Changeover (+ speaker Dr Chelsea Grootveld, Chair of the JR McKenzie Trust)
It's time for our annual changeover!
The 2025-2026 Board with President Lynn will hand over to the 2026-2027 Board with President Suzanne Snively.
We'll recognise currrent member who have provided invaluable service to Rotary by presenting them with a Paul Harris Fellows.
Our speaker is Chair of the JR Mckenzie Trust. Our club has a very close association with the JR Mckenzie Trust. The founder and his son were past Presidents of our club. Rotary is represented on the Trust and our club has its own Trustee - currently Janice Wilson.
We're delighted to present the confirmed 2016-2027 Board that will assume office on 1 July 2026.
Officers: President: Suzanne Snivley, President Elect: Neil Matson, Immediate Past President: Lynn McKenzie, Treasurer: Martin Matthews (returning member), Secretary: Donna Sorsa (new member)
Directors: Roger Blakeley, John Boshier, Denise Church, Allan Frost, John McKinnon, Joan Smith, Janice Wilson
News from the Board - May Meeting
Proposed decisions arising from the May Board meeting are:
- 2026-2027 Budget: approved - small surplus expected
- Approved the Terms of Reference for the Youth Committee
- Approved Martin Matthews and Heather Baldwin's membership applications
- Approved Roger Blakeley's appointment to be a Committee Member of ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) and Co-Chair, Rotary South Pacific ( Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands) ESRAG Change 4 Climate (C4C) Committee
A quorum was not achieved, and we will be ratifying decisions subsequently. Three Board members are overseas and one unwell on the day.
At its April meeting the Board approved the terms of reference for the Community Development Strategy intended to define the Club's long term vision, priorities and actions to enhance social wellbeing and community impact within Wellington. The Task Force includes Suzanne Snively, Allan Frost, Faisal Ahmed, Bradley Taylor and Donna Sorsa (our soon to be Secretary). They will report later on this year.
Cans for a Cause
Bring cans along to our 8 June meeting
We're collecting cans for food banks so please bring along some to our next meeting on June 8.
All Rotary districts in New Zealand will be collecting Cans for a Cause during the first week of June in support of local community food banks. Our collective target is to gather one million cans nationwide.
This coordinated national effort provides an opportunity to amplify our impact, strengthen community partnerships, and showcase Rotary’s commitment to addressing food insecurity across Aotearoa.
Rotary's Epic Day of Service
Saturday May 16, Rotarians around the world participated in the Epic Day of Service. Our club collected for Mary Potter Hospice at New World Chaffers and were delighted to do our part in raising over $118,000 for Hospice. In the Wellington CBD the amount collected was $7396.10 (in 2025 it was $6054.00).
Well done!
Taking the donation!
Neil and Bardley
Aysha and Neil
Guess Who is Coming to Dinner
Saturday, 3 October
Hold the date!!
An evening of fun, great food and company. The "guess" is that it we gather at a member's home, we don't know who the host is and who our dinner companions will be. A must come event - a chance to learn a more about members. Partners very welcome.
The date is especially chosen, as it does not clash with any sporting event!
Contact Derek Gill for more information - we will be looking for hosts and guests.
Rotary Beyond Our Club
Rotary in New Zealand
Sir Anand Satyanand was interviewed on Rotary in NZ on Wednesday, 27 May by Kathyn Ryan from Radio NZ's Nine to Noon show. He spoke about our purpose, the difference we make to local, national and global communities and the structurally change we are undertaking to ensure we remain relevant going forward.
Support the Rotary Foundation - make your impact count! please donate by 15 June!
The Foundation enables Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, particularly for women and children, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. For example, in our District we have been:
a) immunising children in the Pacific Islands
b) supporting children in hospital and mental health facilities
c) improving orthopaedic surgery in Tonga
d) continuing the battle against polio
The continued support of each Rotary Club and its individual club members is essential for this work.If you have already donated, thank you for your support.
If you have not yet made donated, please do so as soon as possible - no later than 15 June for this Rotary year.
Direct credit your donation to the District’s Foundation bank account 03-0502-0416962-00 using your name and club as reference.
You can join the Centurion Club - a $150 contribution enables you to claim a $50 tax rebate. This costs you $100 but increases the benefit to the Foundation by 50%.
Please deposit directly to the Rotary District 9940 Foundation Account:
03 : 0502 : 0416962 : 00
Use your name and the Club’s name as the reference
Please supply a contact email address and phone number on the form in case we need clarification.
Club Events
Major Events for 2026
22 June evening- RCW Changeover 4 August - Manon opera- sold out!
3 October - Guess Who is Coming to Dinner
16 November pm - our AGM
14 December Lunch - Holiday Lunch
Coming up - visit to Whakamaru- the City Mission premises our club donated a medical room. It houses a social supermarket, dentist, cafe, chapel, community showers and laundry and is home to 35 Supported Transitional Housing apartments
Meetings Coming Up
All events at The Wellington Club, unless otherwise stated
8 June: RCW lunch. Speakers - Club Members: Getting to know us
15 June: Paul Harris lunch
22 June: RCW Changeover (evening meeting). Speaker - Dr Chelsea Grootveld, Chair of JR McKenzie Trust
