UPCOMING ROTARY EVENTS
Joint Fellowship Meeting with Southport
Southport Rotary Club members will be joining us for a joint fellowship evening on Tuesday 30 January at the Broadbeach Rotary Hub.
More details later but usual timing (6.00 for 6.30pm) and cost ($25 per head) for Hub functions will apply.
The “Fun with Rotary” Conference
District Governor Darrell Brown, together with host Rotary Clubs Surfers Sunrise and Gold Coast, invite you to come for Fun with Rotary at the fabulous Sea World Conference Centre on the Broadwater at Main Beach, Gold Coast.
The Conference Committee has been working hard to create an experience for you that is fun, exciting and inspirational. Only three weeks before the 2018 Commonwealth Games, you’ll be engaged in great activities with very special people from the moment you arrive.
The whole program is designed to make sure that everyone who attends feels welcome, involved, gets fully inspired and recharged, and most of all has FUN With Rotary. Yes you’ll meet the dolphins! And more importantly you’ll meet a whole lot of other wonderful Rotarians and guests who will expand your world – and we know they will benefit from meeting you!
Our focus includes the awareness that Fellowship Unites Nations – honouring Rotary International and reminding us of the importance of universal understanding and acceptance.
There’s a range of accommodation options on the Gold Coast including discounted rooms at Sea World resort and the option to stay with other Rotarians though our home hosting program. Of course you’ll want to get in early to make sure your preference is available.
Proposal for Merger of Districts 9600 9630 9640
The following information has been received from District 9640 Secretary
Proposal to Merge District 9640, 9630 and 9600
Club Presidents of District 9640 :
As you are aware, there are plans to merge the District of 9640, 9630 and 9600
(with the exception of Glen Innes) to commence on 1st July 2021. Discussions
regarding this have been taking place with RI Director Noel Trevaskis for some
time now and those discussions have been relayed to clubs in person either by
myself or through District Newsletters and Presidents Updates. When District
membership is 1100 or greater, Rotary International By-Laws “Clause 16.010.1 -
Eliminating and Changing Boundaries”, does not allow changes to District
Boundaries to occur if the majority of clubs within the District object to the
changes. To meet the intent of this requirement, we propose to seek agreement
from clubs to the proposal below. To be successful, a simple majority of clubs
must vote in favour of the proposal. The same simple majority applies to the
result of individual club voting as well.
The District Leadership Team fully endorses this proposal and recommends that
clubs support it.
Can you please put the following proposal to your club as soon as possible and
return the result as listed below to: District Secretary Sue Randel -
D9640Sec@westnet.com.au no later than 1st March 2018.
Proposal:
“It is proposed that the Rotary International Districts numbered 9640,9630 and
9600 merge with effect from 1st July 2021”
Rotary Club of ………………………………………………………….
ACCEPTS / REJECTS the proposal to merge the three Districts (please circle the
correct result)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Signed: President of Rotary Club
Date: …………….. / ……………../2018
LARGER ROTARY DISTRICTS – THE PLATFORM FOR CHANGE – AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER
Rotarians,
How fitting that, as we move toward a second century of Rotary service ‘down under’, we stand on the
brink of the most exciting time of change in the history of Rotary in this part of the world!
The changes we are facing have unfortunately been brought about by the dramatic loss of members
particular over the last two years. We need to change the way we do things dramatically, how we manage
our clubs, districts has to happen. If we do not change we certainly will perish as an organisation as know
it. The time for change is now, we can longer delay change, we are in urgent times with our membership
in Australia and New Zealand.
In recent weeks I have had the pleasure of working with a ‘task force’ of dedicated Rotarians from all
levels of service to discuss urgent planning and action required to reverse the serious downward trend in
membership across all 27 Districts in Zone 7B and 8 – and discuss how we can all move forward with
confidence into this exciting new era.
Be very certain that such action is NOT just about re-Districting. Re-Districting is only one of the suite of
changes needed to revitalise Rotary ‘down under’.
The task force included grass roots Rotarians, club presidents, Governors Nominee, Governors Elect, Past
Governors and RI staff – male and female and of a variety of ages.
I am delighted to report a wonderful spirit and commitment during the two days and there was general
agreement that I now had to share the same positive message with you all – as we move forward
together.
We agreed that ONLY Rotary Clubs can turn around the current alarming membership challenge
confronting Clubs in most parts of the western world.
However, for this to happen, the administration of Rotary at District level has to change dramatically.
The meeting acknowledged that the age of ‘Larger Districts’ has arrived – and these larger districts will
start to happen from 1st July 2020.
Planning is already well advanced for the merger of Districts 9700 and 9710 in central west and southern
NSW along with Districts 9500 and 9520 in South Australia. Senior leaders are considering various options
in WA, Victoria and northern Australia, along with southern Queensland and northern NSW.
Similar discussions are taking place in New Zealand where a meeting is planned in early March to discuss
re-Districting options in that country.
POSITIVES FROM LARGER DISTRICT DISCUSSIONS
· Streamlined District administration – with skills based strategy plan led by Governor; and an
operational based plan led by CEO and management team.
· Decluttered role of Governor possible for working/younger Rotarians.
· Given vast areas, there will be no expectation for Governors to visit every club.
· Paid administrator/CEO to lead business team and cost efficiency.
· Area Governors with maximum 15 clubs each to produce focused training and communication
plan – including ONE national web site for Districts and clubs.
· Emphasis on technology and strategic planning.
· Area Governors to receive two days training within expanded G Train model.
· Economies of scale that allow for employment of professional facilitators/resources.
· General agreement that fewer Districts will provide a clear Rotary national’ voice’ in both
countries, better coordination, catalyst for cultural change, halt/slow cost increases, better use of
resources and people.
· National corporate sponsorship, employment of national fund raiser.
IMPORTANTLY, the new ‘model’ will provide the perfect opportunity for Districts to re-focus on the next
100 years and the changes ahead in the 21st Century.
The task force was adamant that such sweeping District changes must encourage genuine change within
Rotary club ‘thinking’ – we must embrace the concept of Rotary International and emphasise members
are joining ‘ROTARY’ not the XYZ Rotary Club!
Senior leaders must understand that leaders at club level will face increasing levels of anxiety from
themselves and their clubs as thoughts of loss of autonomy, self interest and differing cultural influences
arise.
SELLING THE EXCITEMENT OF CHANGE/OPPORTUNITY TO CLUBS
· This gives us an exciting opportunity in Rotary club history to be able to promote and market
Rotary in a new way.
· Communicate clearly with clubs during restructure period – ask clubs to tell what we can do to
grow the club and its positive future?
· Challenge clubs to enhance and strengthen community and vocational service.
· Promote the new flexibility in Rotary administration and resources available.
· Conduct forums to question relevance and commitment of members – and communicate
opportunity and changes certain to emerge from the new flexible and innovative clubs that will
come into being.
· Opportunity to surround clubs with talented community members and to explore possibilities of
honorary membership.
Spirited discussion ebbed and flowed on a variety of topics linked to Rotary Club ‘buy in’ …
· Make Rotary membership possible, available and cost effective – traditional face to face, on line,
global, vocational, corporate, families and even special interest groups.
· Modern meetings and facilities – catering for all interests and cultures.
· Ownership for young people with equal voice – no ‘kiddies’ table’.
· Target early retirees. Provide the opportunity to ‘get hands dirty’.
· Form Network clubs – especially in remote areas where groups as small as three or four can meet
weekly and gather at a central point once a month.
· Trouble free web site/IT support at low cost.
· Concentrate on Service not fund raising.
I cannot emphasis strongly enough the need to change and the need to accept change.
I leave you with the RI Vision Statement … “ Together we see a world where people
unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our
communities, and in ourselves ”
Regards, Noel Trevaskis, RI Director 2016-2018
