President 2024/25: Murray Gillespie

Secretary 2024/25: Jan Northrop

 

 

 

 

President Wally welcomed members, partners and friends to the meeting.

 

Apologies were recorded from John Pitman, Des Friedrich and Jan Dempsey.

 

President Wally then invited David Brownson to give the opening remarks to start the meeting.David took his theme as reflecting on the past year, on those present and those absent, and on Rotary’s place in a changing world. We must ensure that in face of these changing times, we continue to work as a team.

 

Murray Gillespie held a wide ranging and comprehensive Fines Session.

 

Michael Archer used his “Three Minute Speech “ to reflect on his 30 years in Rotary which have now come to a close ,drawing comparisons between his early days in a large, very formal club in Leicester ( one of the earliest in the UK) and his later times as a Rotarian in the much more relaxed atmosphere of the Taranaki clubs. His account of the Rotarymeetings he attended when he first joined in 1994 showed us a different world , one where it took 3 separate votes before lady members were eventually admitted to his club…

The formalities were quite an eye opener.

In addition, he recounted some of the regular events they held such as providing Christmas Dinner annually for 125 people and a yearly adventure trip to the Lake District, leading a group of 36 young people with learning disabilities on a variety of excursions, including abseiling.

On looking back ,Michael felt that he and Ngaire’s life would have been very different if they had not been involved in Rotary.

 

After dinner,Kate Vink provided first rate musical entertainment and had several of the group entering into the spirit of it all by hitting the dance floor with great panache. As Sally said in her Vote of Thanks, even those who remained seated sang and clapped along, obviously enjoying it thoroughly.

Kate also told us about the impact Rotary had on her life as a child growing up in a children’s home in South Africa.

 

 

 

President Wally spoke of the past year, reflecting on the changing times and acknowledging that it had not been the easiest year for the Club. He wished the Club well as it heads into its Centenary Year with a small team, ready to mark the occasion. He also acknowledged the help and support he had received from the Directors over the year, especially Michael Archer and John Pitman. And of course from his wife Barbara. He then handed over the Chain of Office to the incoming 

President , Murray Gillespie.

 

 

 

I wish to especially thank Wally and Michael for stepping up and steering us through a difficult year.

We are naturally disappointed and sorry that you’ve both chosen to leave the club. We wish you well in the future.

I’m grateful that Jan Northrop has agreed to be both Secretary and Bulletin Editor for the coming year.

New to the Board will be Myles and Majoie as directors we need an injection of younger people.

John Pitman will be continuing as Treasurer and Jan Dempsey as Immediate Past president again.

It’s amazing to think that 10 years ago when we had our first recycled President in the History of the club Chas Wilcox ,that subsequent to that, we have had to recycle Presidents to keep the club going.

This will be my 4th Year of being President of the Club.

Reflecting back on my first time as president 1991/92 when we had about 60 members and a very vibrant active club. I was fortunate to have the likes of Don Holyoake as my Community Services Director.

During that year he developed The School Garden Project which subsequently won a 

District Award as the best project in the District.

We all participated in packaging seeds and mentoring students to plant them.

How different things are today and I can accept some responsibility for the declining membership of the Club. Not that we haven’t tried to stem the tide.

 

I’ve read a report from Johnny Dryden (Rotary Oceania Membership) about our club describing it as a cheque book club because we have a property portfolio and we simply use that at as our basis of supporting the community without doing anything else.

I think this is a very unfair description as The Flats themselves provide a very valuable Community Service and have required a great deal of Club member effort to maintain and preserve the outstanding decision made at The 50th Year Celebration of this Club to build them. It’s been an ongoing project that some would have sold a few years ago. Thank heavens we didn’t. If only we could build some more as there is a definite need in the community for housing as we all know.

There are many other community activities that the club has performed through the year which have already been acknowledged.

We will continue to support these initiatives and build on them this year.

 

I intend to ensure that our Golf Tournament, an important source of funds for the Club, 

continues as planned for the 14th February 2024. It’s now been running for over 10 years.

 

On Sunday I went down to Dudding Lake with Janice Weston and Vicki Ingles from NP North for a meeting of the new Rotary Community Group which covers clubs from Levin to Taranaki.

 

Our Community Leader is Richard Wishnowsky from The Marton Club. He will be coming at some stage to Taranaki and visiting all clubs.

It was helpful to meet other Presidents that are also having declining membership.

 

You’ve all been made aware that this is part of new Zone 8 Pilot programme to reorganise Rotary in Australia, New Zealand and the Islands.

 

Assistant District Governor positions are being replaced by Rotary Community Leaders.

District Governor positions will be phased out in 3 years. The only District function will be dealing with Foundation Grants.

 

Clubs will still operate autonomously but will have a support network of Rotary Specialists to assist in areas such as Membership, Service Projects and Programs, Public Image and 

partnerships, Learning and Development, Fundraising and Grants, Diversity, Equity and inclusion.

 

The role of The Community Leader is to facilitate not direct Clubs

 

It’s very much about growing The Rotary Brand through collaboration and partnerships.

Collaboration could be with other clubs in New Plymouth, Taranaki or even wider within our 

community group.

 

Partnerships are more about how can Rotary interact better with the Community through 

developing closer relationships with Businesses, Councils, Community Organisations.We will have community zoom meetings quarterly with the Community Group. and this can 

include any member interested in joining the meeting.

 

As you know we are still investigating a Centennial Project. The Stage 3 Kawaroa Playground project looks promising.

We will definitely need more funds than those raised at the Golf Tournament to do this project even allowing for potential grants.

I have received a sample of the Air Fresheners as you’ve all seen.

David Brownson has agreed to collaborate with me and report to the club on the pros and cons of the scheme.

I still think it has possibilities particularly if we team up with other clubs rather than do it all ourselves.

 

I have asked Des Friedrich to look after guest speakers with the intention that we all invite 

prospective members/Associates. Don’t hesitate to let Des know of good calibre speakers we should invite.

 

We will continue with the Business meetings on the 4th Monday of the month, I’m sure you’ll agree that the last meeting was worthwhile.

 

Of course fellowship is important for the club, I’ve discussed with Janice Weston from NP North the possibility of doing a Progressive Dinner with the 2 clubs sharing hosting roles.

 

Maybe there should be other initiatives to get together for coffee or a meal once a month to get to know each other better /chew the fat and introduce potential Associate Members. Past members too may be interested in catching up. Myles or Majoie may like to initiate this?

 

Our next meeting will be a business one at the Auto Lodge on the 22nd July.

There will be a Directors meeting on the 15th July Monday at 7.00pm (This is going to be changed as some directors are unavailable, Murray to advise) at my place Jan Northrop

will be putting out an agenda.

 

Finally I know it’s been a tough year looking back however let’s all focus on a positive, rewarding year ahead and who knows what we can achieve.

 

The meeting closed with a Parting Thought from Michael Archer, courtesy of Arthur C Clarke:

“Sometimes I think we are alone in the Universe and sometimes I think we’re not. In either case the idea is quite staggering