Last week, District Governor Leonie Tisch’s mother passed away and I know many Rotarians have extended their sympathy and best wishes to Leonie, Lindsay and their family.
With the arrival of May 1, the family has had the opportunity to celebrate Lindsay Tisch’s investiture with the Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for services as a member of Parliament. Congratulations to Lindsay and all the family.
The Rotary year is rapidly coming to an end and heaven forbid, District Changeover is on Sunday 1 July at Airport Lodge, Hamilton Airport 11.30am. Notices and flyer will be out soon so please pencil that date in your diary so that we can all celebrate the wonderful year of Rotary we have had in D9930 under District Governor Leonie’s stewardship.
District 9930 Conference, 18-20 May 2018, Wairakei
This should be fantastic for all those attending and living as a captive audience on site and able to participate and enjoy what should be an informative, fun-packed conference of the very best of Rotary. I’m looking forward to planting my tree for the benefit of the planet on Saturday afternoon.
May is Youth Service month.
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Rotary Youth Exchange Outbound 2019 Selection Day in Rotorua.
We interviewed 10 students and their parents from throughout the district for a 12-month placement overseas in a district that D9930 exchanges with. This has always been a very strong Rotary International programme which like Group Study Exchange was founded in D9930. I am sure all these students if placed, will represent New Zealand, Rotary and our district, their families and themselves very well.
I am very grateful to my Rotary Club Te Awamutu, for deciding to host another Rotary Youth Exchange from July for the whole year that I am District Governor. Our club looks forward to hosting Azelice Martel from D1760 in the south of France. Our club is also sponsoring a New Zealand student out for 2019 as well. We usually participate most years but not for the past year and it was noticed and missed by the club and our community. I recommend all clubs support the programme, if you haven’t for some time, you might be surprised what it can do for your club. Congratulations to Chair Jerry Cowper and his team for a very well organised and run flagship programme.
A reminder to clubs:
Rotary Australia New Zealand Student Exchange
It is time for District Rotarians to promote and prospect for eligible 13 1/2 to 16-year-old students who would like to experience a matched student exchange.
The exchange covers two school terms whereby the Australian students travel to New Zealand for one term and will host their New Zealand matched student in their Australian homes in the second term. During the term of exchange in New Zealand, you get to enjoy these young students and introduce them to your club, local school, and their matched home.
We are primarily aiming at students who will be in Year 10 or Year 11 in the year of travel. Limited spaces are available for the exchange year April 2019 to September 2019.
Applications closing day is the 31st July 2018.
District Selection Day for Rotary Australia New Zealand Student Exchange is 30th September 2018.
I will be promoting Incoming Rotary International President Barry Rassin’s theme and goals for 2018-19 at District Training Assembly on Saturday, 5 May, at Tauhara College, Taupo. Based on his goals, I will be presenting my goals for District 9930 through “Focus on Rotary”.
We can Focus on Rotary with Rotary International President Barry Rassin’s theme “Be the Inspiration”, his Presidential Citation for Rotary, Rotaract and interact Clubs. We must all support the Rotary Foundation, our charity and the End Polio Now campaign so that Polio will be gone for ever.
I then ask our district to: Focus on the Community using the Rotary Days programme. This gives you a chance to promote, engage, educate, publicize, refresh and brand Rotary in your community.
Focus on Youth reminds clubs to support Rotary Youth Exchange and Rotary Australia New Zealand Student Exchange.
Barry Rassin is a firm supporter of both Rotaract and Interact and sees those members as future Rotarians. We are revamping both these two groups lead by Richard Cogswell (Stortford Lodge, Hastings) for Rotaract and Linda Bonne (Whakatane Sunrise) Interact. They will be presenting their plans at District Training Assembly, Taupo.
Focus on our clubs starts at District Training Assembly with an interactive session on Membership. Let’s engage and refresh our members through “Club Health Checks” and Club Development Workshops. Members are the assets of Rotary, which is a membership organization who carries out service and has fun doing it.
Focus on our Rotarians is for fun, fellowship, Rotary development with “Good people doing Good work”.
Focus on Health highlights two health programmes that D9930 leads New Zealand Rotary. I am asking clubs to continue to support both Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) and Interplast. It is intended to send a fully funded D9930 Vocational Training Team (VTT) overseas.
This year as District Governor Elect, has been a very challenging but exciting and rewarding year. Elizabeth and I are very much looking forward to the Rotary year 2018-19 and visiting all Rotary Clubs and meeting as many Rotarians as possible. The two years lead into Governorship prepares you as only Rotary can do but makes you also aware of the complexities through to the simplicities of Rotary throughout the world. You always find that the backbone of Rotary is “Good People doing Good work”. It has been a privilege to experience this through attending Rotary International Assembly 2018, San Diego, Governors Elect Training Seminars in Penrith, Australia, and Waipuna Lodge, Auckland.I will be enjoying the last two months of District Governor Leonie’s Rotary year and I trust you will do also.
As always, there are challenges for Rotary ahead. We are moving towards change in Rotary New Zealand and that follows on from changes made in 2016 from the Council on Legislation.
Please keep up all the good work, you all make a great difference in your communities.
Graham
Graham Jull
Governor 2018 / 19
Rotary District 9930
Mobile: +64 27 2768181
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