left to right: DG Elect, Carol Green; DG, Jocelyn Hogg;
DG Nominee, Brent Gerrard
We were privileged to have the full DG team at our combined dinner meeting with the Mt Victoria Club at Marsden on 26 November, led by DG Jocelyn Hogg, DGE Carol Green and DGN Brent Gerrard, standing in for Rotary Community Leader Tony Robinson.
We had a very good attendance, with other guests including Kent Chamberlain whose daughter Isobel (Izzy) and Past President Jay’s daughter Jayathi who were our selections for RYPEN at Mangaweka in October. We also welcomed past Assistant Governor David Shackleton, and Anthony De Rose, a frequent visitor to our Club.
DG Jocelyn gave us a passionate address on her commitment to Rotary through this year’s theme, the Magic of Rotary and the work of the pilot reorganization team to take Rotary forward over the next two years. She strongly supported the steps being taken for growth and not steps back for comfort. The pilot Rotary programme is clearly identifying the challenges to Districts in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands for sustainability and viability going forward.
Rotary has lost a significant number of members over the past five years, putting pressure on survival and trying to make our causes attractive to diverse groups in our local communities. DG Jocelyn acknowledged that this was not an easy task in a changing world from the one many old hands experienced when they first joined.
Jocelyn pushed the formation of new clubs and satellite clubs, a grouping which she has been involved in setting up in Horowhenua and is now a part of, from her former Rotary Club in Levin.
DGE Carol, a member of the Mt Victoria Club spoke on the membership challenge for our District and attracting people to our causes and working with others. She cited as an example a young new President of the Rotary Club of Mt Victoria, Lewis Johnson, who within a short few months of joining had agreed to take on the leadership of the Club and is enjoying his time as Club Leader. Carol also informed our gathering that the fund raising for lifting equipment for the new Life Flight Trust fixed wing aircraft had so far reached $100,000 with the target being $300,000.
DGN Brent Gerrard echoed the views of his colleagues and strongly supported the value of network groups in Rotary going forward, sharing in major projects and looking to help each other achieve Rotary objectives.
left to right: Jayathi Jaiganesh, Issy Chamberlain
It was also an evening where we welcomed our RYPEN attendees, Issy Chamberlain, Kelburn, who goes to Wellington Girls’ College and Jayathi Jaiganesh, Karori, who attends Scots College. Both talked about the challenges of teamwork building and social engagement which made the tasks they faced both enjoyable and beneficial to increasing their self-confidence. Members enjoyed the opportunity to get feedback on the new RYPEN course in Mangaweka run by the Rotary Clubs of Manawatu and Rangitikei.