My last Report as President, though there will be an ‘Immediate Past President’ for the final Bulletin of this Rotary year. Only in a ‘part-spoiler’, please would all Paul Harris Fellows wear their Medals to Changeover on 21 June at the Wellington Club.

It has been a real privilege to be President of Port Nicholson Rotary for this year. Although I have been a member of the Club for 27 years (by this August), and been on the Board as a Director a number of times, it is only as a President that one fully can appreciate the depth of the commitment of our members, whether in leadership, organisationally or simply participatory roles.

As is constantly reiterated by DGs, AGs, Presidents, Speakers, Guests and our own members, we are an exceptionally vibrant and dynamic Club. With the even greater unpredictability of recent times, with not only the vestiges of Covid, but the devastation caused by the cyclones earlier this year directly affecting a number of our own members, those of other Clubs and thousands more beside, plus the horrific and tragic fire at Loafers Lodge, our Club responded instantly with generous donations, which was fed directly to intended recipients.

Participation in activities which related to addressing our most at-risk youth through the excellent
Lifting the Lid programme to our Goal Setters’ Awards, assistance at Kahurangi School,
cultivating enquiring young minds through Rotary’s own programmes of RYLA, RYPEN, IYM,
scientific and several others, with even a touch of arts, there is a strong focus on young people.
These of course, include our Interact and Rotoract members. As already mentioned in this
Bulletin, management assistance is going given to them via our Club to help them grow.

A pinnacle was helping towards the completion of the Wellington Children’s Hospital. Health and
Social issues from Malaghan Institute to Wellington City Mission, Homeless Women’s Trust,
filling pantries for Refugees, and the ongoing Life Flight Trust support for fitting out newly
acquired air ambulance planes. Climate change is addressed through participation in Tree
Planting projects. Collecting money, for our Club via the Auction, other events, parking at the
Markets to for Polio Plus and then Street Collections for other organisations.

And then there all the fellowship purely social events. A plethora of ways to be involved. I would
have loved to have participated in them all; however, it is a matter picking and choosing what
appeals and one has time to be able to commit to this great organisation and Club.

Very special thanks to the Directors – Paula, Steve, Lisa, Eden, Heather, Jane, Tony (H), and
President-Elect Tony (R), as well as to key role holders, Peter, Darryl, Lindsay, Louise, Hayley,
Brent, Joy, Philippa, Jo, Christopher, Howard, and to my valuable mentor, David (S) – plus
others I have omitted to mention.

All the very best for the new Rotary year and all that lies ahead.
Look forward to seeing as many as possible at Changeover!

Dawn
President

International Inspiration

We had a special visitor from The Czech Republic join us for breakfast this week. Zdenek Michalek did not expect so many members would be in attendance for our morning meeting!
Zdenek is the past District Governor (2019/19) of District 2240, Czech and Slovak Republics, with 75 clubs and 1495 members.  He is visiting New Zealand, connecting with long lost relatives after attending the RI Convention in Melbourne.

Zdenek is working on connecting local Scouts groups with Rotary with the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians.. Could this be something we look into as a club?

Click here for more information