District 9940 Nominee for DG 2015/16 Announced

On Wednesday we had the pleasure of attending the lunch meeting of Hutt City to announce the District Governor Nominee  for our District 2015/16.  It was our pleasure to announce Simon Manning of the Hutt City Rotary to this role.

The function was attended by many past DGs,  DGE and DGN.  It was a special event for Simon and Brad and Hutt City Rotary and we wish Simon and the club the very best on the journey ahead.

Below are some biographical details on Simon and Brad.

Simon Manning was born in Lower Hutt, and educated at various schools in the Hutt Valley.

At the age of 13, following the deaths of his Grandparents in very close succession and the impact of those deaths, he was drawn to find out more about funerals. He worked for a Wellington funeral company in his school holidays and eventually joined that company at the completion of his schooling.

Following his formal training through the Central Institute of Technology, he qualified in Embalming and Funeral Directing.

In 1989 Simon set up his own business, Harbour City Funeral Home. Simon joined Rotary in 1990 with Mt Victoria Rotary Club, he stayed with Rotary for a few years, but pressures of operating a new business and Rotary’s requirement for strict attendance saw him reluctantly resign in the mid-90’s.

Simon joined the Rotary Club of Hutt City in 2006, when it was suggested by a long-time friend, Murray Bond, that it was time to come back to Rotary. Simon is the immediate Past President of Hutt City Rotary.

Simon lives in Wellington with his partner Brad McAneney.  Brad has a Bachelor of Social Work from Massey University, which he obtained prior to joining the funeral profession. In 2002 Brad graduated from Weltec with a Diploma in Funeral Services.

Brad is a shareholder in the company and manages the Guardian Funeral Home brand in Johnsonville and Tawa. Brad is a member of the Rotary Club of Wellington North, and is currently a director of its Youth Committee.

Spare time sees Simon and Brad attending to their grapes in Martinborough, where they have a small lifestyle block. You may just see them on weekends in the Wairarapa, Brad on his Harley Davidson and Simon in his Blue Mini! 

Idea christmas Present that Supports Rotary Foundation

Ideal christmas present where $20 from each sale goes to the rotary foundation.

International Youth Exchange Marae Weekend

On 27-28 October District 9940 held it's International Youth Exchange Kauwhata Marae Weekend near Feilding.  Here, both the inward and outward IYE students had an opportunity to spend the weekend at a Marae to experience the Maori culture and learn the protocols of visiting a Marae.  As part of the Powhiri everyone learnt a small Waiata.  Learning the haka and eel fishing were also favorite activities.  Ten students will be leaving our District and we are hosting 6 inbound students - a really great bunch of people who are our future leaders.

Outbound students with DG Graeme and Christine

On the Sunday DG Graeme presented each of the outbound students with their jackets and name badges.  He reminded both the inward and outward bound students of the need to experience different cultures and to enjoy and make the most of this life changing experience both here in New Zealand and Overseas.

Our thanks to the IYE Committee and the members of the Kauwhata Marae who all worked very hard to make this such a successful weekend.

Outbound and Inbound Students

What to do with unwanted Rotary Down Under Magazines

On Saturday October 27 Otaki Rotary in partnership with the Otaki Village Promotions Group took part in an Otaki Community Groups Expo. Held in the newly upgraded Main St the expo which was supported by 12 groups from the Scouts through to Age Concern generated a carnival like atmosphere and attracted a lot of interest from local residents.

Otaki Rotary PR committee members Chris Dungan and Marilyn Stevens assisted by District 9940 Shelter Box Co-ordinator Warren Irving set up a Shelter Box Tent and a general Rotary display. As Marilyn said “ we took some of the banners in the Rotary International PR DVD down to the local print shop got them blown up to about 1.2 meters long, laminated them and used them as background material around the display area. This DVD is a fantastic resource.”

“I’m not sure we got any new members immediately” said Chris “but we certainly raised people’s awareness of what Rotary does locally and overseas” and “yes madam, Rotary isn’t just for men, we do have women members, please take one of these brochures and a recent magazine”   

Otaki Rotary

Week 17 - Visiting Clubs Close to Home

It was nice to have a three-day weekend.  Chris and I enjoyed some time in Martinborough over the long weekend with friends.

New Rotary Education
Centre

Our first club visit for the week was Rotary Club of Karori.  Before the meeting we were privileged to visit Zealandia (the former Karori Sanctuary) for the opening of the Rotary Education Centre.  Here we planted a tree to celebrate the opening with Karori Club President Bill Joyce.  We were impressed with the new visitors centre and the large amount of development that had gone on since our last visit.  It was interesting to note the work that the club is doing in the local community to get a better understanding of the community and their needs.  It was pleasure to be able to award three community PHFs.

Karori Paul Harris Fellows

Wednesday saw us at Wellington South Rotary and learning about many of the local projects they are doing in their community including their Big Dig day.  It was also a pleasure to welcome a long-standing member into the club as an Honorary Member.

President and PDGs

On Thursday we visited the Rotary Club of Wellington North and Kapiti Rotary.  Wellington North has a long tradition of Past DGs with PDGs Ross George, Maurice Robertson, and Tony Fryer being present.  Much banter and fun was had during the meeting with their ‘Happy Dollar’, run in place of the more traditional sergeants session, raising money for their local projects.  From here we travelled up the coast to Kapiti where we met the Board at Southwards Car Museum before heading of to the club meeting.  It was great to be able to induct a past member of the club back into Rotary.  Kapiti has taken in a number of new members this year which is great to see.

Another enjoyable week.

All the best for the week ahead.

Graeme and Chris.

GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS

Electrical contractor and Past President of Otaki Rotary, Chris Dungan, recently took delivery of a new work vehicle.

As Chris said “ I’m now on the Club’s PR committee and as I’m always banging on about getting members to wear Rotary branded gear when we’re out and about I felt it was time to put words into actions. When I was getting the sign writing done I got Wayne Kaye from Kaye Sign Service in the nearby town of Levin to include Rotary on half of the rear of the van”.

Chris feels that more Rotarians should include Rotary signage on work vehicles. “When you think of the huge number of Rotarians who own or run businesses with vehicles, we should be encouraging them to include Rotary in with their company branding” says Chris. “At times I feel I’m a member of some arcane secret society, we should be letting people out there, know Rotarians are everywhere.”

Way to go Chris.

ROTARY GLOBAL SWIMARATHON