Deryn’s Feedback from SPPETS
In Keith’s absence, Deryn went to Auckland to represent Papanui Rotary at the 2019/2010 South Pacific President Elect
Training Seminar. The theme for the 2019/2020 year is: “Rotary Connects the World”. The message here was that this can and should start in our own neighbourhoods.
Incoming World President Mark Moloney began the seminar and offered the following advice: “You set the tone, you lead the Club.” Erin shared that she has seen this in all five Presidents during her time with Papanui Rotary while also putting their own slant on it and she feels that Keith will do the same.
Of the various messages during this event Deryn thought the following ones were worth pondering:
- “Let’s not build barriers but open doors to Rotary.”
- “Before each meeting or activity ask: “What will we achieve today?” She suggested that this needs to include getting value as this is a must to attract & retain members.
- “Unlock people’s passion for service.”
- “Look beyond the walls, think outside the box.”
There was also a lot of emphasis on attracting younger members including especially the Young Millennials (born between 1980 & 2000) as by 2020 they will be 50% of the workforce rising to 75% by 2015.
Some of the interesting projects Deryn heard about included:
- Refurbishing old hand tools to sell to raise funds or give away to groups who need them for good causes.
- Contact parents of our alumni as they are in the targeted 40-50 age bracket.
- “Project House” where Greymouth Polytech built a house with their students and had Rotary auction it off.
- “Give every Child a Future”: a joint UNICEF / Rotary project celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Australia & NZ which involves giving life-saving vaccines to children & teenagers across nine Pacific counties.
- “History of Every Rotary Club” to be written and stored digitally and hard copy to celebrate 100 years in Oceania.
- The Sydney Train Challenge where a father & son were sponsored to ride as many trains as possible on the local network within a given time frame. Deryn suggested we might try this for the most bus routes and / or longest distance travelled in Christchurch.
- The Hornby Club PE is keen to join with other clubs to organise and run a large project in the 2910/ 2020 year.
Deryn noted that Rotary is also hosting the Regeneration NZ/Aust Conference in the Christchurch Town Hall and suggested that we might consider offering accommodation to the South Wairarapa Rotary Club as she has already offered this to their PE.
At the end of the session attendees were reminded of a quote from John C Maxwell as follows: “Leaders become great not because of their power but their ability to empower others”.
Deryn also liked another of his quotes: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way” and concluded her session by wishing Keith well for his new role in the 2019/20 year.