On February 28 2020 New Zealand became the 48th country in the world to report a case of COVID-19. A month later on 25 March the country went into lockdown and closed its borders! Life has not been the same since.
So, 12 months on, are we any different in our personality, attitude, outlook on life and respect and care for each other? Only you can answer that question but I would like to think that we have individually and collectively become more conscious and aware about what is happening around us, caring more for each other, enjoying the power of giving and how to live in a ‘new normal’. In a sense we have all continued as ‘Rotarians’ as these are the values that encapsulate us as members of the Rotary community.
We all learnt very fast about Zoom as a medium of communication during lockdown and that together with the weekly bulletin retained our cohesiveness, spirit, fellowship and resilience as an organization. Attendance numbers at our breakfast meetings have remained consistently high ever since we were able to resume physical meetings, peaking close to 80% of membership on occasions. I take this opportunity to thank every one of you for the part you played and continue to, in retaining the energy, vibrancy and mission of Port Nicholson Rotary and participating in the various events, community projects and activities we have undertaken. There is more in the pipeline and I look forward to your continued support and commitment.
Since January 2020, we have added 10 new members, 7 since we went into lockdown. That we were able to attract new members during a time of considerable uncertainty is testament to how we are perceived as a collection of people serving the community and the fun we have at our breakfast meetings. Two more potential new members are in the wings and I am hopeful that we can announce their membership in the coming month. We have added diversity and youth, two critical components to sustain our relevance and purpose. If I may add an extract from a recent Rotary International publication: We want everyone who engages with Rotary to feel valued, respected, and welcomed — no matter who they are, where they are in the world, or how long they have been connected with Rotary. One of our priorities is to expand our reach to engage with others who share our passion for service. Our capacity for doing good is amplified when we not only welcome but actively invite into the conversation people who have a variety of experiences, cultures, and perspectives. A strong belief in the power of diversity is one of our enduring strengths, but we recognize that there are still opportunities to learn and grow.
Sadly, Nicole Barker has decided to resign her membership for personal reasons. As you all know Nicole has been a long standing and very active member of Port Nicholson Rotary and has over the years engaged tirelessly in the services we offer to the community and those in need. Nicole has a passionate affection for our Goalsetters awards and has advised that she will stay committed to that event. We are very grateful for her continued support. I look forward to one day welcoming Nicole back to Port Nicholson.
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