photo: Whakatu RotaryDG Phil Gully and Anna Gully have been touring the South Island meeting with clubs since the 3rd week of July, and ours was the 20th club they have visited, but with 62 clubs in 9999, they have many more to go.
Phil congratulated Rotary Dunedin for reaching 100 years, and made special mention of Craig Radford’s efforts at producing such a great book of our history.
Phil highlighted the goals of president of Rotary International, Gordon R. McInally, which are to continue with empowerment of women and girls, continue support for Foundation and Polio Eradication, and a new goal of Mental Health – asking people to check in on each other – instead of asking “how’s it going?”, ask “how are you really?”
Phil outlined his District goals:
1. Have Fun
2. Be Bold
3. Be Creative
4. Be Flexible
5. Plan
6. Net Increase 5% of membership throughout the District
7. Increase Foundation Giving for Clubs North of Rangitata
8. Have Fun
Noted that Zone 8 are keen to support Women’s Refuge and White Ribbon Appeal.
Phil noted that District Subs have not been increased, due to savings made in certain areas, using the example of President Elect Training being done via Zoom instead of attending the Auckland conference in person.
Recommended everyone to read the Friday mail out, as there are some great reads and ideas for Clubs to share. Watch his monthly video to see what he is up to in the District – the link will be in the Friday bulletin and on his Facebook page. Encouraged all to attend District Conference which will be held in Dunedin 2024.
Congratulated our Club’s collaboration with other local Dunedin clubs to undertake projects, noting that as club memberships reduce, this will become essential for bigger projects to be achieved.
Wants all clubs to focus on Foundation giving, since funds come back to our District to support our projects. Our Club’s average annual giving to Foundation is $47/member, whereas some clubs don’t contribute at all, the District’s average is $88/member, with the Blenheim Club achieving $300/member.
In 1998, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Rotary in Dunedin, and the 150th Anniversary of Otago-Southland province, two "inscribed rocks" were erected near the gate to the Northern Cemetery. The Town and Country Committee conceived and developed the idea of the memorial to Thomas Bracken incorporating the poets original words, in English and Maori, for the New Zealand National Anthem. The City Affairs committee, working in parallel, designed and installed signs to enable visitors to easily find Brackens grave.
Trees for Families is back for 2023! We invite you to please join us this Father’s Day, Sunday, 3rd September at Rotary Park (note new location!). Trees and shrubs are $20.00 each, and provide the opportunity to mark an important family milestone, while also contributing to important biodiversity and revegetation projects. Whether you are celebrating a birth, commemorating a passed loved one, marking a birthday, or simply wanting to connect to the land, we welcome you.
Mark Wigglesworth is a local Pianist, Piano Teacher, Accompanist and Musician with a BMus(Hons) First Class degree in Piano Performance from Otago University, and plans to undertake post-graduate studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland from September 2023.