The past year has raced by so quickly as I prepared for this moment. But here we are and it is a great honour to be your President. I am looking forward to the next 12 months. Changeover Night was fabulous with a big turnout. Thank you Ross for your leadership during the past year, for your passion for the issues and challenges that we faced and for the many hours of your precious time (some of which you say you will never get back!)
By now the majority of you are aware of the objectives I aim to achieve. I see a bright and exciting future for the Club, but we have work to do. Membership growth will be my main area of focus. The types of membership and having flexibility with meetings and activity will be the key. The support the Club has shown me has been outstanding and the 2020/2021 Board is a strong and hardworking one. I have no doubts we can achieve it.
Careful consideration has been given to the committees and I am excited to see that the Directors are hard at work already, putting together their plans and organising committee meetings. I am excited about a new Committee I have developed, responsible for ‘Future Planning & Succession’. They will trailblaze the path for growth and the longevity of our Club and have already started this work putting out the survey. This is your chance to have a voice and to say what you think so if you haven't done it already, there is still one more week left to complete and return it. The results will be reported back at Club Assembly on 14 July. Please diary this now, it will be an important meeting.
As we all accept, some aspects of Rotary have to change. It must in order to keep Rotary interesting for existing members and to attract new and younger members. We have to be an attractive and exciting consideration as a community service organisation for younger people to want to join us. There is a Rotary slogan, “Rotarians, people of Action” ... we must demonstrate this more. So let’s get out more, be seen in the community, put on our ‘High-Viz’ and attract these new members. It is a fact, young professionals would rather do community service projects than sit around indoors. They want to be active, improve the environment and help their community. I know just how we can do this!
The first Tuesday of the month will be an off-site meeting. Derek Bulman and his awesome committee are planning lots of amazing activities which will include vocational visits, social nights, service or community activities and working on a project or two.
At Changeover, we recognised and celebrated five members who have been giving outstanding service for more than 30 or 40+ years. I bet if you asked them what they enjoyed the most about Rotary back then, when they were younger, they would say doing projects, doing community service and the fellowship while doing it. So let’s do it again, not sit in a stuffy restaurant week, after week. Let's get back to a few Rotary fundamentals. The irony here is that change doesn’t have to be new-wave, radical or scary and actually, some of what I propose is not change at all ... it is what Rotarians and the Queenstown Rotary Club have always done. We just need to do it more often.
RUSSELL MCGROUTHER - PHF AWARD
On Sunday 21st June, 2 days before changeover, there was a small gathering held at then President Ross’ home to award a very much overdue PHF to Russell McGrouther. Congratulations Russell.
CHANGEOVER NIGHT CELEBRATIONS:
What a fabulous night of celebration, recognition and fellowship. There was a great turn-out with many partners in attendance and also incoming DG Dylan Murray, and Robyn Frances from Happiness House, as invited guests. There was so much happening and everyone was thrilled in joining outgoing President Ross with an induction and the following recognitions -
A well-deserved PHF was given to Keith McIntosh. Keith has volunteered countless hours to the Club and served as Director of many Committees over many years. A special mention was also made for his relentless drive for membership growth and development. Well done Keith.
Congratulations to Brian MacPherson, Chris Taylor, Derek Bulman, Ian Johnstone and Kerry Dunlop recognised in a new special ‘President's Award’ for outstanding service to the Club. In this case length of service was the occasion with these guys clocking up in excess of 40+ years.
The Pauline Haslemore Award was awarded to Heather McIntosh, recognising and thanking her for her work and dedication ensuring the Bulletin gets out each fortnight. A special thanks was mentioned for her time during COVID19 lockdown and putting out a weekly Bulletin. With a little help from Keith, Heather has been doing this behind the scenes work for three years now.
We also inducted new member Riki Hunter into the Club. Riki is a builder who is originally from Te Anau and now lives in Arrowtown. Riki will be a real asset to the Club and we look forward to getting to know him better, and his partner Nell, over the coming months.
Events Coming Up:
JULY 7th - 1st OFF-SITE MEETING - ‘SUPPORTING LOCAL’
For the first off-site meeting, how about we visit a Brewery?!! Partners are most welcome.
Peter Forde, and his team at Altitude Brewing, are excited to exclusively host us. We will have a tour of their small micro-brewery set up, hear their story of how it all began and experience a tasting of all their hard work.
Date: Tuesday 7th July 5.30pm meet for 6pm start
Venue: The Altitude Brewing Shed, Sugar Lane, at the Marina.
Cost: $31pp includes 5x125ml glasses of any beers on tap and Dinner by Chef Ben, in the “The Munch Caravan”.
OR if you don’t like beer, its $16pp for food only and you can buy alternative drinks from the bar.
Menu options: Blue Cod & Chips, Blue Cod Burger & Chips, Savannah cheese Burger & Chips and Vegan Fish Burger & Chips.
KEEP SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST FREE - WE HAVE AN EXCITING EVENT COMING UP. MORE DETAILS SOON.
Rotary Opens Opportunities!
Expressions of Interest are sought for the D9980 Science & Technology Coordinator position. If you are interested, please contact DG Dylan by email: dylantmurray@icloud.com
Once a year Rotary sends up to 100 Year 13 students, from all over NZ and the Pacific Islands, to attend the Annual Rotary Science & Technology Forum, held in Auckland for 2 weeks during the January school holidays.
.jpg){kind=logo}
