The PHS of District 9800 was the first to be formed in Australia. At least once a year members get together to talk about Rotary and the Rotary Foundation. Thirty members of the District’s Paul Harris Society enjoyed a very convivial Christmas lunch at Graduate House on Friday December 10. 

Half-a-dozen Hawthorn Rotarians are members: perhaps you recognise this happy couple. 

PDG Julie Mason has sent us the latest Paul Harris Society Newsletter:

Welcome to this newsletter where you will find out a little bit more about the District 9800 Paul Harris Society, of which I am the Chair, and hopefully be inspired to join yourself. Now this is not a secret society and has a very impressive history! On the 2nd of June 2007 the Paul Harris Society, with nineteen members, was chartered under the guidance of Past District Governor Bernie Walsh and District 9800 Foundation Chair Chris Don. In that first Rotary year the numbers grew to thirty members with thirty two members by the end of December 2008. 

John and Barbara Rafter provided the inspiration for this initiative. They attended The Rotary International Convention in Denmark and heard about the Paul Harris Society and to this day remain members and indeed Champions of the Paul Harris Society. 

Members of Paul Harris Society make a commitment to the Rotary Foundation to contribute US $1000.00 each year for as long as they are able to. They can allocate their funds to the Annual Fund, End Polio or approved Global Grants. Members are recognised by an addition to their Paul Harris Fellowship Pin in the shape of wings. We have one hundred and forty three members representing forty-four Rotary Clubs and I would love to hear from you if you would like to join this happy group. 

Julie Mason Chair Paul Harris Society

julie.mason.cats@gmail.com   mobile 0406196630 

Photo: DG Dale Hoy and Maureen, with PDG Ian Knight and Jenny. (and Katrina Flinn in the background)

On 19 April, we celebrate the anniversary of Rotary founder Paul Harris’ birth. Paul Harris was born in 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, and thanks to his vision, today Rotary members around the world are uniting to take action and create lasting change. There are many ways to celebrate on 19 April, including by reading about Harris’ life.

How will you mark the occasion? Write to annualfund@rotary.org and you could be featured in the next issue of the Paul Harris Society Resource. You can subscribe to this quarterly newsletter to get updates on the society, including the latest on membership and on what motivates our contributors, and to learn what’s new at the Foundation.