District 9999 Creating Hope conference at Te Pae in Christchurch last weekend was a fantastic opportunity to network and hear several high-calibre speakers, including Rotary International immediate past president Jennifer Jones.
Jennifer took us on her Inspire Tour, in which she visited various countries to highlight projects in Rotary's areas of focus. She showed us examples of how telling stories about what we do and why we do it engages people and can lead to meaningful partnerships.
Later in the day Jennifer answered questions from conference-goers.
Rachel Gully gave a Generation-X perspective on why young people would and would not want to join Rotary and what clubs could think about changing as they seek Gen-X members.
Adele Keefe received a standing ovation following her heartfelt, raw story of going from being hopeless to hopeful, as she escaped a violent, drug and alcohol- fuelled, criminal gang lifestyle to healing herself, writing a book, running a programme for other women in similar abusive, controlling relationships, and developing a programme the Corrections Department is to run in women's prisons.
Matt Chisholm Former television journalist wrapped his story of his decline into depression and alcoholism with humour and a great list of tips he has found useful as he works to keep himself mentally healthy and happy.
He is currently producing Nadia Lim's Royalburn Farm programme and living in Oamakau.
Whakatū Rotarian Trevor Marshall created a lot of interest in the Rotary-FENZ community mobile hub caravans that Top of the South clubs are collaboratively fundraising for to get for their communities. The second caravan was on display at the conference. More look set to be placed in other South Island regions as a result. Cost of $135k per unit and built in NZ Trevor was an enthusiastic advocate for this community initiative.
It was a stimulating lineup of speakers and everyone was buzzing. The full house of 250 people, headed home with new tools in their Rotary toolbox.