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Editors Rant
Is CHANGE a GIVEN in Rotary? Must we change?
Touted often as us having the organisation that is the greatest Change exemplar in the world one may be forgiven wondering why this is often expounded but not practised.
Last issue we had Pres Dave’s Rave referring to Marcus Aurelius on this theme …this week’s meeting saw the committed 2 score lunch attendees ( out of an official membership of 60) workshopping on the why, what, when, how and where RCoN can or must be doing around our meetings. Your Big Wig Ed. can be proud saying that his attendance was buoyed by the full comms gang’s presence Simon, Colin, Brian and Alan.
You can find out the discussion takeaways from Alan Hayward’s report in Club News below supplemented by Colin’s pix in Photo Albums.
Big Wig banged the drum once more on a favourite chestnut receiving heartening support from Brain and Terry..…RCoN needs to join and make a cluster with like-minded clubs to present heft, noise and excitement to attract big ticket guest speakers and resting members. An opportunity to see how this works is for 10 of us to make a table for the Rotary St John’s Rotary Quiz event notice in Rotary Worldbelow. BE QUICK.
Events this past fortnight calls for a quote from QEII’s first prime minister Winston Churchill….. “To improve is to Change, to be perfect is to Change often.”
Walking the Talk we must!
Ron Seeto
Dave's Rave
Cadence and Rotary
I’ve been thinking about cadence this week. Specifically in respect of Rotary.
This was triggered from some of the feedback at our Tuesday meeting, where we discussed how frequently we should meet as a Rotary Club.
In a room full of committed and informed Rotarians there was quite a variance of views.
And why wouldn’t there be? We all breath, talk, walk, run, swim, and think... at a different personal cadence.
Some of our club members will think about Rotary every day.
Others, once a week, others maybe twice a month. Some even less so.
All these Rotarians (and friends) will hopefully feel like they participate in and contribute to Rotary.
That there is no right, wrong or universally perfect cadence.
The real question is …what would happen if you increased your cadence?
Club News and Notices
CHANGE AHEAD?
Following the recent members’ survey, last Tuesday we looked at the timing and venues for our club meetings
President Dave pointed out that although we have about 60 members, in terms of attendance, the turnout is something like: 8 rarely, 11 barely, 9 somewhat, 6 unavailable, 5 silent. Leaving a likely attendance of about 21, which turned out to be our numbers for the day.
We discussed why we come to our meetings, focussing on such matters as
Friendship/community involvement/ fellowship
Business networking - speakers
Leadership and personal development
Then we provided feedback for the Board on:
Timing: an occasional early morning meeting?
Place: centred on Newmarket? more numbers needed for evening meetings at the RGC
Frequency: two lunchtimes and one evening meeting per month?
Preference for catered meals?
So watch this space!
Members Slot
Scott Burridge - A Life Changing Experience
As I sit at The Islander Hotel, a few minutes walk from the Airport in Rarotonga, killing time before our flight back home, the ocean is close. Incredibly, humpback whales can be seen breaching beyond the reef just out from the hotel bar. I feel close to nature and quite awed by it.
Yesterday I experienced one of the most awesome things in my life – swimming with whales. I got within touching distance of a mother and her calf. It beggars belief, that these beautiful creatures were hunted, in the case of some species, almost to extinction. During our holiday we’ve had other wonderful experiences, such as snorkelling in the Aitutaki Lagoon to see giant clams, watching a school of giant trevally and a large Napoleon Wrasse pass by, swimming with turtles and a “fever” of Eagle Rays (a good quiz question?).
Last weekend saw our Fellowship committee’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Part 2 . A 2peat of the first one featured in last week’s issue. Pictured are the 13 who closed the Pearl Garden ,a Newmarket institution last frequented in a full house turnout during Big Wig’s Presidents Christmas party sixteen years ago…well remembered by Brian McMath…. halcyon days. The other was another GWCTD(at home) hosted by Gaye and Russel Toplis who said “everyone had so much fun they forgot to take any photos”(sic.) So a very popular event and GWTD organiser Alimac is already planning a few more.
This event is shaping up to be extraordinary … many have already booked a table ... the number of club teams is indicating the evening could be a bit of a fun "battle of the clubs"
so how about it Rotary NEWMARKET ? Can we get our team together ?
There have been too few opportunities over the last two years for an inexpensive fun night out where Rotarians, partners and friends from across our Auckland clubs can easily get together for some catch-up and fellowship.
All are welcome and anyone not part of a team will quickly be placed on one with others booking individually ... a fun way to meet new friends.
RCoN has a monthly slot to help fill and pack food parcels. This is a really worthwhile community project and is always fun to do. Keen to join in? You can find out more by contacting any of the RCoNteers featured in the accompanying pix.
You can find out more from Ariana Andrews’ invitation below.
GECAF Speaker Session
Rotaract Oceania is in its third and final year of fundraising to support Rotary Give Every Child A Future (GECAF). We have a speaker session on October 2nd at 9am where Michelle Tanner will do an update on GECAF. In this session, clubs from around the world will talk about their projects and we have a panel to discuss collaboration internationally and between Rotary/Rotaract. You can use this link to register for the speaker session: