Rotary Club of Port Nicholson Bulletin 3 September, 2017 (Sep 03, 2017)

John Bishop

Important Issues for discussion at Club Forum

Your board met on Monday and looked hard at the results of the Visioning Survey and some recommendations for change in the way we do things in the club.

All of the important matters are scheduled for discussion at the Club Forum on Thursday 14 September, and this will be the whole business of the meeting.

With regard to breakfast the board is recommending that we trial a lighter breakfast on the last meeting day of each month. By lighter breakfast we mean more fruits, and a wider range of breads and cold meats, but with one hot egg dish each time. The cost of breakfast will likely not change.

The other major source of concern among members was the sergeant’s session. There is a strong view that this should be dropped or changed, and one suggestion was that we drop the fines, change the name and turn it into a short session where members pay (perhaps a minimum of $5, but any amount they are comfortable with) to talk about something they are celebrating as we do now with the buy the box part of the meeting.

The board notes that the sergeant’s session raises over six thousand dollars each year, and we are wary about making changes that might reduce this. The club will be asked to decide.

Calls to have more speakers on Wellington issues, fewer speakers pushing their own barrows, and even to have politicians from time to time can all be accommodated. Members were generally happy with the range and quality of our speakers, so this is a minor tweak. By the way the club does not have a rule banning politicians.

The board will also be recommending a $10 fee for Rotoractors and Interactors to come to breakfast meeting, conscious that this is an explicit subsidy, but we would like to increase their involvement and input to the club.

John Bishop

Club President

Welcome to the club Nick Duncan

Dave Clearwater - The Great War Exhibition

Posted by Ed Hamilton on Sep 03, 2017

The guest speaker at our 30 August breakfast meeting was Dave Clearwater, the General Manager of The Great War Exhibition.

Although new to Wellington and this exhibition, Dave spoke about the challenges and opportunities currently experienced by the Trustees and staff.

The initial point of the presentation was confirming that The Great War Exhibition (TGWE) is not the Te Papa’s “Gallipoli – the scale of our war’. This is a factor in promoting TGWE as many domestic and international visitors to Wellington are easily confused about the two.

The exhibition is run by a trust and chaired by Dame Fran Wilde.

From the opening in April 2015, TGWE has proven to be a very popular attraction in Wellington, rated by TripAdvisor as the only local 5 star attraction and rated second behind Te Papa due to the much higher number of reviews for Te Papa.

Paid entry was adopted in March 2016, which reduced the overall visitor numbers by approximately 40%, but this was necessary as the anticipated visitor numbers and associated retail spend did not reach the levels anticipated in the 2014/15 business forecasts. The overall visitor numbers for the July 2016 – June 2017 period reached the mid 80,000’s. This is considered an acceptable result when compared to other local cultural institutions located on the water front, as they have the location, free entry and certainty of tenure.

This last point is important as the exhibition was set to last for the duration of the anniversary of the Great War – so to close in November 2018. However due to the success of the exhibition and the very important stories it conveys, there is a strong desire to extend the length for another couple of years – time will tell if all of the ‘ducks line up on the pond’.

This uncertainty of remaining open makes it more challenging to attract sponsors and to initiate any longer term marketing relationships. However due to the funding secured from Lottery Grants Board a series of temporary exhibitions are being presented which provide the opportunity to tell some of the lesser-known stories of the war. Topics ranging from ‘Wounded’, ‘Dissent’ (the story of war opposition), to ‘A Women’s War’ provide differing perspectives on the war. These exhibitions will hopefully attract more repeat visits to the exhibitions as they add a new dimension to the experience. Ensuring the First World War remains relevant to younger generations remains a key focus at TGWE. Children can learn while exploring with our friendly guides on our special school holiday children tours.

The Great War Exhibition is located in the historic Dominion Museum building in the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park – an oasis in the city. The park hosts a number of impressive memorials gifted to this nation by our close allies. It provides a series of reflective areas, and beautiful locations for family picnics or gatherings within easy walking distance of the city centre.

Missing Coats

The past two weeks Stuart Young's outer coat has disappeared from the coat stand outside the meeting room! On each occasion he did other errands before returning to the Hotel to pick up his coat.

He has asked the Intercontinental and they have no ‘found coats’. The first time (Thursday 24th Aug) it was a wool, 3/4 length grey men’s coat, and last week (Wed 30th Aug) it was a black outdoor waterproof jacket with hood.

Has anyone picked these coats up for safe keeping? Or has anyone else had a problem with missing coats?

Goal Setters Awards 2018 Applications

Goal Setters Awards applications for 2018 are now open. The application form is available on our club website

ESOL CLASSES at ARO VALLEY

Posted by Hayley Burns on Sep 03, 2017

I am a member of the Aro Valley Community Council, as one of the committee members. There is a fundraising evening coming up (Details below) and they are seeking donations for items to auction. I wondered if anyone in the club might have the generosity to donate, but also if members are interested to attend :) - Hayley Burns

The Aro Valley Community Centre ESOL classes have run for many years. The Wellington City Council have supported these classes since 2013 with a $5000 grant. The grant covers the cost of the ESOL teacher for two terms.

Over Term 1 and 2 we have had 3 x 2 hour classes each week, catering to Elementary, Intermediate and Upper Intermediate English. All classes regularly get between 18-24 students.

The ESOL classes that are offered at AVCC are free and anyone can participate. We are unique as we do not require those who attend to have a permanent residency visa. The significant majority of students attending the classes are on a visitor or working visa.

The students are incredibly grateful for the service we offer them, as the Aro Valley English classes are the only affordable language classes available to non-residents in the Wellington region.

As well as assisting with participants English it’s also wonderful watching relationships grow between students. A significant number of students are here in Wellington with partners who have full-time work. Many have expressed a deep sense of loneliness or isolation from being in a foreign country, without work or meaningful daily routines and without the language ability to form strong connections within their community. In the classroom, friendships are formed and encouragement gained from being with others having the same experiences. These connections built inside the classroom often flow out into after-class socialising. Students study, go shopping and eat together

The AVCC Committee realise the value of the ESOL classes and this event is to raise the money so we can keep offering these popular, high quality ESOL classes in Term 3 & 4 as well. Any additional funds raised will go towards the Community Centre.

Rotary Symposium 2017

Every year, each Rotary International Director convenes a meeting of senior leaders in their Zone. This event, known as an Institute, provides an opportunity for past, present and incoming Rotary officers to share information, ideas and resources, build new connections and reacquaint with old friends, and exchange ideas about Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.

A more recently added event, the Future Leaders Seminar, open to any Rotarian wanting to learn more about Rotary from a leadership perspective, also takes place in conjunction with Institute.

The combined New Zealand event in 2017 will be known as the Rotary Symposium and this year it’s doors will open to all Rotarians.”

There is a Leader’s Symposium as well.

Open to all to attend.

RI General Secretary John Hewko will be attending.

RI Director Noel Trevaskis as well.

http://mailchi.mp/57acd860d2f2/rotary-symposium-newsletter-april-2289401?e=1eda79ece6

Rotary of the Move

Ideas to Strengthen Our Club

At our recent session John Bishop, our incoming President, encouraged us as member of Port Nicholson to be proud of our association with Rotary. We have a strong Club but can always improve by attracting new members and with that they comes new ideas and new commitment. ‘Rotary on the Move’ is circulated widely amongst Australian and New Zealand Rotarians. It is a monthly circular that has excellent articles.

One article states:

Clubs who are well organised attract members
Clubs who communicate well attract members
Clubs who develop strategic partnerships attract members
Clubs who understand that their 'clients' are their community attract members
Clubs who know their demographics attract members
Clubs who listen to their members and respond to their interests attract members
Clubs who have a great Public Relations /Marketing team attract members
Clubs who have effective programs attract members.

New ideas increase our desire to do more for our community through the time we give to serving others.

Please click HERE to view - download the ‘Rotary On The Move’ Newsletter for June 2017.

Funny of the Week

Note from Editor

Please can you email any stories for the bulletin to lindaw@waterford.co.nz by 5pm Friday

Rosters from 6 September 2017

Posted by Julie Hood on Sep 03, 2017

Welcome. Please click on the "Club Map" below to view our meeting location and visit us.

We meet Wednesdays at 07:00 AM

Hotel InterContinental

2 Grey Street
Wellington, 6011
New Zealand

District Site

Venue Map