Its MAY 18, so Go Wild About Rotary and Register Now to be at RotaFEST 18!
 
The Rotary event of the year is in less than two weeks, yes RotaFEST 18 is happening from Friday 11th - 13th May at the Palmerston North Convention Centre, the Wildbase Recovery Centre and the Palmerston North Square for RotaFEST 18 - A Festival of Rotary!
 
So Register NOW – Click on the link and register NOW - https://hoteventsnz.eventsair.com/rotafest2018/rotafest-2018/Site/Register
 
Also go to Facebook and check out the Rotary District event of the year - RotaFEST18
 
What an amazing weekend program we have in-store for you ... so lets review this weekend of Rotary from Friday 11th May through Saturday 12 May and culminating in District Training Assembly on Sunday 13th May.
 
Friday 11th May, 3-5pm - Go Wild at WildBase Recovery, The Opening and Tour
Join us at the Esplanade in Palmerston North for the Rotary inspired and funding partnered WildBase Recovery centre. 
Enjoy a behind the scenes sneak preview and tour of this internationally acclaimed wild native bird and animal recovery complex. 
Hear from WildBase Recovery Ambassadors, experts and the Rotary inspiration and partnered support that has achieved this world class wildlife centre.
 
Friday 11th May, 5-6pm - Go Wild about Wildbase Recovery, The BBQ dinner
The Esplanade, Palmerston North
 
Friday 11th May, 6.30-9pm - Go Wild about Rotary, Your Welcome and Opening of RotaFEST 18
Welcome, Powhiri and opening of RotaFEST 18 – Lets Go Wild About Rotary!
Enjoy the wonderful Jorjazz Dancers (a big hit with all at District Changeover 17)
Be welcomed by local Palmerston North Rotarian and Master of Ceremonies Lyal Brenton, community leaders, Rangitane Kaumatua, Rotary International President Ian Riseley, RI Presidents Representative Rafael Garcia III, RI Past President Bill Boyd, District Governor Mitchell Brown and you the Rotarian's of the Rotary Clubs of District 9940.
An evening of inspiration with our WildBase Ambassadors and with NZ literary award winning wild life author Janet Hunt.
 
Saturday 12th May, 9am-4pm - RotaFEST 18! - A Festival of Rotary 
In the Palmerston North Convention Centre and in the Palmerston North Square.
An amazing array of inspirational speakers with RI Past President Bill Boyd, Tonga Karena, Karim Rostami, Rotary Youth speakers - Stratford Satellite Club Chair Daniel Steiller, RYPEN awardee Hannah Brill, Shine Interact Club President Brooke Rhodes, Youth Exchange Students, Rocket Lab, Joe Hollander and Steve Parsons - The Poppy Place Project.
 
Saturday 12th May, 12-2pm - Lunch at A Festival of Rotary in the Palmerston North Square
With the Rodger Fox Big Band and Mark Williams, Food Trucks, entertainment and rides and an absolutely huge opportunity to Go Wild About ROTARY at RotaFEST 18 in the Palmerston North Square.
 
Saturday 12th May, 5.30-10pm - RotaFEST 18 Dinner – "Into the Wild Blue Yonder"
Get dressed up in your Wildest oufits to Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder!
An amazing dinner served at the Palmerston North Convention Centre with the best in live music from DG Mitch’s cuzzie, Rodger Fox and his Big Band, with Erna Ferry and kiwi music legend Mark Williams from Dragon.
 
Sunday 13th May, 8.30am-3pm, RotaFEST 18  Investing in our Rotary Future
8.30am Rotary International District 9940 Annual General Meeting, Rotary NZ and Pacific Island's the future!
9.30am District Training Assembly - Invest in Yourself, Your Club and the District for our Rotary Future!
3pm RotaFEST 18 Concludes
See you next year in Whanganui for the next Rotary District 9940 Conference Event not to be missed.
 
District 9940's most amazing Rotary Humanitarian Project
Rotary Club of Masterton South - Rarotonga Mobile Health Clinic
The completion and delivery of the most significant Rotary Humanitarian project in this Rotary 2017-18 year - a Mobile Health Clinic for the Cook Island's was blessed and officially completed in Masterton last month. This month the Rarotonga Mobile Health Clinic will head north to Auckland for shipping to the Cook Islands and the official hand over to the Cook Islands Government on Monday 18th June (the DG's birthday!). 
 
Rotarian's of the District are invited and have the opportunity to see the Rarotonga Mobile Health Clinic up close when it visits Palmerston North Square 12-1pm 8th May, Whanganui War Memorial Centre Fore Court 12-1pm 9th May and Inglewood at Rotary House in Moa Street 12-1pm 10th May.
 
Rotarian's of District 9940 will have the chance to see what the vision of the Rotary Club of Masterton South has turned into through a Rotary Global Grant and support from Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts of NZ and the Pacific Islands with the delivery of this Rotary Humanitarian Project.
 
So book in the opportunity to check out this Rotary year's Rotary Global Grant Humanitarian Project as it begins a tour of the Manawatu, Whanganui and Taranaki. I will be very proud to celebrate the Rotary Club of Masterton South's amazing project which is dedicated to the memory of the late President Warren Carter and meet the team led by David Baker, Dr Rob Irwin and Paul Snelgrove who made it happen!
 
L-R Dr Rob Irwin, DG Mitchell Brown, Paul Snelgrove, David Baker.     Our bus!
 
Rotary 25 year time capsule is opened in Palmerston North
A great day was had on the 29 April for the Rotary Club of Takaro and the members past and present. The special day saw the opening of the 993 sealed time capsule and look forward to the future opening of the Rotary time capsule in Milverton Park in perhaps another 25 years!
 
Well done to former Rotary Club of Takaro member Neil Churchouse and his son as well as Rotary Club of Takaro charter member Chris Wall (46 years ago) for the skillful tractor operations that removed the seal (the table) and replaced it for resealin !! I noted that the concrete table and pedestal is set among a Rotary wheel with 6 stools to represent the 6 Districts of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands !!
 
The days of 1993 and a referendum to have MMP, the currency of the day, notes, books, best wishes and information from 1993 was on display for the gathered Rotarian's, guests and Palmerston North city archivist. A great opportunity to put down 2018 information and gifts to share with the future of Rotary, and see you in another 25 years !! A very proud Takaro Rotarian and District Governor for 2017/18.
  
Rotary Club of Takaro Past Presidents Ken Coombes and Marilyn O'Halloran lift the time capsule from 1993 to look back on the last 25 years of Rotary and life in New Zealand.
 
Rotary Citation for your Club - Mark a Successful Rotary Year
Its a great time for your club to click on the attached link and tick off your activities for the year and find out that you have met the Rotary Citation opportunity for your Club to be recognised by the International President for a year of Rotary to be celebrated. 
Please ensure you have noted the RI Presidents request to have your Rotary Clubs Tree planting  challenge recorded. This will ensure we have more trees in the world, which are goof for us and provide sustainability for our future. Check out the ESRAG website Tree Planting Challenge - www.esrag.org/tree-planting-challenge
 
Rotary Club Changeovers - District Changeover
Thank you to those clubs that have sent Fiona and I invitations to attend your special meeting that will see out this Rotary year and hail in the new Rotary year at you Rotary Club changeover. Sadly we will be an apology for all Club Changeovers as we will be out of the country from the 16 June till 30 June to attend to the handing over of the Rarotonga Mobile Health Clinic and the Rotary International Convention in Toronto, Canada from the 24-27 June.
We wish all our Clubs the very best for the celebration of a great year in Rotary where we have been "Making A Difference" and welcoming in the team and Rotary leaders that will lead us through the 2018/19 Rotary year where we can "Be the Inspiration" with District Governor Marion Johnston.
 
In my final District Bulletin for this Rotary year, next month in June, we will look back on a year that has delivered Rotary: Making a Difference.
 
Mitchell Brown
District Governor 2017/18
Rotary District 9940
Phone 027 4822295