Like every year, things have been very busy for Board members – overseeing the running of the Club.
In my capacity as President, I have attended numerous meetings of the wider Rotary family.
- 3 Rotary Community Group meetings for Hutt Valley and Wairarapa Clubs. This is one of the new groups formed under the Regionalisation Project. It has been useful for making connections, and becoming aware of what other clubs are doing, including their successes, and problems they are facing. It is hoped that this group will further strengthen Rotary in our District.
- 4 meetings of the Hutt Valley Lifting the Lid on Youth Mental Health.
- The District AGM, via Zoom.
- District Changeover (as president-elect) with Jaye Howey and Robin Aitken.
‘Lifting the Lid on Youth Mental Health’ has been discussed substantially at the Board level. There has certainly been a range of views on this proposed programme. We have now agreed for the Club to support it (but not financial), and will review this decision in 12 months. If, for no other reason, I believe that this was the right decision, to ensure we were working with other Hutt Valley Clubs on a common goal – something we have often wished for. I equally accept and acknowledge that there are valid concerns.
Speakers
We have continued to have a range of Speakers:
EHR Members’ Trips: We have been transported by Mike Keehan on a South African Safari, taken on an exploration to the UK and Europe by June & Gary Stratton, and experienced South Korea with Jaye Howey.
Other Rotarians: We have been informed by Tony Heywood about the Zone 8 Regional Council, by Port Nicholson & Hutt Valley speakers about Lifting the Lid, and Gary Lawrence about the Dental Aid Project in Fiji.
Community Organisations: We learnt much about Dementia Wellington, Greenstone Doors, Vibe, and HV Chamber of Commerce.
Special Interest Speakers: We were engrossed by Ian Ferguson’s journey to become an Olympic Gold Medalist, astounded by the Olasoju Family’s travels from Nigeria, educated with Hamish Campbell’s history of Wellington’s geology, and fascinated by Rosy Moar’s description of her work with ESR Forensics.
Christmas Trailer Raffle
Planning is all but completed for the Christmas Raffle from Saturday 30 November – Monday 23 December, with the draw on 23 December. Unfortunately, Queensgate management would not allow us to operate on Black Friday (29 November) however we do get to start that weekend. With Queensgate cutting back on some of their Christmas hours, and us lessening our selling sessions to avoid historically quiet times, it has been much easier to fill all our sessions, with the help of Hutt River Valley Lions Club, Petone Rotary, ex-Inner Wheel members, and partners/family/friends of our members. Hopefully it won’t result in a lower financial taking.
Thanks
I would particularly like to thank June Stratton and Tony Cornelius for their superb secretarial and financial duties, and the three Committee Directors – Robin Aitken, Paul Giles, and Brian Clarke, for their sterling role in leading projects and fundraisers. Special thanks to John Matthews, Jan Palmer, June Stratton, Shelley Bryant, and Kathy Bryant who took on extra duties while Tony and I were overseas. A huge thank you to our Bulletin editor, Jan Palmer, for her incredible weekly effort in producing our superb Bulletin.
Looking Forward
Over the 2nd half of the Rotary year, I would like the Board to focus on ways to increase our membership – a difficult, but necessary endeavour.
Mike Fackney
President