton, Masterton South, South Wairarapa, and Masterton.

The week began at Carterton club viewing some of their projects included a Scented Garden and a Country Style High Tea.  During the meeting several PHFs and Awards were presented and the Sergeant ran an Antarctic quiz ably assisted with his penguin helper – we were amazed at how much the members know about Antarctica and we picked up lots of new facts. 

It was off to Masterton South next and viewing their mini putt course and development of a swamp area into a recreational area.  We were treated to a medley of old tunes from their amazing Choir during the evening meeting.

Wednesday evening was spent with the South Wairarapa Club learning about their projects including the Martinborough Fair, which for the first time in 35 years had to be cancelled and re-scheduled, this year due to bad weather.  During the meeting a number of very talented students from Kuranui College played a selection of music to entertain us.

The final meeting was with the Masterton Club, the oldest and only Breakfast Club, in the area.  Following this we visited the local Men’s Shed that the club supports.  This was a very impressive building housing a variety of wood and metal working tools for use by both male and female members.  Other supportive lectures are also held on a monthly basis. This was a very impressive facility and certainly gave us ideas to promote this sort of facility in other areas.

Our thanks to AG Nicky Orsborn and Alastair for their help and support during the week.  Next week we stay close to home with no planned visits, a time to catch up on office work.

GlobalRun4Water

Does your Club want a new project? 

In 2008 Past Rotary International President D.K.Lee stumbled on a number. That number was 30,000.

30,000 children under the age of 5 die every day in the world from preventable causes. Many of these are water borne diseases. While that number has reduced since 2008 it is still very high, unacceptably high.

In October 2011 the World Health Organisation announced that the world population had reached 7 billion people.

Of these , one billion lack access to clean, safe, water,

What more effective way is there of making a difference, I suggest to you,  than to direct your humanitarian energies in Rotary to a water project.

Are there members in your Club who want to complete a water project? 

Is it about time you had another Rotary Foundation project?  
Does your Club need an injection of a new project and all the energy it brings? 

Then here is a great opportunity.

It is a global event where on or around 30 September 2012  Rotarians around the world will all be running, walking, riding, swimming – or just generally active to raise money for a water project.  This is one of the 6 areas of focus for Foundation (Water and Sanitation) and there are many projects wanting your assistance here, in the Pacific and around the world.  After raising the money it is up to your Club then to decide what project to support.

The links below gives you more information, allows your to register and place your Club on the world stage and to join others around the world in this great cause.  Join us.  IPDG Bob has willingly accepted the role as District Champion and it will be great to have many Clubs joining in the fun for a good cause.  LetIPDG Bob know you are keen as we join others around the world to ‘do good in the world’.

www.rotaryglobalrun4water.org

www.waterteaminternational.org

IPDG Bob Smith

Bob.smith@opus.co.nz

Week 3 - Upper Hutt Valley Club Visits

We had a Wellington based week this week visiting 3 clubs in the Upper Hutt Valley, Upper Hutt, Hutt River Valley formally Stokes Valley, and Heretaunga.

Hutt River Valley Club

The one thing that has also struck us with all clubs visited to date has been their issues around membership and wanting to grow clubs.  We have had the opportunity to discuss with club Boards and Members some of the opportunities to address membership and how we might attract new members, an issue being faced my many service organizations and clubs.   

As we gain some great ideas I am looking at how we might collate this information and make it available to other clubs.  Our thanks to AG Paul Newsom for joining us on our club visits and helping arrange activities.

Te Omanga Hospice Memorial Gardens 

It was also great to see the work that these clubs are doing in the community.  We visited the Te Omanga Hospice Memorial Gardens and saw work being carried out in Stokes Valley to improve the amenities in the community.

The week ended by attending the Johnsonville Club Changeover and hearing some of the plans of the new President to address the membership issue and look to the future of the club.

In the coming week we head to the Wairarapa to visit 4 clubs in this area and attend Eastern Hutt’s 50^th Year Anniversary.

BE INSPIRED TO CREATE A RIPPLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE …

The inaugural Future Leaders’ Seminar in New Zealand on Monday 15 October 2012 is open to any Rotarian wanting to grow their leadership skills in Rotary, the volunteer or business environment.  The focus is on leadership, incorporating Rotary aspects where relevant. 

Future Leaders’ Seminar is a fast-paced interactive day of networking, shared ideas, presentations by leaders from the highest levels of Rotary International and other high quality speakers with impressive business and/or volunteer sector leadership experience with a special message to share.  The goals of this seminar are to:

•                  Inspire a hunger for leadership

•                  Excite people about Rotary

•                  Open up the wider world of Rotary

•                  Revitalise and help shape the future of Rotary

Future Leaders’ Seminar participants are encouraged to make the most of the special opportunity to also attend Rotary Institute from Friday 12 October 1pm to Sunday 14 October 1.30pm. This is a rare opportunity to hear amazing presenters and experience the internationality of Rotary, while meeting and socialising with senior Rotary leaders from around the world, including the Rotary International President Elect plus District Governors, Past District Governors, Governors Elect and Governors Nominee from throughout New Zealand and Pacific Islands.  

Additionally Future Leaders’ Seminar participants can attend a no cost Future Vision Seminar on Sunday 14 October 2-5pm led by a Rotary Foundation Trustee, the Rotary International Future Vision Launch Manager, and The Rotary Foundation Coordinator. 

QUICK FACTS ABOUT FUTURE LEADERS’ SEMINAR

Date: Monday 15 October 8.30 for 9.00am to 5.15pm, followed by an optional dinner that night

Venue:  Ascot Park Hotel, Corner of Tay Street & Racecourse Road, Invercargill, New Zealand  

Investment:  Future Leaders’ Seminar and dinner $75 (or seminar only $45).  Rotary Institute registration, transport and accommodation etc are additional to these FLS costs.

Registration:  Use only the Future Leaders’ Seminar Registration Form via www.rotaryinstitute.org.nz

Further Information:  Go to the Future Leaders’ Seminar link via www.rotaryinstitute.org.nz  or to www.futureleaders2012.rotarysouthpacific.org

Future Leaders’ Seminar Contact:  PDG Beryl Robinson (FLS Committee Chair) 021 652 802 or berylrobinson@rotarydownunder.co.nz

Note:  Future Leaders’ Seminar can only be attended once by a Rotarian, and although held in association with this annual Rotary Institute, FLS is not necessarily held every year.  So please join us in Invercargill. 

Some proceeds from Sir Graham Henry's book go to Rotary

Week 2 in Wanganui

DG and Barrie Fowke at the site
for the proposed fitness track

During this week we visited the 5 clubs in the Wanganui Cluster.  It is traditional to visit the PDGs club first but in a break with tradition we visited Wanganui Daybreak first followed by PDG Bobs club second.

We were struck with the large amount of work that all of these clubs do in the local community and some planned projects for the future.  These included developing a fitness and wellness track, providing clear numbering for businesses in Victoria Ave, and a project to bring native birds back into the city.

We visited Rumah Brooke (Brooke House) where we heard of the remarkable history of the Brooke’s of Sarawak and there their lifelong focus Peace Through Unity www.peacethroughunity.info/background_brooketrust.html  

DG and President Dave Towers
Waverley-Aotea Club

A proposal is being developed to provide an opportunity for Peace Scholars to come to Wanganui to study at Rumah as a retreat.  We were privileged to spend time with Gita Brooke in this amazing haven tucked away in Wanganui.  The final club we visited was Waverley-Aotea.  While only a small club of 9 they achieve a huge amount in their community.  They have a great operation with their firewood project and are also looking to distribute fertilizer as a fundraiser.

It was also pleasing to take part in presenting several Paul Harris Fellows to club Members and induct several new members into Rotary.  Our thanks go to all of the clubs for hosting us and especially our local AG Garth Barlow and Ngaire who looked after us for the week and hosted us at each club. 

Visiting the Coast with the Waverley Club - view along Cave Beach

Week One

Tawa Changeover with new President
Laura and Bill

It is surprising to think that it is now a week since District Changeover.  We have been preparing for our first week of visits, which begin in Wanganui.  Over the last 2 weeks we have also had the opportunity to attend a number of Club Changeovers.  These have reminded us of the tremendous work that Rotary does in the community.  It was pleasing to see a number of Paul Harris Awards being given out to club members and people in the community.

Graeme, Chris and Mr fox

It was great to return to my hometown, Petone, for the Rotary Club of Petone’s changeover.  We had the privilege of sitting beside my old primary school headmaster, Brian Fox, and swap a few yarns.  It was also great to catch up with an old class mate.

Porirua Sundown Changeover with
new President Gordon and Kath

It was special event for Porirua Sundown when their Changeover coincided with their 50 year anniversary.  They had a great turnout with past members and representatives from the other clubs in the cluster.  A great night was enjoyed by all.

The week ended on Sunday enjoying the Rotary club of Marton’s Changeover with a Greek Olympic theme.  We then headed to Wanganui to start our year of visits.